The situation
Water supply faces growing threats from climate change, waste, and leaks. Installing and managing millions of smart solutions brings a significant challenge. We partner with water companies to implement smart water programmes, securing sustainable resources for future generations.
We often take clean water for granted, using it for non-essential activities like washing cars or watering gardens. Many people are unaware that their water usage, along with leaks in homes and businesses, contributes to significant waste.
Climate change further threatens water supply, in the UK the Environment Agency warns that parts of England, particularly the South, could face water shortages within the next 20 years if not action is taken.
In response, the UK Government and Ofwat have challenged water companies to take decisive action, aiming to cut leakage by 50% and reduce per capita consumption to 110 litres per day by 2050—a goal echoed by initiatives worldwide.
Alarmingly, it is estimated that 30 to 40% of UK households have leaks, with a single leaky toilet potentially wasting between 200 and 400 litres of water daily.
Smart meters are essential in long-term water resource management, as they help raise consumer awareness and promote more responsible water usage.
The UK Government and Ofwat challenge water companies to:
Reduce leaks by
by 2050
Reduce per capita consumption to
litres per person per day by 2050.
Challenge
Water companies need to design, deliver, and fund robust smart meter programmes to urgently address the situation. Installing and managing millions of smart meters is a significant challenge, particularly with 80 to 90% of these meters located underground. The sheer scale and complexity demand robust, well-engineered infrastructure.
A good smart meter programme provides data, but without a strategy to maximise this data, it’s simply rows of numbers on a spreadsheet. This data must be leveraged to drive outcomes, educate customers on their usage, and detect leaks to mitigate water wastage.
The communications network also needs to ensure stability over the programme’s 15-year lifespan, minimising disruption. Post-implementation, the infrastructure must be reliable and justify the initial investment.
Water companies face competing priorities, including cleanliness and customer satisfaction, which require immediate action. Balancing investment priorities while minimising customer bill impacts is essential. Our Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) programme tackles these challenges, enabling utilities to accelerate progress, manage financial demands effectively, and maximise value and customer experience.
Smart water programmes require a long-term perspective and investment in technology designed to endure.
Our smart solutions have undergone rigorous testing and trials, ensuring robust and reliable data provision for
years (programme lifespan).
Our solution
Investing in smart meters to secure the future of water requires a long-term commitment in both technology and capital. As the technology landscape rapidly evolves, today’s assets may not be equipped to meet the demands of tomorrow. This is where we come in—partnering with water companies to drive transformative change through our expertise in the design, initiation, implementation, and funding of smart water programmes, ensuring both success and long-term impact.