NRW Ecosystem
Participate in 4 challenges of Flemish water companies to reduce water loss!
Water is scarce
Water is scarce in Flanders. Climate change makes drought an urgent challenge. Therefore, the Blue Deal seeks solutions to use water more efficiently as a precious resource.
Reducing NRW (Non-Revenue Water) is an important strategic objective of the water companies. In the Blue Deal, the Flemish government sets a reduction of the ILI (= Infrastructure Leakage Index) to 0.5 by the end of 2025. Accordingly, Flanders cherishes the challenging ambition to cut back losses to half the level in 2020.
The drinking water sector therefore wants to join forces with industry and knowledge institutions to accelerate innovation.
NRW ecosystem event
Following on from the NRW launch event on 19 October 2021, AquaFlanders, VMM and Vlakwa are organising a follow-up event this autumn, entirely dedicated to the launch of the NRW ecosystem. The aim of the ecosystem is to accelerate solutions for NRW reduction together.
NRW ecosystem
During the event, we will search for innovative and complementary solutions for 4 concrete challenges. The challenges will be discussed in 4 parallel sessions. Afterwards, the most promising ideas will get the chance to be developed into an operational product within the NRW ecosystem that delivers results at at least one of the water companies. An ecosystem emphasises complementarity of partners and solutions, to achieve a win-win-win. In this case, 1+1+1 = 4.
Practicalities
When? Monday 7 November 2022
Where? VAC Leuven, Belgium
12:00 - 13:00: Reception and lunch
13:00 - 13:10: Welcome by Carl Heyrman, AquaFlanders
13:10 - 13:30: Introduction by the Flemish Environment Agency
13:30 - 14:15: Explanation of process and Q&A by Filip Vancoillie, De Watergroep
14:15 - 17:00: Parallel sessions (4 challenges)
17:00 - 17:30: Closing drinks
How to participate?
Check out the 4 challenges. Evaluate for which challenge your organisation can bring an innovative and complementary solution. Then submit your solution by 19 October at the latest via the digital entry form. From 25 October onwards, it will be announced who will be invited to reflect on the challenges launched during the event together with the water companies within the NRW ecosystem.
4 challenges
- Leveraging existing data for leak detection and leak localisation
- Encouraging reporting of leaks
- Low-cost sensors in the pipe network
- Non-acoustic leak detection techniques
CHALLENGE 1: Leveraging existing data for leak detection and leak localisation
The current era is one of big data, algorithms and artificial intelligence. Today, a wide range of data is available. Relevant data is available within the water companies but also from other (external) players. It is the desire of the water companies to detect and tap into interesting data to detect and locate unrecorded water consumption (e.g. water loss but also theft) as quickly as possible. The specific aim of the project is to make optimal use of all kinds of existing data sources, to detect hidden leaks in the drinking water network and determine the location of the leak as accurately and quickly as possible.
Note: Reducing a metering area with additional flow meters or installing other new sensors is beyond the scope of this challenge. Using data from digital water meters does fall within the scope.
CHALLENGE 2: Encouraging reporting of leaks
How can we reduce drinking water losses by involving society in the management of a state-of-the-art pipe network? Society can be perceived as a multitude of 'sensors' that can be used to notice water losses or report thefts. We will explore insights into this approach and look at practical methods to address human 'sensors'.
Society can be taken broadly. It includes the general population, complemented by policy makers, and the corporate and educational world. This challenge does not focus purely on technology, but mainly on the approach and persuasion to engage people.
CHALLENGE 3: Low-cost sensors in the pipe network
Currently, water companies focus mainly on flow measurements for fixed sensors. By implementing other, innovative and low-cost, (semi?) fixed sensors, we aim to further reduce NRW losses. On the one hand, by introducing sensors that can detect leakage loss more easily and accurately, and on the other hand, by introducing sensors that can detect other causes of NRW (such as illegal use of water or hydrant use).
CHALLENGE 4: Non-acoustic leak detection techniques
Currently, mainly acoustic techniques are used to locate leaks. These still have the potential to improve, but also have fundamental limitations, e.g. with high ambient noise or with materials that are poor conductors of sound such as PVC or PE. Plastic is mostly used for new pipes, so the future drinking water network will mainly consist of low-conductivity materials. A high-performance non-acoustic technique for locating leaks is therefore desirable. What (combination of) non-acoustic leak detection techniques exist or need to be further developed?
The NRW ecosystem, what to expect?
All Flemish water companies are investing in reducing water losses and are eager to introduce innovation into operations. In case of an interesting proposal (with the prospect of a good business case), a development or pilot concept can be set up in cooperation with 1 or more water companies. Depending on how market-ready a solution is, this may consist of an innovative tendering procedure. Here, with or without financial support from the problem owners, the challenge proposal is further developed into a concrete solution. The solution is then thoroughly tested during a demonstration, and then evaluated based on defined success criteria. With a good evaluation, the solution can be upscaled.
Contact
Do you have any questions about this initiative or the event? Please reach out on nrw@vlakwa.be
