Use Case

Monitoring of drinking water and sewage networks

A municipal water supplier serving approximately 100,000 residents faced the challenge of efficiently monitoring an extensive network. Manual inspections, a lack of real-time data and an outdated IT infrastructure resulted in high operating costs and an increased risk of leaks and flooding. The introduction of the IoT-based SMARTsensorsystem provided the solution: precise live data, automated analyses and seamless integration into existing IT systems. This optimized processes, minimized failures and significantly improved the operational monitoring of the water supply.

Challenge

Monitoring a vast drinking and wastewater network with outdated infrastructure posed significant challenges for the utility provider. The existing IT structure, based on VPN and soon-to-be discontinued 2G data loggers, was inefficient and not future-proof. While 2G technology was once a reliable solution, the upcoming network shutdown now necessitates a transition to modern, scalable systems. Furthermore, the lack of real-time and consumption data made it difficult to quickly detect anomalies such as leaks or illegal discharges. Time-consuming and error-prone manual inspections also led to high operating costs and an increased risk of undetected water losses. The municipal water supplier is responsible for providing drinking water to approximately 100,000 people and ensuring environmentally compliant wastewater treatment across a 2,300 km² service area. With a pipeline network spanning over 1,900 km and the management of municipal wastewater treatment plants, more than 100 technicians and employees faced the challenge of maintaining an increasingly complex system. Decentralized technical maintenance was managed through multiple on-site master areas, while central control and planning were handled by an administrative unit. Given these challenges, modernizing processes and technologies was essential to enhance operational safety, efficiency and sustainability.

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Solution and Technical Implementation

Installation and Integration

The wastewater system was equipped with 250 SMARTsensor data loggers. The plug-and-play devices with NB-IoT technology were installed at each location within a short time – without operational interruptions or additional IT effort. The sensors continuously measure water levels and flow rates, reliably transmitting live data via cellular networks.The SMARTsensor solution is installed in two versions: a battery-powered model for autonomous monitoring in well systems and a 230V version for monitoring pump stations.

Data Transmission and Analysis

The recorded data from pressure sensors, pump stations and water meters in the water distribution network is securely encrypted and transmitted via Deutsche Telekom's Cloud of Things platform, where it is analyzed in the Flowchief software. Critical anomalies such as leaks, illegal discharges or unusual flow rates are automatically detected, enabling rapid countermeasures.By using a simple cellular-based solution, 30% of operating costs were saved. The live transmission of measurement data and alarms significantly reduces long downtime periods.

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