Since 2018, we have been carrying out projects as part of the Vitens Innovation & Research Agenda. The preceding pages describe various projects that are ongoing or have already been completed. In the interim, we have added several new projects to the agenda within the three work packages.

 Mains network of the future.
We recently installed smart water meters and water quality sensors in the Westeinde district of Leeuwarden. We trust that this will improve not only the supply and customer processes, but also communication with our customers. Several projects are to be launched in the forthcoming period, to investigate whether we might inform our customers even better regarding their water consumption, incidents involving the mains network and leaks in their domestic water system.

Other projects will examine how we might best make smart use digital technology when laying pipes. For instance, we are keen to utilise specialist equipment and software based on LiDAR – laser technology with which to determine heights and distances – to measure pipelines and particular structures, with a view to establishing an accurate 3D map of the mains network.

 In addition, we intend to launch a project to improve the installation process in other regards. For example, we want to investigate the possibilities of digitally recording pipelines and other components while they are being laid. This could possibly lead to the development of a national standard for scanning the various types of pipes and fittings.

Optimum maintenance of the mains network
To optimise the maintenance and management of the distribution network, we are proceeding with a project that involves the use of smart levers to open and close valves. These levers use sensors to automatically register the position of a valve whenever a technician adjusts it. This not only ensures that the valve positions are determined more accurately, but also that valve data is recorded. This might include data such as the number of turns required to close a valve. These smart levers can also warn technicians in the event that they open or close a valve too quickly, which could cause water hammer.

At the Vitens training centre in Lelystad, we have built a set-up that enables us to train technical staff how to prevent water hammer. In addition to technician training purposes, we intend to use the facility to test stopcocks, hydrants and valves in relation to water hammer.

Insidious leaks are not always apparent and can therefore persist for years, causing considerable water wastage. As part of a new study, we shall examine the possibilities of using satellite imagery to detect such leaks (sooner). The idea behind the study is that wet soil has a different temperature to dry. Hopefully, infrared readings taken by satellites will assist in detecting such temperature differences.

We also hope to be able to detect leaks more quickly by inspecting pipes, or even prevent them by means of just-in-time replacement of corroded pipes. Inspection tool suppliers are currently developing new technologies in this regard. We therefore intend to assess the applicability and accuracy of such technologies at various locations in our mains network throughout the next few years.

Various activities are scheduled for 2022, with a view to further preparing Vitens to carry out frequent inspections of the mains network, aimed at the geographic marking of status data and points of interest, such as obstacles in the mains network. To this end, we are collaborating with other parties to develop and implement a generic inspection platform for the storage, visualisation and analysis of inspection data.

Drinking water quality in the mains network
The quality of the drinking water emanating from a production site is high. The quality can nevertheless decline in the mains network as a result of reactions and interaction between the drinking water and the pipe material, for example. A new project is about to be launched in which we will examine the possibility of modelling the processes that lead to water quality changes in the mains network. In doing so, we hope to gain a better understanding of the reasons why water quality alters in certain sections of our mains network, while also developing measures to combat quality loss.

The research carried out within the Distribution theme is yielding new technology and useful knowledge with practical applications. Hester Latenstein van Voorst, Network Management & Supply Manager, and theme ambassador Eelco Trietsch are convinced of this. The newly developed knowledge contributes, for example, to the achievement of both Vitens ambition of ‘Every single drop sustainable by 2030’ and more efficient management and maintenance of the mains network.

“Our research is designed to address two major issues,” says Eelco. “What will the mains network of the future look like? And how might we establish the maintenance status of our pipes and fittings by smart and affordable means? We launched the Smart DMA project with a view to addressing the first of these issues. We recently installed smart water meters in homes in the Westeinde district of Leeuwarden. In addition, we fitted various sensors throughout the district distribution network. Based on the measurement data that we collect using this equipment, we hope to gain greater insight into water consumption and into processes that take place in the distribution network. We also trust that this data will enable us to improve our services.”

Safeguarding privacy
“The past few years have been largely spent installing these water meters and sensors. Results have therefore been limited so far. We have nevertheless already learned a great deal,” Eelco continues. “In the roll-out of smart water meters, for instance. This brought all sorts of aspects to light that are also important for Vitens’ other business processes. For example, we gave a lot of thought to how we could guarantee that the data flows were secure, with a view to also safeguarding our customers’ privacy. Furthermore, we have gained experience in how best to distil meaningful information from large quantities of data. This is important to Vitens as a whole, as our business operations are becoming increasingly data-driven.”

“Swiftly detecting and repairing leaks is highly worthwhile and entirely in keeping with our ambition of ‘Every single drop sustainable by 2030’.

Hester adds: “The fact that we measure almost continuously how much water goes into the Westeinde district and how much is used by our customers, enables us to swiftly detect and repair leaks in the distribution network. This is both highly worthwhile and entirely in keeping with our ambition of ‘Every single drop sustainable by 2030’. And the smart water meter also enables us to detect leaks beyond that point, such as a toilet that keeps flushing or a leaking tap. Drawing this to our customers’ attention therefore helps minimise this form of water wastage.”

Innovative technologies
“Our attention has recently been focused not solely on detecting and repairing leaks, but particularly on preventing them,” says Eelco. “Certain leaks are caused by the incorrect operation of valves and pumps. With a view to preventing leaks of this kind wherever possible, we built a test and training set-up, which we use for various purposes including technical staff training. We are also carrying out trials with an electric valve lever that uses a sensor to monitor how quickly a valve is opened or closed, indicates the optimum operation for each type of valve and automatically records the position of the valve in question.”

“We are considering innovative technologies as a means of gaining insight into the condition of pipes, so that we can replace them before they burst.”

“We also endeavour to prevent leaks by replacing pipes just before they become too weak,” Hester explains. “Such just-in-time replacement does, however, imply that we require insight into the current condition of pipes. The tricky thing in this regard is that the pipes are buried underground, which complicates the matter of establishing their state of repair. We are therefore considering the use of various innovative technologies to acquire the information we need. For instance, we are conducting tests with a device that is placed on a valve and listens, as it were, to see if there is a leak somewhere. We are also looking into the possibilities of using fibre-optic cables for leak detection.

Autonomous inspection robot
Eelco: “We are collaborating with other water companies on the development of an inspection robot capable of travelling through a distribution network autonomously. The robot needs to be suitable for pipe diameters of around 100 to 300 millimetres. Provided it works properly, we should be able to further improve our just-in-time replacement approach. Various projects have been launched as part of this theme with an eye to future implementation of the autonomous inspection robot.”

In conclusion, a great deal of research is being carried out in the field of innovation as part of the Distribution theme. The innovative technologies being applied should ensure that leaks can be repaired earlier or even prevented in the future. The newly collected data can also be used to provide better service. These efforts are designed to help Vitens achieve both more efficient management & maintenance and a more sustainable future.

Would you like to contribute to the efforts Vitens’ innovation programme is making within this theme? In that case, please contact us via: eelco.trietsch@vitens.nl or hester.latensteinvanvoorst@vitens.nl.

The availability of natural resources and materials is under pressure in many sectors. Deliveries of new cars have been delayed because chip manufacturers can no longer obtain raw materials, while building materials have recently risen in price due to shortages. In the drinking water sector, pipe materials are currently being hoarded. All sorts of circumstances in the supply chains are putting production lines under pressure. Improving the balance of supply and demand of residual flows is one of the solutions to these issues.

The fact that increased and closer attention has been paid to residual flows in recent times is hardly surprising, says Joost Bouten, sustainability manager at Vitens. “We have remained hugely dependant on primary (fossil) resources up to now. Our dependence both needs to and can be reduced by making the transition to a circular economy. This is an economy in which a high degree of the raw materials contained in discarded products are reused. We at Vitens could do so with the components of our distribution network, including pipes, fittings, valves and stopcocks. These parts are generally made of PE, PVC, brass or cast iron and all contain valuable reusable materials.”

The reuse of materials and resources from products that have reached the end of their service life, also known as urban mining, is more sustainable than using primary resources. Sound information is a prerequisite in enabling the proper reuse of the materials in a product. What materials does it contain, for example, and what is the quality of each constituent? Continuing efforts are therefore being made to bring about the introduction of a material passport, with which to make such information available. Mr Bouten: “We water companies in the Blauwe Netten coalition have therefore formed a workgroup together with pipe material manufacturers and suppliers. The workgroup recently launched a pilot in collaboration with Madaster, the online registry for materials.”

Madaster

“Madaster is a sort of library, where one can acquire and submit information about materials, projects and man-made structures,” Pablo van den Bosch, director of Madaster, explains. “Whenever manufacturers, suppliers, developers and contractors conclude certain agreements, Madaster offers them an accessible repository for all such data. Calculations can then be carried out using this data, which offer insight into the circularity of a building or piece of infrastructure.”

Pablo continues: “We assist Blauwe Netten partners with the utilisation of Madaster. We teach them how to use it, while also explaining how far they can go in the process of documentation. What exactly do you record, to what level of detail, and how do you manage the data? We operate explicitly in an advisory capacity of course, which stops short of carrying out the necessary activities ourselves. We facilitate the repository where all this information can be accumulated.”

*The article continues below the image

Inspiration
Architect Thomas Rau is the founder of Madaster. His vision is that the world is a closed system, where there is no such thing as waste, as everything has value. The prerequisite for this process is that everything also has an identity. In the current economic system, however, waste has no identity. It is therefore important to give discarded products a face, as it were, and to clearly identify their constituents. Mr Rau wrote the book Material Matters on this topic and, in doing so, planted the seed for Madaster.

Asset information
Information is crucial with a view to optimising the use of residual flows. Production processes call for consistent quality of raw materials. Furthermore, supply and demand have to be suitably matched. “To an asset owner, it is important to establish which materials were used, where they are located, and when they will become available,” says Mark Nankman, enterprise architect at Vitens. “We use various systems to record and access asset information at Vitens. These systems support our primary processes, including purchasing & logistics, project and asset management. In linking the material passport to these systems, we hope to contribute to the improved sustainability that Vitens has in mind.”

“The Madaster platform is an important tool in promoting a circular materials chain. However, it is not a goal in itself,” Joost Bouten continues. “The aim is to actually bring about high-quality reuse in practice, and to create the right conditions to achieve this. Circularity applies not only to the purchase of materials, but also to our contracts with contractors, managers and waste processors. The material passport is designed to play a role in all these activities”.

Subsequent steps towards implementation
Once the pilot is completed this autumn, a blueprint will be available that enables all water companies to embed this internally. “The effect of the material passport throughout the chain really needs to be tangible by then,” says Siep Schukken, director of Conval, a brass products manufacturer. In reflecting on the practical side, however, he has to admit that the sector is already doing a great deal in terms of recycling. “High-quality reuse of materials is the next step. To achieve this, all bodies involved need to change their mindset: no longer buying everything new, but making far more use of secondary materials. Reusing materials and products needs to become the option of choice, even if it is not the least expensive one. The material passport can smooth the path in our essential transition to a circular economy. After all, we can always print more banknotes, but the Earth is truly irreplaceable…”

Would you like to contribute to the efforts Vitens’ innovation programme is making within this theme? In that case, please contact us via: joost.bouten@vitens.nl. 

Rapid changes in volume flow cause pressure waves in the distribution network, which can in turn lead to burst pipes and leaks. The careful operation of valves and pumps is therefore essential in avoiding substantial pressure differences. Vitens is therefore constructing a testing and training set-up in Lelystad, to make technicians aware of this vital issue.

“There are various possible causes of pressure waves in the distribution network,” explains Piet Hammink, Vitens’ field services team manager. “When you close a valve, for example, the volume flow changes and the pressure may increase sharply as a consequence. The change in pressure is largely dependent on the rate of volume flow and the speed at which the final twenty per cent of the orifice is closed. This twenty percent closure is actually equivalent to around eighty per cent of the volume flow. This implies that even the slow closure of a large volume flow can cause a pressure peak. Technicians are often unaware of this.”

“Technicians are often unaware of the fact that even the slow closure of a large volume flow can cause a pressure peak.”

“Sharp fluctuations in volume flows are also sometimes the result of a peak in drinking water demand. This is clearly apparent at certain junctures, such as the half-time interval in a football match. A large number of viewers then goes to the toilet almost simultaneously, thus causing a sudden sharp increase in water consumption. We apply equipment including pressure vessels and frequency-controlled pumps, with a view to coping with such rapid changes in drinking water demand and therefore preventing unwanted pressure waves.”

“Moreover, the occurrence and effect of pressure waves depend on the design of a distribution network,” Piet continues. “In a mesh network, for example, the pressure can be distributed in different directions, which implies that the pressure changes are not as great as in a branched network. However, if there is an abrupt change in pressure in a terminal branch of a network, for example by operating a fire hydrant, there is a greater chance that a pipe will burst or spring a leak. Of course, the strength of the pipe network also plays a role in this regard, which is largely dependent on factors including its age and the pipe material.

Targeted training
“Leaking pipes due to unwanted pressure waves are a familiar issue in the drinking water sector,” adds Sjoerd Hermsen, team manager at Vitens’ business office. “Among those that faced the problem on a fairly regular basis was a British company called Anglian Water. This company eventually spotted a clear link between the operation of valves and leakages, and therefore decided to train its technicians accordingly. To this end, it developed a testing set-up that enables technicians to experience first-hand what happens if they close or open a valve too quickly.”

Piet Hammink therefore paid the British company a visit in the spring of 2019, to assess whether its testing facility might also be suitable to train Vitens’ technicians. This proved to be the case, which prompted two further trips in October that year, accompanied by a number of technicians. During these visits, the technicians received training in the control of pressure waves in the network. Piet: “The initial intention was to train all our people at Anglian Water, so they would know how to avoid strong pressure waves. When it became increasingly difficult travel abroad due to the COVID pandemic, however, Eelco Trietsch at our Water Expertise Centre (WEC) encouraged Vitens to build a similar testing and training facility for ourselves in Lelystad.”

“When it became difficult travel abroad due to the COVID pandemic, we decided to build our own testing and training facility in Lelystad.”

*Double click below to watch the video of the Water hammer test installation. The article continues below the video. 

Simulation model
“In designing and developing this new facility, we utilised the knowledge and experience acquired by our British colleagues. However, the expertise in this field present at the Deltares knowledge institute also proved useful to us,” Piet continues. “Deltares developed a mathematical model of the training set-up to calculate the pressure surges to be expected when valves and hydrants are (incorrectly) operated. Various high-frequency pressure sensors enable a technician operating a valve in the test set-up to directly view on a screen what pressure changes it will cause in the distribution network. We had already witnessed how well this works at Anglian Water. For example, even technicians with some thirty to forty years of relevant work experience often had no idea that the method of operation could have such great effect. The reason is that technicians lack a thorough understanding of the pressure waves that are quickly triggered in the network, often within a few tenths of a second. We barely even notice these rapid, short-term pressure changes on our current pressure loggers.”

Hardware testing
“Completed just before the summer, the testing and training set-up is to be tuned during the next few months,” says Sjoerd. “After the autumn, we will start training our own technicians and let them experience in practice what careful operation means and how they can prevent substantial pressure waves. At a later stage, we also intend to make the facility available for the training of other water companies’ staff and firefighters, who also need to learn how to operate fire hydrants properly. We are keen to use the set-up to test fittings, including new valves and stopcocks, too.”

“We also intend to make the facility available for the training of firefighters, who also need to learn how to operate fire hydrants properly.”

Piet Hammink: “We aim to provide practical training. The plan is to first train a few technicians, who can then train their colleagues. The technicians who travelled to England with us all consider it a positive experience, and there is a great sense of enthusiasm among the teams. Some marvellous suggestions have already been submitted, with a view to extending the possibilities of the testing facility. For instance, it has been suggested that part of the set-up’s piping should be made of transparent material, so one can witness phenomena such as dirt being sucked in when a fire hydrant is operated incorrectly.”

Would you like to contribute to the efforts Vitens’ innovation programme is making within this theme? In that case, please contact us via: piet.hammink@vitens.nl of sjoerd.hermsen@vitens.nl.

*This is an article from the magazine Vitens Innovates – Theme Distribution

In Leeuwarden’s Westeinde district, Vitens is investigating whether it can improve its operations and services by installing measuring equipment throughout the distribution network and smart water meters in customers’ households. Micha van Aken, Jentina Schuurman and Jacqueline de Jong talk about sensors, leaks beyond the meter and customer needs.

“We at Vitens we like to know what is going on in the final link of our production chain, the district distribution network,” says Micha van Aken, business development manager. “How long does the water remain in the various parts of the network? What effects does a shorter or longer standing time have on the water quality? And what measures can we take to improve quality? We are also keen to improve the services we provide to our customers. For instance, we would like to give customers more insight into their water consumption, help them save water, and warn them in the event of leaks beyond the meter. To examine whether we might gain greater insight and provide better services, we have set up the distribution network in Westeinde as a smart pipeline network.”

Smart water meters
“The Westeinde district is supplied with drinking water from two of our production plants,” Micha continues. “To measure the amount of water entering to the district, we have installed volumetric meters in its three supply mains. We have also installed a valve in one of the mains, which enables us to remotely control the quantity of water supplied. In addition, we have now installed smart water meters at over 90% of our customers in the district. These meters currently enable us to read the water consumption on an hourly basis, and we will soon be able to do so every five minutes. Comparison of this consumption data with the data on the quantity of water supplied enables us not only to sooner detect leaks in the network, but also issues such as the illegal tapping of drinking water.”

Micha explains that we can learn a lot more from these smart water meters. They also measure the temperature of the water and the surroundings. Using this data, Vitens can therefore establish the extent to which water in the network warms up during hot spells. Furthermore, the meters emit automatic alarms in various circumstances. For example, in case of a backflow of water into the distribution network, or in the event of uninterrupted water usage throughout a 24 hour period. Micha: “The absence of ‘zero consumption’ basically always implies that there is leak somewhere in the domestic system beyond the meter. This includes such issues as a leaky tap or a continually flushing toilet. If we receive such an alarm, we warn the customer in question and advise them to repair the leak. Various leaks at customers’ premises have already been detected by this means, and subsequently remedied.

“The meters emit an alarm in the event of the absence of zero consumption. We warn the customer in that case, as it basically always implies there is leak.”

Water quality
“One of the major research objectives is to expand our knowledge of water quality in the distribution network,” says Jentina Schuurman, project manager at Vitens’ water laboratory. “For example, we are keen to map out how the water from the two production plants is distributed in the Westeinde network and where mixing takes place. To this end, we have installed conductivity sensors at strategic points in the mains network that allow us to distinguish the two types of drinking water. We also use the temperature data from the smart meters. For instance, if the water issued from the network in the summer has a higher temperature in a certain street than elsewhere, this implies that it has probably lain still for longer and is therefore heating up more than in other sections. We then take water samples at strategic points to establish whether there are more microorganisms in warmer sections of the mains network than in the ‘cooler’ ones.”

Improved service provision
“During the period ahead, we are also keen to examine how we might use the smart network to improve our service,” adds Jacqueline de Jong, business development manager. “We therefore have to take stock of our customers’ needs in this regard. We already envisage various possibilities ourselves, however. For instance, customers with the smart meters no longer need to submit their meter readings. We can also alert them to any leaks in their domestic systems. Moreover, we can provide customers with targeted information and advice on water-saving opportunities. We intend to do so as part of our ‘Every single drop sustainable by 2030’ campaign during the years ahead. The great thing about it is that we will soon be able to monitor the effect of an information campaign, as we will know how much water is being consumed.”

“The great thing about it is that we will soon be able to monitor the effect of an information campaign in terms of water consumption.”

Privacy and cybersecurity
Vitens carefully prepared the Smart DMA project and has taken numerous measures to safeguard customers’ privacy. For example, the water meter supplier ensures that the meter readings are forwarded to Vitens by secure means. Vitens subsequently stores the data in encrypted form, so that it cannot be traced back to a specific customer in principle. The data is linked to the relevant address once a month, solely for invoicing purposes. Another privacy measure is the clustering of consumption data per ten addresses. Furthermore, Vitens compliance & privacy officer ensures that (personal) data flows are thoroughly checked.

Would you like to contribute to the efforts Vitens’ innovation programme is making within this theme? In that case, please contact us via: micha.vanaken@vitens.nl, jentina.schuurman@vitens.nl or jacqueline.dejong@vitens.nl.

 *This is an article from the magazine Vitens Innoveert – Theme Distribution