Water distribution network

IoT detects leaks in the pipe network by continuously measuring flow and pressure and reporting deviations. In the solution from KROHNE and inovex, edge gateways send the readings via MQTT to a platform that triggers alarms when values rise above or fall below limits. Machine learning also detects anomalies and notifies the utility automatically. This means leaks in the fresh water supply are found faster and earlier.

Water loss management pays off because it brings economic and environmental benefits. Economically, it avoids non-revenue water, meaning water that is produced but never billed. Environmentally, it protects limited water resources when leaks in the fresh water supply are noticed earlier. According to the solution examples, more and more regions face water shortages due to climate change, and more and more countries require utilities to record abstraction and consumption.

Without mobile coverage, elevated tanks and wells are connected via a LoRaWAN network. In Oberzent, most sites simply have no reception, says water supervisor Thomas Pirk, who is responsible for 18 elevated tanks together with three colleagues. Since the energy supplier Entega has been operating a LoRaWAN network there, the measuring points send their levels and flows by radio to Netilion. The water supervisors see the entire process on a monitor or tablet.

Data in a water distribution network comes mainly from flow, level and pressure meters. In Oberzent, there are 35 flow, 17 level and seven pressure meters at springs, deep wells and elevated tanks. The WAGO gateway accepts signals from flow meters to door contacts via Ethernet/IP, Modbus, HART or IO-Link. At KROHNE, the connected devices measure water flow, temperature and pressure, among other values.