Sydney Water has rolled out a $2 million pilot smart meter program, which has already reduced the average bill by $70 for residents across Liverpool, Beecroft, Bellevue Hill and Kenthurst, where 7,500 smart meters were installed. Residents saved 28,000L of water between April and November 2023 after Sydney Water sent 313 early leak detection notifications. Sydney Water’s Head of Customer […]
With the arrival of El Niño comes pressing concerns for water security and inevitable water restrictions as utilities are faced with the challenge of limited water supply. Equipping consumers with water consumption data allows them to keep a close eye on their water usage, and reduce water waste at a time when every drop counts. As we approach the hot […]
Among centrifugal compressors and blowers, single stage is on average 20–29 per cent more efficient than multistage. This is because, as the name suggests, multistage machines achieve the required pressure in multiple stages widening the opportunity for leakage, whereas single stage machines achieve this in a single step. The Next Turbo Technology integrally geared, single stage centrifugal blower, manufactured in […]
Continuing the growth of its commercial investment portfolio, Unitywater has this month acquired a minority stake in Australian business Detection Services Group. Unitywater has announced the acquisition of a minority stake in Detection Services Group, which is expected to accelerate the utility’s adoption of advanced technology for managing its pipeline networks. The acquisition is also expected to further diversify Unitywater’s […]
In an Australia-first project, cutting-edge distributed acoustic sensing technology is being deployed beneath Perth’s CBD by Water Corporation to detect leaks in the water network. The project, by Perth-based Terra15 Technologies, turns existing fibre-optic cable in the city into a giant acoustic leak detection network to detect water leaks before a pipe bursts. Laser light is pulsed through a thin […]
The close control of toxic and/or combustible gases requires specialised technology for the continuous monitoring of analysers to ensure their safe and effective use, protecting employees and ensuring end-product quality. Validation of uninterrupted flow to the analsyer is necessary to alert system operators should the analyser fail to measure or operate for a range of reasons, including blocked sample tubes, […]
Transgrid has carried out safety management procedures such as helicopter inspections, thermographic surveying and network maintenance over thousands of kilometres to help prevent bushfires within New South Wales. As part of the program, Transgrid performed helicopter inspections, aerial imagery, 3D laser scanning, thermographic surveying, vegetation management and network maintenance to help local communities prepare for the upcoming summer. Transgrid’s 2023 […]
Southern Downs Regional Council, Unitywater and software provider TaKaDu are partnering to roll out a 12-month leak detection trial in Stanthorpe, which is expected to help the town manage a more sustainable water supply. This software, which has saved Unitywater $35 million and 11 billion litres of water in the last decade, aims to reduce water loss, identify leaks before […]
A major smart meter rollout is set to be part of the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline project following a demonstration of the technology by Southern Downs Regional Council in Stanthorpe. Around 9,000 meters will be installed throughout Warwick, Allora, Yangan, Killarney, Dalveen, Leyburn, Wallangara and Pratten, which will provide real-time data on water volumes used and pipe flow rates, to […]
Smart metering is helping facility and property managers face the challenges of understanding water usage and reducing costs. If left unchecked, leaks and inefficient water use can result in poor ESG outcomes, high water bills, and building damage – it can also destroy a good NABERS Water rating. Smart meters use a data display and analysis system like UtiliOS, which […]
When examining a Smart Water Metering (SWM) project, the initial focus is often the smart meter, communications and meter management software. However, Taggle Systems has found long-term project and business success is driven by other considerations. Sure, within a SWM project the meter metrology, battery life, telemetry and ultimately the data delivery by the Meter Data Management Systems (MDMS) are […]
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is in the process of implementing an automated water meter reading system that helps conserve water, supports operations and improves the customer service experience for its customers throughout the region. External consultants were engaged, a proof of concept trial was undertaken and in March 2023, the first of the smart water meters were installed. As a […]
Utilities across Australia and the globe are increasingly turning to the potential of digital data and digital intelligence to assess the condition of assets. The use of digital technologies and data analytics is disrupting traditional business models, changing the way linear assets are designed, built, inspected, and operated. The COVID-19 pandemic, technological advancements, and regulatory changes, as well as the […]
By Daniel Watson, Automation Solutions Innovator, Yokogawa Distributed energy resources such as solar and wind are pivotal for reaching net zero energy goals, however, the intermittent nature of these renewables can cause an influx of many un-coordinated distributed energy resources that can threaten the reliability of a power grid. However, the solution lies in intelligent and advanced control platforms that […]
The utility sector is one of the most regulated in the country, if not the world. The quantity and complexity of regulation applying to the industry is increasing daily, as are the penalties for non-compliance. Compliance is moving from an abstract concern to an area requiring direct and focused attention. This article explores four practical ways that leaders in utility […]
By now, many of us have heard the term Industry 4.0. The promises of using technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to create a more interconnected, automated, and intelligent operational environment are inspiring and exciting. With this in mind, connectivity is the foundation layer and first step to digital transformation. Connectivity […]
Safety is vital when working near gas pipelines, which in the worst case can result in death or injury. Here, Australia’s largest pipeline operator APA outlines some common mistakes people make when working near its 15,000km of transmission pipelines. APA owns and operates networks that deliver half of the natural gas used in Australia. Work conducted by other utilities is […]
Across Australia and the globe, EJ is relied upon to design, manufacture and distribute exceptional access solutions for vital infrastructure projects. These projects support the stormwater, wastewater and telecommunications networks necessary in modern society. Fully integrated into an excavator bucket, the LDR Excavate brings RodRadar’s unique high-resolution, ground-penetrating radar imaging into the operator’s cabin during excavation and earthworks projects. Available […]
W-Lab is a technology program, created in partnership with the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), Isle Utilities and ThinkPlace, to identify the key challenges and to unite the local water industry in strategic problem solving. A W-Lab Roadmap was originally created in 2020 to present solutions to the local water industry, using innovative technologies. This roadmap was revitalised and […]
Sydney Water is undertaking the first wastewater monitoring Internet of Things (IoT) deployment of its scale in Australia, which is saving hundreds of thousands of dollars per month in potential blockages. The agreement will see Sydney Water spend $15 million dollars to install over 26,000 blockage detection devices across 4,600km of wastewater infrastructure by June 2024. Sydney Water has already […]
The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) has invited Griffith City Council to participate in a two-month pilot Network Leak Detection Program. As part of the pilot program, specialist water network leak detection contractors will undertake on-the-ground surveying to identify water leaks in the Griffith Local Government Area (LGA) from 11 April 2023 for a period of […]
A million-dollar upgrade for Warrumbungle Shire’s water telemetry network will allow the local council to have a real-time snapshot of water and sewerage facilities so they can identify issues as they happen. The Warrumbungle Shire Council’s network consists of 45 sites including water treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, sewerage treatment plants across the region. Each of these assets provides vital […]
Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) world-first Connections Simulation Tool will work by allowing users to study simulations of new generation and storage projects against the power system model, connecting to the National Electricity Market (NEM). Having recently completed industry testing, the Connections tool will reduce risks, cost and time to progress large volumes of new energy projects needed to maintain […]
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has published a draft report, detailing 20 recommendations for the acceleration of smart meter deployment in the National Electricity Market. The AEMC claims that a faster replacement of legacy meters will enable consumers to access the benefits smart meters can provide. The draft recommendations and options in the Review of the Regulatory Framework for […]
New South Wales’ MidCoast Council will soon replace over 8,000 15-year-old water metres as part of its asset renewal program. The undertaking will begin in Bulahdelah on Tuesday 4 October 2022, and is expected to take six-months to complete. After beginning in Bulahdelah, the program will move to Stroud, Stroud Road, Gloucester and Barrington. Additional areas will be announced once […]
Water operation facilities face a continual battle to increase reliability, reduce costs and save both water and energy. One of the greatest culprits is that of seal and packing failure – something that is exacerbated by many of the challenges faced by maintenance teams, including: An ageing infrastructure Environmental regulations Water consumption Energy consumption Safety One of the biggest issues […]
No, we are not suggesting you need an umbrella-like haircut to do a water audit. We are saying, though, to cut the scope and cost of your water audit and invest that money into smart metering instead. Why? Traditional water audits spend an excessive amount of time – and thus money – counting toilets and other water-using fixtures of […]
For Australian water utilities, non-revenue water is a continuous challenge, with no clear solution at scale. Andrew Forster-Knight, General Manager of Digital Utility at South East Water, discusses how digital solutions are enabling utilities to identify and locate network leaks. Network leaks have a number of serious consequences for water utilities, including the wastage of a finite resource, loss of […]
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