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 […]
Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring
Combating water scarcity with digital water metering
Utility Journalist Disaster Management, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Projects, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0With 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 […]
Single or multistage blowers: maximising efficiency
Kody Cook Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Sponsored Editorial 0Among 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 […]
Unitywater announces stake acquisition of tech company
Kody Cook Company news, Digital Utilities, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News, Water 0Continuing 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 […]
Water Corporation deploys new acoustic leak detection system
Kody Cook Digital Utilities, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News, Pipelines, Spotlight, Water 0In 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 […]
Safe and accurate monitoring for gas control systems
Kody Cook Gas, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Sponsored Editorial 0The 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, […]
Annual NSW bushfire prevention program complete
Yasmin Isaacs Condition Assessment, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Maintenance, News, Projects 0Transgrid 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 […]
New leak detection system for Stanthorpe water network
Yasmin Isaacs Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News, Spotlight, Water 0Southern 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 […]
Smart meter rollout to help Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline
Kody Cook Asset management, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News, Pipelines, Smart meters, Spotlight 0A 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 […]
Property Managers’ Answer to Water Challenges
Kody Cook Asset management, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, IOT, Maintenance, Sponsored Editorial 0Smart 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 […]
Smart water metering: business transformational, not just remote meter reading
Utility Journalist Digital Utilities, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Projects, Smart meters, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0When 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 Council turns the tap on for smart water meters
Utility Journalist Digital Utilities, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Projects, Safety and Training, Smart meters, Sustainability, Water 0Toowoomba 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 […]
Virtual asset assessment: digital intelligence solving network challenges
Utility Journalist Asset management, Digital Utilities, Disaster Management, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Projects, Renewable Energy, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability 0Utilities 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 […]
Achieving renewable-first controls
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Digital Utilities, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability, Wind 0By 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 […]
Four practical ways to implement effective compliance programs
Utility Journalist Asset management, Digital Utilities, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Sponsored Editorial, Stakeholder Engagement 0The 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 […]
The role of digital connectivity in industry 4.0
Utility Journalist Digital Utilities, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, IOT, Sponsored Editorial 0By 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 […]
Think you know how to work near gas pipelines? Think again
Utility Journalist Asset management, Features, Gas, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Pipelines, Projects, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability 0Safety 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 […]
Innovative new excavator GPR technology
Utility Journalist Asset management, Civil Construction, Digital Utilities, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Sponsored Editorial 0Across 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 […]
Local water utilities trialling W-Lab technologies
Tayla Oates Asset management, Civil Construction, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0W-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 installs new IOT sensors in major rollout
Katie Livingston Digital Utilities, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, IOT, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Sydney 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 […]
Network leak detection program rolled out in Griffith City
Tayla Oates Condition Assessment, Digital Utilities, Disaster Management, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Maintenance, News, Projects, Safety and Training 0The 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 […]
Upgraded telemetry network for Warrumbungle water
Tess Macallan Asset management, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0A 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 […]
Simulation tool tests NEM generation and storage links
John Thompson Asset management, Company news, Electricity, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News 0Australian 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 […]
AEMC details recommendations for smart meter uptake
John Thompson Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News, Policy, Smart meters 0The 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 […]
Over 8,000 water metres to be replaced in NSW’s MidCoast
John Thompson Asset management, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News 0New 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 […]
Predictive and Strategic Maintenance in Water/Wastewater Operation: Increase Reliability Using Chesterton Connect
Utility Journalist Asset management, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Maintenance, Sponsored Editorial, Water 0Water 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 […]
Give your water audit a haircut
Lauren DeLorenzo Digital Utilities, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Maintenance, Smart meters, Sponsored Editorial, Water 0No, 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 […]
Combating network leaks with digital technology
Katie Livingston Big Data, Digital Utilities, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Smart meters, Sponsored Editorial, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0For 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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