For water and wastewater treatment facilities, it’s easy to think of reliability, sustainability and efficiency as separate challenges – but these three things are intrinsically linked.
Energy and water have always been deeply interconnected. These essential resources depend on each other as much as we depend on them, and when it comes to meeting Australia’s looming net-zero deadlines both sectors have a critical role to play.
While electricity is often at the centre of the conversation, net zero means more than just transitioning to renewable energy – it means decarbonising the way we use that energy, and being mindful of the amount of energy we use.
For water and wastewater treatment facilities, making smart use of their energy and resources not only goes a long way towards cutting out their carbon emissions, it often also increases reliability, reduces costs and helps safeguard our natural environment.
This sounds ideal in theory, but tearing down every single plant and replacing them with a more efficient facility is just not reasonable. So, what can utilities do to make their existing assets more efficient, reliable and sustainable?
To find a solution, Utility sought help from decarbonisation technology expert and ABB Australia National Sales Specialist – Continuous Water Analytics, Dr Bella Garg.
Controlling your power
Dr Garg said that water is just too valuable to manage blindly, and she explained that the key to improving not just the energy efficiency, but the reliability and the sustainability of a facility is having complete control over the treatment process.
ChloroStar, pH,ORP, DO, and Turbidity/TSS. Image: ABB
“Utilities can optimise energy use by shifting from reactive to proactive operations,” she said.
“Energy-intensive processes like aeration and pumping are often overrun ‘just in case’ due to lack of precise, real-time data. But by using accurate continuous analysis, plants can tune operations more precisely thereby reducing overuse of blowers, adjusting chemical dosing, and cutting unnecessary treatment steps. This translates
The benefits of fine-tuning plant operations extend beyond power usage, however, and Dr Garg explained that when operators can leverage real-time data, they can improve the reliability and the environmental outcomes of their facility too.
“Continuous analysers like ABB’s UviTec provide real-time data on key organic parameters, such as BOD, COD and TOC, which enables faster decisions,” she said.
“Unlike traditional lab methods that take days, UviTec delivers actionable insight in seconds. That means utilities can detect organic shocks early, avoid over-treating, and stabilise processes efficiently. This level of process control is essential to both operational optimisation and energy efficiency.”
Dr Garg said that ensuring a water or wastewater plant’s treatment processes perform as intended under all conditions, regardless of whether you’re dealing with sudden inflow changes or seasonal shifts in water quality, is non-negotiable.
“Failing to meet capacity or quality standards can lead to permit violations, environmental discharge risks, increased operating costs, and in some cases, public health concerns. Reliable monitoring is foundational to sustainable and compliant operations,” she said.
Dr Garg also highlighted some of the hidden risks that can impact the reliability of treatment facilities over time.
“This includes outdated instrumentation, infrequent sampling, poor data resolution and unpredictable spikes in organic load,” Dr Garg said.
“But one of the most overlooked issues is reliance on laboratory analysis alone, which introduces time delays
“Over time, these blind spots reduce responsiveness and lead to treatment inefficiencies or compliance issues that could have been avoided with real-time monitoring.”
According to Dr Garg, without the ability to make informed, real-time decisions, utilities open themselves up to operational inefficiencies that can add unnecessary costs and impact the reliability of a facility.
Dr Garg said that on top of delayed response times, a lack of insight can lead to excessive chemical usage due to precautionary dosing, and equipment fouling that leads to sensor inaccuracy.
“Manually intensive testing workflows also add labour and consumable costs. Without smart monitoring, facilities often treat to the worst-case scenario, driving up costs and reducing resilience,” she said.
“Advanced analysers automate, simplify and accelerate water quality monitoring. ABB’s UviTec uses UV-Vis spectrophotometry to provide accurate measurements without reagents or sample preparation, and its fast response time means operators can make immediate, informed decisions.
“Automated cleaning and calibration options also reduce manual intervention and support long-term reliability, even in challenging environments.”
However, when it comes to choosing an analyser solution, Dr Garg said it’s very important that utilities to consider the total cost of ownership – not just the initial cost of the device. While a device might have a lower initial investment, if it’s not fit-for-purpose it can lead to higher costs in the long run.
“Utilities should look for analysers with low total cost of ownership, robust accuracy in varying conditions, simple maintenance, and compatibility with SCADA or digital platforms. Flexibility in installation form factors like probe, bypass, or portable is also important,” Dr Garg said.
According to Dr Garg, the main analyser technologies available include colorimetric analysers, which use reagents; electrochemical sensors, which are suited for specific parameters but with limited application range; and UV-Vis spectrophotometry, which is reagent-free and ideal for organics like BOD, COD, and TOC.
When it comes to selecting the right solution for your facility, Dr Garg said that utilities should consider several key factors.
“Accuracy, ease of calibration and long-term reliability should top the list,” Dr Garg said.
“Other considerations include maintenance requirements, service intervals, support availability, and the analyser’s ability to adapt to complex water matrices.
“For example, UviTec allows site-specific calibration, ensuring precision in diverse applications like dairy, municipal or industrial wastewater. That kind of adaptability is key.”
For Dr Garg, the choice of supplier is just as important as the product itself.
“The right supplier isn’t just providing a product – they’re enabling long-term process stability,” she said.
Your supplier needs to be able to give you detailed and up-to-date advice, and take the time to really understand the unique needs of your facility.
“It’s a partnership, not just a transaction,” Dr Garg said.
“As the sector continues to evolve under regulatory and environmental pressures, embracing continuous monitoring isn’t just an upgrade, it’s the future.
“Real-time insights make treatment smarter, safer and more sustainable – and technologies like ABB’s UviTec help utilities and industries not only respond faster but optimise processes proactively.”
ABB has more than 50 years of expertise in water instrumentation, and the company’s analysers are engineered for application, precision, durability and real-world usability. The company leverages insights from its global R&D and combines this expertise with its digital integration capabilities to tailor a solution that works for you, not the other way around.
But what sets the team apart is their commitment to customer support, and their genuine passion for the industries they operate in.
“I transitioned into the water sector after many years in the oil and gas, carbon capture and hydrogen industries,” Dr Garg said.
“And Coming from that background, where safety, reliability and environmental operations are non-negotiable, I was struck by how under-recognised the water sector is, despite being just as critical.
“We often take access to clean water and treatment services for granted, yet these services are foundational to public health and environmental sustainability.
“Energy and water are deeply interconnected, and the challenges of decarbonisation have made that clearer than ever. It’s time we give water the strategic importance it truly deserves as part of a broader energy-water nexus that shapes our future.”
For more information, visit the ABB website or contact bella.garg@au.abb.com for expert advice
