For many years now, I’ve navigated the complexities of digital transformation within the water utility industry, first in the UK and now Australia. I’ve witnessed first-hand the value of data and technology in the planning, building, and operating lifecycle of water networks. I’ve also observed projects that invested significant time, money, and resources, only to fall short of their intended impact.
While the promise of improved productivity, safety, compliance, and risk reduction is enticing, the reality of achieving sustainable digital transformation is challenging. Utilities grapple with aging infrastructure, budgetary constraints, an ever-changing regulatory landscape, and heightened public expectations. The allure of simply keeping the lights on and resources flowing – or maintaining the status quo – is understandable. However, no business can afford to stagnate, or worse, wait for a catastrophic event to act.
Balancing the cost of future infrastructure investment
Water utilities face a critical dilemma: balancing the upkeep of ageing assets with investments in resilient, future-proof infrastructure. With Australia predicted to face high water stress by 2050, even in optimistic climate warming scenarios, addressing integrated water cycle management in a highly unpredictable environment is a critical concern. Infrastructure Australia’s Securing our Water Future plan demands utilities respond with a comprehensive fit-for-purpose, fit-for-place, and fit-for-people strategy. Geospatial technology, with its inherent spatial capabilities, is pivotal in driving the digital transformation needed for effective fit-for-place solutions.
Faced with the challenge of enhancing water management and security for their communities, Power and Water Corporation made a strategic decision to first prioritise demand reduction over costly infrastructure expansion. Driven by sustainable objectives, a location-focused technology solution was implemented to enable the organisation to identify where residential leaks were taking place and address them directly with customers. What followed was a perfect demonstration of how strategic location data can yield tangible, cost-effective results. With a saving of over a billion litres of loss, Power and Water Corporation effectively deferred the capital expenditure of building a new dam and additional water treatment costs whilst at the same time, stabilising bills for residents.
Managing and predicting risk
In the UK, escalating extreme weather events are driving increased flooding and pollution risks for water utilities. Utilities are turning to data analytics and geospatial technology to predict trends, identify location hotspots, and respond before emergencies occur.
Anglian Water, managing 77,000km of sewers and serving seven million people, sought to proactively address these challenges through an improved maintenance and network performance business model. Leveraging location insights and ArcGIS, they developed the Water Recycling Risk Tool, enabling employees to better understand where future flooding and pollution events are more likely to occur. This innovation targeted more than $2 million (£1 million) in cost savings, and just six months after the Water Recycling Risk Tool was deployed, Anglian Water reduced blockages by 51 per cent. This tool demonstrates the power of understanding where risks are concentrated, a location-driven approach to data insights.
Empowering efficient and safe asset operations
Knowing the precise location, type and condition of every asset is not just a convenience; it’s a necessity. Location intelligence empowers field crews to optimise their routes, minimise wasted time, and, crucially, enhance safety by providing real-time awareness of potential hazards.
Platforms like BYDA and SmarterWX Locate are revolutionising field work, enabling contractors and other organisations streamline their Before You Dig (BYDA) workflows, increase in-field and in-office productivity, and most importantly – reduce risk onsite.
WaterNSW has taken this a step further by equipping its field teams with a mobile solution to access critical groundwater bore information, report incidents instantly, and conduct comprehensive asset condition assessments directly from their tablets or smartphones. This real-time data flow translates to faster response times, improved communication between field and office, and, ultimately, a more resilient and responsive water network.
Where next?
To ensure utilities can continue to innovate with location technology and remain resilient in the face of external pressures, the intrinsic business value of digital transformation must be rigorously defined. Maintaining focus on the ’why’ is key to establishing a clear, strategic vision that the entire organisation can rally behind.
From my experience, recognising digital transformation, innovation, and location driven insights as an integrated process for utilities —encompassing data, people, platforms, and processes—is also paramount. Before considering any technology product, or digital transformation project, business leaders must first establish a clear understanding of the intended outcomes. Only once these are clearly defined can they look to solutions and partnerships to help define the future of their location technology strategy.
About the author
Elleni Rogers is a geospatial technology specialist with a wealth of experience in the critical national infrastructure sector. Throughout her career, Elleni has partnered with key organisations in water, energy, telecoms and transport across the UK and Australia. She’s been a driving force in developing GIS solutions for sustainable network and urban development, enhancing spatial asset strategies, optimising field operations, and boosting emergency situational awareness.
Recently, Elleni presented at GeoSync, a Spatial Technology Summit, where she shared her insights on planning, building and operating the networks of the future. Curious to learn more? You can watch her presentation here.
Want to connect with Elleni? Email her at erogers@esriaustralia.com.au or find her on LinkedIn.
