vodafone.. Combating water shortages with technology
Water scarcity is an increasing global issue and becoming a more prominent one due to recurring extreme weather.
Around 703 million people lack access to clean water and the UN predicts that by 2050, three out of four people worldwide could face drought impacts.
Using reliable technology, we can help improve how we manage this precious resource.
Detecting leaks
In industrialised countries, up to 30 percent of the water supply can be lost in the pipeline network.
That’s why Vodafone Business is partnering with SebaKMT in Germany, a leader in water loss detection and reduction systems, to provide IoT connectivity to its ‘SmartEAR’ sensors.
These sensors use IoT to detect leaks in water pipes by analysing noise and frequency patterns in real-time. The data is instantly sent to SebaKMT's cloud platform, POSEYEDON, via the Vodafone IoT SIM. Vodafone’s Managed IoT Connectivity platform then analyses the data, identifies “leak lines” and presents them clearly in the POSEYEDON backend.
A complete overview of leaks in the entire water supply network is available to view on the dashboard at any time, supporting technicians in the field and allowing for quick repairs.
This is a far cry from when technicians needed to visit a site to retrieve data from the sensors. Often only happening every six months, leaks went undetected for a long time.
Using IoT technology in this way helps prevent economic losses and damage such as erosion.
Preserving water
In Gauteng, the smallest province in South Africa, water loss is at an alarming rate.
At the end of last year, Rand Water revealed that 2.5 billion litres of water is lost daily by its municipalities. This is due to a number of factors, from poor management and ageing infrastructure to theft and water leaks.
Working with Mezzanine, Vodacom Business is launching The Digital Water Tower platform which uses demand management reports, geospatial data, and network topology maps from existing systems to optimise supply efficiency and reduce water losses.
It will be rolled out in two phases. The first will focus on analysing how water is used in areas around the province by gathering existing data from water meter readings and usage reports.
The second phase will see the platform determine when interventions are needed by performing impact assessments, which will also assist in monitoring the efficiency of consumer and supplier services.
This forms part of an initiative by Vodacom and Strategic Water Partners Network (SWPN) to address water security challenges in Gauteng.
A more resilient future
At Vodafone, we understand the positive impact our technology can have on the planet.
By using data insight platforms, we can monitor usage so that wasteful energy and resource consumption is identified and acted upon. This is just another way we’re keeping everyone connected from seabed to stars.