Digital Solutions for Water

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Crumbling water systems, caused by degraded infrastructure, aging parts, and the accelerating pressures of climate change, are costing water companies millions of pounds each year. The cost to replace these assets, or even to keep up with asset maintenance, is causing a strain on already stressed budgets. Safeguarding assets, systems optimization and improved resiliency are real challenges that require effective and innovative solutions.

Every day, about 91 billion gallons of drinking water are lost through leaks, according to the International Water Association. The US Environmental Protection Agency reports that, on average, 14 percent of treated water in the United States leaks out. In some water systems, as much as 60% of water is lost. In its recent report, the UK Environment Agency stated most water companies in 2022 were not meeting basic environmental requirements when it comes to leaks, pollution, flood risk management and drainage and wastewater plans. In the face of increased pressures from accelerating climate change and inflationary pressure on costs, an innovative approach to solving these challenges faster and more efficiently is required.

Our team works around the globe to develop digital water solutions by adopting innovative technologies for the sustainable management of water systems, flood protection, resilience and condition assessment.

Digital systems and solutions for water can lead to more sustainable operations, optimized decision support, improved customer satisfaction, and a lowered environmental footprint, enabling water companies, and local communities to thrive.

Water systems

Our teams offer a holistic approach from strategic advisory and asset investment planning to innovative and practical digital water solutions. The application of Internet-of-Things (IoT) concepts and platforms to water metering and infrastructure management can revolutionize the water sector at all levels. As with all disruptive technologies the approach to implementation is to manage the inherent risk in new initiatives, whilst exploiting the opportunity to benefit from innovation.

At WSP, we examine complex problems from many different angles to help bring your data together in unconventional and smarter ways. By digitally connecting your physical assets, we offer expert insights into maximising your asset value. With a keen understanding of our markets, we can help navigate the explosive growth of online monitoring systems and available data. We offer a range of data analytics and visualization tools to assist in understanding macro issues, empowering our clients and in turn the societies they help nurture.

A reliable data management system can help improve operations and performance of all water systems.

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Flood protection & resilience

Our role is to plan, design, manage and engineer communities that thrive – an impossible mission without effective flood protection and resilience. As the climate changes, it is more important than ever that our towns and cities can adapt to extreme weather, such as frequent heavy rainfall.

We help communities predict, prepare for and mitigate flooding, using digital solutions.

The digital water solutions we develop harness the latest technology such as machine learning to solve the most complex problems.

The vast amount of data we have – on everything from where water flows and how it needs to be treated to what tomorrow’s needs will be – enables us to provide deep insight.

Whether we’re supporting funding and planning decisions, predicting flood levels, measuring the resilience of drainage or assisting with stakeholder engagement, technology plays a key role.

Condition assessment

WSP works collaboratively with utilities to implement the least costly, most innovative testing technologies to determine the health of assets and accurately predict their remaining life. WSP acutely understand the benefits and limitations of the numerous condition assessment technologies currently on the market. We strive to learn and adapt to the emerging technologies becoming available to the wide range of water and wastewater pipe materials in service.

Our independence from any one technology provider allows us to review your needs at a detailed level and make recommendations on a fit for purpose solution. Our key focus is to then provide a prudent and efficient asset renewals program based on your accepted risk profile and budget.

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Services

WSP provides comprehensive services to ensure the successful management of your water systems, including advisory, detailed analysis, system design and project management. By using sensors to link data from the field we can help construct accurate hydraulic models, perform online simulations and accurately manage future demands.

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STRATEGY: MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

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ANALYSIS: PERFORMANCE & CONDITION ANALYSIS

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DESIGN: SENSOR DEPLOYMENT & DIGITAL SOLUTIONS

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MANAGEMENT: SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Digital platforms

Our digital platforms perform a critical role in underpinning our advice and services. These world-leading tools allow us to collaborate across design teams, as well as with clients and the communities they serve; ultimately delivering stronger designs and advice.

Floodly

Using machine learning to predict river levels and flood risk.

WSP’s Floodly uses machine learning to predict river levels and flood risk. Its rapid predictions complement traditional hydraulic modelling, which can be slower, more costly and challenging to apply in complex urban catchments.

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