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Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 633 – 640

12th International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry, CCWI2013

ICT for efficient water resources management: the ICeWater

energy management and control approach
M. Fantozzia, I. Popescub*, T. Farnhamc, F. Archettid, P. Mogree, E. Tsouchnikae,
C. Chiesaf, A. Tsertoug, M. Castro Gamab, M. Bimpasg
a
Studio Marco Fantozzi, Via Forcella 29, 25064 Gussago, Italy - b UNESCO-IHE Inst. for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611AX Delft, The
Netherlands - c Toshiba Research Europe Ltd, 32 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4ND, UK - d Consorzio Milano Ricerche, via L. Cicognara 7,
20129 Milano, Italy - e Siemens AG, Corp. Technology, Otto-Hahn-Ring 6, 81739 München, Deutschland - f Metropolitana Milanese, Via del
Vecchio Politecnico, 8, 20121 Milan, Italy - g Inst. of Comm. and Comp. Systems, 9, Iroon. Polytechniou Str., GR-157 73 Zografou, Greece

Abstract

Improving water resource management is a critical issue and is becoming increasingly relevant due to the increase in population
and ageing of infrastructures. In response to this, research and development activities on new solutions supporting a more
rational management are currently performed in many technological areas. Present paper addresses the energy management
problem from the modeling and control perspective, considering optimal pressure management and network sectorization. This
is part of the solutions under development by the European Commission (EC) funded collaborative project ICeWater, which
aims to develop a flexible architecture allowing different water decision support modules to work in an integrated manner.
ICeWater focuses on using a service oriented approach to connect the different systems, enabling higher flexibility to the urban
water utilities. Key areas of focus are improving energy efficiency of water networks highly dependent on energy, as well as
reduction of water loss via innovative leak detection mechanisms. In this paper we present the initial architecture of the
ICeWater system and rationale for its selection, focusing on energy management of the water distribution network, which
enables significant reduction in the pressure and the associated pumping and leakage, and the control logic to practically
implement the sectorisation of the water distribution network and achieve water loss and energy consumption reduction.

©
© 2013
2013The
TheAuthors.
Authors.Published
Publishedbyby
Elsevier Ltd.
Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Selection
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andpeer-review
peer-reviewunder responsibility
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of the CCWI2013Committee.
Committee

Keywords: ICT, sensors network, decision support system, energy management, pressure management, leakage reduction

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +31-15-2151895; fax: -31-15-2122931.

E-mail address: i.popescu@unesco-ihe.org

1877-7058 © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the CCWI2013 Committee
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2014.02.069
634 M. Fantozzi et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 633 – 640

1. Introduction

Ageing infrastructure, budget constraints, in-efficient operation and ensuring good water quality at all times are
some of the significant challenges plaguing water utilities worldwide. These issues have prompted all the
stakeholders i.e. the utilities, technology developers and integrator companies towards new innovations and
operation strategies. However, currently a fragmented approach is employed where innovative products address
different areas (e.g. sensors, monitoring, automation and control). These individual solutions typically do not
collaborate and communicate with each other making it very difficult to comprehend and model the performance of
the whole system, and hence, the global potential for optimization.
In order to address these issues European Commission funded a three years project, ICT Solutions for Efficient
Water Resources Management (ICeWater), with the goal to increase the stability of freshwater supply to citizens in
urban areas by adjusting the water supply to the actual consumption, while minimizing energy consumption
through smart-grid integration and water spillage through leak detection. ICeWater uses wireless sensor networks
for water flow monitoring and provides a decision support system (DSS) for the water utilities so that supply and
demand patterns can be matched in real-time. As an additional benefit, leakage can be predicted with statistical
methods so that water network damages can be mended even before they occur (fix-before-break).
ICeWater uses wireless sensors of various types to provide real-time monitoring of water supply and demand.
Based on the sensor data, decision support systems that facilitate optimization of the water grid network operation
(pumping schedules, pressure etc.) will be developed. The demand management and consumption information will
be accessible online to the relevant actors in the water supply chain (including consumers) and will allows dynamic
pricing schemes with nudge-pricing to motivate behavioral change in customers causing critical consumption
patterns. Services for asset management, such as predicting deterioration, leakage detection and leakage
localization functionalities, will reduce water waste.
In order to achieve all the above goals new networking concepts (protocols, management of virtualized network
resources) are required for better information flow, network resources management and sharing in a service
oriented architecture (SOA). The information gathered with these services allows a better understanding of the
consumers and to improve the effectiveness of the water resource management together with new metering and
pricing schemes.
The technologies developed in ICeWater are tested on two water distribution networks (WDN) case studies: in
Milan (Italy) and Timisoara (Romania). In Timisoara the main problem is leakeage, while in Milan the WDN is
supplied from 30 pumping stations (each fed by a number of pumping wells via transmission lines) and pressure is
maintained in the whole system. Due to different topography and topology in the WDN, this approach leads to
maintaining just above minimum pressures in some parts of the network, and higher pressures in other parts of the
network. The main idea of this use case is that with optimal sectorization the network can be divided in separate
pressure zones (sectors), where optimal pressure (above minimum) will be maintained and managed by supply
from one or several pumping stations.
The ICeWater DSS modules are underpinned and enabled by an innovative ICT platform – systems and network
management and application and data management middleware, featuring:
• Open and standard based architecture
• High performance, high availability
• Data security and safety
• Scalability
• Layered architecture with intelligent communication gateways
• Data models and data and transaction management tools and components.
 M. Fantozzi et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 633 – 640 635

2. The ICeWater DSS

2.1. Architecture of the DSS

The overall structure of the ICeWater system depicted in Figure 1 consists of three layers, starting from bottom
(in field level) to the user level.

ICT-driven
Water-specific Solutions
Services
Decision Support Modules

Data Fusion & Aggregation Real-time Monitoring

IC-Network

ICT solution Water

Energy
...

Online Sensing and Monitoring In-Network Data Proceessing

Intelligent Water network components

Actors & Sensors
Intelligent Sensors

Fig. 1. ICeWater system layered architecture

The three layers are as follows:

- Layer 1: Sensors, data loggers, smart meters, other intelligent electric devices (IEDs) used to retrieve state
information, alerts, any relevant physical parameter from the water supply infrastructure at all levels – in
this structure are also included parameters collected through existing SCADA and passed through to the
ICeWater upper layers,
- Layer 2: IT/IC layer, where all data gathered are cleaned, normalized, aggregated and stored in order to be
made available to the upper – decision support system (DSS) layer,
- Layer 3: the DSS layer, consisting of different modules which provide either online or offline
functionalities to the user.

2.2. Modules of the ICeWater DSS

The DSS solution consists of five functional modules as shown in Figure 2

1. Water Loss Management (WLM)

2. Water Operation Support (WOS)
3. Water Supply System Planning (WSSP)
4. Water Demand Management (WDM)
5. Water Asset Management (WAM)
636 M. Fantozzi et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 633 – 640

The modules are underpinned by a water infrastructure information module (WI2M) – a data repository
storing all relevant water management and planning information and attributes. WLM and WOS are online
modules that are used in the operation phase while WSSP, WDM and WAM are designed for the offline planning
phase. The end users trigger the requested functionalities and display outputs from DSS via a user interface
(customizable) layer.

Figure 2. ICeWater DSS modules

The following sections describe the preparatory actions as well as the concepts and methodology applied in the
creation of the Abbiategrasso pressure management zone (PMZ), originally fully connected with WDN of Milan.

3. Preparatory actions for pressure and energy management in Abbiategrasso pilot of Milan

The PMZ has been designed by means of network analysis tools in order to verify that demand is guaranteed at
all demand conditions. The optimization methodology applied to the water system includes the use of both network
analysis and leakage management models which allowed the calculation of leakage level and of the obtainable
benefits (leakage reduction, bursts frequency reduction etc.) associated with introduction of pressure management,
the identification of the PMZ boundaries, the definition of most appropriate pressure management modalities and
the design of a real time pressure control system.
Abbiategrasso area is located in the lower part of the city of Milan and is characterised by high pressure. The
creation of the Abbiategrasso PMZ (including 116 km of mains and 1628 connections mainly high residential
buildings) allows to reduce the pressure by around 20 meters, significantly reducing leakage, bursts frequency and
energy consumption in the zone.
In order to guarantee water supply even in case of local black out effecting the Abbiategrasso plant,
Abbiategrasso PMZ in Milan will be connected to the Milan WDN by means of a pressure reducing valve (PRV)
capable (in case of need/emergency) to feed the Abbiategrasso PMZ at the same level of pressure.
 M. Fantozzi et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 633 – 640 637

4. Pressure and energy optimisation and control

4.1. Pressure management approach implemented in Milan

Pressure Management, according to definition of the IWA Water Loss Specialist Group is: the practice of
managing system pressures to the optimum levels of service ensuring sufficient and efficient supply to legitimate
uses and consumers, while reducing unnecessary or excess pressures and eliminating transients and faulty level
controls all of which cause the distribution system to leak unnecessarily. Water distribution system should be
divided in Pressure Management Zones (PMZ) in order to optimize the benefits achievable by Pressure
Management. Measuring pressure is needed to identify if there are surges, excess pressure, low pressure, head loss.
Pressure, in this respect, should be measured at the inlet point of each PMZ (and distribution district) and at
other two points inside the PMZ:
• at the Critical Point of the system to determine excess pressures and to calculate the benefit of pressure
management
• at the Average Zone Point of the system to determine the pressure/flow characteristic and the relationship
between maximum pressure and bursts frequency.
Pressure measurements at the inlet point, at the Critical Point and at the Average Zone Point are shown in Fig.3.
In addition it is important tocheck for the presence of surges by short-period pressure measurements (1/10
second time interval or less).
The presence of Pressure Transients (PTs) in the network represents a real threat to the integrity of the water
distribution system. The PTs in fact are responsible for very heavy shocks and stresses that generate breaks of
mains, convections seals and instrumentations too. In a network affected by PTs, the repair of faults without the
radical elimination of the cause is an expensive and sterile exercise that can go on forever without reaching an
acceptable situation. The identification and elimination of PTs therefore represents a very important step for
infrastructure protection and service reliability.
The development of pressure transients is due to pumps and valves operation, air pockets that can form at high
points and uncontrollable events such as power failures and other equipment failures.

Fig.3. Pressure measurements at the inlet point, at the Critical Point and at the AZP

4.2. Pressure and energy optimization and control system

In order to achieve/optimise the benefits achievable by Pressure Management, once the optimal solution for
Water Distribution Sectorization has been identified and approved by the utility, the practical implementation of
sectorization and pressure optimization requires the installation/closure of valves in the distribution system as well
as the installation of a control system capable to control/manage pumps/PRVs in newly created Pressure
Management Zones (PMZ).
In case of direct pumping, pressure optimisation can be achieved by Pump Control. Pump control monitors the
network, develops a control model and tells the pump to provide just the right amount of pressure to meet the
correct level of service at the critical point.
638 M. Fantozzi et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 633 – 640

If the pump is fitted with a variable frequency drive (VFD), the VFD varies the frequency that’s driving the
pump in order to regulate or vary the outlet of the pump. Therefore it is possible to command the manifold pressure
and by installing a controller taking flow and pressure data from the inlet point and the pressure at the critical
point(s), it is possible to control the VFD directly from the controller.
This way the VFD can be fed with information (learned from historical data) about what manifold pressure we
want in order to compensate for that flow related head loss in the network to achieve the optimal pressure and the
lowest critical point pressure.
In case of PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) controlling one or more VFD (as in large pumps installation)
than the controller is linked to the PLC with the information that are needed to maintain the pressure constant at the
critical point and providing that confidence that pressure remains above the minimum level of service. Pressure
optimisation in case of direct pumping s shown in Figure 7.
By doing it constantly, adjusting the pumps to the optimum level it is possible to minimise leakage level and
bursts frequency in the zone as peak pressures are diminished. But because energy consumption by pumps is
related to both the flow rate through it and the manifold pressure that is being delivered we are reducing the energy
as well. In fact pump control can cut energy costs dramatically, and improve an entire water system. Because this
solution optimises pressure at the pump, its benefits extend throughout a water company’s network, including each
water zone affected by that pump. Also, pump control allows water networks without PRVs to get the benefits of
advanced pressure management.
In case of gravity supply pressure optimisation can be achieved by installation of a Pressure Reducing Valve
(PRV) modulating pressure at entry point to keep the pressure at the minimum level of service in the system at the
critical point.
In the case of Abbiategrasso PMZ in Milan, fed by direct pumping, pressure optimisation is achieved by pump
control. But, in order to guarantee water supply, even in case of local black out effecting the Abbiategrasso plant,
Abbiategrasso PMZ will be connected to the Milan WDN by means of a PRV capable (in case of need/emergency)
to feed the PMZ at the same level of pressure.
The control system is designed to manage in an integrated way both the pumps and the PRV in order to
maintain a constant level of pressure at the critical point.
Figure 4 shows the scheme for practical implementation of water distribution sectorization and pressure
optimisation in Abbiategrasso PMZ in Milan.

Fig. 4. Pressure Optimisation in Abbiategrasso PMZ in Milan

 M. Fantozzi et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 633 – 640 639

The presence of Pressure Transients (PTs) in the network represents a real threat to the integrity of the water
distribution system. The PTs in fact are responsible for very heavy shocks and stresses that generate breaks of
mains, joints and instrumentations too. In a network affected by PTs, the repair of faults without the radical
elimination of the cause is an expensive and sterile exercise that can go on forever without reaching an acceptable
situation. The identification and elimination of PTs therefore represents a very important step for infrastructure
protection and service reliability.
In MM system some pressure sensors will also able to catch the water hammer by monitoring the transients
through the pressure sensors that vary the sampling frequency (<1/10 sec) when the pressure exceeds a maximum
value. With a frequency of (at least) 50 Hz the logger records in its local memory only the portion of the pressure
trace concerning the captured PTs, and it records the events combined with date and time. In order to save energy,
records are sent to the Operational Centre in CSV format files, only once a day.

5. ICeWater solutions for energy management in Milan water distribution network

Energy consumption represents a key component of the budget of a water utility like MM as about 90% of that
energy is consumed by pumping systems. In view of the above it is clear that developing and implementing
solutions that can significantly drive down the cost of the energy used, is the right approach and important factor in
modern water delivery systems.
The DSS solution developed in ICeWater enables to save on energy costs by taking operational decisions which
are both performance and cost oriented.
Reduction of energy consumption in water system operation will be achieved by improving efficiency of the
pumping system while guaranteeing the optimal level of service. This optimization activity includes:
• checking efficiency of pumps at wells and in the distribution system,
• analyzing pumping needs in relation to consumption patterns and periodical variations,
• identifying pumps which need replacement as their efficiency is actually too low,
implement proportional pressure control to ensure constant tap pressure at the consumer as opposedto a
constant pump discharge pressure,
• determine the optimal pump configuration to meet the utility’s objectives for cost-efficiency,
• identifying pumps operation which optimises filling the storage tanks during periods of low tariffs and then
exploits the capacity of the reservoirs at times of peak tariffs.

6. Conclusions

This paper has provided details of the ICeWater energy management and control approach, which is being
developed within the project, including the preparatory actions implemented by Metropolitana Milanese to allow
the application of the DSS. Work is ongoing within the project to refine the architecture and prepare the necessary
solutions for the trials to realise and verify the proposed approaches. This includes the integration of the various
solution aspects that are required including intelligent sensors, communication infrastructure, middleware and
decision support modules. The overall cost / benefit of the solutions will also be evaluated to determine the
realisable impact of the proposed approaches to water distribution networks.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the European Union ICeWater project - ICT 317624. See www.icewater-project.eu.

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