Aquadvanced water supply: cost-effective production and distribution operations

Aquadvanced water supply is composed of two modules:

• The "Real Time Optimiser" module enhances operational performance and cost savings, with real-time optimised schedules for production and distribution (and up to 48 hours).
• The "Production Planning" module offers optimal water production strategies up to 2 years.

The "Real Time Optimiser" module continuously analyses data from SCADA systems, telemetry and predictive models, including electricity tariffs, reservoir levels, pressure, flow, and asset availability.

By integrating advanced artificial intelligence models with operational expertise from our teams and insights derived from historical data, the solution accurately forecasts future water demand and automatically optimises production and pumping schedules based on demand predictions, existing production volumes, and available storage capacity.

Then, the module identifies the most energy-efficient production and distribution strategies, including optimised production schedules, water source selection, pump and valve schedules, and network path utilisations.
 
The solution is tested against a hydraulic digital twin before being optionally transmitted directly to the SCADA system for real-time implementation. Optimisation cycles are repeated every 30 minutes, enabling continuous adaptation to changing operating conditions.

A simulation module enables testing different operational schedules and estimates their operational impact and cost.

Aquadvanced water supply is a holistic solution, generating benefits across the entire network. It delivers: 

• Reduced energy costs:
  Energy-intensive operations are scheduled when electricity prices are lowest or when self-generated energy, such as solar or wind power, provides the greatest economic benefit. Aquadvanced supports all tariff structures, including real-time spot market pricing, and automatically adapts to changing market and operational conditions.
• Reduced energy consumption:
  Through highly efficient operational planning, running pumps at their most efficient points and system optimisation, Aquadvanced enables customers to consistently reduce energy consumption by 6-8% (kWh/ML). These savings are achievable even where energy tariffs remain flat.
• Reduced production costs:
  When multiple production sources are available, Aquadvanced prioritises those with the lowest operating costs while respecting operational and regulatory constraints. Optimisation includes energy and chemical costs, abstraction licence limits, and other external factors to identify the most cost-effective production strategy.
• Reduced carbon emissions:
  By optimising water production and distribution, Aquadvanced reduces the energy required to deliver water, directly lowering the utility's greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint.
• Event management and dynamic adaptation:
  Aquadvanced water supply continuously monitors and understands system behaviour, automatically responding to operational events to minimise impacts on service delivery. In the event of disruptions, such as a burst main or treatment works outage, the software rapidly re-optimises the network and identifies alternative distribution routes to maintain supply continuity.
• Extend asset life and reliability:
  By minimising unnecessary pump starts and stops, Aquadvanced reduces stress on critical assets.
• Reduced risk of leaks and bursts:
  By minimising sudden pressure fluctuations within the network, Aquadvanced reduces the stress placed on pipes, joints, valves, and other assets. This contributes to lower likelihood of leaks, pipe bursts, and premature infrastructure deterioration.
• Managed water quality:
  Aquadvanced water supply supports water quality by reducing water age across the network, optimising source blending, and smoothing production variations to keep key water quality parameters within target limits. 

Aquadvanced water supply integrates maintenance schedules into the calculation of the operational schedule. The operator is thus assured of continuity of service, but also gains in operational efficiency with, for example, tanks emptied at the correct time before the scheduled maintenance. 

Aquadvanced water supply can optimise network operations during demand response events. It can automatically calculates the potential savings from load shedding on the local market, as well as the load shedding capacity of the network.

 

It controls these events if necessary, and displays flow forecasts, and production strategies upstream and downstream of the load shedding period. It also provides insights into the economic benefits. 

The "Production Planning" module has been developed to address the impact of these challenges on production plans. It calculates optimised production strategies over time horizons ranging from a week to several years. Using the simulation module, the operator can calculate, compare and analyse multiple scenarios, and manage supply in all conditions, including in periods of drought., assessing their operational and financial impact.

Aquadvanced water supply's Production Planning module integrates and analyses forecast water demand, expected inflows, available reservoir storage, production constraints over weekly, monthly and annual planning horizons, and operational factors such as asset availability, maintenance schedules and network restrictions.

Based on this integrated analysis, the platform calculates optimal production and distribution plans, including production targets, operating schedules, source selection and water transfer strategies. It balances demand, storage volumes, operational constraints and energy costs to minimise overall production and distribution expenditure.
The module simulates whether available water resources are sufficient to meet forecast demand and all defined production constraints. Where potential shortfalls are identified, it provides early warning alerts, enabling planners to take proactive measures and maintain security of supply.

The tool enables users to model, simulate and compare a range of planning scenarios, such as drought, average and wet weather conditions. Multiple strategies can be evaluated within a single simulation environment, providing a robust basis for decision-making.
Operators can compare alternative production plans, adjust planning constraints and assess the potential impact of different operating conditions. This allows them to identify risks of water shortages, evaluate mitigation strategies and ensure that supply remains secure throughout the planning horizon.

Whether operating as a standalone planning solution or integrated with existing data systems and field data, the module ensures simulations remain closely aligned with actual network conditions.

By optimising water production and distribution plans, it assists utilities reduce operating costs, minimise the risk of shortages and support the sustainable, efficient management of water resources.

By combining two modules complementing each other, from real-time operational management to strategic planning, Aquadvanced water supply offers operators: 

• a unified vision of energy and network performance,
• optional automated control,
• a measurable reduction in energy costs,
• understanding of operational impacts of climatic risks,
• a more sustainable operation aligned with regulatory requirements.

 

The tool then becomes the digital foundation for a more efficient, more resilient water service.

The Consorci d'Aigües de Tarragona (CAT) faced soaring electricity costs, increasing from €2 million to €5 million annually and accounting for nearly 30% of operating expenditure. By deploying Aquadvanced Water Supply to optimise pumping, CAT cut energy costs by 15%, saving over €1 million in three years while ensuring reliable water supply for 700,000 people. The solution also enabled solar energy integration, making it a key tool for improving efficiency, resilience and sustainability.

Metropolitana Milanese (MM), serving over 3 million people with a 2,300 km water network, manages one of Europe’s most complex urban water systems. Facing a 14% water loss and strict operational requirements, MM adopted Aquadvanced Water Supply to boost efficiency and reduce energy use. Since 2019, the solution enabled an 8% energy saving (€410,000/year) through pump optimisation. Combining AI and SCADA, it ensures accurate demand forecasts and optimal pump scheduling, supporting MM’s digital and sustainable water management goals.