The importance of building trust in real-time sewer control systems networks was recently explored in a World Water-Tech roundtable hosted by Chengzi Chew of Grundfos FutureLab. The topic of the roundtable at World Water-Tech was – Overcoming trust issues:
What does it take to adopt real-time control systems for sewer networks?
Trust must be built among multiple stakeholders. Regulators need assurance about automated systems controlling networks, while better control can help water companies regain customer trust. For operators, real-time control systems function like airplane autopilot—they enhance capabilities but still require human oversight and management. Currently, Grundfos and its telemetry division Metasphere can perform analytics to identify network incidents. The next step is determining what actions to take with this information, with real-time control being one potential pathway. This development requires collaborative research and innovation with water company feedback. Grundfos FutureLab explores new water business opportunities through a structured three-phase innovation process:
Initial idea evaluation, concept development with customer input and prototyping, and incubation of minimum viable products.
The UK is leading in this innovation area due to its regulatory environment with fines for sewage spills, creating clear financial incentives for new technologies. In the US, automated control systems have demonstrated significant cost savings by reducing infrastructure requirements such as storage tanks.
