Water industry trade body has announced the launch of a new Virtual Networks Group following the successful hosting of Future Water Networks 2020 in November which operated virtually, across three mornings and one afternoon.

‘Smart networks in an uncertain world’ was the theme of this year’s event and UK attendees were joined by delegates from the West Coast of the USA, through to Australia, South Africa, Canada, Ghana and France.

More than 40 experts presented views, ideas and forward thinking, on lessons learned from Covid-19, the net carbon zero journey, Data & AI, Making Sewers Smarter, Innovation and the future.

James Hargrave, Leakage Manager at Anglian Water who will chair the new group said: 

'"I'm delighted to Chair the group and for me, I think this could be the platform to enact how, new ideas and innovations can be physically manifested. The virtual nature of the network is very much around removing the water company boundary lines and creating a UK sector physical network that is virtually managed by way of a 'collective' that steers the trial of technology and sharing of data / outputs so we benefit as a collective and reduce waste by recreating the wheel every time.

Key areas of focus the group will address include:

• Provide templates for testing and reporting of innovative and emerging technologies, to allow objective and robust reporting of trials and evaluations
• Compile and report statistics and numbers on emerging technologies and services
• Allow water companies to communicate their future needs and requirements to the supply chain.
• Store, share and access reports/documentation on trials and evaluations of hard and soft technologies
• Allow water companies to collaborate and identify areas/companies who might be best placed to test different technologies (for example smart cities being used to test and evaluate technologies such as NbIOT, Lorawan other comms tech)

The Virtual Networks Group is targeting a number of outcomes, including the identification of “islands of excellence” that exist around water companies and the supply chain and sharing their knowledge.

It is also aiming to realise the benefits of new and emerging technologies by assessing, evaluating and bringing them to market more quickly.

Dene Marshallsay, Director, Artesia Consulting and a member of Future Water, commented: 

“‘The challenge is to create a virtual place where water company network managers and operators, and the supply chain, can share knowledge and/or collaborate on innovations and emerging products and services aimed at specific areas (such as managing leakage, meeting leakage targets, making sewers smarter) for mutual benefit.’

The group is seeking input from across the supply chain -  click here to register to join