European Fundend Projects

  • ID:
    projects-591
  • fiwar:
    LIFE16 ENV/DE/000550
  • Project_Acronym:
    LIFE SmartWater
  • Project_Name:
    Demonstration of smart actuators to reduce water losses and energy consumption in water supply infrastructures in Europe
  • Funding Authority:
    LIFE
  • Call for proposals:
    Environment
  • Focus Area:
    Water management and supply,Water scarcity and drought
  • Begin Date:
    2017-07-01
  • End Date:
    2022-09-30
  • Status:
    Completed
  • Budget:
    € 000 917 515.00
  • Description:
    LIFE SmartWater aimed to establish a predictive leakage control system based on the use of innovative valve actuators. This system was installed in the water distribution network of Gouda in the Netherlands. The project aimed to reduce water losses in the pilot area by 50% and achieve associated energy savings. The project planned the use of wirelessly controlled valve actuators for simple and cost-effective retrofitting of buried valves, requiring no changes to the existing infrastructure. By adding a sensor interface, the actuators were to facilitate the upgrade of the valves to 'smart valves', advancing the implementation of intelligent water management solutions. The specific objectives were: equipping valve actuators with an interface for analysing external sensor data and validate the technical feasibility for wireless remote processing of sensor data; simple and cost-effective retrofitting of buried valves for smart water infrastructure upgrades; wireless remote network monitoring, control and action in the water distribution network of the project partner Oasen; deployment of 20 intelligent valve sensor-actuator units to test leakage control algorithms; reducing production costs by 30% to achieve short amortisation times for the valve actuators; export of knowledge and technology in Hungary and the Netherlands during the project period, and preparation of its replication in several other countries according to a clear transferability plan. The project contributed to successful implementation of relevant European policies such as the Water Framework Directive (regarding water scarcity) and the Drinking Water Directive (tackling efficient monitoring, assessment and enforcement of drinking water quality). It also contributed to the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe, as it has helped to reduce water losses in the supply network.
  • Resource:
    https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/LIFE16-ENV-DE-000550/demonstration-of-smart-actuators-to-reduce-water-losses-and-energy-consumption-in-water-supply-infrastructures-in-europe
  • Inland water types:
    Urban water'