WSUP showcased its innovative digital and technology solutions to transform water management and expand water access across Africa at the just concluded 2024 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition.
During a plenary session titled “Going Digital: Progress in the Digital Transformation of Water and Sanitation Services,” WSUP’s Head of Water, Ms. Rosemary Campbell, shared WSUP’s pioneering efforts in implementing digital solutions to improve water utilities in several African countries, including Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, Ghana, and Uganda. The keynote address, “Smart and AI-enabled PUB,” was delivered by Ong Tze-Ch’in, Chief Executive of Singapore’s Public Utilities Board, setting the tone for the session.
Campbell addressed the critical issue of non-revenue water (NRW), which often exceeds 50% in many regions where WSUP operates. “NRW represents a significant climate change challenge. The wastage of precious water resources and energy means that water often doesn’t reach vulnerable communities. Our digital solutions are designed to address this,” she explained.
One of the standout examples Campbell highlighted was in Madagascar. Over the past 15 years, WSUP has established 53 District Meter Areas (DMAs) in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital. These DMAs, equipped with 23 smart locks for remote monitoring, have saved approximately 6,000 megaliters (ML) of water, providing nearly 800,000 people with access to water for the first time. “In one specific DMA, our pilot of Intelligent Network Management ensured continuous water supply at constant pressure, saving half an ML per day and over $150 daily,” Campbell noted.
In Mozambique, WSUP has set up DMAs in Maputo and Beira, with remote monitoring linked to the control room in AdRMM. Similarly, in Beira and Lusaka, Zambia, WSUP has implemented remote control and pumping regimes powered by solar panels. These initiatives have mirrored the successes seen in Madagascar, fostering a sense of ownership and enthusiasm among staff to reduce leakage and understand the network better.
Campbell emphasized the importance of digitizing data and field operations. “Utilities often lack comprehensive data and rely on logbooks that aren’t digitized. By equipping field staff with tablets and using open-source mapping, we can record assets and carry out detailed customer surveys,” she said. In Uganda and Ghana, this approach has identified illegal connections, missing meters, and opportunities for new connections, enabling utilities to develop hydraulic models and consider the concept of a digital twin.
Prepaid meters, ATMs, and staff interactions with customers have significantly increased revenue and customer satisfaction in several areas. “We’ve seen application rates for new connections quadruple and customer satisfaction ratings rise with continuous water supply,” Campbell reported.
Campbell also discussed the need for comprehensive IT systems in utilities, covering finance, HR, water quality, customer care, and operations.
“We help utilities develop dashboards for senior management, ensuring efficient decision-making,” she explained.
Reflecting on the example set by Singapore’s PUB, Campbell stressed the importance of system change for sustainable impact.
“Technology only works if attention is given to the human element and management processes. While there is a long way to go, our goal is to guide our partners towards this vision, one step at a time,” she concluded.
Deepa Karthykeyan, Partner and Co-Founder of Athena Infonomics, USA, moderated the session. Other panellists included Dragan Savic, Global Advisor on Digital Sciences at KWR and Professor of Hydro-informatics at Exeter University, UK; Mike McGann, Senior Vice-President of XYLEM, USA; and Cecilia Wennberg, Executive Vice-President of DHI Group, Sweden.
Together, they provided a comprehensive overview of the digital transformation in water and sanitation services, highlighting innovative approaches and successful case studies worldwide.