Achieving operational excellence –
How the pipe::scan transformed water quality monitoring

Background

UWSS, an Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) managed facility, is responsible for servicing 66,800 residents in the Leamington area with water sourced from Lake Erie. Covering an expansive service area of approximately 780 km² and delivering water through 900 km of watermains, UWSS plays a crucial role in providing clean and safe water to its customers.

Solution

The first pipe::scan(Opens in a new tab or window) installation took place at the Albuna Water Tower, located near Leamington, Ontario, in April 2022. Recognizing its tremendous value, UWSS extended the implementation by installing a second pipe::scan at the Cottam Booster Station. Both locations now monitor crucial parameters, including: pressure, turbidity, free chlorine, pH, UV254, TOC, DOC, temperature, color, and SUVA.

Pictured above is the finished pipe::scan install at Albuna Water Tower. It measures pressure, turbidity, free chlorine, pH, UV254, TOC, DOC, temperature, color, and SUVA. Maintenance was reduced by 66%, along with 1.3M liters of water saved annually, and virtually no consumables used.

“We transitioned from monthly to quarterly calibrations, resulting in fewer operator interactions, reduced consumable parts, and comprehensive monitoring of a greater number of parameters, while also eliminating water waste. Given all of its benefits, it’s difficult to find a reason not to have a pipe::scan! From transforming legacy processes to providing invaluable information, this device is truly indispensable. In fact, we were so impressed by its capabilities that we decided to acquire two of them.”
– Dale Dillen, Senior Operations Manager at UWSS, OCWA Essex East Hub

Smart cities harness cutting-edge technologies like pipe::scan to achieve a holistic assessment of water quality throughout the entire distribution network, spanning from source to tap. High-density distribution monitoring enables utilities to detect and respond swiftly to specific events.

Conclusion

UWSS’s adoption of the pipe::scan has revolutionized their distribution water quality monitoring practices. With remarkable achievements in water conservation, precise monitoring, and reduced maintenance costs, UWSS has once again demonstrated their commitment to adopting innovative practices and technology. The partnership with Aquatic Life has been a showcase of agile project planning, integration, and a Canadian centric vision for utility advancement.

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