New perspectives on the horizon at CCWI 2019, Exeter

The first session I attend is on improved techniques for optimisation of distribution networks. A topic on which KWR is actively participating with the recent deployment of the optimisation tool Gondwana. Jochen Deuerlein (3S Consult GmbH) and Olivier Piller (Irstea) present new approaches to optimise for flow control, aimed at preventing intermittent supply which in many countries is still a reality. In the same session, Maria Cunha (University of Coimbra) and Matt Johns (University of Exeter) present novel approaches to improve or speed up to optimal (Pareto front) solutions with numerical optimisation tools.

Predict failure frequencies of mains more accurately

Later that morning Mirjam Blokker presents work supervised by Jojanneke van Vossen. She explains how USTORE (the uniform water mains failure registration facilitated by KWR) and COMSIMA (the probabilistic model to calculate stresses in mains) provide a powerful combination to predict failure frequencies of mains more accurately. Better predictions are relevant to improve decision support systems for pipe replacement programmes of the water companies.

The morning ends with the closure of a great conference. The central conference theme was the digitalisation of the water sector and smart systems. Indeed the conference demonstrates that the focus on water systems modelling and control becomes stronger every year. One clear example was the collaborative effort in realising a digital twin in Valencia, demonstrating new possibilities for real-time monitoring, modelling, and control of water systems. Over the last three days, the latest developments in the water sector have been highlighted, and the CCWI conference has again been successful in bringing together the scientific community and the industry, including water utilities and tech companies.

Next year’s CCWI will take place in Beijing. An event to look forward to!