Company's Solutions

Nowadays, water utilities strive to improve customer services and increase operational efficiencies. A major effort is invested in NRW reduction, as well as in smart metering. The wide deployment of LTE NB-IOT cellular technologies, opens significant opportunities for applying this technology for various utility applications. This document presents several novel IOT solutions that have been developed specifically for water utilities. The document describes how these technologies can support the utility's effort to improve its service level and its operational efficiencies in water supply.

IOT Technologies International develops, manufactures and markets IOT solutions for water utility companies. For many years, data collection was limited by the capabilities of traditional SCADA systems. IOT Technologies International and it R&D subsidiary (Mitel Communications), is a leading developer of wireless AMR/AMI systems, has extended its expertise in metering solutions and developed a suite of utility IOT products and solutions, including data acquisition endpoints, connectivity management software as well as a portal for data analytics. Miltel's battery-operated CellPointTM offer a unique solution for water utilities, complementing the SCADA system, while enhancing the smart metering venture. The CellPoint supports data logging capabilities and event monitoring for consumption, flow, pressure, and other operational parameters. The company's solutions are based on RF wireless communications, or 4G cellular technology. These data acquisition solutions are complemented by the company's software platform - DataSense - a comprehensive data management software portal that offers reporting, trend analysis, threshold alerts, displays history of events, and data analytics capabilities.

Pressure Monitoring - Monitoring water pressure in the distribution system is an essential component of managing the water supply. Tracking pressure values over time provides critical operational information for detection of problems as they develop. Most utilities monitor the pressure at the pump stations, water tanks, reservoirs, and other production sites. Pressure monitoring at remote locations has been a challenge due to the lack of power supply and communication lines. Modern IOT cellular technology opens new opportunities for collecting pressure data at remote sites. The Pressure Monitoring CellPoint is an IOT device that operates on a built-in battery and collects pressure data 24-7, at intervals of at least 15 minutes.

The ability to monitor pressure peaks and pressure drops, provides the utility companies with the means to monitor and study the change of pressure over time, as well as react in real time when sudden events occur. Pressure loss can cause contamination of the groundwater system. Pressure fluctuations can also affect the physical integrity of the pipes. Pressure increases can lead to leaks, major breaks and further reduce the life of the infrastructure. Gradual pressure decrease can be an early indication of a development of a crack/leak that will eventually lead to a burst pipe. Furthermore, a sudden loss of pressure provides an indication of either a pump malfunction, hydraulic resistance due to a problematic valve or as a result of a sudden pipe rupture. Exact pressure data enables system operators to reduce leakage volumes, energy costs, system maintenance costs, customer complaints, as well as mitigate problems with water quality.

Asset Management - Most water utilities face a logistical challenge of assets being spread over wide areas with many unmanned remote sites. In many cases, such sites include equipment such as generators, pumps, electric cabinets and other assets. The Cellpoint device has been designed to provide an easy remote monitoring tool that can provide a simple and reliable solution for event detection. Many of our customers find new use cases that solve various logistical problems, such as:
Outage Monitoring – the Cellpoint can interface via a relay that is hooked up to a pump, or any other equipment that needs to be monitored. Once there is a power outage, the device can send out an alert. The alert response time can be programmed via the installer's Android application. Since the Cellpoint is battery operated, the device is easy to install, and it is not dependent on any external connection.

• Cabinet Monitoring – the Cellpoint can interface with a standard magnetic door switch that is hooked up to a power cabinet, or any other entrance to a critical unmanned facility. Once the door is opened, the switch will trigger the device and an alert will be transmitted. The device can be concealed, and as the alert is silent, the intruder will not notice any outstanding occurrence.
• Independent Panic Button – the Cellpoint can interface with a panic button. The device can be installed at any location without a need for power or any kind of communication line. Once the panic button is depressed, the device will transmit an alert. Since the Cellpoint is battery operated, the device is easy to install and requires no infrastructure.
• Tank Level Monitoring – the Cellpoint can interface with a simple float switch. Once the float reaches a predefined level, the deice will send an alert. This solution can be implemented in water tanks, sewage pits, and even in fuel tanks (for generators or for equipment refueling). The device does not require any external power, or any communication line. The alert response time can be programmed via the installer's Android application, so that the alert is triggered after X minutes that the float is constantly above/below a predefined height (this delay avoids false alarms).

Prominent Case Study

The Pressure Monitoring CellPoint measures the momentary pressure every 5 minutes. The device saves the data log every 15 minutes (96 readings per day). Once the device detects a pressure drop, or a pressure peak that is below/above the predefined threshold, the device dynamically starts measuring the pressure at higher intervals. If the high/low pressure event endures, the device sends an alert message to the management platform, which reports the event by SMS or email to a predefined list of utility operators/technicians. On a regular basis (when no abnormalities are identified), the device sends the 96 readings once a day to Miltel's DataSense management system (communications interval can be programmed to send the data at more/less frequent intervals).

By the deployment of pressure monitoring devices along its distribution network, the utility company can gain valuable operational data that will allow for detection of equipment malfunctions and infrastructure deterioration. Additionally, the Pressure Monitoring CellPoint provides an immediate alert when a critical event occurs. The deployment of this solution does not require any local communications infrastructure and it complements broadband SCADA solutions. Due to its low cost of ownership (installation and operation), this solution can be implemented in the short-term, and as data is gradually gathered from more and more locations, the utility company will gain multiple benefits, including:

• Optimization of pipe replacement schedule
• Identification of equipment malfunction, allowing scheduled maintenance before breakdown
• Improve customer service level (SLA) as pressure values are monitored at supply locations
• Early response to pipe bursts, minimizing environmental damages and reducing service downtime

The advantage of this solution is that it can be deployed gradually, so that it does not have a significant impact on annual budgets and does not require high capital expenditure.