Smartvatten identified an unusually high and continuous flow at one station in a utility network, while the downstream station showed no corresponding increase. This mismatch indicated that the issue was not caused by higher customer consumption, but by an internal fault within the network.
By comparing flow patterns between the two stations, it became clear that water was being circulated unnecessarily rather than moving through the system as intended. Further investigation confirmed that a faulty back valve was causing the same water to recirculate continuously over a long period of time.
Once the valve was repaired, the impact was immediate. The flow rate dropped significantly from 21 m³/h to 4.75 m³/h, confirming that the abnormal flow had been caused by the valve malfunction.
In addition to reducing unnecessary flow, the repair also led to a major reduction in energy consumption related to pumping. This case highlights how data-driven monitoring can help utilities detect hidden operational inefficiencies, locate faults faster, and reduce both water system strain and energy costs.
Här är också en lite mer marketingvänlig version, om du vill att det ska låta mer som ett färdigt external case:
Data revealed hidden recirculation caused by faulty back valve
Smartvatten detected a persistent high flow at one station in a customer’s utility network. At the same time, the downstream station showed no matching increase in flow. Since the expected downstream effect was missing, the data pointed to an internal issue rather than actual demand in the network.
The analysis led to the discovery of a faulty back valve that was causing the same water to circulate continuously within the system. This created an unnecessarily high flow over an extended period, increasing pumping activity without delivering any real operational value.
After the valve was repaired, the flow rate fell from 21 m³/h to 4.75 m³/h. The result was a substantial drop in unnecessary flow and a significant reduction in pumping-related energy consumption.
The case demonstrates how comparing measurements across the network can uncover hidden faults that would otherwise be difficult to detect. With the right data in place, utilities can act faster, improve system performance, and reduce avoidable operating costs.
