The iQ water system offers network optimization and management for water suppliers and end customers. It starts at the transfer point from the supplier to the customer and enables transparency of the transfer point and the drinking water network almost in real time. The digitalization of the house connection opens up many opportunities and benefits for the water supplier and customer. These include intelligent metering and flexible control of water consumption (smart metering)
Relevant information is transmitted anonymously and in encrypted form to the supply company, enabling immediate network optimization, among other things. This allows consumption peaks and idle times in the supply network to be identified. Whereas previously only the total volume was often known, consumption peaks and stagnation can now be actively reduced and even flexible tariff models can be derived. In this way, the iQ water system contributes to even network utilization and enables digital and efficient pressure management.
The efficient management of the water pressure means that pipe systems are subject to less stress and pipe bursts and leaks can be reduced or avoided. In addition, the iQ water system contributes to a significant reduction in the energy consumption of the supplier. The lost water is also known as non-revenue water.
We understand that every customer has unique requirements and challenges when it comes to monitoring their water infrastructure. Our customized software is designed to provide you with exactly the tools you need to efficiently manage your assets while meeting the highest standards of accuracy and performance.
What makes our solution unique?
The Management Dashboard is a powerful tool that helps companies to make their water management processes more efficient and transparent. This intelligent dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of various aspects of water management and enables well-founded decisions to be made.
The dashboard is equipped with powerful analysis tools that make it possible to review historical data, identify trends and create forecasts for future developments. The user interface is intuitively designed so that both tech-savvy and less tech-savvy employees can easily access and understand the data.
The iQ water system records and displays the water consumption in the catchment area in real time. This gives those responsible a quick overview of the current situation. In addition to current consumption data, the dashboard also offers powerful analysis tools that make it possible to identify historical trends and gain precise insights into consumption.
The software provides information on water temperatures (at the transfer point to the consumer). Historical temperature trends are stored in order to identify seasonal fluctuations and long-term developments. The maximum, minimum and average temperature is displayed for each network, line or connection.
All relevant messages and alarms, such as temperature violations, are collected in the dashboard and displayed at a glance.
Comprehensive rights management allows the water supplier to assign employees the rights they need in a targeted and simple manner. The rest is hidden
In addition to the option of exporting consumption data for billing, it is also possible to send push messages to all or individual customers. If the respective house connection is equipped with the iQ control box, each individual valve can also be controlled here.
The iQ water system enables a live view of the water network of all integrated connection points. The relevant information from the connected consumers is anonymized and transmitted to the supply company in compliance with the highest security standards. This allows water suppliers to read important data from the entire water system and make decisions based on the current status - not the past.
Globally, 30 - 35 % of the drinking water that is transported from the water supplier to the end consumer is lost. This is partly due to leaks caused by leaking or defective components in the water supply network. Water that is lost due to leaks, theft and other factors is also known as non-revenue water (NRW).
There is often a lack of transparency and control in the network in order to optimally manage pipes and thus operate efficient loss management. The iQ water system creates transparency and control in the water network and thus enables a new standard of efficiency and safety.
Drinking water is supplied by waterworks
Over 70 % of drinking water in Germany is obtained from groundwater or bank filtrate. Although this is usually of very good quality, treatment is necessary in many regions. Surface water must always be treated. This includes removing undesirable substances such as pollutants and carbon dioxide as well as enriching the water with chlorine, for example.
While water treatment for industrial purposes is sometimes carried out according to very specific specifications, drinking water treatment in Germany is carried out with the aim of meeting the requirements of the German Drinking Water Ordinance. Water that complies with the Drinking Water Ordinance can be drunk without any health risks.
In the past 20 years, Germany has lost around 15.2 cubic kilometers of water, which corresponds to a total of around 15.2 billion tons of water or around 760 tons per year. This is according to a data analysis by the Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam (GFZ, 2023).
Water losses result from obvious or apparent losses and actual losses.
This is the water consumption that is distributed and documented by waterworks.
Water consumption in Germany amounts to 32.3 billion cubic meters per year. That is slightly less than the volume of Lake Constance. This means that only 17 percent of the water available in Germany is withdrawn.
According to the German Association of Energy and Water Industries, 188 billion cubic meters of water are available here every year. Water consumption in Germany is divided into four areas:
This includes water losses due to theft, inaccuracies in meter readings or water billing. This also includes, for example, the undeclared filling of private swimming pools.
These can also be referred to as technical losses and occur in the supply lines, the supply tanks and the house connections through to consumption metering. Typical losses are leaks, burst damage, overflows, etc. - here the loss is often due to outdated infrastructure. Valuable drinking water seeps into the ground unused.
There are consumptions that are absolutely necessary and occur, but which are not invoiced. These are, for example, fire department operations, hydrant and pipe flushing for hygiene reasons or road cleaning.
This is the water that actually reaches the end consumer and is calculated correctly.
This is where non-revenue water comes in - water that is fed into the public mains but does not reach the consumer. This global problem harms the environment through the loss of drinking water, causes additional costs for utilities (production, maintenance, loss of revenue) and can have an impact on service levels and water quality.
At this end point, the approved and billed consumption is the revenue water - i.e. the water that is used and paid for as it should be. On average, this amounts to around 130 liters per capita in Germany. 36% is used for personal hygiene, 27% is flushed down the toilet and 12% is used for washing clothes.
Dishwashing uses 6% of our average water consumption, while a further 6% is used for cleaning, washing the car and the garden.
9% is attributed to small businesses and only 4% is used for eating and drinking. If we calculate water consumption in Germany including the consumer goods for whose production water was used, per capita consumption is as high as 5,288 liters.
Martin Lange will be happy to be your contact partner when it comes to a tailor-made solution for the digitalization of your infrastructure.
Martin Lange
Head of Business Unit Digital