Managing and Financing Water for Growth in Thailand

Annex A. Smart technologies for the management of water resources and water services

Table A.1. An inventory

Technology, service	Technology overview
i) Service reservoir
Real-time water quality monitoring system	It is a technology built to measure key items (pH, temperature, turbidity, residual chlorine, electrical conductance) using online water quality gauge in the service reservoir and that makes central control system monitor water quality by communicating these measurements * The Enforcement regulation of the Waterworks Act sets forth that “In the clean water reservoir and service reservoir of a water treatment plant of 10,000m3/d or more, an automatic water-quality measuring device that can measure pH, water temperature, and residual chlorine must be installed.
Chlorine re-injection facility (Securing pipe-end disinfection performance, residual chlorine equalization technology)	It is a facility that can additionally inject chlorine into a service reservoir or a pipeline in order to address the shortage of residual chlorine at the end of this pipe. It is a system that can adjust the appropriate injection amount, in conjunction with the concentration level of residual chlorine at the service reservoir and pipe end. It is a technology to equalize the residual chlorine concentration level throughout the pipe network by installing and operating an additional chlorine facility in the service reservoir, in conjunction with the control of the residual chlorine concentration level in the water treatment plant, to resolve excess chlorine in the supply process.
Stabilization of flow supply (Equal supply)	It is a water-level control technology that can supply water evenly by minimizing fluctuations in production output and demand amount with the intention of securing stable water supply in the service reservoir
Integrated energy management (Pumping energy saving technology)	It is a technology that can save energy by optimizing pump operation in response to the changes in demand, based on the prediction of short-term changes in water demand after service reservoir
ii) Water distribution and supply system
Construction of emergency linking pipeline	Pipe hot tapping is built through installing emergency link pipeline (or pipeline redundancy) between service reservoirs or blocks in service area
Construction of block system	An effective pipeline network system is built, like managing stable water pressure, monitoring leakage via making separate water flow measurement and distribution of accident hazard etc., by segmenting water distribution and supply system according to criteria such as adequate terrain conditions, water pressure distribution, and size of water supply zone etc.
Pipe cleaning	It is a physical pipe interior cleaning (flushing) technology using water, air, pigs, etc. to remove foreign substances accumulated inside the pipe
Automatic draining equipment (Remove foreign matter, cut dwell time)	It is a fixed draining system that removes congested water in the pipe as a preventive measure in the congested section at the end of the pipe and the section where foreign matters are frequently generated (It can also be used as a fire hydrant)
Anti-rust physical water treatment system	It is a device or a facility that suppresses internal corrosion of metal pipes and removes foreign substances in non-metal pipes through various ways such as using electric, ion, electromagnetic, etc.
Automatic water pressure control facility (Operate pressure reducing valve)	It is a pressure control valve and a control facility installed for the purpose of resolving water pressure imbalances, such as through water leakage management in water distribution and supply system, and water over/under pressure relief.
Pipeline water quality monitoring system	It is a system equipped with a facility that can measure water quality by sampling tap water online for the purpose of monitoring water quality in the pipelines, in addition to a data transmission facility
Damage and leakage monitoring system	Pipeline damage prevention system is configured to transmit a signal to its manager in real time when a smart damage prevention sheet is damaged during the excavation caused by other construction work, through installing the sheet over the pipe. Leakage monitoring system is a system that can detect any sign of leakage through leakage sensor that detects the vibration caused by the leakage at night time when the use of water is low.
Integrated water distribution networks operation management system (water-NET)	It is an integrated operation system embedded with the function of analyzing data gathered from real-time water distribution networks’ water pressure, water flow, water quality, energy (pump performance etc.) monitoring system and abnormality alert; function of making a scenario analysis through hydraulic analysis and water quality forecasting model etc.; and real-time control function etc. Analysis module includes water leakage analysis (minimum daily flow rate, water pressure monitoring, etc.), selection of pressure-reducing valve locations, pumping energy efficiency control, selection of water quality monitoring points, and selection of pipe sections requiring pipe cleaning Real-time control functions include automatic valve shut-off and pump scheduling in case of emergency
iii) Water supply facility
Water quality monitoring system for water tank	It is a system equipped with digital water quality meter and data transmission device installed for the purpose of monitoring water quality in an indoor water tank
CCTV monitoring system for water tank	It consists of CCTV for protection purpose to monitor artificial contamination behavior around the water tank and CCTV for monitoring water quality in the tank
Smart metering system	It is a system based on a smart meter that can measure and monitor water flow rate for individual consumer in a real time or hourly basis. Its purpose is precisely make leakage detection by zone, efficient supply flow management according to consumption pattern analysis, induction of water savings by consumers, and detection of signs of indoor leakage.
iv) Better promotion and credibility
Drinking water fountain	It is a drinking water fountain for public purpose that can help promote the safety of tap water and increase the reliability of drinking it
Electronic display board that provides water quality information	It is an outdoor electronic display board to provide water quality information throughout the entire process of production and supply of tap water as well as to promote safe water quality. The board is installed at curbside where it is highly visible and offers tap water quality information and other promotional data
App that provides water-quality information	A smartphone app, capable of supplying various information regarding tap water production and supply process, is published and distributed
Water Coordinator (Quality inspection of water from a faucet)	It is a service where a water-quality inspector visits a consumer to analyze the main quality of water from the faucet and describes and promotes the conditions to the consumer
Water Doctor (Diagnostic inspection of indoor pipe)	It is a service where a water pipe inspector visits a consumer to diagnose and assess indoor pipe conditions learned via CCTV and describe them to the consumer
Tap water insurance	Insurance to compensate consumers for damages caused by tap water accidents

Table A.2. Operational issues

Purpose of installation	Installation method	Operation method
i) Smart water pipeline facility information recognition system
To easily and precisely tell pipeline and facility information without getting the help from GIS drawings	Install sensor(s) over the pipeline or near a manhole	Detect the sensor(s) via a detector (reader) Manage information through deploying a separate operation SW
ii) Smart metering (remote meter reading)
To learn about tap water consumption by installing it at any region or by block where it is not easy to have manpower to visit to read meters, like the vulnerable class etc.	Replace with digital tap water meter, install the meter, and implement its operation system	Manage information through building a separate operation SW (System implementation is required depending on data transmission method) Gather tap water consumption data and make a billing via the operation system
iii) Real-time hydraulic pressure meter
To manage hydraulic pressure in real time in a small block using wireless communication technology	Install 4~5 units at main points per each small block	Install once a week for each small block Make an integrated management through improving the existing central control panel
iv) Small-sized water flow and water pressure monitoring
To monitor water flow and pressure in real time in the managed block (small block) located inside a small block	Install an electronic flowmeter inside the pipeline	Segment into small blocks to examine flow changes and monitor water flow and water leakage Perform an integrated management through upgrading local government’s existing central control panel . .
v) Water quality meter (water quality monitoring)
To monitor water quality of major distribution system at a medium block unit level	Install a water quality meters measuring five parameters in the service reservoir and main distribution system	Make a real-time monitoring of water quality at major points in the service area → Prevention made in advance Perform an integrated management through upgrading the existing central control panel
vi) Chlorine re-injector
To maintain disinfection performance in areas where residual chlorine shortage is expected	Install a chlorine re-injector in the service reservoir (install inside the pipeline, if necessary)	Measure chlorine’s concentration level at the inlet and outlet ends to inject an appropriate amount of it at its flow ratio Perform an integrated management through upgrading the existing central control panel
vii) Precise filtering equipment
Crisis response) To respond water quality accidents by installing it in sensitive facilities (schools, hospitals, etc.) in areas where water quality is expected to deteriorate (Water quality monitoring) To measure foreign substances by installing it at major points in the service area	This equipment is installed at the main points of the distribution system	(Crisis response) Check whether it is necessary to replace the filter through measuring pressure differentials (Water quality monitoring) Make a periodic filter check and a component inspection Perform an integrated management through upgrading the existing central control panel
viii) Automatic drain
To block the inflow into the small block in the event of a water quality accident and adjust dwell time to ensure residual chlorine at the end of the pipe	(Small block inlet) Turbidimeter + automatic drain (Pipe end) Residual chlorine meter + automatic drain	Automatically discharge when an abnormality occurs through real-time water quality measurement (Manage proper flow speed in the main pipe by adjusting valve trajectory) Perform an integrated management through upgrading the existing central control panel

Water Distribution Network Operation Management System (Water-Net)

Water distribution network operation management system is constructed for scientific supply management like monitoring real-time flow and water quality of the entire tap water supply process and taking an emergency response etc. by being connected with the proprietary source technology for water distribution network operation management and with ICT. It maximizes the efficiency in maintenance and raises the stability and credibility of the entire distribution process.

Table A.3. Water-Net

Item	Details	Actual screenshot
Monitoring of changes in water quality	Perform real-time monitoring and detection of abnormal changes in water quality by time and system throughout the entire process of supplying tap water
Forecast simulation of residual chlorine	When it turned out that the residual chlorine concentration level is higher or lower than the standard value through real-time water quality monitoring, a review is made on the equalization of residual chlorine concentration level throughout the pipeline based on a simulation analysis, which is conducted by changing the amount of chlorine re-injection such as chlorine injection at water treatment plant or service reservoir
Management of pipe-cleaning section	Through pipe network analysis, the low flow rate section and the water quality complaint point are analyzed to examine the section requiring pipe cleaning and history management is carried out after this pipe cleaning is done
Analysis of water quality complaint	Review is made on countermeasures, such as pipeline replacement, by inquiring and analyzing water-quality complaints by block, by period and by contents
Leakage monitoring	To improve flow rate, monitoring is made on leakage signs of each block, calculate the amount of leakage, check the amount of change in supply and the minimum flow rate at night, and response is taken promptly like leak detection, etc.
Flow rate analysis	Analysis on supply volume and water pressure pattern by block, and flow rate status inquiry and general quantity balance analysis are performed, while managing flow rate improvement project is being made possible by analyzing the daily pattern of the minimum flow rate at night, such as the number of meter replacements, leak points and pipe replacement
Crisis management	In the event of a pipeline accident, the module automatically searches for the shut-off valve at the point of the accident, searches for the emergency link pipeline that can be used for the cutoff area, and analyzes the cutoff area before and after the emergency connection is made to quickly respond to the accident and thereby minimize the spread of water damage.
Energy management	Energy analysis is possible to make transport energy reduction, such as analysis on real-time or daily pump performance and wattage, basic unit analysis, pump operation simulation, etc.
Pipe network analysis	Based on the data measured in real time, the behavior of pipe network is identified such as its flow rate and quantity
Schematic diagram