Thessaloniki is steeped in tradition; this is especially true when it comes to water management. The historic northern Greek city built its first aqueducts as early as 303 BCE. Today, 1.2 million people live in and around the metropolitan area, and they all count on provider EYATH for both clean water and safe wastewater treatment.
During heavy rainfall, EYATH’s combined sewer network is critical to prevent overflows and the release of untreated sewage into the environment. Keeping its wells unblocked is critical for preventing floods and ensuring that clean water stays uncontaminated. Looking to raise its water management to the next level, EYATH turned to Siemens. It is embracing AI and IoT to enhance customer service, improve employee experience, and ensure sustainability.
Channeling data to prevent flooding
Wastewater networks have traditionally operated with little monitoring. The SIWA Blockage Predictor offered EYATH a new paradigm. In the pilot project, SIWA Blockage Predictor’s radar sensors, spread throughout the city, were linked to 4G-communication and the cloud. Over the course of three months, they collected and analyzed Thessaloniki rainfall data.
Channeling AI, SIWA Blockage Predictor also used historical data to learn what is deemed to be “normal” well behavior. It warned EYATH about potential blockages, allowing maintenance teams to clean wells up to two weeks in advance. This helped Thessaloniki prevent overflows and avoid contamination from sewage spilling over.
Smart apps for greater efficiency and security of supply
The app proved its worth during the year-long pilot. SIWA Blockage Predictor detected anomalies in the sewer network early, intervening before problems arose. The water company, which manages over 1,500 km of pipelines, has since extended the solution to additional combined networks, incorporating more assets for monitoring.
“It is fast and easy to configure the application using a mobile phone without needing expert engineers,” explains Spyros Lakkas, OEM and Vertical Sales Manager from Siemens Greece Digital Industries. From installation to use takes mere minutes.
"Digitalizing business functions leads to more precise and effective data collection, which enhances operational decisions,” concludes Kostas Bellos, Director of Networks Sewerage of EYATH. “This improvement elevates service quality, boosts productivity, and ultimately increases customer satisfaction."
Advanced water management in the age of AI
Although water is our most precious resource, providing clean water while maintaining economic viability is becoming increasingly challenging. Maintaining efficiency and quality while catering to the various needs of drinking water, wastewater, and desalination is key.
Targeted at the water and wastewater industry, SIWA applications provide more transparency and help identify optimization and savings potential for greater supply security. Providers can optimize energy efficiency, prevent water loss, reduce water pollution, and perform preventive maintenance.
With SIWA, Thessaloniki continues its tradition of embracing the most advanced water management tools of its time, from the aqueducts of yesterday, to AI today.
October 2024