Intelligent Water
Networks
Australian Smart Water Utilities Summit 2023
Jason Cotton
IWN Program Director
March 2023
Tomorrow's water innovations today

Acknowledgement of Country

Today
• Our Context
• Our Purpose
• Our Structure
• Our Program

Our Context
• Climate Change Impacts
• Increasing Population – Regional Growth
• Energy and Carbon Footprint
• Customer Expectations – Bills and Service
• Digitisation
• Emerging Contaminants
• Environment
• Resource mindset

Developed, owned &
delivered by the water
industry in Victoria and
Tasmania
(spend taxpayers money
once and spend it well)
Our Purpose
• Adoption of Innovative
approaches and
technology through
industry trials
• Knowledge sharing &
new ways of thinking
• Leadership development
Our goal
• Successful adoption and
learning
• Improved safety,
environment, business &
customer outcomes
Our Purpose

“If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together”
Burkina Faso (African Proverb)

Our Structure

Focus
• Sharing knowledge, learnings and resources
• Streamline digital metering adoption and
management
Trial
• SNAPI
• TasWater
• AI Digital Meter reading
State of Play
• Annual review
• Shared learnings
Digital Metering

Focus
• “Plan B” for biosolids
• Create biochar and destroy emerging
contaminants
Trial
• Pyroco Biochar Technology
• South East Water, IWN, RMIT, GWW
• DEECA support and co-funding
State of Play
• Second Pilot Plant trial = FOGO/Biosolids blend
• East Gippsland Water, Westernport Water, Barwon
Water joined
• Demonstration Production Plant
Biosolids and Resource Recovery

Industry 4.0
Digital Twins
Emerging AI technologies
Trials
• Remote Field Worker (RealWear Headset)
• Telepresence Robot
• VR Training
Synergy with other programs
• Diversity & Inclusion Technology
• Data & Analytics
• Pipeline Intelligence
Edge Technologies

Focus
Use AI Data & Analytics to create smart pipelines
Trial
• SmartSewer - Install a sensor network in a high-
priority area
• ‘Get ahead’ of a spill event.
• Barwon Water + Deakin + IWN + Data & Analytics
Program
• Smart Sewer pipeline
The problem
• Sewer blockages = downtime, customer
complaints, potential safety & environmental risks.
• How do we become more proactive?
Data & Analytics
meets Pipeline
Intelligence

enquiries@iwn.org.au
www.iwn.org.au Newsletter
Knowledge sharing &
collaboration….
Contact us

Thank You