FROM MODELING TO REAL-TIME CONTROL: HOW TO EVOLVE WATER NETWORK MANAGEMENT
As part of the PNRR investments dedicated to improving the efficiency of water infrastructure, Aquanexa supported Sorgeaqua in a project that combines district metering, hydraulic modeling, and smart metering to increase control, resilience, and decision-making capabilities across the network.
Rather than focusing solely on water loss reduction, the project aims to build a data-driven network management model, enabling continuous monitoring, pressure management, and advanced planning.
monitored
installed
deployed in the field
FROM NETWORK KNOWLEDGE TO PREDICTIVE MANAGEMENT
Water networks today require increasingly advanced tools to be monitored, understood, and managed efficiently.
In this context, PNRR programs are accelerating the adoption of approaches that integrate district metering, distributed sensing, hydraulic modeling, and data management.
For utilities, this means moving from a reactive approach to predictive infrastructure management, improving understanding of network behavior, the ability to identify critical issues, operational efficiency, and water resource resilience.
THE SORGEAQUA & AQUANEXA PROJECT
Integrating field data and modeling to improve network performance
“Projects like this require much more than design alone: expertise, data, and field activities must be integrated in a coordinated way. The approach adopted enabled the utility to achieve its PNRR objectives while improving network control and knowledge”
Giorgio Fujani Ceo IDEA – Director of the Data Measuring & IoT Business Unit, AQUANEXA
THE CLIENT
Sorgeaqua manages water services across an area spanning the provinces of Modena and Bologna, serving a territory of 327 km² and approximately 59,500 inhabitants.
It operates a widespread and complex infrastructure and is involved in PNRR initiatives focused on:
• reducing water losses
• network digitalization
• implementation of advanced monitoring systems
The project covers 738 km of network serving more than 24,500 users.
THE PROBLEM
The network involved in the project presented several critical issues that made effective water loss management and monitoring challenging:
• high or not fully monitored water losses
• incomplete network districting
• partial visibility of operational data
• the need to meet stringent PNRR targets
THE RISK
Without a structured intervention, the project would have remained exposed to:
• failure to achieve PNRR KPIs
• potential loss of funding
• increased operating costs
• greater stress on water resources
• reputational and regulatory impacts
THE NEED
It was necessary to implement an integrated support framework capable of combining engineering expertise, measurement technologies, and data enhancement in order to:
• design new District Metered Areas (DMAs)
• carry out surveys and measurement campaigns
• develop hydraulic models
• install smart meters and noise loggers
• integrate WMS systems
• coordinate the technical supply chain
AQUANEXA’S INTERVENTION
From hydraulic design to real-time data: an integrated approach to managing network complexity
“The project enabled us to significantly increase the level of network control. Today we have a clearer view of flows and critical issues, allowing us to intervene more quickly and effectively.”
Giovanna Mirra
Head of Customer Services, Sorgeaqua
PROJECT EXPERTISE
AND GOVERNANCE
The complexity of the intervention required a multidisciplinary approach capable of integrating design, monitoring, modeling, and field operations.
The project brought together the expertise and solutions of Aquanexa partners:
• IDEA, for smart metering, telecommunications, and project management
• Pipecare, for leak detection and network diagnostics
• Datek22, for sensing technologies supporting hydraulic modeling, leak detection, data loggers, and hydraulic modeling
The integration of these competencies made it possible to address the project with a systemic vision, with Aquanexa coordinating:
• preliminary network analysis
• design and configuration of hydraulic districts
• measurement campaigns and pressure management
• installation of instrumentation and noise loggers
• digital hydraulic modeling
• integration of data into operational systems
• support in achieving PNRR milestones
A distinctive element of the project was the pressure and transient measurement campaign used to calibrate the hydraulic model and support network efficiency strategies.
“Water loss reduction does not depend solely on identifying anomalies, but on the ability to combine diagnostics, field data, and network knowledge to transform monitoring into targeted interventions. In this project, leak detection became part of a broader efficiency improvement strategy.”
Nicola Ruggiero
CEO, Pipecare & Business Development Manager, Aquanexa
THE PROJECT
Launched in February 2025 and scheduled for completion in April 2026, the project is part of a PNRR investment of approximately €9 million.
The project involves:
• 738 km of network
• 24,500 users served
• 22,000 smart meters installed
• 65 noise loggers installed
The activities were developed through successive phases:
• project start-up and preliminary analyses
• district design and hydraulic modeling
• measurement campaigns and pressure management
• instrumentation installation
• data integration and operational support
RESULTS
The project is already generating results both in operational terms and in overall network efficiency:
water loss reduction pathway aligned with PNRR targets
greater control of network flows and critical points
improved predictive capabilities
reduced response times
increased operational efficiency
strengthened digital transformation of the utility
WHAT MADE
THE DIFFERENCE
The value of the project lies in its ability to integrate engineering, data, and field activities, transforming monitoring into a practical tool for network control and optimization.
Key differentiators
integrated approach combining engineering, field operations, and digital technologies
coordination of the technical supply chain
integration of smart metering and hydraulic modeling
use of data to support operational decision-making
ability to meet PNRR milestones and objectives
This approach transformed infrastructure complexity and operational challenges into a stronger knowledge base, enabling more proactive water loss management, greater network resilience, and more effective operational decisions.
SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS
ENABLING SERVICES
Within the project, the technical and operational approach was made possible by a series of enabling services along the value chain, which enabled reliable data collection, in-depth analysis, and accurate assessment of the water network’s condition.
NETWORK
ENGINEERING
DATA MEASURING
& IOT
DIGITAL
PLATFORM
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
The value chain can evolve through a range of action-oriented services, representing a natural extension of the enabling activities. These services transform collected data into concrete field interventions and decision-support tools for proactive network management.
NETWORK
ENGINEERING
PARTNERS INVOLVED IN THE SERVICES LISTED
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE?
DO YOU HAVE A NETWORK TO ANALYZE, MANAGE OR IMPROVE?
This intervention is just one example. Every network is different, but the method is replicable.
Discover how an integrated and scalable approach can make a difference in your operational context. Fill out the form below and an Aquanexa expert will contact you.