REDUCING WATER LOSSES AND DIGITALIZING THE NETWORK FOR MORE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT
As part of the investments funded by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) for water loss reduction and network digitalization, Aquanexa supported Acque Bresciane in a district metering project aimed at improving monitoring, control, and knowledge of the water network across the Province of Brescia.
The project integrates hydraulic district design, advanced measurement systems, and data enhancement to provide the utility with practical tools for analysis, planning, and water loss reduction.
network analyzed
areas (DMAs)
implemented
THE CHALLENGE OF REDUCING WATER LOSSES IN WATER NETWORKS
Reducing water losses and digitalizing networks are now among the key strategic priorities for the integrated water service sector.
In this context, PNRR-funded programs are accelerating the adoption of more advanced infrastructure management approaches, with a strong focus on district metering, continuous monitoring, and data integration into management systems.
For utilities, this means working on complex and widespread networks while improving visibility into hydraulic behavior,
increasing the ability to identify critical issues, and speeding up intervention planning.
THE ACQUE BRESCIANE - AQUANEXA & PYDRO PROJECT
District metering, monitoring, and real-time data for a more controllable and efficient network.
“PNRR-funded district metering projects represent a key step toward modernizing water network management. The real value lies in integrating DMA design, innovative measurement systems, and data management to provide utilities with concrete monitoring and planning tools.”
Luca Berardi
Innovation Manager, Aquanexa
THE CLIENT
Acque Bresciane is the Integrated Water Service utility operating in the Province of Brescia.
It serves a large and diverse territory characterized by urban, industrial, and rural areas, managing a complex infrastructure network that requires advanced monitoring and control tools.
Within the framework of PNRR programs, the utility is involved in projects focused on reducing water losses, digitalizing networks, and implementing increasingly effective monitoring systems.
THE TECHNOLOGY PARTNER
Pydro, a German company based in Hamburg, specializes in innovative solutions for water network monitoring. As Aquanexa’s partner and supplier, it develops and manufactures the self-powered Pydro PT1 flow meters.
The solution enables real-time measurement and transmission of flow, volume, pressure, and temperature data, even in locations without external power supply, providing strategic operational data for network management.
THE PROBLEM
The network involved in the project presented several operational challenges that made effective loss management and monitoring more difficult.
In particular:
- water losses not fully tracked
- limited network district metering
- uneven visibility of operational data
- need to comply with PNRR targets
THE RISK
Without a structured intervention involving district metering, measurement, and network analysis, the project would have remained exposed to several risks:
- failure to achieve PNRR KPIs
- possible loss of funding
- increased operating costs
- greater stress on water resources
- reputational and regulatory impacts for the utility
THE NEED
An integrated support approach was required, capable of combining engineering expertise, measurement technologies, and data enhancement in order to:
- design district metered areas (DMAs)
- improve network monitoring
- integrate field data into the utility’s SCADA system
AQUANEXA’S INTERVENTION
An integrated approach combining engineering, field operations,
and digital technologies to improve network control, knowledge, and performance.
“The project represents an important step in the digitalization of our water infrastructures. District metering and measurement systems allow us to improve network monitoring and plan interventions in a more targeted and efficient way.”
Simone Bardini
Internal Technical Manager, Acque Bresciane
PROJECT EXPERTISE
AND GOVERNANCE
The complexity of the intervention required a multidisciplinary approach capable of integrating hydraulic design, network monitoring, modeling, field activities, and data integration into the utility’s operational systems.
Aquanexa provided expertise in water network digitalization, coordinating technical and operational activities aimed at both district design and data enhancement.
The team’s contribution specifically included:
- preliminary network analysis
- design and optimization of district metered areas (DMAs)
- implementation of advanced measurement systems
- collection and integration of field data
- integration with the utility’s operational platforms and systems
- technical support for coordination of PNRR-funded projects
- assistance in meeting milestones and project objectives
The project also integrated the expertise and solutions of specialized partners, including Pydro for flow meter supply, as well as group companies such as Datek22 and Idea for digitalization and integration components.
“Designing smart district metered areas is a key step toward improving understanding of network behavior. Accurate analysis of the network and measurement points, combined with real-time data, creates a solid foundation for effective monitoring systems and water loss reduction strategies. PT1 enables utilities to access real-time data while overcoming the limitations of traditional externally powered or battery-powered measurement systems.”
Mulundu Sichone
Founder & CEO, Pydro
THE PROJECT
The project was launched within the framework of PNRR investments dedicated to reducing water losses and digitalizing networks, with the goal of improving understanding of network behavior and enabling more effective loss management.
The intervention involves a 79 km distribution network, within a total extension of 94 km, and aims to create 4 effective DMAs, with provisions for further subdivisions through operations on existing assets or the installation of additional measurement points.
Activities were organized in successive phases:
- 27 leaks identified
- approximately 22% actual reduction in water losses achieved through leak detection activities alone
- improved capability to monitor the network accurately
- stronger information base for intervention planning
- reinforcement of the utility’s digitalization path
The project enabled Acque Bresciane to strengthen its understanding of the network, improve accuracy in identifying critical issues, and build a stronger foundation for proactive management of losses and future investments.
THE RESULTS
The intervention delivered results both in operational terms and in network efficiency:
Approximately
Improved capability to monitor the network accurately
Stronger information base for intervention planning
Reinforcement of the utility’s digitalization path
The project enabled Acque Bresciane to strengthen its understanding of the network, improve accuracy in identifying critical issues, and build a stronger foundation for proactive management of losses and future investments.
WHAT MADE
THE DIFFERENCE
The intervention was developed through a progressive approach integrating network analysis, hydraulic design, field monitoring, and data validation.
This approach combined design, data, and field operations, transforming district metering into a practical tool for network control and optimization.
The value of the intervention lies in the ability to integrate technical expertise and strategic vision, turning an infrastructure need into a project focused on resilience and risk management:
Integrated approach between engineering, field operations, and digital technologies
Coordination of the technical supply chain
Ability to meet PNRR milestones and objectives
Integration between smart metering and modeling
Data enhancement to support more effective operational decisions
SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS
ENABLING SERVICES
Within the project, the technical and operational approach was enabled through a range of services across the value chain, allowing reliable data collection, in-depth analysis, and accurate diagnosis of the water network condition.
NETWORK
ENGINEERING
DATA MEASURING
& IOT
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
The value chain can evolve through action-oriented services, representing a natural extension of the enabling activities, transforming collected data into concrete field interventions and decision-making tools for proactive network management:
NETWORK
ENGINEERING
DATA MEASURING
& IOT
PARTNER COINVOLTI DAI SERVIZI INDICATI
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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.
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