Development of strategies to reduce, remove and recover microplastics from the whole of water supply cycle

Abstract

Implementing smart water metering systems has numerous potential benefits for both a utility and its customers. Despite the benefits, implementing smart metering systems also introduces asset anomalies and data errors associated with unusual and abstruse technological aspects of these systems. The various technologies required for each component of the data chain, as well as the multiple interfaces through which the data are filtered, condensed, or altered, impose limitations on the amount and quality of the data that are ultimately made available to the utility. A selected sample of technological aspects of smart metering systems was examined within a holistic framework of risk assessment and components of a generic data chain/pathway. Anomalies were identified that have seldom been addressed in literature before. The perception that implementing smart metering will automatically result in rich data and optimal information, is therefore not necessarily correct. A particular smart metering solution is generally a compromise, because of current technology developments, regulations and the relevance of applicable standards. This ‘bottom-up’ approach used, is technologically agnostic and can also assess future technological developments. Highlighting these technological aspects in this paper facilitates the identification of risk mitigation strategies to reduce or eliminate the impact of the asset anomalies.