A key to an effective wireless infrastructure will be a series of private fixed wireless data networks that can be architected to control, manage, and monitor flow meters and digital water meters— smart meters— the data from which is sure to become central to water saving in South Africa in future.
Edwin Sibiya ‚ the chief executive of a Pretoria-based company that designs ‚ manufactures, and supplies smart metering systems, is on record as saying that smart metering technologies“ can make it possible for entities to achieve a lot more than just collecting revenue”.
In this vein, a Durban-based company has developed water management devices— remote electronic water control valves— that connect and are controlled via wireless networks. The devices, which double as smart metres, limit water flow to consumers who are in arrears with payments.
Undoubtedly, connected networks of smart metres will go a long way towards controlling the consumption of scarce water reserves and help municipalities to optimise revenue streams. Not only will the technology ensure data integrity, but it will also allow water consumers to monitor and manage their own water consumption and meet daily, weekly, or monthly consumption limits as set by the municipalities.
Technically speaking, wireless digital water meter networks could use the unlicensed radio spectrum( 5GHz) and licensed shared-access spectrum that are readily available in South Africa. They are ideal media to also transport video surveillance of major water installations and remote, high-value sites( to limit losses due to vandalism), while providing broadband access at these locations.
From a design perspective, a hybrid network composed of a high capacity microwave core, with unlicensed and licensed spurs, and using narrow and wideband radios, could well meet the operational requirements water utilities need to realise their goals today while being flexible enough to accommodate future growth and expansion.
Most importantly, a trusted wireless IP-based communications infrastructure would enable South African water utilities and municipalities to improve service quality, maximise operation efficiency, and reduce service outage time and repair expenses.
Duxbury Networking
It would enable the transition from legacy communications methods with minimum security risk and allow a single network to address multiple applications— prepaid electricity meters, for example— with the capacity to accommodate future demands.
Further, private networks will avoid the recurring costs and operational complexity of subscription services from 3G / 4G cell phone network operators, provide complete control over traffic prioritisation and service level agreements, and remain entirely behind the utilities’ and municipalities’ firewalls to ensure maximum information security. u
Most importantly, a trusted wireless IP-based communications infrastructure would enable South African water utilities and municipalities to improve service quality, maximise operation efficiency, and reduce service outage time and repair expenses.
Teresa Huysamen, Wireless Business Unit manager at Duxbury Networking.
Water Sewage & Effluent January / February 2018 13