The objective of the project is the optimal utilization of available water resources through the reduction of leaks, ensuring an adequate and high-quality drinking water supply in the internal water distribution network of the closed zone of the city of Aigio, managed by DEYA Aigialeia, which currently faces a water deficit. The project aims to achieve efficient operation, water quality assurance, environmental protection, and resource efficiency.
Specifically, through the implementation of the project, DEYA Aigialeia seeks to:
- Provide uninterrupted water supply that meets the specified quality standards within the closed distribution network.
- Ensure the required quantities of water to supply all households in the area under the responsibility of the closed zone.
- Drastically reduce operational expenses through more efficient network and equipment management.
- Ensure the necessary quality control of the produced and consumed water, which is currently not consistently achieved.
- Serve the needs of consumers promptly and effectively.
- Minimize water leakage and wastage, as the area covered by the project experiences a high percentage of leaks and lacks quality control.
- Reduce unnecessary energy consumption required by the current network, boreholes, booster stations, and tanks.
- Adopt a fairer pricing policy based on real data.
- Achieve the above goals in the most cost-effective manner without burdening the network users (end consumers). The project includes equipment acquisition, and the costs will not be passed on to the network users.
With the contribution of the partners, the project will further enhance the early detection of leaks through the development of an intelligent system.
The subproject 1, for which DEYA Aigialeia is responsible, involves the “Expansion of the Existing Leakage Control System in the Internal Network of the Municipality of Aigialeia” through the Procurement and Installation of leakage monitoring equipment.
On the other hand, the Laboratory of “Intelligent Technologies for Renewable Energy and Quality” of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of West Attica will undertake subproject 2, where initially the platform for information visualization and leakage recognition will be developed. Subsequently, the development and parameterization of hydraulic modeling and simulation of the digital twin of the closed zone of the water supply network will be carried out.
The digital twin and the simulation scenarios that will be implemented and executed during the project will receive real-time data from the installed sensors, in order to utilize the simulation scenarios and/or perform new simulations if deemed necessary for the optimal management of the parameters of the closed zone of the water supply network.
Expected outcomes of the project implementation include the upgrade of the existing infrastructure of DEYA Aigialeia, convergence of the water balance of the closed zone in the area of Aigialeia, control and limitation of leaks, improvement of water supply adequacy and quality, and the promotion of bilateral relations between Iceland and Greece.
The immediate beneficiaries of the project are the residents and tourists of the city of Aigialeia (specifically 20,422 inhabitants), while potentially the entire population of the Municipality of Aigialeia, consisting of 49,872 inhabitants (according to the 2011 census).
Subproject 1: EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING LEAKAGE CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE INTERNAL NETWORK OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF AIGIALEIA.
Within the scope of the action, the procurement, installation, and commissioning of the necessary local monitoring and leakage control stations will be carried out, specifically:
- Electromagnetic flow meters
- Pressure gauges
- Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
- Other hydraulic equipment
The local stations will either be fully energy-autonomous using photovoltaic panels and batteries or powered by the grid. They will perform measurements at least hourly, record data, and transmit the data at least every 4 hours to a central server of DEYA, which will also host the information visualization and leakage recognition platform. Additionally, within this action, the necessary SCADA software package for remote control and integration of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system should be procured.
Work Package WP1: EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING LEAKAGE CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE INTERNAL NETWORK OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF AIGIALEIA.
Deliverable: 1.1. EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING LEAKAGE CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE INTERNAL NETWORK OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF AIGIALEIA.
Subproject 2: WP2.1 Development of an information visualization and leakage identification platform.
Within the framework of Subproject 2, specifically WP2.1, the Laboratory of Renewable Energy Sources and Quality of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of West Attica will be responsible for developing the information visualization and leakage identification platform.
The integration of information collected and managed through the SCADA system and monitoring software is desirable and provides an important additional advantage. All measurements and data collected from the Telemetry Stations (TS), Pressure Telemetry Stations (PTS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), and other installed systems should be directed to a unified monitoring platform. This platform will serve as a centralized repository of information, enabling the responsible authority to access all data and make informed decisions. The software will be installed on the central server and accessible through client PCs. The following specifications and requirements should be met by the software at a minimum:
- It should be accessible from any computer connected to the internet, using a web browser such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari. Users should have access to data from the installed stations via tablets, iPads, or smartphones. Additionally, it should have the capability to send notifications/alerts to users via email, SMS, and potentially through Viber messages using a subscription service selected by the Contracting Authority.
- It should be fully compatible with other software packages offered.
- It should provide real-time monitoring of measurements through the internet, allowing users to access data from any computer or mobile device. User access should be controlled through authentication and authorization mechanisms.
- It should include a local dynamic map view on the central system screen, displaying all available stations of the municipality (TS, PTS, Pressure Points, etc.). Additionally, it should allow users to view the latest measurements and station information (e.g., photos, installation location) through information windows that appear on the map.
Administrators of the service should have access to information regarding the data and history of the stations (TS, PTS, Pressure Points, etc.) connected to telemetry recorders, PLCs, flow meters, pressure sensors, and other installed systems. This includes functional status and technical characteristics.
After proper training provided by the contractor, the software should have the capability to add additional stations, such as meteorological, atmospheric pollution, and river water level stations. This will enable the Municipality to have a centralized platform for future use, avoiding the need for multiple software applications for various measurements.
The software application should provide a management interface that offers administrators a control panel displaying an overall view of the operation of all stations. The purpose of this application is to provide administrators with a comprehensive real-time overview of measurements.
Through graphical representations and charts, the operation of each local station will be presented. Specific color-coded indications will provide immediate visualization of the availability of each sensor, based on the latest communication and potential network or system errors.
For each local station, users will have the ability to view a brief history of the latest measurements from existing sensors (quick view).
The software should also include an automated system for logging errors. Any errors occurring in the operation of local stations should be automatically recorded in the system with necessary details (station, sensor, timestamp, etc.).
Access to the subsystem by administrators will be granted through an authentication mechanism, providing two (2) levels of graded access to specific subsystem services.
Within this framework, the software should allow accredited personnel of the organization to manage the following:
- Monitoring of all stations: Capturing detailed characteristics and managing the operation mode (e.g., sensor availability, systems, etc.).
- Error management: Maintaining an error log file.
- Notifications: Instant email notifications to responsible personnel of the organization regarding the operation of local stations.
Work Package WP2.1: Development of Information Visualization and Leakage Detection Platform.
Deliverables:
2.1. Design of Information Visualization Platform.
2.2. Integration of Telemetry Stations (TS).
2.3. Completion of Leakage Detection Integration.
Subproject 2: WP2.2. Development and Parameterization of Hydraulic Modeling and Simulation of the Closed Zone Digital Twin of the Water Distribution Network.
Within the framework of Work Package 2.2, the Laboratory of Intelligent Technologies for Water and Quality of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Western Attica will undertake the development and parameterization of the hydraulic modeling and simulation of the closed zone digital twin of the water distribution network.
The digital twin and simulation scenarios that will be implemented and executed during the project will receive real-time data from the installed sensors. The hydraulic modeling and simulation system will interoperate with the visualization platform, allowing the utilization of simulation scenarios and/or the execution of new simulations if deemed necessary. Reports will be sent to the decision support system for optimal management of the water distribution network parameters.
The provided application should facilitate the completion of all stages of the modeling process, including data preparation for input into the model (based on the US-EPA SWMM5 tool), subsequent data analysis, and presentation of results from the simulation engines. It should receive zone data in near real-time and, after optimization, simulate consumption in a hydraulically sealed District Metered Area (DMA) network.
Work Package WP2.2: Development and Parameterization of Hydraulic Modeling and Simulation of the Closed Zone Digital Twin of the Water Distribution Network.
Deliverables:
2.4. Development and parameterization of hydraulic modeling.
2.5. Hydraulic modeling simulation and operational scenarios.
2.6. Presentation of hydraulic modeling and user training.
Subproject WP3: Action Communication Plan.
Within the project, the following activities should be implemented as part of the Action Communication Plan:
- Posting a temporary large-sized sign at the installation points of Subproject 1 equipment, visible to the public.
- Placing a permanent commemorative plaque in a visible location easily accessible to the public, within three months after the completion of the project.
- Promoting all communication and information actions implemented, displaying the emblem of the EEA Grants 2014-2021 program supporting the project.
- Posting project information on the municipality’s website, including a brief description of the project, objectives, and results, highlighting the financial support from the EEA Grants.
- Displaying posters providing information about the project.
- Creating a dedicated website for the project, including project details such as a brief description, progress, objectives, and results, in both Greek and English languages. The website should be regularly updated and highlight the financial support from the EEA Grants 2014-2021.
- Implementing three publicity actions for the project, with a choice among the following options:
- Organizing a conference with relevant stakeholders to kick-start the project.
- Organizing a conference with relevant stakeholders to conclude the project and inform about its results.
- Issuing press releases for the implementation of subprojects.
- Participating in scientific conferences for the dissemination of project results.
- Information dissemination activities through the media.
Work Package WP3: Action Communication Plan.
Deliverable: 3.1. Implementation of the Communication Plan.