Failure detection in 40 minutes and full network visibility across 14 DMA zones

Executive summary

Challenge: Managing a dispersed water supply network across rural areas created several operational challenges. Leak detection relied on time-consuming manual analysis, and the utility had limited visibility and operational control of its infrastructure.

Approach: The Water Utility in Prusice implemented SmartFlow and divided the network into 14 DMA zones. Existing measurement points, including flow and water meters, were integrated with the platform, enabling continuous monitoring and automated reporting.

Result: The average failure detection time dropped to 24-48 hours, with a record detection of just 40 minutes. The platform generates reports within seconds, significantly improving the organisation’s efficiency.

About the client

The Bychowo Inter-Municipal Water Utility (Zakład Wodociągowy Związku Gmin Bychowo w Prusicach), headquartered in Prusice, was established in 2003. It supplies drinking water to approximately 18,000 residents.

The utility manages a network consisting of 5,498 water intake points and over 350 km of pipelines and service connections.

Business Challenge

The utility serves 76 localities across a territory of more than 300 km². Managing a network of this scale brings both logistical and technical challenges.

A further complexity was the age and diversity of pipeline materials: cast iron, PVC, and asbestos cement, making maintenance more difficult and increasing the likelihood of failures.

Leaks frequently occurred in hard-to-access rural locations: fields, riverbanks, or flooded metering chambers. In addition, part of the meter reading process was still carried out manually, extending the time required to analyse consumption patterns and operational data.

To address these issues, the organisation needed a solution that would enable continuous monitoring of the network, faster identification of hidden leaks, straightforward data analysis and visualisation, and automatic generation of reports on its condition.

Our collaboration in numbers

40 min: record failure detection time

24-48 h: average failure detection time

10 min: measurement data refresh frequency

Every 24 h: synchronisation of flow meter readings

300 km²: total monitored area

11 flow meters

3 flow meters equipped with impulse transmitters

It is the first time I have worked with a system that is so intuitive, easy to use and fast. Compared to software from other domains (e.g., financial or work coordination systems), SmartFlow is exceptionally efficient. Previously, preparing reports and charts took us many hours. Now the system does it for us in just a few seconds.

SmartFlow is tailored to our specific needs. We have 14 measurement points: 6 flow meters located in pumping stations and at the water treatment plant, 5 installed in chambers along transmission pipelines, and 3 water meters with impulse transmitters in pumping stations. We also operate retention tanks across 7 facilities with a total capacity of 4,100 m³.

SmartFlow calculates balances and flow rates perfectly. At any time, I can set my own thresholds for alarms and DMA boundaries. The system exceeds our expectations.

Joanna Cybuch

Head of the Bychowo Inter-Municipal Water Utility in Prusice

Five steps to SmartFlow implementation in Prusice

Reference visit
During a reference visit to MPWiK Wrocław, the team had the chance to see SmartFlow working in real conditions, hear firsthand how it supports daily operations and assess how the platform could help them address their own challenges.
Pre-implementation analysis and decision
Together, we analysed the network’s structure, measurement tools, and available GIS data, focusing on practical deployment options. The assessment confirmed that SmartFlow fully addressed the operational needs of the utility. All activities were carried out under an NDA.
Preparing the environment for SmartFlow
The utility chose to deploy SmartFlow in the Microsoft Azure Cloud, selecting this option from the available cloud or on-premise alternatives.
Zoning and data migration
We prepared the zoning plan, dividing the service area into individual DMA zones. At this stage, all spatial and geoinformation data were transferred to SmartFlow.
This step was streamlined by the fact that existing pumping stations were already equipped with standard water meters and flow meters, and SmartFlow simply became the central environment to which data from each zone could be sent for analysis.
Integration and go-live
SmartFlow was integrated with the client’s measurement databases, and the platform was launched for daily operational use.

I can highly recommend SmartFlow to other water and sewage utilities. Once zones are defined, measurement points installed and key data added, the system instantly calculates many valuable analytical indicators for each DMA zone. This is an enormous support in our daily, challenging work.

Moreover, the level of collaboration is exceptional. The SmartFlow team is extremely proactive, and the customer support is outstanding. That’s truly impressive.