Digital Platform Targets Water Network Losses

ABB has launched the AquaMaster+ digital service platform designed for water utilities to analyze and manage fluid distribution networks. This software system minimizes pipeline leakage and optimizes resource management by integrating advanced flowmeter data with cloud-based analytical tools.

Network Monitoring and Data Analytics Architecture
The AquaMaster+ digital service functions either as a standalone software solution integrated into existing utility systems or paired directly with ABB AquaMaster4 flowmeters. The platform provides fleet-level visibility utilizing geographic information system mapping alongside device-specific data covering flow fluctuations, pressure shifts, and hardware diagnostics. The system stores event logs and compares critical parameters, such as flow rate and pressure differentials, enabling operators to identify network anomalies during continuous operation.




Remote Configuration and Scenario Simulation
By incorporating remote configuration capabilities, the platform allows water network operators to manage device parameters without dispatching personnel to physical metering locations, thereby reducing operational travel expenses and accelerating response times. The architecture includes a virtual flowmeter function that allows engineers to model theoretical scenarios, simulating hydraulic outcomes to inform infrastructure decisions. Raghu Kumar NV, global product manager at the ABB Measurement and Analytics division, indicated that global pressure on water resources requires systems that connect utilities to concrete flow measurement data to prevent distribution losses.




Electromagnetic Flow Measurement Integration
The software integrates with ABB AquaMaster hardware to track the exact quantities of water traversing the network in real time. These field instruments achieve measurement accuracy at flow velocities below 0.1 meters per second, providing the sensitivity required to detect minor leaks that bypass conventional measurement hardware. The ecosystem builds upon the AquaMaster4 Mobile Comms unit, which was released in 2022 as the initial electromagnetic flowmeter to feature bidirectional connectivity for direct remote interaction.



Additional Context:
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement

The ABB AquaMaster+ software operates within the smart water network management sector alongside competitive platforms such as Endress+Hauser Netilion and Xylem Vue. While systems from Endress+Hauser provide broad, hardware-agnostic integration across diverse process automation instruments, AquaMaster+ is tailored specifically to leverage the bidirectional communication capabilities of the AquaMaster4 electromagnetic flowmeter series. Competing systems frequently rely on distinct telemetry loggers for data transmission, whereas the ABB architecture processes high-resolution diagnostic data directly from the integrated flowmeter. The AquaMaster+ platform utilizes this direct hardware link to conduct automated night-flow analysis, capturing the sub-0.1 meter per second flow variations necessary to isolate non-revenue water losses during low-demand periods.

Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, assisted by AI.

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