Internet of Water Flanders

The goal of this project is to build a sensor network in Flanders. These sensors measure real-time quality parameters for various water types in specifically chosen locations. Innovative algorithms and hydrological models process the large amount of data to monitor a couple of challenges in our water system in real-time. A few examples of these challenges are: salinisation or the impact of overflows and discharges. The sensors are installed in surface water, sewage water and a limited amount in ground water.

De Watergroep’s objectives

Monitoring water quality for intake of surface water at water production centres.
Checking if readings can be used as a trigger to take scoop samples.
Checking if we can monitor the water quality for intake for water production centres Dikkebus, Zillebeke and De Blankaart. In other words; do the water quality parameters available for this project, such as pH and conductivity, offer sufficient information?
Gaining a better insight into the phenomena that cause salinisation of the surface water in the vicinity of water production centre De Blankaart.
Mapping out and monitoring flow velocity of surface water in real-time, in order to:
- Determine the source protection zone much more accurately and relevantly.
- Predict how fast the contamination reaches our water production centre and better manage stoppages of intake of water in case of environmental incidents.

Our accomplishments

As a test, we built a sensor network in two phases. This network consists of 50 sensor locations. 25 of these locations are useful to De Watergroep: 9 in De Ganzepoot (Nieuwpoort) and 16 in the wide vicinity of water production centre De Blankaart.
Thanks to the analysis of the sensor data, we obtained new insights into the conductivity of the surface water in the surrounding area of water production centre De Blankaart. For the first time, we were able to link the surface water flow velocity to conductivity.
The readings are publicly available on waterinfo.be

Our future plans

Continued maintenance and monitoring of sensors
Scaling up the sensor network with 100 additional sensor locations. 23 of these locations are useful to De Watergroep (scheduled for early 2023).
Further interpretation of sensor data and gaining insights in the water system.
Fine-tuning data validation
Developing a hydrological model and machine- learning algorithms by project partner VITO. This model aims to predict changes in water quality for the river Yser.
Final scale-up of sensor network with even more sensor locations (scheduled for mid-2023). A couple of these locations will be interesting for De Watergroep.

The Internet of Water Flanders research project is carried out in a collaboration with De Watergroep, Imec, VITO, Aquafin, VMM, Vlakwa and with financial support from Agentschap Innoveren en Ondernemen.