The Hadfield smart water network pilot has revolutionised the way leaks and interruptions to supply are managed in the future

Hadfield Smart Water Network Pilot

Yorkshire Water, working in collaboration with Stantec and other stakeholders, has created the UK's first ever smart water network. It incorporates a real-time informed hydraulic digital twin that works to further improve the essential water supply service provided to the community of Sheffield.

Utilising state-of-the-art digital twin technologies, digital water meters, sensors, advanced analytics, and telecommunications channels, the pilot will revolutionise the way Yorkshire Water manages leaks and interruptions to supply in the future. Through integrating almost 4,000 live data streams across an area covering over 20,000 properties in Hadfield, West Sheffield, the model enables simulated impact assessments and improved customer awareness. As a result, analysts in Yorkshire Water can prioritise repairs instantly, enabling leaks to be repaired quicker and reducing water lost. The project has efficiently reduced leakage by 32% in district metered areas with high intensity sensors and smart meters, and by delivering these efficiencies reduced CO2 emissions by 42%, delivering major environmental and social benefits for the community.

Following the success of the pilot, Yorkshire Water is expanding the smart water network to cover all of West Sheffield taking in 84 District Metered Areas—making it the largest smart water network in the UK.