ABSTRACT. The last decade has seen the emergence of nature-based solutions (often called green infrastructure) to substitute or complement piped urban drainage networks. They are associated with a strong paradigm shift at urban scale, not only aiming to reduce pluvial flooding but also to preserve the environment, water resources and biodiversity as well as to support human well-being and contribute to urban resilience. Their adequate operation and maintenance as well as consequences of ageing were often neglected. Activities have primarily focussed on the design, demonstration, and incentives and only recently these practices have matured to the extent that maintenance has been considered. The main barriers are (i) lack of expertise in utilities (ii) lack of data related to operation and deterioration, (iii) clustering of water management (sewer vs stormwater pipes vs green infrastructure) and (iv) difficulty to adapt governance, regulation and management processes (coordination challenges, distribution of responsibility between departments) that were designed around centralized, grey infrastructure systems. To a certain extent parallels can be drawn with the course of events connected to the 'classical' solutions of urban drainage and the keynote will paint the picture of our growing field of urban drainage asset management from grey to green infrastructure.

ABSTRACT. Data-driven sewer asset management uses different technologies (the most used are the CCTV) to collect information and thus to support sewer asset management plans. The inspected data is used to assess the current condition of the sewer network, to support the prediction of sewer network for a future horizon, and thus developing sewer asset management plans. Usually, the inspection campaigns are addressed in a random way, when they are needed because of the intervention of other infrastructures (i.e. roadways), water tightness, or lack of information. They are not wrong addressed. However, the present study proposes and compares different inspection campaigns based on the forecasting of sewer network of a stablished sewer asset management plan to analyse which is the most sustainable to maintain an acceptable wear reserve and condition of sewer network along the time, reducing costs of inspection campaigns.

ABSTRACT. This study presents a sewerage system failures prediction using report-based MAchine Learning (ML) data analysis. The study utilizes past reports of pipe failures combined with GIS data, making it applicable to many municipalities where such data is available. The data was obtained from two water and sewer corporations in Israel - the Sharon area, Mey Natanya and Maayanot Hasharon, and included information on pipe location, length, age, material, and diameter. The research involved exploratory data analysis, generating heatmaps, and plotting the monthly distribution of reports to observe seasonal trends. A significant finding was the higher occurrence of reports during the wet season. The study also explored the persistence of reports in pipes and calculated the conditional probability of failure based on previous reports. Future steps include testing graph neural network architectures to improve performance and exploring links between report data and infrastructure conditions.

ABSTRACT. Built drainage systems are large, long-lasting infrastructures with substantial value and essential functions. However, their rehabilitation and maintenance are often insufficient due to natural deterioration over time. The rehabilitation of older systems is reactive, leading to sewer collapses, groundwater contamination, and untreated discharges. Many older sewers have surpassed their design life, requiring regular maintenance to reduce risks. For large sewers, decision-making in selecting inspection and rehabilitation priorities is crucial, as their failure has significant societal consequences. Obstacles to adopting advanced asset management include limited funding, lack of political and public pressure, and insufficient data. Understanding sewer deterioration mechanisms is key, especially for large systems where visual inspections and accurate asset data are essential. In Lisbon, a city with sewers dating back to the 16th century, a risk-based methodology was developed to prioritize inspections and rehabilitation. This methodology, applied to large sewers like Caneiro de Alcântara, uses reference tables to assess deterioration and a risk matrix to prioritize actions. It has been effective in identifying critical issues and enabling timely interventions. The approach, refined through fieldwork, ensures a proactive, data-driven strategy for managing large sewer systems.

ABSTRACT. This research focuses on the development of acoustic measurement techniques for the condition assessment of sewer networks. The traditional methods, like CCTV inspections, are costly and mostly based on subjective interpretation. There is a strong need for innovative, non-intrusive alternatives. The present study examines the propagation of acoustic signals inside a PVC pipe setup to detect anomalies like blockages, cracks, and also its structural features. In the preliminary investigations, the experiments were conducted in an anechoic chamber. A microphone and speaker arrangement were employed in order to measure the amplitude and frequency of the recorded acoustic signals. Results indicated that larger blockages resulted in 28% greater signal attenuation, while signal attenuation increased with the length of lateral connections. T-sections produced less signal dampening as compared to lateral connections. Future steps will include introducing variations in sizes of cracks and external noise to simulate real-world scenarios before applying this technology to the field. The ultimate goal is to develop machine learning algorithms for continuous monitoring of wastewater pipe networks to make sewer management better.

ABSTRACT. The sewage network is crucial for urban infrastructure, but aging and environmental conditions can lead to deterioration, causing problems like cracks and overflows. Traditional CCTV inspections are time-consuming and costly, leading researchers to explore automated methods for detecting sewer defects. Advances in deep learning and computer vision have made progress, but most methods rely on large labeled datasets. Self-Supervised Learning (SSL) has emerged as a promising DL paradigm, leveraging unlabeled data and reducing dependency on annotated datasets. This study evaluates an SSL model with SwAV on the Sewer-ML benchmark dataset, showing its superior performance in classifying multi-label defects. These results highlight the potential of SSL for accurate, scalable, and cost-effective assessment of sewer condition from CCTV imagery.

ABSTRACT. Excessive or unintended inflows into sewer and drainage systems can cause significant operational, environmental, and safety issues. These inflows, which can be illicit or excessive, interfere with system performance by increasing water volumes and altering water quality. This leads to sanitary sewer overflows, unnecessary water transport, and reduced treatment efficiency, increasing energy consumption and reducing the overall system effectiveness. These affect natural and built environments, highlighting the need for effective asset management practices.

Challenges arise in quantifying influent volume because of insufficient drainage system data. Extraneous inflows can account for up to 50% of wastewater volume. Climate change exacerbates these issues, increasing pressure on wastewater systems and their carbon footprint, influencing the water-energy-greenhouse gases (W-E-G) nexus. In Portugal, wastewater services consume significant energy, stressing the need for energy efficiency and renewable energy management to meet the carbon neutrality target by 2050. The revised EU Wastewater Treatment Directive promotes energy neutrality, urging utilities to conduct energy audits and reduce emissions. This communication analyses the impact of inflows on the W-E-G nexus, presenting insights into asset management best practices.

ABSTRACT. TSM system in Jordan is a comprehensive quality management system that improves the management and operation of WWTPs. TSM aligns the vision of the Jordanian water and sanitation sector with SDG6 which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Managed by the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), TSM consists of six key pillars: Human Resources, OSH, O&M, Quality Assurance and Control, and Energy Efficiency. TSM ensures compliance with national and international standards, improves operational performance, and contributes to environmental sustainability. This paper evaluates the impact of TSM in Jordan, highlighting its contribution to SDG6 targets related to wastewater treatment, treated wastewater quality improvement, and the efficient use of resources within the sector. By incorporating strategic asset management principles, the TSM has strengthened the long-term sustainability and resilience of Jordan’s WWTPs. TSM system approach to inspection, certification, monitoring, and benchmarking has led to notable improvements in plant effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance. The findings are discussed within a broader international context of global water management strategies. This paper shares lessons learned and highlights for addressing water challenges in arid regions. The paper also highlights how TSM can serve as a model for advancing SDG6.

ABSTRACT. K-water supplies about 50% of drinking water in Korea. The aging of the waterworks facility has become worse. The maintenance cost has more than doubled for the last decade. However, the available budget is always limited. Reasonable investment decisions are needed. For this reason, K-water developed a decision-making method to replace old facilities using big data such as diagnosis results, real-time data, and etc. This method makes it possible to predict the condition assessment and the remaining life of facilities scientifically. As a result of the pilot application, it showed a high concordance rate (97%) with the site replacement plan.

In addition, K-AMS, K-water-Asset Management System, was developed to support rapid decision-making and improve user convenience, resulting in expanding the asset management nationwide. All data about the condition of facilities were linked online to K-AMS, and user interface was completed so that anyone can conveniently check the objective degree of aging and remaining life of assets as well as an annual replacement plan for individual workplaces. Through a pilot operation, K-water plans to expand nationwide until 2027. If the asset management system is expanded to all facilities, it is expected that 7.2% of annual maintenance budget will be saved.

ABSTRACT. Effective asset management is crucial for maintaining the integrity and reliability of water networks while minimizing operational risks. This study offers a retrospective analysis of AM approaches employed by SUEZ Water France, highlighting the evolution of tools and methodologies, as well as key insights and challenges encountered. SUEZ has developed advanced statistical and AI-driven frameworks for evaluating the Likelihood of Failure (LoF) and the Consequence of Failure (CoF), integrating diverse datasets including GIS, O&M data, and environmental factors. Since 2021, these frameworks have been applied to nearly half of SUEZ Water France's networks, representing 10% of national water networks, enabling predictive capabilities and optimizing renewal plans.

Key findings indicate that AI-based approaches outperform traditional probabilistic models in short and mid-term predictions, especially in addressing the nonlinear dynamics of water systems. However, challenges such as data limitations, the need for continuous updates, actionable result aggregation, high inspection costs, and stakeholder engagement need to be addressed. The study emphasizes the importance of data enrichment, ongoing model refinement, and effective communication strategies. Despite constraints, these methodologies have supported investment planning, operational optimization, and risk mapping, contributing to sustainable management of complex water networks and ensuring resilience in the face of limited renewal budgets.

ABSTRACT. Ashghal’s AM System provide a comprehensive and systematic approach to asset management. This AM framework incorporates global best practices in managing the lifecycle of wastewater infrastructure, ensuring the system promotes sustainable development, enhances operational efficiency, and effectively supports the nation's urbanization, public health, and environmental sustainability. It plays a crucial role in achieving national goals, including those related to events like the FIFA World Cup 2022 and Qatar Vision 2030. In 2014, Ashghal appointed an Asset Management (AM) consultant to develop and implement its Asset Management System (AMS) under a long-term contract. The journey began at the "Innocent/Awareness" stage and has since advanced through ongoing improvements. Today, Ashghal has fulfilled ISO 55001:2014 certification requirements got certified and is steadily progressing toward achieving the "Excellent" level. The implementation of the Asset Management System builds confidence in the sustainability and efficiency of Qatar's wastewater infrastructure. Effective asset management strategies help reduce operational risks, achieve long-term cost savings by optimizing resource allocation, minimize corrective maintenance, and extend asset lifecycles. Additionally, the system ensures regulatory compliance, enhances decision-making, optimizes resource use, and fosters continuous improvement. Ultimately, it promotes sustainability, benefiting both environmental protection and public health.

ABSTRACT. Asset management of industrial water treatment process has unique specificities, crucial importance for businesses and environment. In this industrial sector, assets include a variety of controlled and expensive equipment such as sewage treatment plants, membrane filtration systems, biological reactors. Industrial water treatment professionals strives to assure system reliability and efficiency: breakdowns or malfunctions can lead to non-compliant releases, costly modifications, or even production stoppages or poor quality in production. Risk management strategies integrate elaborate schemes, including emergency plans in the event of a major malfunction. The constant evolution of environmental regulations, such as seasonal variations on water withdrawal authorizations, requires an increasingly flexible approach from manufacturers, capable of adapting infrastructures to new requirements while maintaining operational performance. Veolia WTS acts as a partner of manufacturers in this risk management by providing, among other things, specialized services that can integrate mobile processing units to, for example, compensate for malfunctions in existing installations or as mobile reuse solutions. Mobile assets brings solutions for industrial economies, in a context where resilience and adaptability is required. Combined with Asset Management strategies, the operational excellence process aims at optimizing the operation of installations, thus reducing operational costs such as energy optimization and the carbon footprint.

ABSTRACT. This study analyzes defect transitions in 18,166 sewer pipe inspection pairs with various interval years from Berliner Wasserbetriebe, focusing on aging and deterioration. Only pairs with worsening conditions, excluding repairs, were included. Transition probabilities were calculated and visualized in a knowledge graph. Results highlight root intrusion (BBA) and displaced joints (BAJ) as frequent defects, with roots often following others. Transitions like deformation to fissure to roots were evident, though some, like break/collapse to fissure, remain unclear due to limited characterization. Despite uncertainties in assessments and temporal precision, the analysis offers insights into defect aging. This novel approach provides a foundation for integrating defect transitions into future deterioration models.

ABSTRACT. The Limassol District Local Government Organisation (LDLGO) was founded on 1st July 2024 under Law 37(Ι)/2022. As it can be easily realised the energy consumption of LDLGO, considering all the services and responsibilities gathered under its umbrella which are of vital importance for the development in the Limassol District, would be of great interest and any steps for improving it would be quite important for the whole district. The main aim of this study was to recognise and analyse the energy profile of the newly founded organisation with special attention given to the production of energy using renewable energy sources (RES) and propose further steps towards improving the energy profile of LDLGO and its sustainability. According to the results of this study the electricity consumption of LDLGO for 2023 was equal to 11,654,049 kWh (€ 3,732,522) and the most energy intensive sector was the operations related to the pumping and treating of sewage (86%) while the second sector was the pumping of potable water (10%), followed by the energy consumption of buildings (4%). Finally, in this study several steps were identified to be applied in 2025 towards increasing the production of energy by RES and improving the sustainability of LDLGO.

ABSTRACT. The paper explains the good practices of Risk Mangement in the Integrated ISO implementation and ISO 55001 Asset Management System in the center of Organizations effective operation. This paper covers the full profile of risk management related to Asset Management and overlapping other activities through governance of relevance, alignment and balanced approach. It gives good implementation examples as guidelines.

ABSTRACT. Aqaba Water Company, established in August 2004, addresses Jordan's water challenges by balancing the needs of industry, agriculture, and drinking water. It is the first company in the Kingdom managing both water and sanitation services in its coverage area. Aqaba Water is 85% owned by the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and 15% by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA).

The company has seen significant growth, with the population served by water increasing from 98,000 in 2004 to 227,000 in 2023. Water supply has grown from 13.14 million m³ to 28.8 million m³, and the water network length expanded from 880 km to 1,256 km.

Aqaba Water focuses on smart utility transformation, using systems like SCADA, AMI, and ERP to improve operational efficiency, reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW), and enhance customer service. In 2022, it began managing water and wastewater operations in southern Jordan’s governorates (Karak, Tafila, Ma'an), achieving improvements in NRW, coverage, and revenue. Despite challenges like water loss and network attacks, the company continues working to overcome these issues and ensure sustainable water management

ABSTRACT. The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) of Bangkok, Thailand, has established a Geographic Information System (GIS) known as the "GIS WEB CENTER." This system is designed to enhance engineering and service operations across an area of 3,195 square kilometers, serving approximately 2.5 million customers, with a total water supply production capacity of 5.0 million cubic meters per day.

As part of the Enterprise GIS project, MWA has developed GIS applications that integrate with four core water utility systems: WLMA, SCADA, CIS, and SAP. These applications are tailored to meet user requirements efficiently and facilitate the integration of GIS data, thereby improving service delivery for related stakeholders. The objective is to provide GIS data that is accurate, comprehensive, and current.

The outcomes of this web application support decision-making processes related to water pressure management and the effective management of water pipe assets. This ensures optimal benefits for the organization while delivering high-quality water to all communities sustainably.

ABSTRACT. This study investigates the relationship between quality management system certifications and customer service performance in Portuguese retail water utilities, using a comprehensive panel dataset covering the period 2011-2022. The research analyzes data from 219 retail water utilities in Portugal, focusing on the relationship between multiple management system certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, energy management, and asset management) and the protection of user interests, measured through the accessibility of service, service interruptions, and response rates to written and telephone complaints. The study employs a two-stage analytical approach. First, binary logistic regressions examine the determinants of the adoption of multiple certifications. Second, a panel data analysis with utility fixed effects investigates the impact of certifications on metrics assessing the protection of user interests, controlling for utility characteristics and operational conditions. The analysis shows that utilities with multiple certifications exhibit higher performance in the protection of user interests.

ABSTRACT. Changing climate patterns with prolonged droughts and flash flood can significantly strain traditional water sources and affect the way we plan and chose options in water supply infrastructure by relying on flexibility as an adaptive strategy. This paper introduces real options (RO) AI augmented approach as a flexible method to evaluate water supply infrastructure systems. We compared RO with traditional discounted analysis methods like Net Present Value (NPV) and Decision Analysis (DA) techniques, focusing on their ability to handle uncertainty, flexibility, and strategic decision-making in the water sector. To illustrate this, we analyzed the capacity expansion of a desalination plant in Casablanca, Morocco, with a maximum capacity of 9.5 m³/s. By applying each methodology, we identify policy challenges relevant to desalination investment options evaluation that may serve in emerging economies. Our findings demonstrate that real options offer a more effective approach by enabling flexible responses to changing conditions, maximizing opportunities, and minimizing losses. By comparing real options with NPV under certain and uncertain scenarios, we highlighted the potential to increase the expected value of water infrastructure investments.

ABSTRACT. Urban water systems are vital for societal infrastructure, requiring effective management to meet current and future demands. Infrastructure asset management (IAM) involves evaluating condition quantitatively to ensure reliability and sustainability. A distress-based condition assessment methodology quantifies asset degradation via anomaly identification and deterioration indexes. This approach was introduced as part of AGS’ biannual collaborative project, PENSA, with its utilities, which aims in providing methodologies and tools in order to improve management and decision-making. In total, 353 infrastructures were inspected and 3,079 anomalies were detected, where the most common being localized corrosion, cracking and peeling. Based on these findings, an average infrastructure deterioration index was calculated, revealing that Utilities 1 and 3 performed well, while Utility 2 excelled. Since the project's start, utilities have addressed some of the anomalies, improving this index. The study emphasizes the significance of a standardized procedure for assessing urban water infrastructures, reducing subjectivity and facilitating comparisons over different time periods. Additionally, implementing this methodology in AGS' collaborative project allowed utilities to share achievements, enhancing the implementation process.

ABSTRACT. This paper presents the investment planning framework developed and used by Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY), Finland's largest water utility. In the core of the process, is the 20-year investment plan. Investment plan covers a vast asset base serving 1.2 million people and is crucial for long-term service reliability and sustainability.

Key elements of the framework include: -Data-driven decision-making: Integrating data from asset condition assessments, hydraulic models, population forecasts, and stakeholder engagement. -Portfolio-based prioritization: Categorizing investment needs into 18 portfolios and employing a strategy-based approach to prioritize projects within and across portfolios. -Dynamic and iterative planning: Conducting regular reviews and updates to the investment plan to adapt to changing conditions, technological advancements, and emerging challenges. The investment plan is reviewed and updated biennially, ensuring adaptability to changing circumstances. -Financial sustainability: Integrating financial modeling to ensure the long-term financial viability of the investment plan and optimize resource allocation.

This framework aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of investment planning, ensuring that limited resources are allocated to the most critical infrastructure needs while maintaining the long-term sustainability and resilience of the water service system.

ABSTRACT. This case study outlines a method for prioritizing network renovation investments at Helsinki Region Environmental Services, responsible for water and wastewater services in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The utility aimed to prioritize 600 identified renovation areas efficiently using a simple, transparent, and unbiased multi-criteria decision approach. Each project's total value was calculated based on scaled criteria attribute values and weights, using a weighted additive formula.

Criteria were scored from 0 to 100, with the most preferred value scoring 100 and the least preferred scoring 0. A "swing weights" method was used to elicit weights, comparing swings from least to most preferred values for each attribute. Criteria included water pipe leaks, water quality issues, condition survey results, sewer flushing problems, network disruption damages, and pipe condition risks. Attributes also considered the criticality of pipes and local areas with recurring leaks.

The method successfully prioritized renovation targets in the utility's long-term investment program, enhancing understanding of key investment factors and improving data management processes. Future applications will use the same criteria attributes to identify renovation needs and programmatically form renovation areas using spatial methods.

ABSTRACT. The focus of this paper is on academic-related, independent research and advisory centres, which although they constitute a particularly significant type of technology intermediary and a key feature of regional development policy in many Latin American countries, their role has not been sufficiently examined. Our study deals with an instrumental case of low technology-diffusion intervention for effective water management in a pisciculture production system of 44 agribusinesses in Cauca, a rural area of Colombia. The diffused technologies were adopted to address specific needs of these agribusinesses, including through mass-technology customisation activities, aiming at domestication and innovative diffusion of technology (innofusion) by adaptation. As this case demonstrates, domestication and innofusion through brokering, facilitating and configuring of water management technology can bring about substantial benefits for the local participant pisciculture businesses. This in turn is pivotal for agribusinesses in the local production system, as such improvements enable their certification and creation of common assets and facilitate their access to international supply chains. These are commendable, as they have the potential to improve significantly sustainability outcomes and the competitive position of the local production system.

ABSTRACT. Moldova faces significant economic challenges, including a high level of informal employment, low productivity, and a lack of diversification. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine further exacerbated these issues, leading to a contraction in economic activity. The water utilities from Moldova are in a difficult position from financial and operational point of view. The current tariff methodology and existing legislative framework governing the water sector in Moldova are insufficient to ensure its sustainability. The pricing structure fails to adequately cover operational and maintenance costs, limiting the sector's ability to invest in infrastructure upgrades and adopt modern technologies. Additionally, the legislative environment does not provide the necessary support for effective resource management, stakeholder collaboration, or long-term financial stability. Without significant reforms in both tariff policies and regulatory measures, the water sector will remain vulnerable to inefficiencies, financial deficits, and declining service quality, undermining its capacity to meet the growing needs of the population and ensure sustainable water management.

ABSTRACT. An economically driven optimization plan of water resources management for the Jordan valley is supported by mathematical modeling. The analytical tool used for the water allocation analysis in the JV was the Multi-Year Water Allocation System (MYWAS) model. The MYWAS model is a hydro-economic non-linear dynamic optimization framework, which was originally developed within the context of Jordan, Israel and Palestine to support efficient management of water resources across the entire region by emphasizing the economic benefits associated with regional water system integration. In the past decade this model was used to investigate various issues related to water management policies through representation of the Israeli water economy alone. Within the scope of the EcoFuture project this model was further extended to include Palestine, initial efforts to develop the model for Jordan started by focusing first on the JV area of interest within Jordan. This can help identify additional gaps and challenges of the existing situation and policies. It is demonstrated that substitution of freshwater with treated wastewater in irrigated agriculture is an efficient strategy from a regional perspective.