Origin SAVI (Satellite Air Valve Insight )

The Challenge

The UK water network has circa 170,000 air valves.

Each air valve represents a potential point of risk in relation to contaminants to the potable water supply. Traditional methods of inspection involve covering large areas of landmass in a relatively untargeted, labour intensive and prohibitively expensive manner. This inevitably leads to ineffective or reactive inspection schedules. 

Failure to inspect the air valve network properly leaves public health at risk because of waterborne illness outbreaks. 

These outbreaks lead to water networks being subject to additional government scrutiny, regulation, penalties and fines, and can create negative public sentiment.

Origin have a solution to this problem. Origin SAVI.

Origin Satellite Air Valve Insights (“SAVI”) is a cutting-edge, satellite-based remote sensing and artificial intelligence solution, with a proprietary algorithm designed specifically for the purpose of monitoring air valve network integrity.

SAVI uses data taken from Satellites orbiting the earth, combining data sources covering land type, climatic conditions, topography, historic rainfall data, and adds live data from the participating water network on water pressures within their distribution network. This data is fed into a machine learning algorithm. 

The output is supplied to the water network within a user-friendly dashboard. 

Normal service is to report daily the “at risk” air valves. Where there is a pressure loss event “at risk” valves are reported in real time. The data is fundamentally split into 2 categories:

1. Air valves requiring further immediate inspection

2. Air valves where normal inspection schedules will suffice.

The machine learning improves with larger historic data sets, and feedback from users resulting in a system which improves with time.

Advantages and Benefits:

• SAVI can monitor the whole Air valve network with one system. The unwieldy task of manual inspections becomes manageable, manpower can be resourced more effectively to specific valves which may require attention rather than low efficiency line walking.

• Events can be predicted based on previous data, allowing networks to be proactive rather than re-active.

• Documentation and data records produced by the platform evidence the water company have acted systematically and with integrity, in inspecting, monitoring and taking remedial action with regards to their air valve network.

• The user platform is easy to use and allows in field technicians to record the outcomes of their inspections and the results thereof to be updated within the platform, recategorizing “at risk” Air valves back into normal business as usual, until further data raises the risk level.

• SAVI allows water companies to protect their network integrity and keep public health and safety as a priority but is also remarkably cost effective and compliant.