UK water utility Yorkshire Water has appointed Netmore Group to swap-out 1.3 million water meters across the Yorkshire region for smart LoRaWAN-connected meters over a five year period. Sweden-based LoRaWAN network operator Netmore Group, with infrastructure operations across Europe and the US, and a burgeoning LoRaWAN footprint in Asia Pacific, said it represents “one of Europe’s largest LoRaWAN water metering projects”.
Netmore Group was selected as the lead partner following a tender process. Yorkshire Water has experience already with cellular-based NB-IoT metering, as well; the decision to award Netmore Group the contract, based on a LoRaWAN infrastructure proposal, extends an existing partnership, which dates back to 2022 and remains in-process, to deliver LoRaWAN-based network services and smart meters for up to 360,000 households in the region.
It is a significant win for the non-cellular IoT technology. Yorkshire Water said its work with Netmore Group, to date, has seen leakage in the region reduce by 500,000 litres, and to understand “water demand patterns in our initial 25,000 Netmore smart meters”, as well as the “long-term perspective” for the expansion of its advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) strategy. The new contract will be for an initial term of five years.
It also covers “data services” for smart meters up to 2045. Netmore Group will lead a roster of suppliers to cover the delivery, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of the new smart meters. It will densify network coverage in the region “directly and with partners”. Morrison Water Services, under contract with Netmore Group, will plan, schedule and work with household and non-household customers to exchange meters. Itron and Diehl Metering will supply meter devices.
The meter project is subject to final approval, due in December, from the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat), responsible for economic regulation of the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. Deployment is expected to begin in South Yorkshire in 2025.
Yorkshire Water’s strategy is geared to deliver improvements in: general water leakage, against a target to halve leakage by 2050 (versus 2020) in the region; residential water consumption, by working with customers to better understand water usage (and to drive it down to 110 litres per person by 2050); and non-household water ‘demand’ (usage), with a target to reduce demand / wastage by 15 percent by 2050.
There is also a stated strategy around ‘customer experience’, to provide customers with greater insight into their water usage, easier “move-in and move-out processes”, and clearer tariffs, and more regular and accurate billing. A press note said smart meters also provide a means for utilities, like Yorkshire Water, to secure water supplies, reduce chemicals in water treatment, and reduce carbon emissions in both the treatment and distribution of water.
The scheme is a key component of the 2024 version of Yorkshire Water’s water resources management plan (WRMP), as set out by UK water companies every five years to drive efficiency improvements, conservation activities, and water-reduction goals. It also aligns with Ofwat’s 2024 price review, which sets price controls for water and sewerage companies.
Ove Anebygd, chief executive at Netmore Group, said: “This deal is an exciting new milestone for Netmore as we continue to expand our water utility initiatives across Europe and at a time when utilities and municipalities around the world are migrating to sensor-based solutions capable of providing new and valuable datasets for measuring and conserving water for their customers and to address environmental concerns”
Adam Smith, manager of smart networks and metering transformation at Yorkshire Water, said: “Following a rigorous evaluation process and procurement analysis, we are confident in the choice of Netmore and its partners for our meter exchange program, as they collectively have the ability to help us deliver our ambitious goals and success criteria related to leakage, water efficiency, customer experience, and operational carbon emissions.”
Vadim Lyu, managing director for Netmore Group in the UK, said: “Since the inception of Netmore’s LoRaWAN network in the UK, we have worked diligently to establish strong customer relationships that are meaningful and impactful to the local community and environment. We are honoured to have been selected by Yorkshire Water and are committed to meeting the strict requirements to deliver smart metering data that will improve their operational performance, deliver better environmental outcomes, and support regulatory compliance.”
