**2. Methodology for assessing priorities**

Obviously, in the coming years the new technologies from the IT sector will affect the full water cycle and the management of the water related services. This process represents a major challenge for the 21st century. However, the impact of these new technologies – from sensors to Decision Support Systems - could be stronger and really significant if priorities are properly defined and implemented within the R&D strategies. The main driver of the strategy has to be to achieve a comprehensive architecture of an Information System (IS) dedicated to water uses and connected to others systems involved in human activities.

By definition, Information systems are implemented within an organization for the purpose of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of that organization (Silver, 1995). Capabilities of the IS and characteristics of the organization, its work systems, its people, and its development and implementation methodologies together determine the extent to which that purpose is achieved. The IS is associated to an architecture which provides a formal definition of the business processes and rules, systems structure, technical framework, and product technologies for a business or organizational information system.

Fig. 1. General methodology for development of ICT solutions in the water sector.

In order to elaborate a specific IS for the management of the water cycle, a methodology is needed for identifying priorities and strategic investments to do in the ICT domain. The

ICT for Water Efficiency 415

generations. In such approach, ICT solutions can play a key role but focus has to be given to

In order to identify which and how ICT solutions can be implemented, it is necessary to look at the water cycle through an approach based on functional domains and business processes. This methodology allows considering each action involved into the resource

The water cycle can be divided in three domains which are associated to specific activities

The first domain considers all actions needed to assess and advice on the environmental impacts of development proposals and projects related to specific water uses. Results are used by regulatory services. The domain covers also all conservation actions of water related

The second domain is focused on water related natural hazards mitigation actions. Floods, water-borne and vector disease outbreaks, droughts, landslide and avalanche events and famine are the processes covered by this domain. Every year, disasters related to meteorological, hydrological and climate hazards cause significant loss of life, and set back economic and social development by years. The disaster is defined as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic

The last domain covers the added influence of human activity on the water cycle. Generally, the water uses refer to use of water by agriculture, industry, energy production and households, including in—stream uses such as fishing, recreation, transportation and waste disposal. All of those uses are directly linked to specific activities and processes which are potential targets for deployment of ICT solutions. In order to stick to the reality oft he water management operated by entities in charge of water services, the traditional classification can be reviewed. The main water uses appear then as: agriculture, aquaculture, industry,

According to the defined water domains, the water uses represent the largest field where ICT solutions can be developed and implemented. The various uses may be classified and

 Agriculture: Irrigation water use is water artificially applied to farm, orchard, pasture, and horticultural crops, as well as water used to irrigate pastures, for frost and freeze protection, chemical application, crop cooling, harvesting, and for the leaching of salts from the crop root zone. In fact, irrigation is the largest category of water use

 Aquaculture: Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Farming implies some sort of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators and so forth. It also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated. This activity uses part of the water bodies in order to develop

the most demanding and relevant domains of the water cycle.

management and identifying the potential needs of ICT.

 Protection of natural environment and ecosystems; Natural hazards mitigation and disaster prevention;

and business processes:

and/or environmental losses.

defined as follow.

worldwide.

activities.

recreation, transport/navigation, and urban.

**2.2 Water uses, activities and business processes** 

Water uses.

ecosystems.

requested approach has to investigate all domains and provide a map of the various process taking places in the different domains of the water uses cycle. This formalization exercise, using mainly concepts and processes, is now requested in order to ensure the coherence of technical choices in a holistic approach.

The methodology has to start from the water cycle, to identify the various water domains and the associated activities. The activities can be then defined with business processes which can be analysed regarding the need of ICT solutions. The proposed methodology is summarized on the Figure 1.

#### **2.1 Domains of the water cycle**

The water cycle is frequently defined as the hydrologic cycle which describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. The hydrologic cycle involves the exchange of heat energy, which leads to temperature changes and drives states of water. The water cycle figures significantly in the maintenance of life and ecosystems.

Fig. 2. Domains of water cycle.

In order to preserve this essential resource, the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) has been developed (Jønch-Clausen T. & Global Water Partnership (GWP), 2004). The purpose of the approach is to "promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems." Operationally, IWRM approaches involve applying knowledge from various disciplines as well as the insights from diverse stakeholders to devise and implement efficient, equitable and sustainable solutions to water and development problems. As such, IWRM is a comprehensive, participatory planning and implementation tool for managing and developing water resources in a way that balances social and economic needs, and that ensures the protection of ecosystems for future

requested approach has to investigate all domains and provide a map of the various process taking places in the different domains of the water uses cycle. This formalization exercise, using mainly concepts and processes, is now requested in order to ensure the coherence of

The methodology has to start from the water cycle, to identify the various water domains and the associated activities. The activities can be then defined with business processes which can be analysed regarding the need of ICT solutions. The proposed methodology is

The water cycle is frequently defined as the hydrologic cycle which describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. The hydrologic cycle involves the exchange of heat energy, which leads to temperature changes and drives states of water. The water cycle figures significantly in the maintenance of life and ecosystems.

> Protection of natural environment

In order to preserve this essential resource, the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) has been developed (Jønch-Clausen T. & Global Water Partnership (GWP), 2004). The purpose of the approach is to "promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems." Operationally, IWRM approaches involve applying knowledge from various disciplines as well as the insights from diverse stakeholders to devise and implement efficient, equitable and sustainable solutions to water and development problems. As such, IWRM is a comprehensive, participatory planning and implementation tool for managing and developing water resources in a way that balances social and economic needs, and that ensures the protection of ecosystems for future

Water cycle

Water uses

technical choices in a holistic approach.

summarized on the Figure 1.

**2.1 Domains of the water cycle** 

Fig. 2. Domains of water cycle.

Natural hazards mitigation generations. In such approach, ICT solutions can play a key role but focus has to be given to the most demanding and relevant domains of the water cycle.

In order to identify which and how ICT solutions can be implemented, it is necessary to look at the water cycle through an approach based on functional domains and business processes. This methodology allows considering each action involved into the resource management and identifying the potential needs of ICT.

The water cycle can be divided in three domains which are associated to specific activities and business processes:


The first domain considers all actions needed to assess and advice on the environmental impacts of development proposals and projects related to specific water uses. Results are used by regulatory services. The domain covers also all conservation actions of water related ecosystems.

The second domain is focused on water related natural hazards mitigation actions. Floods, water-borne and vector disease outbreaks, droughts, landslide and avalanche events and famine are the processes covered by this domain. Every year, disasters related to meteorological, hydrological and climate hazards cause significant loss of life, and set back economic and social development by years. The disaster is defined as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic and/or environmental losses.

The last domain covers the added influence of human activity on the water cycle. Generally, the water uses refer to use of water by agriculture, industry, energy production and households, including in—stream uses such as fishing, recreation, transportation and waste disposal. All of those uses are directly linked to specific activities and processes which are potential targets for deployment of ICT solutions. In order to stick to the reality oft he water management operated by entities in charge of water services, the traditional classification can be reviewed. The main water uses appear then as: agriculture, aquaculture, industry, recreation, transport/navigation, and urban.

#### **2.2 Water uses, activities and business processes**

According to the defined water domains, the water uses represent the largest field where ICT solutions can be developed and implemented. The various uses may be classified and defined as follow.


ICT for Water Efficiency 417

 Observing/monitoring: From a general point of view, this activity refers to be aware of the state of a system. It describes the processes and activities that need to take place to characterise and monitor the quality and/or state of the domain in study. All monitoring strategies and programmes have reasons and justifications which are often designed to establish the current status of the domain or to establish trends in its parameters. In all cases the results of monitoring will be reviewed and analysed. The design of a monitoring programme must therefore have regard to the final use of the

 Designing (including risk assessment): Refers to the process of devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs. It is a decision making process (often iterative) in which the basic sciences, risk assessment and engineering sciences are applied to convert resources optimally to meet a stated objective. Among the fundamental elements of the design process are the establishment of objectives and criteria, synthesis, analysis, construction, testing and evaluation. In order to obtain a design that achieves the desired needs for the domain in study, the two previous steps

 Building & decommissioning: Consists in carrying out the proposed solution (design) for the domain. In order to execute this design, construction and/or decommission activities may be executed. It is essential a minimal environmental impact when accomplishing these activities. The tolerable environmental impact will be obtained

 Operating: It refers to the action of manoeuvring a system. It may include the combination of all technical and corresponding administrative, managerial, and supervision actions. Operation may also include performing routine actions which keep the system in working order. This latest actions might turn out as response of problems

> Investigating / Surveying

Designing Building &

Observing / Monitoring

Fig. 3. Invariant activities taking place in the various domains and water uses.

Decommissioning

data before monitoring starts.

detected during monitoring.

should have been accomplished and taken into account.

from the risk assessment of the designing step.

Operating


The water uses are associated to business processes and are linked to economical and social values. In most of the cases, five major activities are taking place within each water use and appear as invariants. These key activities are: Investigating /surveying, observing / monitoring, designing, building and decommissioning, operating. Each activity could be defined.

 Investigating/surveying: Consists in the gathering of information of the previous and actual state and/or working of the domain in study. This assembly of information can be done either by a systematic collection of field data (survey) or a collection of information or data from a methodical research of available documents and/or the production of new ones in order to understand or to improve the actual state of the domain.

 Industry: This water use is a valuable resource for such purposes as processing, cleaning, transportation, dilution, and cooling in manufacturing facilities. Major waterusing industries include steel, chemical, paper, and petroleum refining. Industries often

 Recreation: It often involves some degree of exercise as well as visiting areas that contain bodies of water such as parks, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, public fishing areas, and water parks. Some of the activities that imply the uses of water for this purpose are: fishing, boating, sailing, canoeing, rafting, and swimming, as well as many other recreational activities that depend on water. Recreational usage is usually nonconsumptive; however recreational irrigation such as gardening or irrigation of golf courses belongs to this category of water use. Besides, recreation and tourism represent

 Energy: Derived from the force or energy of moving water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes, such as Energy production. There are several forms of water power currently in use or development. Some are purely mechanical but many primarily generate electricity. Broad categories include: conventional hydroelectric (hydroelectric dams), run-of-the-river hydroelectricity, pumped-storage hydro- electricity and tidal

 Transport/navigation: It refers to the transport of goods or people using water as a means of transportation. This water use refers only to commercial transport, since recreational transports such as sailing is considered above in Recreation water use. Urban: Urban water use is generally determined by population, its geographic location, and the percentage of water used in a community by residences, government, and commercial enterprises. It also includes water that cannot be accounted for because of distribution system losses, fire protection, or unauthorized uses. For the past two decades, urban per capita water use has levelled off, or has been increasing. The implementation of local water conservation programs and current housing development trends, have actually lowered per capita water use. However, gross urban water demands continue to grow because of significant population increases and the establishment of urban centres. Even with the implementation of aggressive water conservation programs, urban water demand is expected to grow in conjunction with increases in population. The urban environment is associated to a high dynamic which implies a growing complexity related to number of inhabitants and management of water resources in order to fulfil the needs

The water uses are associated to business processes and are linked to economical and social values. In most of the cases, five major activities are taking place within each water use and appear as invariants. These key activities are: Investigating /surveying, observing / monitoring, designing, building and decommissioning, operating. Each activity could be

 Investigating/surveying: Consists in the gathering of information of the previous and actual state and/or working of the domain in study. This assembly of information can be done either by a systematic collection of field data (survey) or a collection of information or data from a methodical research of available documents and/or the production of new ones in order to understand or to improve the actual state of the

reuse the same water over and over for more than one purpose.

a growing sector for industry at the worldwide scale.

power.

of population.

defined.

domain.


Fig. 3. Invariant activities taking place in the various domains and water uses.

ICT for Water Efficiency 419

The European Union has defined a key objective for his industrial development on interoperability of systems. This approach is dedicated to various domain including environment and water. In order to support this vision, the European Commission has launched a Thematic Network called @qua under the CIP-ICT PSP Programme. The ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP) under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) aims at stimulating innovation and competitiveness through the wider uptake and best use of ICT by citizens, governments and businesses, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The approach is based on leveraging innovation in

In his programme frame of ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP) 2011, the General Direction Information Society (DG INFSO) of the European Commission has launched a new theme network dedicated to Innovation Communication Technologies for water management. This domain represents a sector which the European Union wishes to develop during the next 10 years and it's contemplated in different initiatives of the Digital Agenda for Europe 2020 which will allow at the same time improving the user's services quality and developing a sustainable management of resources. These objectives will be achieved with the improvement of already available technologies, adaptation of the existing solutions and

@qua Innovation Network (http://www.a-qua.eu), founded by 17 partners and managed by Nice Sophia Antipolis University gathers thus ICT and water services leading actors from SME to majors, research entities developing competences in both sectors, local and regional authorities directly responsible for water policy and water management. Partners have developed significant expertise about the interface of ICT and water and at the same time, covering the full spectrum of the water related domain. @qua provides a forum to exchange and to share expertise in deploying innovative ICT solutions for water management, studies feasibility of standardized ICT solutions and interoperability in the field of water management across the EU and develops specifications and guidelines according to a jointly defined "level of sharing" among representatives of professional sectors. Focus of @qua is on gathering and sharing experiences on how to overcome barriers to the introduction of ICT solutions for innovative water management and on how to ensure their wider uptake and best use. Partners have the ambition to develop and to promote the interoperability principle and the use of common standards in the water industry. In a holistic and consistent approach, @qua addresses all the issues of the water management from resources to societal changes, using a wide range of ICT solutions: data acquisition,

numerical modelling, real-time monitoring and field operation management.

of the water domain professionals on ICT solutions;

The @qua thematic network members have developed a general methodology based around

Step 1. Water business processes and ICT solutions: identification of gaps and expectations

Step 2. Identification and validation of innovative ICT solutions by the ICT professionals

Step 3. Develop the "level of sharing" of each ICT solution in order to address interoperability, standards, architecture and roadmap for implementation issues;

with the objective to bridge the identified gaps during the Step 1;

**3. The @qua approach** 

response to growing societal demands.

**3.1 The @qua methodology** 

few steps which can be summarized as follow:

the identification of R&D axes to work on the next years.

The final step of the approach is dedicated to the identification of the various business processes which are taking place in each activity. A business process is defined as a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product (serve a particular goal) for a particular customer or customers. It implies a strong emphasis on how the work is done within an organization, in contrast to a product's focus on what. A process is thus a specific ordering of work activities across time and place, with a beginning, an end, and clearly defined inputs and outputs: a structure for action. Some processes result in a product or service that is received by an organization's external customer. These are called primary processes. Other processes produce products that are invisible to the external customer but essential to the effective management of the business. These ones are called support processes. In keywords, a business process has a goal, has specific inputs and specific outputs, uses resources, has a number of activities that are performed in some order, may affect more than one organizational unit - horizontal organizational impact - and creates value of some kind for the customer. An example of a business process for a water utility can be meter reading. It has to be done in concordance of the billing period. The goal of this process is to give inputs to the billing department, and see the progress of the customer's consumption. Depending on the technology used for the metering (smart or manual metering), different resources (technology, personnel) are used.

The uses in urban environment, carried out by water utilities, can be defined with a limited number of business processes – 29 in total - summarized into the table 1 and which are covering drinking water, waste water and storm water management. The final step of the approach is then to identify for each business process how ICT solutions can be implemented and provide added value. This diagnostic has to be shared by professionals and operators in order to ensure a coherent deployment. This validation process can be made through an associative body gathering representatives from all involved sectors.


Table 1. Business processes for urban uses.

The final step of the approach is dedicated to the identification of the various business processes which are taking place in each activity. A business process is defined as a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product (serve a particular goal) for a particular customer or customers. It implies a strong emphasis on how the work is done within an organization, in contrast to a product's focus on what. A process is thus a specific ordering of work activities across time and place, with a beginning, an end, and clearly defined inputs and outputs: a structure for action. Some processes result in a product or service that is received by an organization's external customer. These are called primary processes. Other processes produce products that are invisible to the external customer but essential to the effective management of the business. These ones are called support processes. In keywords, a business process has a goal, has specific inputs and specific outputs, uses resources, has a number of activities that are performed in some order, may affect more than one organizational unit - horizontal organizational impact - and creates value of some kind for the customer. An example of a business process for a water utility can be meter reading. It has to be done in concordance of the billing period. The goal of this process is to give inputs to the billing department, and see the progress of the customer's consumption. Depending on the technology used for the metering (smart or

The uses in urban environment, carried out by water utilities, can be defined with a limited number of business processes – 29 in total - summarized into the table 1 and which are covering drinking water, waste water and storm water management. The final step of the approach is then to identify for each business process how ICT solutions can be implemented and provide added value. This diagnostic has to be shared by professionals and operators in order to ensure a coherent deployment. This validation process can be made through an associative body gathering representatives from all involved sectors.

1 - Asset management 16 - Water primary network management

4 - Field works 19 - Meter reading (AMR & MMR) 5 - Use of GIS 20 - AMR & MMR management

9 - Laboratory activity and quality control 24 - Waste water treatment plant

6 - Maintenance of GIS 21 - Public service contract management 7 - Management of plant maintenance 22 - Waste water network management 8 - Electro mechanical maintenance 23 - Storm water network management

10 - Automation & sensors 25 - Sewer inspection and sewer cleaning

plants 27 - Customer care & communication

13 - Water resources management 28 - Innovation & pilots

2 - Crisis management 17 - Water secondary network management

and water balance

management

manual metering), different resources (technology, personnel) are used.

3 - Field intervention management 18 - Leak detection

11 - Real time network management 26 - Billing

14 - Environment management 29 - Supports

12 - Planning and design of new assets and

Table 1. Business processes for urban uses.

15 - Drinking water treatment plant

management
