Rethinking water: how intelligent networks are transforming the future of utilities

The UK water sector is entering a defining era. Ageing infrastructure, climate change, rising operational costs, tighter regulation and growing public scrutiny are forcing utilities to rethink how they manage their networks. Incremental improvements are no longer enough. The future of water lies in intelligent systems - where operational expertise, modern IT, and real-time data work together to deliver safer, more resilient and more efficient services.

What is an intelligent water system?

An intelligent water system integrates the physical assets of a water supply network, from treatment, reservoirs and pumps to pipelines, valves, meters and customer connections with a digital ecosystem designed to monitor, control, predict and adapt in real time.

This new generation of a water network is enabled by a diverse range of emerging technologies:

• IoT sensors and scientific instrumentation capturing hydraulic, environmental and asset-health data
• Machine vision, drones and robotics providing remote inspection and rapid situational awareness
• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and edge devices applying local intelligence and automation at the point of operation.
• Digital twins modelling system behaviour to test scenarios in a safe, controlled environment
• AI and machine learning transforming high-volume data into actionable insight and predictive capability.

Rather than focusing on a single operational challenge, intelligent systems provide a holistic network view, enabling faster decision-making, targeted interventions and continuous optimisation.
This sets the stage for the first foundational capability: harnessing real-time data from the field.

Harnessing real-time data from the field

Smart field technologies, including IoT sensors, smart meters, machine-vision, autonomous inspection solutions and advanced PLCs stream high-frequency data through NB-IoT, LoRaWAN or 5G, network selection of a preferred protocol is based on parameters such as bandwidth, device battery life and geographic reach. 
Edge computing adds a dimension of local intelligence. Devices positioned near critical assets pre-process telemetry, filter noise, compress data and autonomously trigger alerts or control actions such as valve actuator adjustments or pump starts. This reduces latency, lowers cloud transport costs and enables operational teams to respond faster when the seconds matter.

Building a central intelligence layer

Once filtered and validated, data flows into secure, cloud-based platforms, typically a data lake or unified data fabric where telemetry, geospatial information, customer records, asset history and environmental data are integrated into a single operational picture.

This central intelligence layer enables:

• Real-time querying and visualisation
• A consistent data structure and foundation 
• A collective truth across operational, engineering and customer teams
• A holistic, single glass-window view of network operations.

It is here that the foundations for intelligence, automation and predictive capability are established.

Applying AI to optimise network outcomes

With data unified, machine learning and AI models can be used to detect anomalies, classify events, predict asset failures, and identify areas at risk based on hydraulic signatures, customer reports, environmental conditions or operational behaviours.
These models continuously improve. As they ingest more data - seasonal weather patterns, demand change, pressure or flow variations, asset determinations - they adapt, becoming more accurate and better aligned to real-world dynamics. Being cloud-native, they scale easily and evolve alongside ever-growing operational demands.

Turning insight into operational action

Intelligence only delivers value when it drives action. That is why AI insights feed directly into modular, cloud-based applications designed to optimise operations end-to-end. These can support:

• Pump scheduling 
• Energy optimisation
• Asset condition monitoring
• Water quality and compliance assurance
• Field operations planning and dispatch
• Network performance and event management

Applications are integrated through secure APIs, creating a vendor-agnostic, service-oriented architecture that grows as needs evolve.

Achieving end-to-end systems integration

To ensure insights drive real outcomes, operational systems must connect seamlessly with the utility’s enterprise environment. That means connecting intelligent network applications with common IT enterprise systems, such as resource planning and field-force management, asset management, customer and geographical information systems, SCADA, OT and meter data management, project and portfolio management and customer platforms so that: 

• Work orders are raised automatically
• Pumping schedules are updated based on real-time system conditions
• Field technicians are routed efficiently
• Smart meter data informs network decisions 
• Leakage is detected faster and more efficiently
• Customer impacts are identified earlier and addressed sooner.

This top-to-bottom connectivity, from sensor to system to strategy, is what defines a truly intelligent water network.

Driving enterprise transformation through intelligent water systems

Deploying intelligent water systems is not an off-shelf plug-and-play exercise. It’s a hybrid journey bringing together IT innovation and deep operational insight, enabled by strategic change leadership and cross-functional collaboration. 

At CGI, we help utilities navigate this journey from concept to execution to deliver more than just a digital upgrade - we enable true digital transformation. We work with our clients to build strategic roadmaps that align technology modernisation with regulatory, financial and environmental outcomes. This begins with digital maturity assessments, operational reviews and cultural readiness evaluations. As programmes scale, we integrate complex multi-vendor ecosystems, bridge legacy IT with modern cloud-native platforms, and deploy digital twins and network visualisation tools to support real-time decision-making and unlock operational intelligence.

Our data-driven approach helps water companies turn information into foresight. We apply AI and advanced analytics for leak prediction, asset risk scoring and predictive scheduling - combining customer data, environmental factors and telemetry to enable smarter decisions. With earth observation data and strong data governance, we support non-invasive monitoring, compliance, and long-term planning. By co-creating networks that are not just smart but truly intelligent, we help utilities achieve measurable outcomes and lasting value from their smart water investments.

Get in touch to discuss how CGI can support your journey towards intelligent network transformation.

Learn more about our expertise in water, emerging technologies, CGI Machine Vision and artificial intelligence.