Water & Wastewater

Water & Wastewater

Secure. Efficient. Drop by drop.

The water and wastewater industry worldwide is being challenged like never before. With aging infrastructure, operators must meet rising customer demand and plan for the uncertain effects of climate change. Particularly in countries like Australia, where water sources are relatively limited, asset management, digital technology and operational efficiency are key success factors. By connecting hardware, software and data, Siemens' solutions help address precisely those market issues and guide customers on the journey to the ‘smart utility’.  

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Digital Enterprise

Digitalization throughout the water cycle

To enable the water industry to get the most from digitalization, Siemens developed the Digital Enterprise, a comprehensive portfolio of software and automation solutions. Processing all available data in a comprehensive data model makes it possible to optimally exploit the full potential of all systems. The result is a digital twin – a precise, virtual model of the plant that’s always up-to-date.

Benefits for greenfield and brownfield plants

The intelligent linking of data from different sources like sensors, water meters, and weather data is creating new opportunities to use water more efficiently – and therefore more sustainably – in industry, agriculture, and municipal utilities. A precondition is the end-to-end networking of system engineering, from commissioning to operation, maintenance, and ongoing process optimization based on a data platform – a merging of the virtual and real worlds.

 

The improved data quality and availability reduce project execution time in the real world. At the same time, the possibilities offered by simulation and modeling in the virtual world reduce both incalculable costs during the construction phase and ongoing operating costs.

Reaching your goals faster and more effectively

When greenfield plants are being planned, the combination of data from plant engineering and automation planning enables parallel work processes and sequences. This reduces the duration of the project while at the same time improving its quality.

 

Thanks to the integration of planning, engineering, and operation, the data acquired during the operating phase can be reused for engineering and supplemented with the latest operating data. The automatic updates to planning data during plant operation make it possible to always keep the actual condition of plants and systems in view when performing service and modernizations and to implement projects efficiently and effectively.

Systematically updated

Because their planning data is often unavailable in digital form or is incomplete or outdated, brownfield plants can benefit from digitalization. With the appropriate tools, even large and unstructured datasets can be read into a uniform database structure and verified. In addition, by integrating 2D and 3D data using appropriate tools, plants can be digitalized and linked to imported planning data in a database structure.

 

This is how the data can be verified and plant operators can obtain an up-to-date digital model of their plant.

Find out more about our solutions for greater efficiency

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Whitepaper Industrial Security

Defence-in-Depth Concept for the Water Industry

This whitepaper describes the threats and risks to which industrial automation and control systems in water and waste water treatment plants and networks are exposed, and introduces best practice concepts to minimize these risks and to achieve a level of protection to be implemented that is acceptable with regards to both the economic boundary conditions and the desired security level.

Trends in the water industry

Towards a successful model

Supplying drinking water to the world’s population and treating wastewater are global challenges. Find out how we can support you with solutions for digitalization, automation and electrification.

Water resources – infinitely precious

Water is our most valuable resource. It must be available and affordable for everyone. On a daily basis, system planners, designers, and operators are required to keep the global increase in water consumption under control in the face of growing water shortages and the increasing salinity levels of freshwater resources. As experts in water applications, we offer powerful, innovative technical solutions to assist you.

Securing the supply

Securing the supply – 100% online acquisition of peripheral data

Integrating all plant areas into an end-to-end control system is essential for the safe control of your plants. For this purpose, we offer you a comprehensive portfolio. You benefit from uniform process control, simple and convenient data management and integrated engineering for central and remote plant units. The application examples in our Water Consultant Portal indicate possible solutions. Find out more in the near future.

Saving engineering time

Saving time – 20% shorter engineering time

Reduce the time you spend planning and designing new installations. Integrated engineering with COMOS and SIMATIC PCS 7 can reduce engineering time by up to 20%. The various application examples at our Water Consultant Portal indicate possible solutions.

Reduced project time

Increasing efficiency – 15% shorter project time

You can significantly reduce your project time through economically efficient plant engineering. The SIMATIC PCS 7 Industry Library is a function block library that efficiently supports your engineering for the SIMATIC PCS 7 distributed control system and the SIMATIC WinCC visualization system. The tested, standardized components and their intuitive operation help reduce your costs and shorten the time you spend by up to 15%.

Energy savings

Saving energy – up to 15% lower energy costs

Sustainable use of resources means reduced costs. Optimize the energy requirements of your pumps by using SIWA Optim, and reduce energy consumption by up to 15%.

Portfolio overview

A comprehensive portfolio for the water industry

Digitalization, automation, and electrification lay the foundation for efficient, reliable, and sustainable processes in the water industry. Discover custom-made products, systems, and solutions for a more sustainable water industry.

Components that work together perfectly

End-to-end, individually customized solutions for drinking water supply, waste water treatment, and desalination systems are commercially viable both today and tomorrow for maintaining a high security of supply and for the responsible use of water as a vital resource. All the components from Siemens’ comprehensive product portfolio are seamlessly coordinated in the company’s custom solutions for the water industry. These solutions combine the latest technologies with decades of industry expertise in all areas of water management.

Plant engineering and management

Leverage optimization potential with the digital twin

The digital twin of a drinking water supply, waste water treatment, or seawater desalination plant consistently integrates all the relevant information and business processes – from plant engineering and commissioning to operation, maintenance, and servicing.

Process control technology

Process control technology for safe and reliable plant operation

As an exclusive manufacturer of control systems, Siemens offers DCS and SCADA – two different approaches, both of which are modular, flexibly expandable, and therefore fit for the future – that cover relevant industry standards like ergonomic operation and diagnostics as well as industrial security for critical infrastructures.

 

SCADA systems

SIMATIC SCADA systems based on the TIA Portal and WinCC are scalable from small, autonomous systems and plant-based on-site operation to distributed control centers. The systems offer open library concepts for custom application standards. WinCC Open Architecture also provides a platform for developing customized systems. The innovative SIMATIC WinCC Unified visualization system makes possible - based on the latest web technology – the utilization in the Edge or cloud environments.

 

Siemens DCS

Distributed Control Systems – the proven SIMATIC PCS 7 and Web-based PCS neo – offer libraries as an integral system component along with industry-specific application standards directly from the control system manufacturer. PCS 7 is scalable from smaller operations with a high automation density to large installations. The system provides consistent, top-down engineering, including the integration of low- and medium-voltage switchgear.

Automation hardware

Automation à la carte

Whether you need high-performance, scalable DCS controllers for complex plants, modular automation systems, distributed I/Os or power supplies – proven automation components from Siemens enable the development of application-specific, end-to-end, scalable solutions of all sizes – with options for high availability and fail-safe operation.

Process instrumentation and analytics

Processes and quality under control at all times

The Siemens portfolio for process instrumentation, when combined with the liquid analysis systems from HACH, provides solutions to meet all requirements in the water and waste water industry – from efficient process control and guaranteed water quality to sure compliance with legal guidelines.

Drive technology and industrial controls

Keep things moving efficiently and reliably

The comprehensive drive technology and industrial controls portfolio from Siemens is impressive for its seamlessly coordinated components – from frequency converters and electric motors to modular motor management systems, including industrial controls and protection relays. It covers the requirements of water and waste water management applications in every performance category and ensures economical plant operation.

Industrial communication

Flexible, powerful, and secure communication networking

The powerful networking of all system components in compliance with international standards is a critical foundation for secure and reliable plant operation in the water and waste water industry. Solutions from Siemens also include telecontrol technology for widely distributed substations that create optimal conditions for the ongoing digitalization of operations.

Electrical systems and Energy management 

Keep a constant watch on energy consumption and costs

Water and waste water plants are one of the highest energy consumers in the public sector. Our comprehensive portfolio for electrical power supply ranges from medium and low voltage to DC 24 V. Our portfolio also ensures the highest reliability and availability supported by our engineering expertise for the best optimum solution. Planning tools for network calculations and design provide full transparency of all  relevant energy consumers. They also enable operators to quickly and efficiently identify saving potentials to reduce operating costs and comply with regulations.

Digital water management

Intelligently link all operational data

With the applications specifically developed for the water and waste water industry, operators can optimize energy efficiency, avoid water loss, reduce contamination of water bodies and take predictive maintenance measures.

Cybersecurity

Maximum security

Critical infrastructures like the drinking water supply must be fully and reliably protected from cyberattacks. The comprehensive and practice-oriented security concepts from Siemens lay the groundwork for the secure operation of water management facilities using certified products, systems, and processes according to IEC 62443, the leading international standard for security in industrial automation.

Industry Services

Comprehensive services throughout the entire lifecycle

The digital transformation is also posing tremendous challenges for companies in the water and waste water industry. As an experienced industry partner, Siemens offers customized solutions and consulting services that take advantage of the full commercial and technological potential of digitalization – including plant operation, remote maintenance and diagnostics, tailored software systems for Siemens DCS and SCADA systems, virtualization solutions, and solutions covering all aspects of plant and system security.

References

Maximum efficiency and availability thanks to custom solutions

Discover how the powerful and innovative technical solutions from Siemens are contributing to the smooth, reliable, and totally sustainable operation of water supply and waste water systems worldwide.
Discover other exciting projects in the Siemens Reference Center

Siemens Reference Center

Innovations

Ready for the future

The water industry is undergoing big changes, because new challenges worldwide are demanding consistent approaches and prompt solutions. The latest innovations from Siemens provide impressive, technologically sophisticated answers to critical questions.

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Your plant is our concern

Any questions about the challenges or lifecycle of your plant? Are you looking for products, solutions, or specialized knowledge? Let our water industry experts help you to find the optimal solution for your specific requirements.