Preventative approach vital for water resilience

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Preventative approach vital for water resilience

Following acquisition by Grundfos in 2023, remote telemetry and data analytics company Metasphere has entered a new era. To explore what this means for the company, its customers, and the wider water sector, chief executive Lau Pinholt Jensen shares his perspective ahead of the WWEM Expo.  

The water sector needs to move beyond simply responding to crises to actively preventing them, says Metasphere’s chief executive, Lau Pinholt Jensen. One year into his role, he argues that this proactive approach is only possible with the seamless integration of data, analytics and a significant shift in thinking.  

"With climate change accelerating and extreme weather becoming the norm, a proactive, end-to-end approach is more critical than ever. The water sector can no longer afford to simply react,” explains Jensen.  

“A full circle solution - one that links data from a sensor in the field to a smart, analytical insight, and then to a physical action that prevents an issue from occurring - is the only way to build truly resilient and futureproof water networks." 

With a background rooted in business transformation and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from his time at Grundfos and Hexagon, Jensen has been instrumental in navigating Metasphere's integration.  

Agile response 

According to Jensen, Metasphere will continue to focus on its core markets in the UK and Australia. Meanwhile, its solutions will be offered globally as Grundfos Connect Sewer Insights, a new product under the Grundfos brand.  

"This shift isn't just about scale; it's also about agility," says Jensen. "With more countries and more specific requirements, we need to be even more agile. This agility is a necessity, with a rapid increase in the number of tasks, from integrating into new systems to navigating the UK's latest asset management plan (AMP) cycle for England and Wales. 

“While expanding globally, our commitment to our home markets remains strong, as evidenced by our focus on AMP8,” he adds. 

Jensen believes the acquisition was a "perfect fit" for both companies. Metasphere's focus on predicting and preventing spills for a cleaner, greener world aligns with Grundfos’s mission to solve global water and climate challenges.  

"We've moved beyond just telling water utilities where a spill will happen, we can now actively divert the water to prevent the spill from ever occurring. The water sector is collecting an extreme amount of data from all over its systems, but it often fails to create the value they hoped for.  

“The analytics layer is where the true value lies, because it solves larger, system-level problems - not just operational ones,” says Jensen. 

Jensen’s vision is for Metasphere’s suite of products to identify pumps that are consuming excessive energy. Through this deeper integration, we could then recommend more sustainable, energy-efficient alternatives from the wider Grundfos portfolio.  

This integrated approach, which combines data collection, analytics, equipment, and expertise, would create a "full circle" solution for water utilities, explains Jensen. 

Making data make SENSE 

Jensen provides a glimpse into the company's future and a sneak peek at a new product which will be launched at this year's Water, Wastewater & Environmental Management Expo (WWEM) in Birmingham, UK, on 17-18 September 2025. 

Jensen says, “This vision for a ‘full circle’ solution which links sensor data to actionable insights and physical prevention, has driven the development of new products that will touch other areas of the water industry, as well as diversifying the existing offerings to fit the ever-changing global challenges.  

“I’m excited to announce we will be providing a first look at our new SENSE product at WWEM – and this is just a taste of what we have planned for the coming 12 to 18 months.” 

SENSE is a modular system that can be used as a standalone product or combined with other units. It marks a significant step for Metasphere, moving them beyond traditional sewer level monitoring and expanding their capabilities into new markets.  

“The development of SENSE has been largely driven by client demand, aiming to provide an even more reliable and versatile solution,” adds Jensen. 

The product’s modular design, which includes a telemetry unit and a radar unit, gives Metasphere the flexibility to expand into new sensing capabilities.  

Key features: 

In addition, by providing valuable data, SENSE allows water utilities to develop sustainable solutions that are both effective and fiscally responsible. 

Seamless transition   

Regarding the recent acquisition, Jensen's goal is for clients to continue working with Metasphere as they always have. However, the benefits of being part of a larger organisation like Grundfos will become increasingly apparent. 

"Alongside our in-house experts, Metasphere is now supported by the vast resources of Grundfos's global research and development team. This enables us to respond to a greater number of customer requests in an ever more agile way,” Jensen explains. 

Integrated approach 

Jensen sees the competitive landscape in the smart water technology space intensifying, but he believes Metasphere's integrated approach of devices, analytics, and pump solutions gives it a unique advantage. The company is also adapting its portfolio to address new challenges posed by climate change, such as droughts and flash floods. 

A key focus for Metasphere is addressing the problem of "alert fatigue," where utilities are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data and alarms. Metasphere's analytics layer helps to filter this data, ensuring that only the most critical alerts are highlighted, providing value beyond just operational issues and helping to solve problems at a higher, systemic level.  

When asked about the future of technology like artificial intelligence (AI) in the water sector, Jensen stresses the importance of "making data count”. By leveraging the expertise of Grundfos's specialists, Metasphere can extract maximum value from the data it already collects. 

Looking ahead, Jensen's vision is simple, "I'm excited to see Metasphere finally have the chance to live out our ambitions fully. Now we have a larger playing field, I can’t wait to see Metasphere continue to think bigger and play an even greater role in creating a cleaner, greener world." 

Jensen expresses his pride in the Metasphere team, who have embraced the challenge of integration with remarkable cooperation. He acknowledges that the process has been demanding. "I'm really proud of them," he says. 

The themes of this year's WWEM event: net zero, biodiversity, and circular economy, perfectly align with Metasphere's new direction. Jensen and the Metasphere team will be on hand at stand WW-U40 to discuss how the company’s solutions, including a brand-new product, are helping the UK water sector achieve its sustainability targets. 

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