Innovation in Action: The SWAN Start-Up Showcase - SWAN Forum

6 Challenges. 6 Solutions. Real-World Results.

Case Studies Oct 2026
What does water innovation look like in practice? From tackling leakage and improving water-use visibility to optimising treatment, reducing energy use and turning network data into action, SWAN Start-Up members are working with utilities and operators around the world to solve real operational challenges. Explore six examples of digital solutions moving beyond ideas and into real-world application.

01 | ELIMINATE LEAKS, IMPROVE VISIBILITY
Strengthening Network Visibility Without DMAs Read More
HULO + Portsmouth Water (UK)

• THE CHALLENGE
• Utilities want to improve leak detection and locate water losses without relying on traditional District Metered Areas.
• THE SOLUTION
• HULO helped  Portsmouth Water  improve network visibility and support the identification and targeting of leakage without relying solely on DMA-based approaches.
• THE IMPACT
• They  strengthened network visibility and target leakage more effectively, while exploring an alternative to conventional DMA-based approaches.

02 | MONITOR WATER USE
Real-Time Diversion Monitoring Across 1,300+ Licence Holders Read More
Kallipr + Melbourne Water (Australia)

• THE CHALLENGE
• Over 1,300 Melbourne Water licence holders lacked real-time water usage data, relying on periodic audits for compliance without direct visibility into their extraction.
• THE SOLUTION
• By connecting existing meters to its telemetry platform, Kallipr provided licence holders with continuous usage and trend dashboards without the need for meter replacements.
• THE IMPACT
• Real-time visibilitywhile giving licence holders direct access to their own consumption dataconnected 1,300+ licence holders, becoming Melbourne Water’s largest-ever connected metering deployment.

03 | OPTIMISE TREATMENT
Reducing Chemical Use and Improving Drinking Water with AI Read More
RLCore + Drayton Valley DWTP (Canada)

• THE CHALLENGE
•  Water treatment operations require a careful balance between maintaining water quality, controlling chemical consumption and optimising treatment performance.
• THE SOLUTION
• RLCore applied reinforcement-learning-based control to treatment operations at Drayton Valley, including coagulant dosing and ultrafiltration backwashing.
• THE IMPACT
• The project achieved a 13% reduction in chemical use while maintaining water quality, demonstrating the potential of AI-based optimisation to improve treatment efficiency.

04 | REDUCE ENERGY, INCREASE EFFICIENCY
More Intelligent & Data-Driven Pumping Opperations Read More
Pump Academy + BWSSB (India)

• THE CHALLENGE
• Pumping is a significant operational consideration for water utilities, creating an opportunity to improve efficiency through smarter operation.
• THE SOLUTION
• Pump Academy deployed its iPUMPNET AI/ML-based IIoT platform with BWSSB, using operational data and intelligent analytics to optimise pumping operations and improve energy efficiency.
• THE IMPACT
• The deployment shows how AI/ML and real-time operational data can help utilities move towards more data-driven pumping operations, with energy efficiency embedded into decision-making.

05 | SIMULATE BEFORE YOU ACT
Guiding Operations and Investment With Digital Twins Read More
Ensaras + Circle CBG (India)

• THE CHALLENGE
• Circle CBG’s Meerut plant needed a safe way to test complex operational changes and guide expansion investments.
• THE SOLUTION
• Pump Academy deployed its Ensaras built a digital twin which allowed engineers and management to test operating scenarios and evaluate their predicted impact on gas quality, yield, energy use and operating margin.
• THE IMPACT
• The digital twin identified expanded chiller capacity, rather than membrane area alone, as the lowest-CAPEX pathway to increasing CBG production, helping the team invest  where it could make the greatest difference.

06 | TURN DATA INTO ACTION
From Smart Network Data to Active NRW Management Read More
Flowless + NAMA Water Services (Oman)

• THE CHALLENGE
• Growing volume of information into clear, actionable plans for water-loss reduction and helping teams move from raw data towards proactive network management was what NAMA was missing.
• THE SOLUTION
• Flowless built on NAMA’s existing systems, applying advanced NRW analytics.Its AI agent helps field teams interpret those insights and identify where losses are occurring, potential causes and how to act.
• THE IMPACT
• The analysis identified 35–57% NRW reduction potential and more than $120,000 in monthly cost-savings opportunity.