For water utilities, ensuring reliable pressure across the distribution network is essential for maintaining service quality and operational efficiency. Like many utilities, Verdo, located in the city of Randers, Denmark, had limited visibility into pressure conditions beyond its pumping stations and water works. This made it difficult to diagnose pressure-related issues reported by customers.

In several cases each month, Verdo received complaints from households experiencing low water pressure. Resolving these typically required dispatching a technician to the site to perform manual pressure tests—turning off the water, connecting a hose, and reopening the supply. According to Verdo’s Head of Distribution, Thomas Grønning, these site visits often revealed that the root cause was not in the utility’s network but rather in domestic installations or appliances. Still, the process consumed valuable staff time and resources.

To address these challenges and prepare for more data-driven network management, Verdo partnered with AVK Smart Water to implement a solution based on pressure sensors.

The project involved the installation of 20 pressure sensors across selected zones in the water distribution network. The sensors continuously monitor and transmit pressure data, which is integrated directly into Verdo’s GIS platform via an API. This setup enables the utility to monitor pressure conditions across residential areas in near real-time, without the need for on-site inspections.

With pressure data now available from various points in the distribution system—not just the water works—Verdo can assess conditions across the entire network and respond more effectively to customer enquiries.

The introduction of distributed pressure monitoring has enabled Verdo to:

• Reduce time spent on manual pressure checks by remotely verifying pressure levels in specific zones before dispatching field teams.

• Improve response times and customer communication, as pressure conditions can be checked directly in the system, allowing staff to advise customers based on up-to-date data.

• Allocate resources more effectively, as staff time previously spent on manual checks can now be redirected to other operational tasks.

Verdo’s experience highlights how digital monitoring solutions, such as AVK’s pressure sensors, can support more efficient and proactive utility management. The project also lays the groundwork for further optimisation of the water supply system in Randers, as Verdo continues to build a more data-informed approach to operations.