Water utilities across the UK face a recurring operational challenge: accurately tracking the open or closed status of valves across extensive, often buried, pipeline networks. In District Metered Areas (DMAs), boundary valves play a crucial role in isolating zones, managing pressure, and maintaining water quality. However, after maintenance work or emergency repairs, valves are sometimes left in the wrong position—open when they should be closed, or vice versa. This can go unnoticed for years.

Incorrect valve positions can impact water quality by disrupting sediment, affect pressure stability, shorten asset lifespans, and complicate leakage detection efforts. These issues can undermine regulatory performance commitments and have both financial and reputational consequences for utility providers.

As water networks grow more complex, and digitalisation becomes a strategic priority, the need for reliable, real-time data on valve status is increasing. Traditional manual checks are time-consuming, often delayed, and impractical in large or remote networks.

To support utility providers in digitising their networks, AVK UK has developed and deployed VIDI Positioners—compact, battery-operated devices that detect and transmit the exact position of valves. Whether fully open, closed, or in between, the status is wirelessly sent via NB-IoT or LoRaWAN communication protocols to the VIDI Cloud or third-party platforms such as SCADA or GIS systems.

VIDI Positioners can be installed on new smart valves or retrofitted onto existing infrastructure, including gate, butterfly, air, and check valves. The retrofit installation is non-invasive and enables utilities to upgrade legacy assets without major excavation or replacement.

Once installed, the positioners deliver near real-time information and can issue alerts when a valve is operated—supporting improved incident response, network diagnostics, and compliance reporting. The system can also support longer-term planning by feeding valve operation data into hydraulic models and asset management platforms.

Used in combination with AVK’s other smart devices—such as VIDI Pressure, VIDI Flow, VIDI Level, and VIDI Temperature—utilities can gain a more complete view of network performance.

Utilities implementing VIDI Positioners report several operational and strategic benefits:

• Improved visibility and control: Operators gain immediate insight into whether valves are correctly positioned following repair or flushing activities. This reduces the risk of long-term network inefficiencies caused by incorrect valve settings.

• Reduced manual inspections: VIDI Positioners eliminate the need to locate, excavate, and manually check buried valves—saving time and reducing health and safety risks for field teams.

• Extended asset lifetime: Monitoring pressure and valve movement helps utilities avoid prolonged high-pressure conditions that can degrade assets over time.

• Support for regulatory compliance: Better data supports water companies in meeting performance metrics, such as Ofwat’s Outcome Delivery Incentives (ODIs), by minimising disruptions and improving water quality management.

• Scalable digital infrastructure: The solution is adaptable to various valve types and integrates with existing IT systems, offering a practical path for phased digital transformation.

AVK UK continues to support utilities across the UK in modernising their water distribution systems with digital monitoring tools. By ensuring that even long-standing, buried infrastructure can be part of a connected network, VIDI Positioners contribute to more resilient, efficient, and data-driven water management.