Accurate and real-time data about the position of valves in a water distribution network is critical to ensuring system stability, water quality, and operational efficiency. Gate valves, particularly those placed at the boundaries between district metered areas (DMAs), play a strategic role in controlling pressure zones and managing water flow.

In practice, unauthorised or unplanned valve operations can disrupt flow patterns, disturb sediment, trigger false leakage alarms, and even damage infrastructure. Detecting such changes has typically required manual inspection, which is time-consuming, resource-intensive, and subject to delays—especially in rural or difficult-to-access locations.

Water utilities across the UK and Ireland, including HD Water in Wrexham, Wales, face this challenge daily. The lack of real-time visibility into valve operations can delay decision-making and limit their ability to maintain network resilience, especially during peak demand periods or cold weather.

To enhance valve monitoring and reduce manual processes, water companies have started deploying VIDI Positioners from AVK. These compact digital sensors are installed on AVK gate valves and communicate the valve’s exact position—whether open, closed, or partially open—back to the utility’s network management system in real-time.

The VIDI Positioner can be integrated into new smart gate valves or retrofitted onto existing AVK valves by simply removing the stem cap, mounting the device, and replacing the cap. The system uses LoRaWAN or NB-IoT communication protocols to ensure long-range, low-power data transmission, enabling battery lifetimes of up to ten years.

Real-time data and alerts are accessible via the AVK Assist mobile app, which also supports alarm notifications when a valve position changes unexpectedly. This allows network engineers to respond quickly and document activity digitally—reducing the need for site visits and manual reporting.

In Wrexham, HD Water has deployed VIDI Positioners on boundary valves across several DMAs. These valves are critical for managing pressure zones and carrying out strategic re-zoning during planned works, winter peaks, and summer demand periods. The smart system allows for remote monitoring and documentation of every valve operation.

The VIDI Positioner is also being used on fire hydrants in remote areas like Glyn Ceiriog to monitor water injection, flushing, and unauthorised use. When hydrants are opened, the device logs the operation, supporting compliance, incident reporting, and analysis of flushing impacts on water quality.

The deployment of VIDI Positioners has helped UK water utilities achieve measurable operational efficiencies:

• Reduced site visits and manual checks: In Wrexham alone, VIDI devices have led to monthly savings of approximately £1,500 by cutting down on routine valve verification and operational reporting.

• Time savings during network flushing: HD Water’s annual night flushing of 32 DMAs by two engineers is now supported by automatic logging, reducing paperwork and simplifying regulatory documentation.

• Improved response to discolouration events: Correlating hydrant activity with customer complaints or water quality data is now possible with accurate time-stamped valve operation records.

• Enhanced detection of unauthorised use: Alarms triggered by unexpected hydrant or valve movements help combat water theft and can support evidence gathering in enforcement efforts.

• Extended battery and coverage performance: The use of LoRaWAN has significantly reduced the need for manual data downloads in rural blackspots, saving up to two days per week in some cases and lowering both costs and carbon emissions.

According to HD Water, the implementation of VIDI technology has allowed the company to reallocate resources towards higher-value activities, such as leak detection and customer service, while maintaining a more accurate and reliable overview of its network.