Strengthening Economic Regulation of Water and Sanitation Services in the Philippines

Annex F. Smart water management system for metropolitan waterwork

Building on the modernisation programme, Korea launched the Smart Water Management Initiative, which represents the next phase of ICT-based water supply innovation. Between 2020 and 2023, the initiative was implemented across 161 municipalities, focusing on three core areas encompassing 10 major projects:

• Water Quality Monitoring and Emergency Response – installation of automatic water quality sensors, auto-drainage systems, re-chlorination facilities, pipeline cleaning infrastructure and precision filtration systems;

• Accident Prevention and Resilience – deployment of real-time pressure sensors, smart pipeline information recognition systems, small-scale flow and pressure monitoring devices and smart metering solutions;

• Public Trust Enhancement – introduction of the “Safe Tap Water Service” to improve public confidence in water safety.

The Smart Water Management Project has significantly improved operational efficiency and water security. The establishment of smart water infrastructure enables localised flow control, daily monitoring of supply efficiency and precise leakage management. The use of data analytics and GIS-linked network modelling allows for early detection and prediction of service disruptions or contamination events, facilitating timely responses.

Moreover, the project has enhanced public services and transparency by providing end-to-end information on water production and distribution through online platforms. This has strengthened public trust and water welfare, offering citizens convenient access to reliable water information and assurance of water quality at the household level (As shown in Figure A F.1).

Figure A F.1. Smart Water Management System (SWM) Concept Diagram

Source: (K-water, 2022[1])

This initiative provides a practical roadmap for the Philippines to develop a smart, resilient and citizen-centred water supply system, integrating digital monitoring, data analytics and public engagement mechanisms.

The Smart Water Management Project is a national water infrastructure improvement initiative that introduces ICT-based smart technologies into the water supply system to resolve the issues caused by ageing water pipelines and to ensure the stable delivery of clean and safe tap water to the public.

Purpose of the Project: To enhance tap water safety management through full-scale ICT-based smart water supply processes and to realise an eco-friendly, low-carbon water production and supply system.

The project had a total cost of 235.6 billion KRW and ran from 2020 to 2023. The project consisted of the:

• Establishment of real-time water quality monitoring system at water intake sources

• Implementation of smart water treatment plants (including safety disinfection facilities)

• Construction of a smart network management system for the metropolitan water supply

• Development of an asset management system

Key project components include:

• UP-grading efficiency by ICT technology

  • Replacement and repair of water pipelines over 20 years old

  • Leak detection and restoration

  • Improvement of water efficiency rate (effective water usage compared to total supply)

• Adoption of Smart Technologies

  • Installation of automated water quality sensors to monitor chlorine, turbidity, pH, etc. in real time

  • Deployment of smart valves and flow meters to detect water flow, pressure and leakage

  • Establishment of a smart pipeline operation system for remote monitoring and control

  • Introduction of automated pipe cleaning systems to remove sediment

• Adopt digital twin-based simulation systems

In Korea, the implementation of smart water management technologies, combined with timely improvement of ageing facilities, has resulted in significant improvements, including an increase in water flow efficiency (from 60.1% in 2004 to 85.1% in 2023), a reduction in water leakage (approximately 1.3 million m³ in 2023) and a decrease in leakage-related revenue losses (from 64.15 billion KRW to 60.71 billion KRW, equivalent to 3.44 billion KRW annually, before and after the programme implementation). Local budget savings allowed expanding the delivery of water supply services from 1.76 million to 2.56 million people.

References

[1] K-water (2022), Metropolitan Water Supply Smart Management System Development Project, Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.