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Sensing as a Service

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PYDRO - Water to Data (Sensing as a Service)

Reporting period: 2023-08-01 to 2025-06-30

Europe is entering a critical phase of water scarcity: nearly 25% of treated drinking water is lost each year to leaks in aging networks. The EU Water Resilience Strategy (2025) targets at least a 10% cut in consumption by 2030 and prioritizes modernizing and digitalizing infrastructure. National programs like Italy’s PNRR are channeling billions into smart monitoring, leak detection, and digital twins, and the European Investment Bank has pledged €15 billion for water resilience.
PYDRO’s Water-to-Data projects align with these priorities. By enabling real-time leak detection, predictive maintenance, and large-scale network optimization, the PT1 gives utilities actionable data to cut non-revenue water, meet regulatory targets, and speed the transition to a sustainable, resilient water supply.
During the second reporting period, we advanced PT1 v7, integrating customer feedback to reduce risk and streamline installation, operation, and maintenance in real conditions. Pilots in Greece, Italy, Australia, and France validated requirements, generated critical data, and strengthened the business case.
Commercialization also progressed: we prepared the supply chain, sourced off-the-shelf components, completed functional testing, and advanced regulatory work. CE marking is pending, with EMC compliance well progressed and certification in its final phase. We secured our first paying customers and signed a distribution agreement with a system integrator in Italy.
Our project's results have extended beyond the state of the art in several key ways:
Advanced Water Management Solution: Our PT1 system, successfully validated by SUEZ through both laboratory and field testing, represents a major breakthrough in water management technology. By integrating energy harvesting, it is the world’s first flow meter to eliminate the industry’s dependence on external power or batteries.
Validated Prototype: Through rigorous in-house testing and 16 pilot installations, we have accumulated more than two years of operating hours, supported by over 400 trial runs on our dedicated water test bench. This process has refined the PT1 system to a market-ready state, where it has consistently outperformed battery-powered monitoring solutions in both efficiency and functionality.
Sustainable Business Model: In addition to our technical advancements, we have developed a sustainable business model that combines technical excellence with commercial viability.
Potential impacts and key needs for further uptake and success include:
Further Research and Demonstration: We plan to continue refining our product based on feedback from our customers and ongoing research.
Access to Markets and Finance: As we continue our commercialisation process, we will need to continue expanding our market access and securing additional financing.
IPR Support: Protecting our intellectual property is essential to maintaining a competitive edge and securing the returns on our investment in research and development. We have already applied for two patents that reinforce our market position and create barriers to entry for potential competitors.
Regulatory and Standardisation Support: Ensuring compliance with drinking water approvals and major regulations is central to our success. The PT1 has obtained drinking water approval and is undergoing CE certification, meeting the essential requirements for safety, health, and environmental protection in the EU. By staying aligned with EU standards and the Water Resilience Strategy, we ensure our technology directly contributes to reducing water losses and modernizing Europe’s infrastructure
Internationalisation: Expanding our business internationally is a key goal moving forward, enabling us to tap into new markets and accelerate growth. We have signed a distribution agreement in Italy, conducted extensive voice-of-customer interviews, and initiated discussions with potential partners in Greece, Spain, Australia, and South Africa. By building on these partnerships and aligning with the digitization goals of the EU and beyond, we are positioning the PT1 system for wider adoption.
Figure 4 A smart water network with PT1 sending real-time data to a cloud based dashboard
Figure 2 PT1 self-powered flowmeter, installed within a pipe, transmitting data to a dashboard.
Figure 5 Field Installations during project
Figure 3 PT1 with casing
Figure 1 a section view of the PT1 - self-powered flowmeter.
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