Grupo Aguas de Valencia, a leading Spanish company involved in the management of the integral water cycle, said its Qatari unit, Idrica, has deployed a smart platform to monitor water usage in real time in the areas around seven football stadiums, the teams’ training and accommodation areas, and 'Fan Zones.' 

 

Idrica Qatar pointed out that this platform provides greater control over the network and helps to prevent adverse water situations during the event.

 

The platform monitors water levels, water speed and flow in wells in the sewerage and rainwater networks, and the pressure of the treated water network.

 

The project includes alerts based on rainfall forecasts, integrated with qatar’s meteorological agency, it stated. 

 

Ahead of the mega event, FIFA had a major challenge - of enabling efficient use of water for the millions coming into the country for these matches. The challenge was a big one as the event was being held in a country with one of the world’s highest water stress rates. 

 

To respond to this issue, Idrica Qatar, through its GoAigua Sewer Twin solution, started optimizing water resource operations and management to provide greater control and monitoring over critical locations. 

 

Christian Perez, Idrica's Technical Manager, said: "This initiative started after the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, where shortcomings were detected in the monitoring of stadiums, water levels in manholes, and in treated water pressures and odors." 

 

This tool integrates, processes and exploits data from multiple sources, thanks to the application of advanced algorithms, thus centralising indicator visualisation and asset control, he noted.

 

"The digital solution monitors the areas around seven football stadiums, the teams’ training and accommodation areas, and the so-called "fan zones", where 76 sensors and 1,500 field signal meters have been installed," he added.

 

It should be noted, at this point, that both the Arab Cup and the World Cup are held during the rainy season, when rainfall is very heavy and causes severe flooding.

 

"Despite being an arid climate," remarked Perez, "the rainy season is a challenge, because Qatar is not sufficiently prepared to provide a solution to this type of critical events that lead to flooding and cripple the region to a certain extent".   

 

Therefore, in addition to real-time monitoring, alarms have also been set up based on rainfall forecasts, revealed Perez.

 

"The integration of GoAigua Sewer Twin with the Qatar Met Office has maximized the mobilization of resources specifically for the areas of the country that would be affected by a rainfall event," stated the official. 

 

"GoAigua can display data from multiple sources, making it more efficient and reliable," he explained.

 

The Spanish group said owing to the installation of pressure gauges and the deployment of operational plans, the GoAigua solution provided Ashghal, Qatar's Public Works Authority, with greater control over potential adverse situations that could occur during the World Cup.

 

Perez said many of the stadiums have systems for detecting leaks and measuring water flows, thus helping administrators with management, optimizing response times and streamlining water use. 

 

He pointed out that GoAigua Sewer Twin "monitors water levels, water speed and flow rates in the sewage and rainwater network manholes, and keeps a check on the pressure in the treated water network, setting up alarms to prevent potential issues and improve operability".

 

"Thanks to these projects, Idrica Qatar has established itself as one of the companies that is helping Qatar on its road to digital transformation," he added.