Severn Trent has awarded contracts to smart metering and data company Itron and smart technology provider Connexin to help transform Coventry and Warwickshire into a smart water data region.

The £20 million project, part of Severn Trent’s Green Recovery Programme, will see Itron and Connexin help deliver on its commitment of installing over 150,000 Itron smart water meters across Coventry and Warwickshire, laying the intelligent infrastructure and meters needed to gather valuable data.

Installing the smart meters across its network will help Severn Trent understand water usage better than ever before, find and fix leaks, and deliver water saving benefits for communities and the environment.

Anthony Hickinbottom, Green Recovery Project Lead at Severn Trent commented:

“We’re really excited to have Connexin and Itron on board to help us drive this ambitious and exciting project for the region.

“With the expertise and knowledge between them, they will play a vital role in ensuring we’re implementing a smart meter data network that will bring with it a whole host of benefits, that could also save our customers money.

“We all have a vital role in making sure we’re looking after water and doing right by it. This project will give us valuable learnings and insight in shaping how the industry can better understand where water is used, and make sure we’re looking after it for the future.”

As well as installing over 150,000 smart meters, Connexin and Itron will support Severn Trent by deploying a smart water network across the region. The large-scale, carrier-grade LoRaWAN® network will allow Severn Trent Water to remotely record and access data from the LoRaWAN®-enabled water meters, optimise data collection and reduce carbon emissions across its network. 

Roll-out of the network and meters is due to begin in March 2022.

Ralph Varcoe, Managing Director IoT at Connexin said:

“IoT and smart technologies have a vital role to play in helping create more efficient water networks which benefit providers, customers and the environment.

“We are thrilled to have been chosen by Severn Trent to help it on this important project to create a smarter, greener water network for the people of Coventry and Warwickshire. Through our team’s and Itron’s expertise in the sector, we can ensure we create a modern network that provides better results for everyone.”

Itron is a leader in the industrial Internet of Things (IoT) that is innovating the way utilities and cities manage energy and water.

Justin Patrick Senior Vice President, Device Solutions Itron commented:

“Itron has decades of experience helping water utilities improve their operations through advanced metering solutions. We look forward to collaborating with Seven Trent to deploy our smart water metering technology to enhance operational efficiency and conserve precious water resources.”

Severn Trent is investing £566 million between now and 2025 on projects aimed to support the UK’s green economic bounce back following the pandemic.

The projects include creating bathing-quality stretches of river, improving 500km of river five years earlier than planned, increasing water supplies, alleviating flooding using nature-based solutions and supporting customers by replacing old lead pipes and installing smart meters to save water and customers money.