A drinking water utility operating a distribution network needs continuous, on-site visibility of water quality at critical points to detect deviations early and maintain compliance and service continuity. In this use case, SAUR Vannes deployed two Badger Meter (s::can) nano::station monitoring stations to establish continuous surveillance with a field-ready, plug-and-measure installation. The project focused on robust operation, fast commissioning and reliable, actionable data for daily network oversight.
Description of the use case / service / project
Use case context: continuous water quality monitoring in a distribution network
Drinking water utilities that operate distribution networks must control water quality not only at the treatment plant, but also at critical locations within the network (e.g., reservoirs, pressure reducing stations, district metered areas and sensitive endpoints). Continuous monitoring provides early warning when parameters drift, enabling faster operational response and stronger confidence in day-to-day compliance management.
1) Problem / need: ensure continuous, reliable water quality visibility at critical points
Type of operator concerned
Municipal or private drinking water utilities managing distribution networks
Operations teams responsible for on-going compliance, incident response and service continuity
Operational constraints in the field
Robustness under real conditions: instruments must remain stable and reliable in unattended operation.
Deployment simplicity: installation and commissioning must be possible with limited civil works and minimal downtime.
Actionable results: the monitoring points must deliver consistent data that operators can use for routine control and event detection.
Risks if continuous monitoring is not in place
Delayed detection of water quality deviations at network locations.
Higher operational risk due to slower investigation and corrective actions.
Reduced confidence in day-to-day water quality control across the distribution network.
2) Implemented solution: on-site deployment of two nano::station monitoring stations
Solution delivered
To provide continuous surveillance, two nano::station units were installed and commissioned on-site at SAUR Vannes. The deployment emphasized a field-ready approach, with end-to-end commissioning and an operational handover to ensure the monitoring points produced consistent, usable data for ongoing network oversight.
Why the nano::station fits this use case
Compact, modular monitoring station: designed as a super-compact system combining instruments into a complete solution, supporting a plug-and-measure approach.
Multiparameter capability: can be configured to monitor multiple water-quality parameters (depending on installed sensors), such as pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, UV254 and free chlorine among others.
Field deployment focus: designed to simplify installation while delivering reliable and precise measurements.
Implementation highlights (execution and commissioning)
Selection of monitoring points and installation of 2 continuous monitoring stations
On-site commissioning to validate measurement readiness and operational stability
Operational handover to support routine network surveillance and event detection
Expected operational benefits for similar utilities
Faster detection of deviations at critical network points via continuous measurement.
Lower deployment complexity thanks to a compact, modular station designed for straightforward setup.
Improved day-to-day control with consistent monitoring data supporting routine decision-making.
Badger Meter capabilities relevant to distribution network monitoring
Badger Meter provides smart water management solutions (BlueEdge) spanning measurement, connectivity and data-driven insights across the water cycle, including distribution network monitoring and drinking water applications.
spectro::lyser V3