How Is Yorkshire Water Using Smart Technology From Detectronic and Netmore Group for Wastewater Management?

Nobody likes thinking about what happens after they flush the loo, but it's pretty important. When sewer systems get overwhelmed, especially during heavy rain, it can lead to nasty problems like overflows and even localised flooding. This isn't just messy; it causes pollution in our rivers and seas.

But it looks like Yorkshire Water is getting a serious tech upgrade to stop these problems before they start. On September 9, 2025, they announced a huge project to create one of the world's most advanced smart wastewater management systems, teaming up with IoT specialist Netmore Group and UK environmental company Detectronic to make it happen. This is a big deal for the water industry.

What's actually happening underground?

Okay, so what does this tech upgrade involve? Over the next five years, more than 90,000 new sewer monitors are being installed across the region. Think of them as tiny digital watchdogs living in the sewer network. This whole setup is part of a massive sewer network telemetry programme. Telemetry is just a fancy word for sending measurements and data from one place to another wirelessly. So, these watchdogs will be constantly sending updates on what's happening in the pipes.

The installation includes two types of clever gadgets:

• 65,000 PAL pressure alarm sensors: These are designed to spot trouble in smaller pipes, like the ones connected to residential gullies (the drains you see outside houses) and in shallow chambers under the streets.
• 27,000 LIDoTT alarms: These are another type of monitor designed to keep an eye on sewer levels.

Putting this many sensors in place is a huge undertaking. It's set to become one of the most comprehensive monitoring networks of its kind anywhere in the world, giving Yorkshire Water an unprecedented view of its underground world. This proactive approach to smart wastewater management is a game-changer.

How does this smart tech work?

So, how do 90,000 little monitors send messages from deep underground? They don't have tiny mobile phones. Instead, they use something called a LoRaWAN network. LoRaWAN stands for Long Range Wide Area Network. Basically, it's a type of radio signal that's brilliant at sending small packets of information over long distances without using much power. This is perfect for things like sewer monitors, as they can run for years on a single battery. These are what you call battery-operated monitoring solutions.

The PAL pressure alarm sensors and LIDoTT alarms all have smart connectivity built in, allowing them to connect to this network. When a sensor detects that water levels are rising unexpectedly or that pressure is building up, it sends a little alert message through the LoRaWAN network. This message goes to a central system where engineers at Yorkshire Water can see it immediately. It's like getting a text from your sewer pipe saying, "Help, I'm about to get blocked!" This allows them to send a team to fix the issue before it causes any overflows or pollution.

Gavin Wagstaff, the product & data director at Detectronic, mentioned how significant this is for them. The PAL sensor is their first LoRaWAN-enabled product, and he said, " marks the beginning of our roadmap to develop more LoRaWAN-compatible devices that enable long-range communication for battery-operated monitoring solutions."

A clever use of existing networks

Here's where things get really smart. Building a brand-new communication network to cover the whole of Yorkshire would be a massive job. But Yorkshire Water is already doing something similar. They are in the middle of a huge smart water meter exchange, swapping out 1.3 million old water meters for new smart ones.

These new smart meters also need a network to send back readings. And guess what? They use the exact same type of LoRaWAN network. So, the company Netmore Group, the IoT specialist on the project, is deploying one big, powerful Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) network that can be used for both the smart water meters and the new sewer monitors. It's a bit like building a new motorway and then realising you can use it for cars and buses, making everything much more efficient. This smart reuse of the AMI network is a fantastic example of sustainability in the water industry.

Vadim Lyu, the UK Managing Director at Netmore Group, highlighted this benefit. "This partnership underscores our dedication to innovation and sustainability in the water industry and provides a powerful example of how a network deployed for an anchor use case like smart metering can be used to support numerous water management applications to meet the evolving needs of utilities and communities."

The bigger picture: why this matters

At the end of the day, this isn't just about cool gadgets in drains. It's about protecting the environment and our communities. Sewer overflows are a serious source of pollution, releasing untreated wastewater into rivers and seas, which is bad for wildlife and for people. And when sewers can't cope with heavy rain, it can contribute to surface water flooding, which can damage homes and businesses.

This project is a massive step towards tackling those issues head-on. By having real-time information from across the entire network, Yorkshire Water can move from being reactive (fixing problems after they happen) to being proactive (preventing them from happening in the first place). This commitment to environmental stewardship is vital. Better smart wastewater management means cleaner rivers, safer communities, and a more resilient water system for everyone. The whole project is a testament to what can be achieved with innovation and a focus on sustainability. The data from the sewer network telemetry will provide a foundation for smarter decisions in the water industry.

Vadim Lyu from Netmore added, "We are excited to partner with Detectronic to help ensure reliable wastewater monitoring that aligns with Yorkshire Water's commitment to environmental stewardship."

Who are the players in this big project?

This huge project isn't a one-company job. It's a partnership between three key players, each bringing their expertise to the table.

• Yorkshire Water: The water and wastewater company serving the region. They are the ones with the massive underground network who are driving this push for smarter water management.
• Detectronic: A UK-based environmental company. They are the brains behind the sewer monitors, including the PAL pressure alarm sensors and LIDoTT alarms. They are not only supplying over 90,000 of these devices but will also be responsible for their maintenance over the five-year plan. They're even setting up a new base in Yorkshire to support this work.
• Netmore Group: An IoT specialist from Sweden. Their job is to build and manage the communication backbone - the clever LoRaWAN network with its smart connectivity that lets all the devices talk to each other. Their expertise is crucial for making the whole AMI network for both the smart water meter exchange and sewer monitoring work seamlessly.

Together, they're building a system that could set a new standard for the entire water industry, showing how smart technology can be used to protect our environment from pollution and flooding.