# IoT Platform Wells Up South Africa’s Silulumanzi Water Utility Power Asset Management Savings and Monitoring
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-08-09
Category: TECHNOLOGY
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology
Meta Title: Efficient IoT SCADA System for Silulumanzi Water Works
Meta Description: Discover how Silulumanzi in South Africa saved time and costs with Radix IoT's IoT platform, improving their water management operations.
URL: https://financedigest.com/iot-platform-wells-up-south-africas-silulumanzi-water-utility-power-asset-management-savings-and-monitoringhtml

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_![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/431-1736815495402-compressed.jpg)_

_By **Michael C. Skurla**, is the Chief Product Officer of_ [_Radix IoT_](http://www.radixiot.com/)

When [Silulumanzi](https://www.silulumanzi.com/home), a subsidiary of South African Water Works (SAWW), needed a reliable and scalable SCADA system to efficiently manage and operate its vast distributed coverage area, they searched for an IoT platform solution that was cost-effective, reliable, scalable and could meet their environmental and water conservancy needs. And one that could enable the utility company to efficiently meet its 30-year concession agreement to deliver nearly 120 million liters of safe drinking water and sanitation management services for 450,000 residents of the eastern City of Mbombela, in light of the ongoing extended water crisis.

Silulumanzi has been, since 1999, a provider of quality water and sanitation services in the municipality City of Mbombela. Climate change has resulted in infrequent rains, that once provided the water supplies of the world’s cleanest water systems– and have left South Africa’s 50-million population facing a dire water crisis. [Water conservancy remains a top](https://www.financedigest.com/testing-waters-hungarys-central-bank-flags-cut-in-top-end-of-rate-corridor.html "Testing waters, Hungary’s central bank flags cut in top end of rate corridor") priority for the power company that requires best-in-class expertise, systems, and sustainable practices with minimal environmental impact. With commonly used _water shifting_–valves moving water around the network to provide intermittent water supply–most residents are deprived of a 24-hour water service. Water flow and availability must be budgeted regularly.

For nearly six years, working with the South Africa-based process control solutions provider, [Vangard Projects](https://vangardprojects.co.za/) (a Radix IoT Africa partner), Silulumanzi has integrated the browser-based [Mango OS IoT](https://radixiot.com/mango-os) software platform into its existing connected systems. Now, with the heightened operational efficiency the utilities company’s 350-member team use their mobile phones to tap into Mango’s [customized dashboard for real-time data and actionable](https://www.financedigest.com/the-fca-is-taking-immediate-action-on-customer-vulnerability-but-how-does-this-impact-advisers.html "The FCA is taking immediate action on customer vulnerability; but how does this impact advisers?") analytics on all their water reservoirs and operations plants across a nearly 520 sq.km territory.

Colin Thatcher, Silulumanzi’s Operations Manager, [says Mango OS provides “a world](https://www.financedigest.com/world-says-goodbye-to-britains-queen-elizabeth-from-cafes-and-consulates.html "World says goodbye to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth from cafes and consulates") of difference” from previous operations mode. Used as “almost the Bible” the company’s field team monitors their mobile phones 24×7, for real-time data on [water reservoir levels of their managed](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-to-manage-water-resources-carefully-as-drought-continues.html "UK to manage water resources carefully as drought continues") sites. The data also helps mobilize teams to areas needing repairs or special attention.

**IoT Platform Savings Take Off the Blinders With Real-Time Views**

Since Mango from Radix IoT was integrated, Silulumanzi has saved up to 100 hours a week in labor related [management activities](https://www.financedigest.com/with-the-right-active-manager-you-really-do-get-what-you-pay-for.html "With the Right Active Manager, You Really Do Get What You Pay For"). With real-time actionable data available on all their sites, plants and reservoirs, field service teams have eliminated high fuel costs and wear and tear on company vehicles [since they don’t regularly drive](https://www.financedigest.com/apples-weak-iphone-sales-drive-first-profit-miss-since-2016.html "Apple’s weak iPhone sales drive first profit miss since 2016") across their 250 kilometers of coverage area for manual check-ups.

Before integrating an IoT platform, the [company monitored its systems](https://www.financedigest.com/setsquared-companys-maths-system-adds-up-to-pitch-perfect-palace-success.html "SETsquared company’s maths system adds up to pitch-perfect palace success") manually. [Site operators called](https://www.financedigest.com/ford-to-make-call-on-europe-job-cuts-by-mid-feb-as-buyers-circle-german-site.html "Ford to make call on Europe job cuts by mid-Feb as buyers circle German site") to report problems, dispatched field workers travelled to the site to assess the problem and drove back to the home office to obtain necessary equipment and once again return to the site for repairs. All actions were “very reactive” and always “a couple of hours behind.”

Now the field [service team no longer wakes up in the middle of the night to drive 50+ kilometers each way](https://www.financedigest.com/three-ways-the-data-cloud-can-keep-financial-services-competitive.html "Three Ways the Data Cloud Can Keep Financial Services Competitive") to conduct site checks. Instead, they tap into their Mango dashboard on their mobiles to find out if there are any alerts, and then determine if a situation warrants a site inspection or can be remedied remotely.

The maintenance, mechanical and electrical staff, as well as plumbers, no longer fly “blind.” Their web-based access to real-time views and alerts helps monitor the reservoirs’ levels regularly. Alerts and reporting on frequent water outages allows the team to be more proactive and hinder potential [risks and service](https://www.financedigest.com/how-financial-services-insurance-leaders-can-get-more-scientific-on-risk.html "How Financial Services & Insurance leaders can get more scientific on risk") interruptions, while also being prepared with the right equipment and tools when it is necessary to ‘roll a truck’.

Since the company provides bulk [water outside of its Concession, it must diligently monitor major water sites to determine raised water levels and the health of the pipes to maintain business](https://www.financedigest.com/5-simple-ways-in-which-your-business-can-save-water.html "5 simple ways in which your business can save water") continuity on behalf of their bulk customers. While there’s “adequate, 48-hour storage in reservoirs” Mango also helps Silulumanzi:

- Pro-actively reach the problem source, repair leaks and [resume water](https://www.financedigest.com/japan-insurers-in-talks-with-reinsurers-to-resume-coverage-in-russian-waters.html "Japan insurers in talks with reinsurers to resume coverage in Russian waters") service for customers–without operational disruptions.
- Gain real-time visuals of the equipment health and water sites and ensure water pumps are in full operations.
- View dashboard alerts on pumping stations and pipe breaks to determine if:
  - Reservoirs are full or there are other problems to be tended,
  - Bulk [customers need](https://www.financedigest.com/why-empathy-needs-to-sit-at-the-heart-of-bbls-and-cbils-customer-service.html "Why empathy needs to sit at the heart of BBLS and CBILS customer service") to be notified,
  - Pump stations need to be shut down to minimize water waste out of the reservoir.
- Expedite [customer notifications on delivery](https://www.financedigest.com/bahamas-regulator-holds-ftx-assets-pending-delivery-to-customers-creditors.html "Bahamas regulator holds FTX assets pending delivery to customers, creditors") interruptions.
- Pro-actively conduct predictive maintenance to eliminate major risks before unfolding.

**Scalable IoT [Platforms Empower Asset Management](https://www.financedigest.com/national-world-launches-new-ad-manager-platform-powered-by-danads-empowering-businesses-to-take-control-of-their-advertising.html "National World launches new ad manager platform, powered by DanAds, empowering businesses to take control of their advertising") And Enterprise ESG**

As the number of customers served increases, and existing water plants lack sufficient pumping capacity to efficiently meet the daily water [needs of the larger population in Silulumanzi’s coverage](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-premises-liability-coverage-and-why-does-your-business-need-it.html "What is Premises Liability Coverage … and Why Does Your Business Need It?") area, ever more rigorous monitoring of the reservoirs’ water volumes is needed. The Radix IoT solution allows the company to determine whether they can [supply water](https://www.financedigest.com/best-paying-jobs-in-water-supply.html "Best Paying Jobs In Water Supply") to customers or need to pre-warn residents by issuing announcements.

As the recipient of the prestigious Platinum Blue Drop and Green Drop awards from the Department of Water and Sanitation, and ISO [accredited for safety](https://www.financedigest.com/gumgum-granted-first-mrc-accreditation-for-brand-safety-and-contextual-targeting-for-ctv.html "GumGum Granted First MRC Accreditation for Brand Safety and Contextual Targeting For CTV") & health, environment, and quality management systems, Silulumanzi is focused on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). It has transformed the City of Mbombela into the “Ultimate Destination.” Its corporate social responsibility initiatives actively reinforce local communities’ [economic empowerment through up-skilling projects to alleviate unemployment and enrich the local economy’s growth](https://www.financedigest.com/addressing-the-credit-gap-to-unlock-economic-growth-in-africa.html "Addressing the credit gap to unlock economic growth in Africa").

The [company’s pilot energy](https://www.financedigest.com/luc-remont-proposed-as-new-boss-of-french-energy-company-edf.html "Luc Remont proposed as new boss of French energy company EDF") conservancy dashboard, with Vangard Projects’ help, also provides an operational perspective on their second largest cost–electricity. While salaries are the utilities’ largest cost, installed equipment at the main water [treatment plant now monitors](https://www.financedigest.com/precise-remote-monitoring-to-steal-the-ankle-syndesmosis-treatment-devices-market.html "Precise Remote Monitoring to steal the Ankle Syndesmosis Treatment Devices Market") exactly how much water is pumping at any time of the day–and the amount of power used. [Data on how many kW is consumed](https://www.financedigest.com/over-two-thirds-of-consumers-do-not-understand-how-their-data-is-used.html "Over two-thirds of consumers do not understand how their data is used"), daily flow, and power usage allows for predictive maintenance­. Real-time alerts show pumps that stop [working](https://www.financedigest.com/time-management-strategies-that-work.html "Time management strategies that work") and load reductions–enabling water conservancy measures and major savings on “time of use tariffs” where certain hours of the day tariffs on water fluctuate between medium and high.

Mango’s monitoring of power consumption, critical overview of the daily operations, and upcoming risks for preventative measures guarantees the [company’s efficiency and reputational integrity to sustain](https://www.financedigest.com/green-cloud-one-way-your-company-can-commit-to-sustainability.html "Green Cloud: one way your company can commit to sustainability") their concession agreement.

**_About Author_** _:_

_Michael C. Skurla is the Chief Product Officer of_ [_Radix IoT_](http://www.radixiot.com/) _– offering limitless monitoring and management rooted in intelligence–and has_ _over two decades’ experience in control automation and IoT product design with Fortune 500 companies. He is a contributing member of CABA, ASHRAE, IES Education, and USGBC and a frequent lecturer on the evolving use of analytics and emerging IT [technologies to foster](https://www.financedigest.com/innovative-apps-to-foster-the-growth-of-gene-editing-technologies-market.html "Innovative apps to foster the growth of Gene Editing Technologies Market") efficiency within commercial facility design._


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