• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Contracts and tenders awarded
  • Technical
    • Standards
  • Pump school
    • Ask an Expert
  • Sectors
    • LNG
    • Coal Seam Gas (CSG)
    • Building Services
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Valves
    • Reliability
    • Chemicals and plastics
    • Irrigation
    • Mining
    • Water & wastewater
  • Magazine
  • Capability Guide
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Contracts and tenders awarded
  • Technical
    • Standards
  • Pump school
    • Ask an Expert
  • Sectors
    • LNG
    • Coal Seam Gas (CSG)
    • Building Services
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Valves
    • Reliability
    • Chemicals and plastics
    • Irrigation
    • Mining
    • Water & wastewater
  • Magazine
  • Capability Guide
No Results
View All Results
Home News

SA Water improves water services with bluetooth technology

by Pumps Journalist
January 9, 2020
in Automation, Condition monitoring, News, Projects, Reliability, Standards, Valves, Water & wastewater, Water Efficiency
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As part of a South Australian-first process to improve water services, SA Water’s Crystal Brook-based maintenance team is using new bluetooth technology to assist in opening and shutting water main valves.

The innovative technology connects with a hands-free extendable arm to remotely open and shut water main valves through a process known as ‘exercising’ which is a vital process in making sure the drinking water supply network is operating as normal. 

Used much like Bluetooth on a smartphone, SA Water’s General Manager Asset Operations and Delivery, Mark Gobbie, said the technology has already improved the water network while protecting employee safety.

“Valves are important in controlling the flow of water through the network to our customers in any planned shutdown or emergency, and therefore we need to make sure they are always working as normal to limit potential temporary water disruptions to customers should they arise,” Mr Gobbie said.

“However, regularly loosening the valve’s mechanics and clearing debris is a manually exhausting and physical process for our people, with winding large valves requiring at least four people to safely complete.

“Being able to improve our pipe operations from the palm of our hands now makes exercising water valves a low-risk, one-person activity, which is a great result for our people and our customers.

“This is an innovation delivered by our dedicated major pipeline maintenance team at Crystal Brook, and we’re keen to see how the success of this trial can translate to sites across South Australia.”

The technology applies torque power to test the valve’s movement and create graphs and collect data on the valve’s operations, ensuring SA Water has the exact data to make informed, cost-effective decisions on follow-up repairs and maintenance in the future.

Since implementing the technology, at least seven previously un-operable valves along the Morgan to Whyalla, Swan Reach and Woomera pipeline networks have been successfully restored,saving potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in replacement costs.

“The health and safety of our people is our number one priority, and innovations like this are a great example of how we can reduce manual handling risks while improving the water network for our customers,” Mr Gobbie said.

Find Valves Related Companies In The Pump Industry Capability Guide


Kelair Pumps Australia
Brown Brothers Engineers Australia
Superior Pump Technologies

Related Posts

These pump motors are designed for hazardous conditions, such as an area known for mining and chemical processing.

Hazardous area motors ready for pump applications

by Chris Edwards
June 18, 2025

TECO Flameproof Electric Motors are engineered for hazardous environments in mining, oil and gas, water, plus chemical processing applications. Designed...

Toowoomba Regional Council has called for Queensland State Government support for a study into the proposed Nathan Dam near Taroom.

Council calls for State Government investigation into Nathan Dam

by Chris Edwards
June 18, 2025

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has endorsed a motion calling for Queensland State Government support for a comprehensive investigation and feasibility...

Image: sebastien rabany/stock.adobe.com

WorldSkills National Championships to head to Adelaide

by Chris Edwards
June 17, 2025

Adelaide has been officially announced as the host of the 2027 WorldSkills Australia National Championships and Skills Show. The country’s...

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Pump Industry is Australia’s only dedicated pump magazine and is produced by Prime Creative Media in cooperation with Pump Industry Australia (PIA).

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Pump Industry

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Spotlight
  • Pump school
  • Water & wastewater
  • Irrigation

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Contracts and tenders awarded
  • Technical
    • Standards
  • Pump school
    • Ask an Expert
  • Sectors
    • LNG
    • Coal Seam Gas (CSG)
    • Building Services
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Valves
    • Reliability
    • Chemicals and plastics
    • Irrigation
    • Mining
    • Water & wastewater
  • Magazine
  • Capability Guide
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited