Grundfos-owned Metasphere has launched a new wastewater monitoring device designed to help UK water utilities reduce storm overflow spills and improve environmental compliance as pressure mounts under AMP8 investment targets.
The new telemetry device, called Sense, has been developed to provide near real-time wastewater network monitoring data to support utilities as the UK government pushes for a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029.
The launch comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny over sewage discharges and wastewater infrastructure performance across England and Wales.
Speaking in the House of Commons in July 2025, Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the government intended to halve sewage pollution from water companies by the end of the decade.
According to Metasphere, achieving those targets will require utilities to move beyond reactive wastewater management and towards preventative, data-driven network operations.
Storm overflow monitoring becomes central to AMP8 delivery
The AMP8 regulatory period, which runs from 2025 to 2030, places significant focus on wastewater resilience, pollution prevention and network digitisation.
Metasphere said utilities are increasingly under pressure to demonstrate operational accountability through reliable environmental monitoring data.
The company stated that its Sense platform has been engineered to provide secure, tamper-resistant telemetry and support wider wastewater network digitisation strategies.
Chris Fryatt
Chris Fryatt, head of product at Grundfos, said long-term environmental commitments require both operational reliability and cost efficiency.
“We’ve engineered Sense to ensure zero data loss, providing the secure, tamper-proof stream utilities need to prove outcomes,” Fryatt said.
He added that the system was designed for rapid deployment to support return-on-investment requirements while helping utilities meet government wastewater targets.
Wastewater digitisation supports pollution prevention
Water companies are increasingly investing in digital wastewater monitoring technologies to improve visibility across sewer networks and reduce the likelihood of uncontrolled storm overflow events.
Metasphere said the Sense system can integrate with third-party digital sensors, allowing utilities to monitor additional network conditions including pressure and temperature.
The resulting operational data can also support Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs), helping utilities prioritise investment where environmental benefits are expected to be greatest.
The UK water sector is currently progressing a £104 billion infrastructure investment programme aimed at upgrading ageing wastewater assets, improving resilience and reducing pollution incidents.
Long-life wastewater telemetry designed for harsh environments
Metasphere said the Sense telemetry unit has an estimated battery life of up to eight years, helping reduce maintenance visits and operational disruption across long-term wastewater monitoring deployments.
The company added that the modular design allows utilities to expand monitoring capability over time without replacing core infrastructure.
The system has also been designed for deployment within hazardous wastewater environments and carries ATEX and IECEx Zone 0 certification.
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