EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: H2O Global News’ Natasha Posnett spoke with Syrinix CEO, James Dunning about his company’s partnership with Chilean firm Nereus and how the two companies are working to overcome Chile’s growing water crisis.
Depleted glaciers and dried out lakes in the usually snow-capped Andes have become a symbol of the Chilean water crisis. The drought in Chile is not showing any signs of ending and the country has experienced its driest decade in recorded history. Reduced rainfall and rising temperatures due to climate change, mixed with a high water demand from an ever increasing population and overconsumption by agriculture, have left the region struggling with water scarcity. But two companies have come together to form a new partnership in the hope of helping this vulnerable region. UK based Syrinix; a company that specialises in pipeline monitoring, and Chilean firm Nereus; a company that focuses on the measurement of drinking, sewage and industrial water, aim to combine their skills and technology to improve pipeline monitoring and reduce water wastage around Chile.
Spectacular view of rocky terrain with hills and salty ground in Atacama Desert in Chile
Chilean water crisis
This is not new news. Chile has been under pressure from droughts and water scarcity for more than ten years. It is not only the environmental factors of climate change that have left the country struggling, but also the social and economic. The region has issues with equitable water distribution, efficiency, overpopulation and agribusiness. The loss of rain combined with high water demand has led to a water emergency. Chile’s water resources are being used up faster than they can be replenished, and it is not sustainable in the long term.
These events have given people an insight into the region’s future problems with water if external pressures don’t change. It has highlighted the importance of making the industry more sustainable and working towards new solutions. While the problems of climate change and rising populations cannot be fixed quickly, there is another area that Chile can focus on- pipeline monitoring. Successful monitoring will allow a more efficient water supply with less wastage, and that is where Syrinix and Nereus come into play.
Syrinix’s CEO, James Dunning said: “Chile is certainly facing some significant water resource challenges. The Atacama Desert, the driest place in the world, covers a third of the country, plus retreating glaciers and accelerating farming and exports. It is all at risk of coming together rather powerfully! Water is fundamental to economies and the way that communities exist and develop. At Syrinix we are about providing the infrastructure to help economies and communities thrive. When you have growing challenges, such as a country like Chile, if we can participate in some way in helping them continue to thrive, then that would be job done.”
Syrinix’s CEO, James Dunning
Syrinix and Nereus join forces in a new partnership
As an exclusive distributor in Chile, Nereus is in a prime position to deliver Syrinix’s pipeline monitoring technology to an area which is overwhelmed by the challenges of sustainability, equitable water distribution and efficiency. Syrinix’s technologies will allow Nereus to provide comprehensive solutions for local water utilities. Nereus’ mission is to “measure every drop of water correctly”, and by using Syrinix’s technologies this should be made possible.
Dunning explains why he thought the new partnership would be so beneficial: “Nereus is very progressive in its outlook and keen to provide a portfolio of solutions. They are established in the market, representing a number of major players already. It was a great fit and the timing was very good. Where we excel as a company is the combination of things that we do. It is the way businesses deliver ‘operational excellence’ that differentiates companies. It is not just how we collect the data; it is how we filter and present the data, the way the user can configure alerts and flick between different parts of the network very easily to get a really good handle on what’s happening. And that is where we are genuinely excellent – that combination of things.’
How will the technology help?
Syrinix ultimately helps utilities to understand what is happening in their water networks in more detail, allowing them to notice when problems occur or even act on them prior to an issue. The technology allows utilities to reduce the amount of water they waste and make their networks more efficient. Dunning puts it succinctly: “Our technologies will help utilities focus on what they need to focus on, thereby reducing leaks and bursts, saving time and money. We can help utilities locate a leak or burst and respond quickly.” He explains how it is not just about how you respond to a problem, but also about mitigating it before it happens. Water network calming is all about monitoring and acting upon issues to help the whole network run smoothly. You can identify the causes of damaging pressure events and act on those causes immediately to reduce damage to the infrastructure: “stresses on the network can be mitigated by the way you operate it. Being able to calm down how your network is operated will reduce leaks and bursts, while helping the assets to last much longer.”
Syrinix’s PIPEMINDER range is a pressure monitoring and leak detection technology which identifies and alerts operators to bursts and leaks in the network. The RADAR technology pairs perfectly with this by receiving and analysing the data. By deploying both of these in Chile, utilities there will learn how to get the most out of their water networks by keeping on top of maintenance and by quickly addressing any issues they face. Overall, they should see a reduction in the amount of water that is lost, while at the same time saving money, which would have a hugely positive impact on a country like Chile where every drop of water saved matters.
What does the future hold for the water sector?
As climate change continues to cause water scarcity problems across the globe, innovation and technology will have a vital role to play in utility operations, water efficiency and monitoring. Countries will need to focus on reducing their water waste and making their networks as efficient and reliable as possible. Implementing new innovations has the potential to increase water sustainability and resilience for a healthier future.
As with most of the world at the moment, everything is slightly unknown, but as Dunning sees it, Covid has in fact helped the water sector in some ways and he believes the future is looking good for Syrinix: “The pandemic is undoubtedly dreadful but it has forced utilities to engage with new ways of working and the suspicion of technology has been reduced. The external pressures give an appetite for innovation and are currently being imposed much more broadly. That’s exciting.”
It is a time of important change in the water sector, as our planet continues to warm and human demand for it continues to increase. Syrinix is developing in a way that responds to these changes: “We are Feeling more excited about the water sector than we have done for some time. We feel positive about where we are positioned and the outlook for the sector generally. This last year has torn up the rule book- all the traditional barriers have been reduced. Syrinix is much more about the presentation of data and data led insight now and I expect to see more of that in the future. I can see us doing more and more positioning and advancement around the data-led insights. I think that’s where our future lies.”
What is to come for Chile?
The partnership between Syrinix and Nereus is just starting out. They have a lot of exciting work to pursue together, and it will be fascinating to see how that develops across the region. Of course, circumstances will not change in Chile overnight, but with any luck the introduction of this new technology will enable the use of smart water portfolios in order to reduce any further stressors on the country.
Dunning concluded: “We are very excited about working with Nereus in Chile. It’s a really exciting market and we are looking forward to getting going.”
The use of technology to help overcome extreme external challenges is remarkable, and the new partnership between Syrinix and Nereus has shown us how two companies from opposite sides of the planet can join forces on an initiative that might ultimately have a positive impact on water sustainability around the world.
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