Dataset: Distribution Input

The publishing of this dataset, including the structure and requirements, have been chosen specifically by South East Water.

Distribution Input (DI) is the amount of water pumped into the distribution network, either from our reservoirs or, in some cases, directly from one of our treatment works or a bulk supply from a neighbouring water supplier. This is essentially the water used by our customers as well as some distribution losses.

DI is calculated from flow meters at each treatment works as well as metered bulk supplies and reservoir levels, nominally these meters have a manufacturers uncertainty of ~5%. All of this data is transferred via the companies SCADA system into the Operational Performance Database (Aquanet) database at 15-minute intervals. The raw data is then averaged into daily volumes in Mega Litres (Ml), and all of these are totalled up to company level. Most of the water from our treatment works is pumped into a reservoir before going into our distribution network, so changes in storage must be accounted for. If a reservoir level increases over the course of a day, then this water went into storage not into the network.

Though rare, there are sometimes issues with data capture or transmission for short periods of time. Any gaps in a particular flow meters data are filled using readings from the same day previous week whereas gaps in Reservoir levels are interpolated between real values. The raw data is rigorously checked and corrected if needed before being used, any corrections are well documented and regularly audited by assurance partners.