Drinking water networks are part of critical infrastructure and are one of the most important foundations of social life. Nevertheless, they are often underestimated—until disruptions occur. Recent events, such as the power outage in Berlin that lasted several days, show how vulnerable even modern cities are and what consequences the failure of central supply systems can have.
This article explains why drinking water networks are considered critical infrastructure, what risks exist, and how modern monitoring solutions help to ensure long-term security of supply.
Critical infrastructures are systems whose failure or impairment would have a significant impact on public safety, public health, and economic stability. In addition to energy, transportation, and telecommunications, public drinking water supplies are also among these areas that are particularly worthy of protection.
Without a functioning water supply, hygiene, medical care, industrial processes, and fire protection can no longer be guaranteed. Drinking water is therefore not something to be taken for granted, but a central basis of life.
The recent power outage in Berlin clearly demonstrated how quickly critical infrastructure can reach its limits. At times, up to 50,000 residents were without power for several days. In many households, neither heating nor hot water worked, and communication and mobility were also restricted.
This event highlights how dependent modern cities are on stable supply systems. The consequences of a similar failure in the drinking water network would be even more serious. While a power outage is often temporary, a disruption in the water supply would have an immediate impact on households, hospitals, care facilities, industry, and the fire department.
Unlike power grids, damage to drinking water networks often goes undetected for a long time. Leaks occur underground, and water is lost without any visible discharge. In many cities in particular, the networks are decades old and heavily used.
Creeping water losses, pressure fluctuations, and material fatigue lead to declining supply reliability and rising costs in the long term. Problems are often only detected when pipe bursts or acute malfunctions occur. In such cases, rapid action is necessary, which can result in high repair costs and supply interruptions.
Another critical issue is technical dependence on electricity. Pumps, pressure control stations, and measurement and monitoring systems require electrical energy. If the power fails and there is a lack of transparency regarding the status of the drinking water network, a disruption can quickly develop into a serious supply crisis.
This is precisely why it is crucial to continuously monitor the condition of the network and identify risks at an early stage.
Modern technologies now make it possible to continuously monitor drinking water networks and detect changes at an early stage. Systems such as SmartEAR® continuously record acoustic signals in the pipe network and make even the smallest leaks audible. These are detected long before they become visible on the surface or cause major damage.
The data obtained is stored centrally in the POSEYEDON® Cloud . This provides a transparent overview of the condition of the drinking water network. Anomalies can be evaluated over longer periods of time and prioritized in a targeted manner.
For precise localization of damaged areas on site, professional leak detection systems such as the HL 7000 . This allows repairs to be planned and carried out efficiently, rather than having to react in an emergency.
The power outage in Berlin should be seen as a warning. Critical infrastructure should not only receive attention when it fails. The drinking water network is a central component of public services and deserves appropriate priority.
A transparent, continuously monitored water supply is crucial for security of supply, sustainability, and the protection of one of our most important resources. Modern technologies for network monitoring and leak detection make a significant contribution to this.
The main difference between power and water outages lies in predictability. Many problems in the drinking water network can be detected early on if the network is monitored. Continuous monitoring reduces water losses, increases supply reliability, and reduces the workload for operating personnel.
In addition, investments can be planned more effectively, as renovation measures can be targeted precisely where they are actually needed. This not only strengthens economic efficiency, but also the resilience of critical infrastructure.
About the Author
Frank Böttinger
Frank Böttinger is Category Manager Marketing at SebaKMT®. He is passionate about protecting our drinking water networks and ensuring that critical infrastructure continues to function reliably in the future. He is driven by a desire to highlight water losses, strengthen supply security, and explain technical solutions in an understandable way so that problems are not only recognized when it is already too late.
