AI Water Treatment Plant

AI Water Treatment Plant

A self-operating water treatment plant: automation of water treatment processes with an autonomous operation system for all 8 processes.

Processes
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Simulator (Prediction)
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Autonomous operation
  1. 01 Intake
    Next
    Inlet valve openings / Water levels
    Next
    Open Inlet valve
  2. 02 Chemicals
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    Raw water quality classification / Chemicals injection rates
    Next
    Chemical Injection rate
  3. 03 Mixing & Flocculation
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    Flocculation mixer rpm
    Next
    Mixer rpm Grevolutions per minute
  4. 04 Disinfection
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    Sedimentation basin residence time / Chlorine evaporation
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    Chlorin injection rate
  5. 05 Sedimentation
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    Sedimentation basin sludge occurrence
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    Sludge collector scheduling
  6. 06 Filtration
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    Number of filters / Water level for each filter
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    Filter scheduling
  7. 07 Ozone
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    Residual ozone
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    Ozone injection rate
  8. 08 GAC Filtration
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    Number of fitters / Water level for each filter
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    GAC filter scheduling
  • Smart Energy Management (EMS)

    onsumption optimization based on real-time power monitoring and analysis

    Demand forecasting,
    oprema supply planning

    Optimal pump operation,
    power peak

  • Facility Predictive Maintenance (PMS)

    Predictive maintenance such as facility failure detection and cause analysis

    Abnormal symptom
    monitoning · detection

    Abnormal symptom
    monitating · problem presentation

  • Intelligent video surveillance

    Manage workplace facilities, security, and safety through video

    Facility
    fire, water leak,
    no chemicals added

    Security
    Intrusion, snooping

    Safety
    fall down, rescue,
    electric shock

Detailed Technology

Infrastructure
  • K-water continuously establishes and enhances its infrastructure to ensure efficient and stable system operations.
  • Through upgrades, K-water has automated control systems, improved instruments, strengthened network performance, and advanced data management systems to lay the foundation for future-oriented water resource management.
  • K-water provides optimal services through innovative technologies and infrastructure improvements.
Autonomous OperationReal-time acquisition and analysis of operational data, using AI algorithms to predict optimal operation plans for standalone or interconnected autonomous operation of the 8 treatment processes.
Smart Energy Management SystemProvides optimized operation plans through real-time analysis of energy consumption data from high-energy equipment.
  • Pump Control
  • Power Peak
Predictive Maintenance SystemA predictive maintenance system that detects faults and diagnoses causes through real-time analysis of equipment condition data.
 
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Sensors setup

Install vibration sensors on pumps at all times

Real-time monitoring

Generate and acquire vibration data

Anomaly detection

Machine learning-based data analysis

Autonomous diagnostic

Visualization of analysis results

Alarms and Causes

Crisis response and predictive maintenance

Intelligent Video Surveillance SystemA safety management system applying AI video analysis and automatic tracking technology to CCTV/surveillance sensors (covering 8 items).
*(Equipment) Fire, pipe leakage, chemical absence (Security) Intrusion, loitering (Safety) Fall detection, emergency signal, electrocution
 
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Video analysis / surveillance sensor
Abnormal symptom detection
CCTV Tracking
Video display, alarm
Server Setup Central server (Big Data Hadoop), local servers for each site (AI operations, web services). *Stores approximately 200,000 data entries per minute for 3-5 years. AI Operating System Setup System powered by open-source tools such as Python, Docker, and Kafka. Simulator Simulates virtual data for various scenarios.
  • Main server
  • Local server for each site

Project Achievements

Hwaseong AI Water Purification Plant listed as a "global lighthouse" by the World Economic Forum (WEF)
Global Lighthouse Network Award Winner
What is the Global Lighthouse Network?

It refers to a company that leads the future of the global manufacturing industry by introducing 4th industrial technologies such as Al and big data, and is selected through an annual review by the World Economic Forum (153 companies around the world).

  1. 01 AI Water Treatment Plant Deployment(2021 ~ 2024)

    Deployment completed at 43 metropolitan water treatment plants
    Selected as a WEF “Global Lighthouse”
    New ISO work item approved (led by K-water)

  2. 02 Establishing the Foundation for Commercialization(2025)

    Technology commercialization strategy established (May)
    Business portal established (December)
    ISO and standard patent initiatives pursued throughout the year
    Overseas exports (2 cases), technology transfers (35 cases)

  3. 03 Commercialization of AI Water Treatment Plants(2026 ~)

    Establishment of a hyper-connected AI water treatment plant through the adoption of generative AI and robotics
    Expansion and dissemination of AI water treatment technologies both domestically and internationally
    Establishment of ISO/KS standards (2027)

Technology Commercialization Status

  • WWC Forum (‘24) WWC Forum (‘24)
  • AWWA Forum (‘24) AWWA Forum (‘24)
  • WWA Forum (‘24) WWA Forum (‘24)
(Technology Diffusion) Projects are under way in response to domestic and overseas demand for AI technologies for water treatment plants (5 cases)
  • (Domestic) Projects are under way in response to requests for support in introducing AI technologies at local government and public corporation facilities (3 sites)
  • (Overseas) AI diagnosis completed in Sept. 2025 through the “AI Water Treatment Plant Export Project for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam*,” and commercialization is under way in response to overseas technology demand in El Salvador and other countries
(International Standards) AI Water Treatment Plant ISO Committee Draft (CD) stage confirmed in Jan. 2026 and Draft International Standard (DIS) initiated, OECD BDN certification acquired in Nov. 2025, and international standard patents filed (2 cases)
  • (ISO Standard) International standardization CD (Committee Draft) approved (Jan. 2026), enactment in 2027
  • (OECD Certification) Secured international credibility for AI water treatment plants and laid the groundwork for overseas expansion by acquiring the OECD-led “Global Infrastructure Investment Certification (BDN)” (Nov. 12)
  • (Standard Patents) Secured international standard patents for a super-gap technology (AI Water Treatment Plant) (2 cases, Nov. 2025)
(Cooperation and Promotion) Establishment of cooperation frameworks with major domestic and overseas institutions and promotion of AI technologies
  • (Technical Cooperation) Signed a business agreement to support the stable adoption of Physical AI
  • (Technology Promotion) Promoted AI technologies to major domestic and overseas academic societies and institutions (since 2024, 22 cases)
  • (Technology Transfer) Completed technology transfer agreements for AI Water Treatment Plant patents held (4 patents, 35 agreements with 9 companies)
(External Recognition) Received the Jang Young-sil Award in the Technology Innovation Category, Korea’s highest industrial technology award
Source: D-waterx Business Portal

Business Performance

  • The AI-based smart water treatment plant utilizes big data and artificial intelligence technologies to autonomously operate water treatment processes, EMS (Energy Management System), PMS (Plant Management System), and intelligent video surveillance.
  • It ensures the stable supply of high-quality tap water, enhances operational efficiency, reduces costs, and promotes sustainable operations.
Stable supply of high-quality tap water
Climate change response Minimizing human error and optimizing processes
  • Operator operation frequency reduced by 42%
  • 24hr stable autonomous operation
Reduce tap water production costs
Reduce the burden on the people Reduce operating costs such as chemical costs, power costs, and maintenance
  • 4% reduction in chemical costs and 5% reduction in power costs
  • Reduced annual operating costs by KRW 1.7 billion per water punification plant production volume of 1 million tons/day
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