Nature is more than just an inspiration, it holds the answers to maintain a resilient, diverse and virtuous life cycle. Sometimes, the best ideas come from people who take the time to observe, listen and try to understand nature’s complex yet fragile beauty. For instance, Leonardo da Vinci was an inventor with an enlightened mind and also a keen bird observer, studying bird’s anatomy and flight to develop his first flying machines. This is called biomimetics. Biomimetics are bio-inspired technologies that have been created to solve complex human problems based on imitating what nature does best. That is the case for a French tech company, Autonomous Clean Water Appliance (ACWA) Robotics, when a humble caterpillar inspired co-founders, Jean-François Rossi and Jean-François Guiderdoni, to develop their revolutionary invention designed to solve water loss issues.
The journey began with Jean-François Rossi, the Technical Director and co-founder of ACWA Robotics, who previously ran an IT company in Corsica. His clientele notably consisted of businesses in the water sector, where he provided IT solutions for water treatment plants. Driven by curiosity, Rossi recognised a significant gap in knowledge and access to information among his clients, particularly around inadequate data collection related to their water networks. This insight prompted him to look further into the matter and discover the 2012 leakage decree (a detailed description of public water and wastewater utility networks supported by an action plan to reduce water losses in the drinking water distribution network). In 2018, he partnered with Jean-François Guiderdoni, René Amoretti and Raphael Rossi, to develop the initial proofs of concept for their innovative solution: the Clean Water Pathfinder.
With ILab, I-Nov innovation prizes and three awards added to its belt, ACWA Robotics aims to solve current water challenges based on a few alarming facts. Each year in France, 120 trillion litres of water is lost in water supply networks. To tackle this, it would be necessary to renew more than 1% of the supply networks per year, while at current renewal rates, it takes 160 years for a city to renew its entire network!
Whether in France or globally, water utilities face aging pipelines that aggravate water loss due to leaks and breakages. As climate change is worsening and water scarcity a reality, local authorities are acting to reshape the water supply network management landscape – and that goes in hand with evolving innovation. ACWA Robotics advocates to help these water entities regain control of the water network, as it is at the heart of utility concerns.
Sequana sat down with ACWA Robotics’ Director of Development and Associate, Jean-François Guiderdoni, to understand a bit more about the Clean Water Pathfinder, a groundbreaking solution on a mission to save trillions of litres of water and help optimise cities.
When sharing insights on the robotic invention, Guiderdoni says that to succeed, the team had to create something that would have minimal disruption to the existing network, without any connection from outside or being teleguided. It had to be autonomous to capture leaks and breakages data in water pipes from the inside.
And that is where biomimetic technology provided a solution.
“The Clean Water Pathfinder is like a caterpillar robot in some ways because it’s been designed to move with front arms and legs that grip onto the pipe. In the middle, you have actuators that make the robot move. So basically, you have two pieces of two parts of the body, and they move one after the other based on the actuators in the middle. If you see it from a biomimetic perspective, it moves like a caterpillar,” Guiderdoni said.
“We had to create a machine that would sustain up to 20 bars of pressure, and up to two metres per second of water flow speed. We managed to launch a machine that is very resilient inside water pipes in harsh conditions.”
Pictures courtesy of ACWA Robotics.
The Clean Water Pathfinder can generate essential data while moving autonomously through pipes without disturbing users. Equipped with sensors specifically designed for the material and diameter of the targeted network, the Pathfinder delivers crucial insights, such as the precise location of pipes, a comprehensive assessment of pipe conditions—including residual thickness, corrosion, micro-cracks, and ovalisation (a process of changing to an oval shape)—and has the ambition to add to the list vital hydraulic data like pressure, quality, and turbidity, ensuring a thorough understanding of the water infrastructure for improved maintenance and management.
Pictures courtesy of ACWA Robotics.
However, the tricky part with new technologies is to remain relevant. Guiderdoni agrees saying Research and Development is a major company drive for ACWA Robotics as it helps maintain an innovative trajectory and stay connected to ongoing complex water utility needs.
“There is still a lot to achieve in our sector, for instance, software needs to integrate AI capabilities and also enable our robots to work at a higher speed. We know that for the next four to five years, we will improve our solutions and their technology because the possibilities are immense.”
When asked how he envisions the future of water and waste management globally, he shares:
“We are not going to have water all the time. In some regions of France, we already have limited water access some parts of the year and less and less water available, so we need to deal with that concern with much more care which is why working with water utilities is so important in securing water safety,”
“There are a lot of great innovations here and there, however, it is difficult for local authorities to know where to start. I think what needs to be done is to try to unify those solutions into something simpler for utilities to acquire and use rapidly.’” Guiderdoni concluded.
Pictures courtesy of ACWA Robotics.
Looking at international trends, water innovations and emerging trends are certainly on the arisen as water scarcity continues to grow. Some scalable and breakthrough technologies are built to contribute to a global zero-water waste goal.
There is also major progress regarding minimising the water treatment process footprint. It is known to be an energy-intensive process, consuming about 4% of the world’s electricity. A groundbreaking technology improving treatment efficiency is called nanobubbles. These tiny bubbles enhance gas transfer efficiency due to their minuscule size. Kran Nanobubble in Chile found a way. It utilises nanobubbles to restore contaminated environments, treat wastewater, purify food, and boost crop yields, all while employing 100% sustainable technology.
In Bolivia, AQUAKIT SRL was launched as a greywater treatment system for large-scale residential and commercial buildings. Its goal is to reclaim up to 300,000 litres per month from a single 12-story building. AQUAKIT significantly lowers water usage and reduces wastewater emissions by recycling greywater for non-potable applications such as toilet flushing, irrigation, and cleaning.
Australia has long been a leader in optimising wastewater treatment, a focus that began during the urban expansion of the 1850s, driven by gold mining in Bathurst and western Sydney. This rapid growth highlighted the need for effective sanitation. In the 20th century, the Public Works Department revolutionised wastewater treatment with the invention of Intermittently Decanted Aerated Lagoons (IDAL) at the Bathurst Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). This innovation replaced multiple reactors with a single reactor for the entire biological process. Today, IDAL technology is used in 67 treatment plants across New South Wales, showcasing its enduring efficiency (Guy Boncardo, 2008; Hickie & Wood, 1981; Maheshwari et al., 2016).
In the current state, here in Australia, the country is making significant progress in emerging wastewater technologies, emphasising sustainability and efficiency. Several notable innovations are leading the way in this field to accelerate water utilities improvement.
For example, Membrane Technology (such as membrane bioreactor MBR) is one such advancement, utilising semi-permeable membranes to filter contaminants and biosolids from biologically treated wastewater (known as mixed liquor). This method is gaining popularity for its effectiveness in treating both industrial and municipal wastewater, enabling the reuse of recycled water.
Another exciting development is Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). These systems leverage the natural processes of microorganisms to convert organic matter in wastewater into electricity. This dual-purpose technology not only treats wastewater but also generates energy, making it a promising solution for sustainable wastewater management.
Microalgae-based treatment is also gaining attention in the Research and Development sector. Growing companies are developing innovative approaches in this area within the Australian market, such as RegenAqua. This method uses microalgae to absorb nutrients like nitrogen and which can contribute to eutrophication in water bodies.
For nutrient-rich but low-organic wastewater, such as agricultural runoff, traditional biological methods are less effective. While microalgae can slowly recover nutrients, extracting them for farm use is complex and often incompatible with existing agricultural systems. In response, research at the University of Western Sydney, led by Sequana’s team member Suhaib, is investigating micro-calcium phosphate precipitation as a faster, cost-efficient alternative. This method recovers phosphorus and other nutrients in a form familiar to farmers (i.e., salts), providing a scalable, cost effective and practical solution for wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery in rural horticultural practices.
Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) represent another innovative approach. These techniques generate reactive species to break down pollutants in wastewater, proving particularly effective for treating complex organic compounds that are challenging to remove with conventional methods.
Lastly, On the technology side, Intelligent Monitoring Systems is gaining momentum. An example of this is South East Water’s OneBox®, which facilitates real-time monitoring and control of water and wastewater systems. This technology enhances operational efficiency and aids in more effective resource management.
Together, these technologies not only aim to enhance wastewater treatment but also contribute to broader goals of water conservation and sustainability in Australia.
With a strong foundation in the water infrastructure industry, Sequana has a proven track record of successfully delivering high-quality solutions tailored to Australia’s unique environmental and regulatory landscape. Our commitment to innovative and sustainable development supports Australia’s energy resilience and water resource management.
Additional references:
- Guy Boncardo. (2008). Nomination Of Bathurst Sewage Treatment Plant As A National Engineering Landmark (NSW Water Solutions, Issue.
- Hickie, D., & Wood, S. (1981, January 1981). A Large Scale Intermittently Decanted Aeration System First National Local Governmnet Engineering Conference Adelaide
- Maheshwari, B., Singh, V. P., & Thoradeniya, B. (2016). Balanced urban development: options and strategies for liveable cities (Vol. Volume 72). Springer Nature.
