Founders’ Honors

Empresas Públicas de Medellín manages a secondary water distribution network spanning 105 circuits, approximately 46,000 hectares, more than 4,200 kilometers of network, and over 750 field sensors. Before this initiative, operations depended on fragmented systems, reports, and post-operative analysis, making data governance difficult and delaying a shared understanding of leaks, anomalies, and customer impacts. The public utility also faced the challenge of integrating new technology with established processes, training teams, and coordinating responsibilities across departments. Within a complex operational environment, faster, evidence-based decision-making became critical to improving service reliability and network performance.

To create a more connected and responsive operating model, the utility implemented a digital twin using OpenFlows WaterSight, integrating operational, hydraulic, commercial, and geospatial information with near-real-time data and calibrated hydraulic models. The platform enabled teams to manage 2,225 operational alerts and correct 19 sensors with inconsistent readings, improving visibility across the network. In La Montaña, a sector with water losses above 70%, a valve-opening strategy reduced service recovery from approximately 48 hours to roughly nine hours, strengthening reliability and improving coordination with customers.