A partnership between private company Nedamco Africa, and the Ethiopian and Dutch governments, the Nedamco Africa SDG6 Water Management Initiative is being launched in Ethiopia. The initiative brings a fully digital approach to enhancing water security for more than 10 million people in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
This is another spin-off from the UN Water Conference, held in New York from March 22-24, 2023. The private company Nedamco Africa, based in Brederolaan, the Netherlands, and the Ethiopian and Dutch governments are launching the Nedamco Africa SDG6 Water Management Initiative in Ethiopia. In this East African country, the initiative will secure water supply services in the Addis Ababa metropolitan area.
To achieve this goal, Nedamco Africa will base its approach on digital twin technology. This technology creates a virtual replica of physical assets, such as water distribution systems. “The introduction of digital twin technology in water management can significantly improve access and water security in Africa, which translates into a better quality of life for the people in the recipient area,” said Anke den Ouden, managing director of Microsoft Netherlands, which is also supporting Nedamco Africa in the implementation of the Nedamco Africa SDG6 Water Management Initiative, along with U.S.-based technology company Bentley Systems and VEI.
Improving water services for 10 million people
In Addis Ababa, where 95.3 percent of the population has access to water, Nedamco Africa will use the technology to analyze, monitor, and optimize water usage and distribution in real time. In addition to streamlining, the digital twin technology will help detect and prevent water leaks and other problems, securing access to clean water for more than 10 million people in the Ethiopian capital metropolitan area.
The digital twin technology will also assist in the construction of new drinking water facilities, such as reservoirs, by simulating and evaluating these projects in a virtual environment. This approach can provide valuable information on the potential impact and effectiveness of these projects, reducing the risk of failure and improving outcomes. After Ethiopia, Nedamco Africa aims to expand the initiative to 55 cities in Africa to improve water security for half a billion people.
Inès Magoum
