As water and wastewater treatment becomes increasingly connected, the demands for security, continuity and control are also growing. For Hydria Water, the future of water treatment is therefore not only about technology, but about providing customers with a secure and reliable solution throughout the entire process, from tender to operation.
Digitalisation is rapidly changing the conditions in the water and wastewater industry. Connected equipment, smarter control systems and increasingly data-driven operations are creating new opportunities for more efficient processes, improved monitoring and faster troubleshooting. At the same time, this development means that water treatment equipment is increasingly becoming part of the customer’s digital infrastructure.
This makes the choice of supplier more important than ever. Today, it is no longer enough for water treatment equipment to provide the required capacity and high operational reliability. It must also form part of a solution in which information, access, the physical environment and digital systems are managed in a structured and secure way.
From individual machines to critical infrastructure
Organisations that produce, treat or manage drinking water and wastewater are also facing increasingly stringent requirements. New regulations and growing expectations, requirements and legislation relating to cybersecurity, risk management, incident preparedness and business continuity mean that water treatment must be viewed as part of a broader approach to security.
– The situation can quickly become unsustainable if a treatment plant is brought to a standstill, regardless of the cause. Ensuring that operations can continue with as little disruption as possible is therefore extremely important, says Andreas Riedel, CTO at Hydria Group.
For Hydria Water, this is a central part of the value offered to customers. As a Swedish supplier with its own production facilities, experience from security-classified environments and many years of expertise in control systems, the company can provide more than just a technical solution.
– As a customer, you gain a partner who understands both the equipment and the environment in which it needs to operate, says Andreas Riedel.
Security from the very first contact
Security begins even before the project gets underway. During the tender and project phases, information can be managed using clearly defined procedures and access controls, ensuring that only those who need access to the material can obtain it. This reduces the risk of unnecessary exposure and provides the customer with more secure handling of sensitive information throughout the entire process.
– For us, security is about getting things right from the outset. Water treatment is often part of critical processes, which means that information management, access control and technical protection need to be an integral part of the project, says Andreas Riedel.
Hydria Water has experience with connected equipment, algorithm-based control and working in environments where the requirements for control and security are high. This provides an understanding that every project requires its own risk assessment and appropriate level of protection.
The strength of broader expertise
An important part of the offering, and one that will become even more important going forward, is the combined expertise available within the Group. Through its sister company Tech Stn, Hydria Water has direct access to specialist expertise in IT, information security and cybersecurity. This makes it possible to work with risk assessments, technical security strategies, incident management and business continuity in a way that is tailored to the customer’s operations.
– Not every customer needs the same type of protection, nor are they all subject to the same regulations. What matters is understanding the risks within each organisation and applying the right level of security in the right place. This makes security effective, understandable and sustainable over the long term, says Patrick Lindh, Information Security Manager at Tech Stn.
Swedish ownership as part of a secure solution
Choosing a Swedish-owned supplier is about more than geography. It is about the security that comes from a supplier having control over the entire chain, combined with an understanding of specific Swedish requirements, procurement processes and documentation. For customers in the water and wastewater sector and other operations where water treatment is business-critical, these capabilities can enable faster communication, a stronger overall delivery and greater security.
– Customers are also assured that their data cannot be demanded by a third party or a foreign power, says Andreas Riedel.
With Hydria Water, customers gain a partner that can support the project throughout its entire lifecycle, from initial discussions and tendering to installation, operation, follow-up and long-term development. As technology becomes smarter, systems become more connected and requirements increase, the supplier’s ability to take responsibility for the complete solution becomes an increasingly important part of the business.
Delivering water treatment solutions that not only perform technically, but also contribute to safer, more robust and future-proof operations for the customer is therefore an essential part of Hydria Water’s offering.