Many water utilities want SCADA but hesitate at the cost. In practice it can be split into stages.
Stage 1: metering at the source
Install flow meters and pressure sensors at the plant outlet and the main district boundaries. That data alone reveals abnormal pressure and output.
Stage 2: district metered areas
Split the network into small districts, each with its own measuring point. Comparing water supplied against water billed gives the loss ratio per district.
Stage 3: remote control
Once the data is stable, add remote valve and pump control to optimise pressure by hour of day.
