Why Monitoring Temperature in Drinking Water Networks Matters—And How Akubic Delivers Valuable Insight 

Whilst often overlooked as merely a comfort or consumer preference, for countries such as Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany, where water is often supplied without chemical disinfectants like chlorine, maintaining low temperatures is essential to suppress microbial and bacterial growth within the network. In these systems, temperature acts not only as a microbial control measure but also as a proxy for water age. Operating guidelines often stipulate that temperatures must remain below a certain threshold (e.g., 20°C) and that water age should be less than 72 hours at any point in the network. When the source temperature is measured at the plants, higher network temperatures can indicate ‘older’ water. Monitoring temperature in these regions is therefore a frontline strategy in ensuring safe water quality.

Akubic’s collaboration with Stadt Zürich on water temperature control exemplifies this approach. Their research, which featured in a recent industry publication:
https://akubic.com/2025/02/18/temperature-control-in-drinking-water-networks/, underscores the value of continuous temperature profiling in supporting network health and proactive water quality management. 

Although the direct health impacts of drinking water temperature remain a subject of ongoing research, its effect on consumer satisfaction is far more concrete. People expect cool, refreshing water from their taps—especially during warmer months—and significant deviations from that expectation can lead to complaints or reduced trust in water quality. 

As consumer perception of water temperature is subjective, relying on complaints to detect network hotspots can be misleading, as the air temperature relative to the water impacts their experience. By monitoring temperature in the network, hotspots can be detected, and complaints handled with reassurance rather than reactivity. Proactively improving consumer confidence and a commitment to quality. 

Temperature doesn’t just affect how water feels—it influences how it behaves chemically, particularly in relation to disinfection. In warmer water, Free Chlorine reacts faster with other substances in the water, preventing its persistence in the network. In hot climates like Saudi Arabia, where desalinated water can enter distribution systems at 30–40°C, chlorine dioxide is often used instead due to its longer persistence.

In many countries, including the UK and France, the ability to ensure a trace of chlorine (usually >0.1mg/l) at consumer taps is critical to ensure the water is safe to drink. This is often based on periodic sampling of consumer taps rather than continuous monitoring. Through the Intellisonde DI, the temperature and chlorine (among other parameters) can be continuously monitored throughout the distribution network to ensure the chlorine trace remains even in the furthest reaches of the network at the height of summer. This level of monitoring can inform disinfection strategy to guide optimal treatment and safeguard public health. 

These challenges become even more critical in the face of climate change. The analyses and assumptions of the past and even year-to-year no longer hold. The variability in source water and ground temperature means that the temperature within water networks is more unpredictable than ever. As water enters the distribution networks hotter and heats up faster, meaning that water is at a higher risk of reaching unsafe temperatures or of disinfectants dissipating too rapidly. Adapting to these challenges is only possible through continuous real-time monitoring, so that decisions impacting consumer safety can be assured based on reliable direct measurement of the water they drink. 

With the right data to support them, utilities are able to plan infrastructure and operational strategies to continually adapt to the increasing environmental challenges. If the challenges are suitably understood through continuous monitoring, then data-driven adaptations can be applied, such as: 

– Switching disinfection methods to maintain microbial control at higher temperatures   
– Burying pipes deeper or adding insulation to reduce heat gain   
– Optimizing network design to reduce stagnation and water age   
– Revising models of flow and distribution in light of temperature-sensitive behavior 
– Changing the ground cover to absorb less heat such as by promoting vegetation growth 
– Utilising disinfectant booster stations within the distribution network 
 
These changes demand accurate and actionable data—something Akubic’s technologies are uniquely equipped to provide. 

Akubic’s water quality sondes are purpose-built to capture granular, real-time temperature data across distribution networks. Through our multiparameter approach our Intellisonde DIs can measure temperature alongside chlorine, pH, turbidity, flow, pressure, ORP, and conductivity. These sensors are easy to integrate into your water distribution networks or treatment works and provide continuous monitoring without requiring major infrastructure changes. Available with IoT connectivity and our powerful Insight SaaS platform or connected to your SCADA system via Modbus, getting data to the teams that need it is easier than ever.

With Akubic’s product suite, utilities can extract deeper meaning, respond faster to anomalies, and deliver a consistently high-quality customer experience. Whether the goal is to improve consumer satisfaction, comply with microbial safety standards, adapt to climate pressures, or make better informed operational decisions, Akubic’s solutions provide the visibility and reliability modern water networks require. 

Speak to our team to find out more