Qatar Open Innovation

Challenge Statement

The Future of Aqua-Intelligence: Building a Proactive, 24/7 Predictive Water Quality Monitoring System

How might we introduce AI Powered Smart Meters to proactively and continuously measure Water Quality in KAHRAMAA’s DMA?

KAHRAMAA is seeking solution providers to develop an integrated, real-time water quality intelligence platform that unifies contaminant and quality data across the network. While KAHRAMAA has already deployed smart meters for consumption monitoring and leak detection, there is currently no system enabling continuous 24/7 water quality management. KAHRAMAA prefers solutions that are software-based but is open to evaluating full system implementations that include innovative hardware.

Your solution should combine industrial-grade sensors (measuring pH, EC, turbidity, chlorine, and temperature) with advanced analytics and predictive modeling. It must deliver actionable insights into contamination events and historical trends through AI-enabled dashboards that provide real-time alerts to operators the moment values exceed safety thresholds.

The goal is to enhance public health, support smarter resource planning, and improve customer confidence through a transparent, data-driven, and scalable water management solution.

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How might we introduce AI Powered Smart Meters to proactively and continuously measure Water Quality in KAHRAMAA’s DMA?

As KAHRAMAA is aligning its water security strategy with the national strategic plan Qatar National Vision 2030. The aim of this challenge is to ensure that water services are sustainable, efficient, resilient, and able to meet growing demand while preserving environmental standards. More specifically, KAHRAMAA is inviting solution providers to assist us in solving the following challenge:

At this moment in time, water quality is measured in a non-continous manner. Whenever a measurement is done, a sample has to be sent to the lab after which further tests are conducted and the relevant parameters are analyzed. As a consequence, water quality measurement is reactive rather than proactive. KAHRAMAA is therefore inviting solution providers to provide us with a continuous, 24/7, predictive water quality and contaminant management system enabling all-the-time and proactive water quality management.

KAHRAMAA has already deployed smart meters for electricity and water. Existing functions include:

Remote automatic meter reading
Real-time consumption monitoring
Detect leaks, faults, and anomalous utilization
An integrated customer app and automated billing system
and remote connection and disconnection

Enabling continuous water quality management and contaminant management is a non-trivial matter. We foresee (amongst others) the following challenges:

Sensor Reliability: Regular maintenance is essential to prevent sensor degradation and calibration drift
System Integration: Compatibility issues with existing SCADA and billing systems pose implementation challenges.
Cost Constraints: High capital expenditure per analyzer node limits scalability
Operational Load: Increased operations and maintenance efforts are required for probe calibration and upkeep
Data Accuracy: Continuous review and analysis are needed to minimize false alarms and ensure reliable alerts
Compliance: Systems must align with international water quality standards and regulations
Cyber Security for the data

We have not tested any solutions that enable continuous water quality and contaminant management. KAHRAMAA prefers solutions to be software based but understands that it might be required to do a full system implementation (including hardware).

We believe the right solution will help us with early detection of contamination and therefore enhance public health. Additionally, Real-time alerts and predictive analytics contribute to safeguarding customer health by minimizing exposure to unsafe water conditions. Additionally, automation and advanced technologies streamline routine tasks, reduce manual workload, and improve productivity across water management operations Finally, we expect the solution to improve customer confidence & satisfaction since transparent and accessible water quality reporting builds trust, empowering customers with clear insights into the safety and reliability of their water supply.

Technical requirements:

Response time: < 60 seconds per measurement
Battery life: minimum 8–10 years. AI detection accuracy >90% for anomaly events
Operating conditions: -10°C to +55°C, humidity up to 95%
Reliability: ≥95% uptime per year
Calibration interval: minimum once per month
The system must allow protected, secure data storage and include industrialgrade sensors (pH, EC, turbidity, chlorine and temperature)
The signal interfaces must have automated temperature adjustments
Firmware should enable real-time data collection and preprocessing
Firmware upgrades should be delivered over the air (OTA)
A Cloud/Platform Connection Secure API for connecting to central water management systems (such as SCADA/DMA)
AI-enabled dashboards assist operators in monitoring water quality trends. When values exceed the typical thresholds, AI-driven messages are sent
Recording of data and historical trend reporting
Remote calibration and inspection
Dashboards and reports should be displayed in multiple languages
The system should be compliant with the following standards: Water Quality Standards: WHO, EPA Method, SM Turbidity – SM, pH – Standard Methods 4500-H+, EC – Standard Methods 2510, Communication Standards and Internal compliance for KAHRAMAA SCADA, Calibration: ISO/IEC 17025 standard for testing and calibration, Cybersecurity: ISO 27001, IEC 62443

Performance Criteria:

We are looking for solutions that prove a positive ROI or earn-back time within a one year time window

Cost targets will be determined on a case-by-case basis

Phase 1 (POC): starting off from Q3 2026
Phase 2: Commercial roll-out: From Q1 2027 onwards

If the solution is successful, KAHRAMAA is willing to support further deployment across other sites. Additionally, we are open for solution providers to deploy their solution with other industry players. Other potential markets could include water utilities in Qatar and GCC as well as smart city initiatives. Additionally, we see business opportunities in selling or licensing smart analyser nodes, Subscription-based cloud analytics and predictive maintenance, Consulting for deployment, calibration, SCADA integration and data services: trend reports, predictive insights

Cash support:
Up to 100,000 USD from QRDI can be made available depending on the project proposal and to be agreed on a case-by-case basis

In-kind contributions:

Mentorship and support for solution development.
Access to relevant data and pilot site(s) so the system can self-learn
Technical support from KAHRAMAA IT and Water Operation & Control Team & Finance Regulatory approvals for inline monitoring
Cloud IoT platform, database, dashboards
Project Management

We are looking for SMEs and startups with solutions that can be implemented in a relatively short-time frame (TRL of 5 and higher).

For Background IP (BIP), both parties will retain their respective IPs brought into the project. In the event of new Foreground IP (FIP) creation, potential ownership will be determined on a case-by-case basis dependent on the contributions of each party.

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Aqua-Intelligence: The Smart Water Quality Innovation Challenge

How might we introduce AI Powered Smart Meters to proactively and continuously measure Water Quality in KAHRAMAA’s DMA?

Challenge Statement

How might we introduce AI Powered Smart Meters to proactively and continuously measure Water Quality in KAHRAMAA’s DMA?

How might we introduce AI Powered Smart Meters to proactively and continuously measure Water Quality in KAHRAMAA’s DMA?