Use cases
Managing defects and corrective actions during drinking water network construction projects
Using software solutions specifically designed for field operations helps improve transparency throughout the process, streamline defect management and accelerate project completion while ensuring that corrective actions are properly tracked through to resolution.
Defects identified during the acceptance of drinking water infrastructure projects may include incorrectly positioned assets, incomplete service connections, malfunctioning valves or inconsistencies in asset data and GIS records.
Unlike other utility networks, these issues can have a direct impact on water supply, service continuity and the ability of operational teams to respond quickly to incidents.
In practice, defect management is often challenging. Information may be scattered across multiple systems, corrective actions may be tracked inconsistently and stakeholders may lack visibility into project progress and outstanding issues.
Without a structured process, some defects can remain unresolved, leading to long-term operational issues and reduced efficiency in network management.
Identifying and assessing defects in the field
The first step is to identify and accurately assess defects and non-conformities.
In drinking water networks, issues may include:
- leaks and sealing defects
- inaccessible or incorrectly positioned valves
- improperly connected service connections
- incomplete or non-compliant assets and equipment
- discrepancies between asset records and actual field conditions
Accurate assessment is essential to understand operational impacts and prioritise corrective actions.
With Dotic’s solutions:
- field teams identify and record defects directly through ConnectField
- each issue is geolocated and linked to the relevant asset
- observations are fully documented with photographs, comments and criticality ratings
The information is immediately available to operations, project and asset management teams, enabling faster and more effective decision-making.
Centralising and sharing information
Once defects and non-conformities have been identified, centralising the information is essential to ensure effective follow-up and resolution.
With Dotic’s solutions:
- defects are automatically synchronised with ConnectServices
- issues are displayed directly on a map of the network
- teams can filter defects by location, category or criticality level
- a shared view of outstanding issues is available to all stakeholders
This centralised approach helps prevent information loss, improves transparency and enhances coordination between project, operations and asset management teams.
Prioritising corrective actions based on operational impact
In drinking water networks, not all defects have the same operational impact.
Some issues require immediate attention, including:
- risks of leaks or water loss
- critical assets that are not functioning correctly
- defects that may affect water supply or service continuity
- issues that could hinder future maintenance or emergency interventions
Effective prioritisation is essential to maintaining reliable network operations and ensuring service continuity.
With Dotic’s solutions:
- defects can be classified according to their level of criticality
- teams can quickly identify and address the highest-priority actions
- decisions are based on accurate and up-to-date field information
This approach helps organisations focus resources where they are needed most and resolve critical issues more efficiently.
Tracking corrective actions and field interventions
Managing defects effectively requires rigorous tracking of corrective actions.
With Dotic’s solutions:
- corrective actions and follow-up work are monitored within ConnectServices
- technicians update information directly from the field using ConnectField
- progress can be tracked in real time
- managers can review status updates and adjust priorities when needed
This continuous connection between field teams and operational management ensures better visibility of ongoing activities and supports more effective decision-making throughout the defect resolution process.
Ensuring full traceability of defects and their resolution
In drinking water networks, traceability is essential, particularly when operating within contractual, regulatory or quality assurance frameworks.
With Dotic’s solutions:
- every defect is recorded and maintained within a complete history
- all related field interventions are documented
- validation and approval steps are tracked throughout the process
- field evidence, including photographs and inspection data, is securely retained
This comprehensive audit trail helps organisations strengthen governance, demonstrate compliance and provide clear evidence that corrective actions have been completed and verified.
Integrating data within a structured asset management framework
Corrective actions must be integrated into a consistent and reliable asset information system.
In drinking water networks, maintaining structured and accurate asset data is essential for efficient operations, maintenance planning and regulatory compliance.
However:
- data may be spread across multiple systems
- information can be inconsistent, incomplete or outdated
- different stakeholders may use varying data formats and processes
With Dotic’s solutions:
- corrected data can be validated before integration
- inconsistencies and data quality issues can be identified quickly
- information is standardised and harmonised across systems
- asset records remain accurate and up to date
This approach helps organisations maintain high-quality asset data, improve interoperability and support better operational decision-making.
An integrated step in the drinking water network management lifecycle
Managing defects and corrective actions within drinking water networks is a critical step in ensuring both infrastructure quality and the reliability of associated asset data.
In an environment where defects and non-conformities can directly affect service continuity, a structured approach helps improve coordination between teams, strengthen operational control and ensure that corrective actions are completed efficiently.
By connecting field operations with GIS and asset management systems, water utilities gain greater visibility of network conditions, improve data quality and enhance their ability to deliver a reliable and resilient water service.
Data quality control
- Verify data compliance and consistency before integration into and use within the GIS
Planning and tracking field interventions
- Organise and prioritise corrective actions in the field
End-of-work acceptance and handover validation
- Validate work completion and identify issues directly in the field
