GIS Solutions for Water Network Geospatial Data

Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater networks rely on infrastructure that is largely invisible, buried underground and distributed across entire territories. Yet their operation, maintenance and renewal depend on a critical element: geospatial data.

When GIS data is incomplete, outdated or inconsistent, the consequences are immediate: longer field interventions, higher risk of network damage, difficulties in asset management and reduced control over the network.

This page presents the operational challenges faced by water utilities, practical use cases and the structuring role of water network geospatial data standards, designed to meet operational needs, regulatory requirements and improve data exchange across the water sector.

Geospatial Data: A Strategic Asset for Water Utilities

Water utilities operate under significant operational constraints and must meet strict regulatory and public health requirements.

These networks are often underground and largely invisible, forming an ageing infrastructure that is sometimes poorly documented. The nature of hydraulic infrastructures requires frequent interventions related to leaks, connections and network renewal.

The large number of stakeholders involved — including municipalities, operators and service providers — requires reliable data that can be easily shared in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of water networks.

Data therefore becomes the common foundation to:

Operate and manage the network on a daily basis
Secure field interventions
Monitor performance and plan network renewal
Preserve and build long-term asset knowledge

Key Geospatial Data for Drinking Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Networks

Technical and Asset Data Attributes

Diameter, material, pressure
Installation year, condition, maintenance history
Asset references
Field photos and documentation

Water Networks and Infrastructure Assets

Drinking water and wastewater / stormwater pipes
Service connections
Valves, fire hydrants, air valves
Manholes, storm drains, outfalls
Reservoirs, treatment plants, pumping stations

Contextual Geospatial Data

Roads, cadastral parcels, easements
Other underground utility networks
Sensitive areas (water catchments, protection zones)

Key Operational Challenges in Water Network Management

Field Data Updates After Works and Interventions

Water networks constantly evolve, whether through leak repairs, the creation or removal of service connections, or the renewal of pipeline sections. Without appropriate monitoring tools, these changes are not properly integrated into the GIS.

Key objective:

Capture network changes directly in the field in real time.

Network Reliability and Asset Knowledge

Inaccurate or outdated data generally leads to incorrect asset locations during field interventions and uncertainty about the condition of the network, weakening maintenance and renewal decision-making.

Key objective:

Have access to a reliable asset database and appropriate operational tools to support decision-making and prioritisation.

Traceability and Asset History

Knowing what interventions were carried out, on which asset, at what date and with which modifications is essential to ensure service continuity, support legal and contractual accountability, and enable long-term analysis of the network.

Do you want to collect, visualise, manage and analyse your drinking water, wastewater and stormwater geospatial data with ergonomic, reliable and accessible GIS solutions?

FAQ - GIS, Web GIS and Data Standards for Water Networks

Why use a GIS to manage a drinking water or wastewater network?

Using a GIS to manage drinking water or wastewater networks makes it possible to centralise and structure knowledge of infrastructure that is largely underground. A GIS does not simply display pipes on a map: it links geography with essential technical information such as diameters, materials, installation dates, asset status, structures, service connections and intervention history. In practice, a GIS becomes the reference tool for securing field interventions, reducing uncertainty, improving work planning and managing infrastructure assets over the long term. Without a GIS, network knowledge often relies on static plans, scattered files or local practices, which weakens operations and the transmission of infrastructure knowledge.

What is the purpose of a Web GIS in a water utility?

A Web GIS makes GIS data accessible to a wider audience through a web browser, without requiring a desktop GIS tool reserved for specialists. In water utilities, a Web GIS enables shared knowledge between technical teams, operators, contractors and decision-makers while maintaining a centralised dataset. It facilitates mobile access, intervention coordination and operational network management. A Web GIS becomes particularly relevant when the objective is to move from a “mapping GIS” to a system that is actually used in daily operations. ConnectServices addresses this need by providing a Web GIS platform designed for visualisation, operational use and management of territorial data.

What is the difference between a GIS and an asset management software for water networks?

Asset management software may include technical information, performance indicators and maintenance history, but it is rarely sufficient to represent the geographical structure of the network and the spatial relationships between assets. GIS provides the spatial foundation needed to analyse infrastructure distribution, combine data with road networks, cadastral information or sensitive areas, and improve intervention planning. In many projects, GIS forms the foundational layer, while asset management systems rely on the quality of the geospatial data.

How does GIS data quality impact water network operations?

The quality of GIS data directly affects operations because it determines how quickly and accurately teams can intervene. Reliable data allows operators to locate valves, service connections, manholes, assets and pipe sections precisely, reducing field errors and saving time during interventions. Conversely, outdated or inconsistent data generates uncertainty, increases operational costs and complicates infrastructure renewal decisions. Over the long term, GIS data quality also influences service performance, particularly in leak reduction and investment planning.

How can GIS data updates be improved after works on water networks?

Improving GIS data updates after works requires clear processes and appropriate tools. Field works and interventions are the main cause of data obsolescence, because network modifications are not always integrated quickly or are added without verification. The most effective approach is to capture modifications at the moment they occur, verify their consistency and then validate their integration into the database. ConnectField allows teams to collect and update data directly in the field in a structured way. ConnectControl automatically checks data quality and consistency before integration. ConnectServices then distributes and exploits the consolidated dataset through a Web GIS platform accessible to all teams.

What are water network data standards?

Water network data standards are designed to structure and harmonise how drinking water and wastewater networks are represented in geospatial systems. They define common data models, objects, attributes and structuring principles that help produce more coherent, understandable and sustainable datasets. These standards facilitate data exchange between stakeholders, ensure continuity over time and support infrastructure knowledge transfer during organisational or operational changes.

Are water network data standards mandatory?

In most cases, water network data standards are not strictly mandatory from a regulatory perspective. However, they are increasingly used as references in infrastructure projects, public tenders and modernisation programmes. Their main benefit is reducing ambiguity and ensuring that data remains usable over time regardless of the software or service providers involved.

Do data standards guarantee good data quality?

No. Data standards define what information should exist and how it should be structured, but they do not guarantee that the data itself is complete, coherent or correctly populated. Topology errors, missing attributes or inconsistent classifications remain common without systematic quality control. For this reason, a standards-based approach must be combined with automated quality checks. ConnectControl verifies data completeness, consistency and compliance before integration into the system.

Why control the quality of GIS data for water networks?

Quality control transforms a mapping database into a true operational management tool. Without controls, inconsistencies gradually accumulate, making the data difficult to use and sometimes unreliable. Quality control helps detect errors early, secure data deliveries from contractors, maintain compliance with data standards and ensure long-term data consistency. It also provides objective indicators and traceability to measure data quality.

Why choose a proprietary solution rather than open-source software for water network GIS?

The choice between proprietary and open-source solutions mainly depends on internal resources and technical autonomy. Open-source solutions can be powerful, but they often require strong internal expertise, advanced configuration, custom development and continuous maintenance. A specialised proprietary solution usually enables faster deployment, built-in industry functionality and structured long-term support. At Dotic, the approach focuses on interoperability: the goal is not to lock data into a system, but to provide a robust, scalable environment compatible with existing systems while ensuring data reliability and longevity.

How can utilities avoid losing network knowledge when operators change?

Loss of knowledge during operator changes is common when data is heterogeneous, poorly documented or not standardised. The best way to secure data transfer is to maintain structured, controlled, centralised and traceable datasets aligned with recognised data standards. This ensures that the information remains understandable and usable regardless of the organisation responsible for operations. Dotic supports utilities and public authorities in these critical phases by securing data structuring, quality control and operational continuity.

Are Dotic solutions suitable for drinking water and wastewater networks?

Yes. Dotic solutions are designed for the management of geospatial data for drinking water and wastewater networks across the entire data lifecycle. ConnectField supports field data collection and updates. ConnectControl ensures data quality, qualification and compliance with data standards. ConnectServices enables visualisation, operational use and management of data through a Web GIS platform. This approach helps organisations maintain reliable data, keep it up to date and leverage it for daily operations.

Who are Dotic solutions designed for in the water sector?

Dotic solutions are designed for municipalities, water utilities, operators, contractors, engineering firms and service providers that want to structure, secure and exploit their geospatial data. They are particularly relevant for organisations seeking to reduce the gap between field operations and GIS systems, improve data quality, support daily operations and maintain sustainable and transferable infrastructure knowledge.