The team from the Brno University of Technology, in cooperation with the spin-off company VODA BRNO, s.r.o., successfully supported the resolution of an emergency situation in Straník near Nový Jičín, where microbial contamination of water in the supply network occurred after a pump failure.

On November, specialists from BUT carried out a controlled flushing of the water pipes using Astacus robotic technology, which enables the systematic and targeted removal of deposits and impurities from water pipes. The field intervention was carried out by Jan Veniger, a student at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at BUT, who also gave an interview to regional television on behalf of the university.

The water supply operator and the Regional Hygiene Station subsequently confirmed that the water in the network meets all drinking water requirements. The use of Astacus technology thus contributed significantly to a faster resolution of the situation and the restoration of uninterrupted drinking water supply to the population. Only 34.6 m³ of water was consumed during the flushing of the 4.1 km long water supply network. At the same time, the capacity of fire hydrants was tested for the needs of the Czech Fire Brigade.

Astacus technology was developed at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Brno University of Technology and is designed specifically for rapid deployment in cleaning water pipes and measuring hydraulic variables in the network. In the three years since the technology has been in full commercial operation, it has been implemented by several large water companies, including VODÁRENSKÁ AKCIOVÁ SPOLEČNOST, a.s., ČEVAK, a.s., VHS Olomouc, a.s., Vodárna Zlín, a.s., Vodovody a kanalizace Pardubice, a.s., and others. The technology is also used for regular pipe cleaning and hydrant testing by a number of municipalities that operate their own water supply networks and are interested in providing their citizens with drinking water of excellent quality. It is a highly effective technology that contributes to the automation and increased efficiency of water supply operations.