Veolia Water has adopted Elios drones to significantly boost the efficiency of its sewer inspections while ensuring the safety of its workers. This innovative approach is transforming how the company maintains critical infrastructure, reducing risks and improving operational performance.

Key Benefits at a Glance

Introduction

In 2023, Veolia Water upgraded its drone fleet by introducing the Elios 3, aiming to cut down on inspection costs, reduce time spent on inspections, and improve worker safety. The Elios 3 has quickly become an essential tool for their daily operations, described as “a new team member we use every day.” Veolia shared a testimonial video highlighting how Elios enhances their workflow and efficiency in sewer network inspections.

Customer Needs

As a leading player in the water and wastewater treatment industry, Veolia Water manages extensive underground sewer networks that keep cities clean and hygienic. However, maintaining these systems is challenging due to blockages, sediment buildup, infiltration, and structural damage. Preventive measures often turn into emergency responses, risking public health and environmental issues.

Traditional inspection methods either require workers to enter sewers—posing serious risks from low oxygen, hydrogen sulfide gas, and biological contaminants—or use camera-equipped snakelines that require prior cleaning and are limited by blockages and visibility. These approaches are both costly and dangerous.

Solution

Veolia Water was one of the early adopters of Elios drones back in 2016. Since then, they have built a global fleet of Elios drones that provide safe, efficient, and accurate pipeline inspections. The Elios 3, in particular, has enhanced safety by eliminating the need for human entry into confined spaces, allowing inspectors to collect visual and dimensional data remotely.

Julien Maj, a service manager at Veolia, shared his experience: “The main idea behind using Elios was to have a drone that’s easy to fly and can handle tough environments like sewers.” He also noted that Elios provides structured mapping for GIS integration, enabling real-time visualization of assets for customers. Most importantly, he emphasized that the technology significantly improves safety by removing the risk of human entry into dangerous areas.

Compared to the previous model, the Elios 3 offers improved flight performance, easier handling, and better data quality thanks to a 4K camera and LiDAR technology. This has allowed Veolia to expand its services to industrial sites such as aeration passes and storage basins, which were previously difficult to inspect.

Results

According to Florent Fardel, a team leader at Veolia, the use of Elios has led to a 40% reduction in inspection costs per linear meter and nearly halved the time required for each inspection. “We don’t need to clean the pipes first, so our interventions are much faster,” he explained. The Inspector software also helps integrate data seamlessly into Veolia’s digital reporting tools, ensuring compliance with EN 13508 standards and faster delivery to clients.

Conclusion

Elios drones are changing the way sewer inspections are conducted, and Veolia Water has embraced this innovation to stay ahead in the industry. With the Elios 3 now being used daily, the company is addressing key challenges more effectively than ever before. As Julien puts it, “Elios 3 has become the new department’s agent.”

Learn more about Elios and its applications in sewer systems at sewer-drones.

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