Russian Experience in Water Utility Digitalization Draws Interest From Belarus

The platform is built on the product Tsifrovoye resursosnabzhenie (Digital Resource Supply), operates on the Astra Linux operating system, and is fully independent of foreign software. This architecture provides a high level of cybersecurity and largely removes sanction-related risks. For operators of critical infrastructure systems, that level of technological independence has become especially important.

The deployment of Tsifrovoy vodokanal fundamentally changes how water utilities are operated. Previously, much of the system relied on manual diagnostics and routine field inspections. The new model relies on an integrated network of sensors, water balance modules, and equipment performance monitoring systems. These streams of operational data are consolidated and analyzed in a single platform. The system generates recommendations for addressing potential failures before they escalate, reducing the likelihood of sudden accidents. Emergency dispatch operations become largely automated.

Implementation experience in several Russian cities shows measurable operational gains. Water losses in distribution networks fall by half, while electricity consumption declines by roughly 25%. The number of system failures decreases by about 20%, and response time to abnormal operating conditions improves by 40%.

Growth Opportunities: Export Potential and Smart City Integration

The participation of the Russian company in the Minsk seminar “Tsifrovoy vodokanal: opredelenie osnovnykh putey razvitiya, problemnye voprosy i puti ikh resheniya (Digital Water Utility: defining development paths, key challenges and solutions)” represents more than a standard technology showcase. By presenting the capabilities of Tsifrovoy vodokanal in Minsk, RIR gains an opportunity to introduce Russian infrastructure technologies to markets across the Eurasian Economic Union and the CIS.

For many utilities in those countries, the issue of water losses remains severe. In some networks, losses reach 30% to 40%. The RIR platform offers utilities a practical tool to identify inefficiencies and reduce these losses through continuous monitoring and predictive analytics.

Each operational aspect of a utility enterprise is supported by a dedicated module. Real-time data management is handled by the Infrastrukturnaya IoT-platforma, while technological process analytics rely on modules called Analiz rezhimov and Analiz balansov. We do not simply observe what is happening in the system. The platform identifies hidden relationships between technological and business processes and shows how utilities can operate more efficiently. This fundamentally changes the management model

Dmitry Krasheninnikov

Director of the Tsifrovoye resursosnabzhenie Project Office, Rosatom Infrastrukturnye Resheniya

The largest deployment potential for Tsifrovoy vodokanal remains within Russia itself. At the same time, the platform architecture allows expansion into other types of municipal infrastructure. Integrating IoT sensors and predictive analytics based on artificial intelligence can create a unified digital environment for managing all city utility resources. This approach aligns closely with the national strategy to digitize the housing and utilities sector.

From Glazov to Belgorod: The Evolution of Smart Water

Over the past five years, Tsifrovoy vodokanal has proven effective in more than ten Russian cities. The pilot project began in 2021 in the Udmurt city of Glazov. Subsequent deployments followed in Obninsk, Lipetsk, Voronezh, and other municipalities.

The most illustrative example is Belgorod. The system was introduced over a three-year period and by 2025 had fundamentally transformed how local utilities manage water infrastructure. Despite the operational challenges faced in recent years, the system demonstrated reliability while functioning under demanding conditions.

From Nuclear Corporation to Smart City Architect

RIR’s experience highlights how Rosatom has expanded far beyond its traditional nuclear specialization. The state corporation has evolved into a developer of integrated digital urban environments, producing technology platforms that combine Russian software and hardware solutions.

The experience of cities already operating Tsifrovoy vodokanal shows that the digital transformation of the housing and utilities sector is accelerating rapidly. What began as an experiment has become a proven management tool that improves operational efficiency while strengthening Russia’s position as a supplier of urban infrastructure technologies to international markets.