ZhKKh-Kontur in Istra: From Water Intake Sensors to Regional Dispatching
The Istra water utility has joined a pilot project to digitally transform housing and utilities services in the Moscow Region. Smart telemetry sensors installed across the district have been integrated into a unified system.
Intelligent monitoring devices are already installed at 54 water intake facilities in the city. They transmit real-time data on reservoir water levels, pressure and flow rates in mains, monitor pump conditions and voltage, track shutoff valve operation and measure water quality. All this information flows into a centralized dispatch center.
Digital algorithms compare incoming readings against preset values and alert dispatchers to deviations through online dashboards. This allows crews to start addressing a problem as soon as it emerges, rather than waiting until it develops into a major failure. The sensors can also pinpoint the location of a fault, enabling the utility to send a repair crew to the exact address.
The Istra Municipal Unitary Enterprise water utility is also actively incorporating artificial intelligence into its day-to-day operations. Two AI assistants prepare responses to customer inquiries within two to three minutes of a request submitted through a dedicated chat. They also help dispatchers filter messages from residents, identify complaints and route them to the appropriate specialists. The AI systems process about 50 requests in 10 minutes, working six times faster than a human operator. AI is also used to review procurement documentation, helping prepare technical specifications that meet all applicable GOST standards.
In the first year of operation, digital transformation of the utility’s processes has already cut electricity consumption by 20% and significantly reduced labor requirements. Istra water utility customers now receive faster responses and better service.
Expanding Across the Moscow Region
In addition to Istra, the pilot project is already underway in Lyubertsy, Lobnya, Klin, Solnechnogorsk and Balashikha. It is expected to expand across the entire Moscow Region in the near future. All water intake facilities in the region are scheduled to be connected to the system by the end of 2027. Work is now underway to connect facilities in Krasnogorsk, Mytishchi, Khimki, Zhukovsky, Krasnoznamensk, Odintsovo and Shchyolkovo to ZhKKh-Kontur. Sensors operated by Mosoblvodokanal are also gradually being connected in Chekhov, Voskresensk and Elektrostal. The next step could be the introduction of AI algorithms for predictive analytics. Using the large volume of data collected, the system could forecast potential equipment failures.
From the Capital to the Region
Moscow was the first to automate the monitoring and management of water supply and wastewater systems. The city’s program began in 2013. By 2016, Moscow had established a unified automated dispatch monitoring and control system (ASDKU), linking 154 sewage pumping stations and a range of other facilities. The water supply network was connected to ASDKU by 2017. Over the next three years, the city actively installed leak-detection sensors along water mains, with their readings feeding into a centralized dashboard. Predictive analytics algorithms were introduced in parallel. Since the early 2020s, the focus has shifted toward automated water quality monitoring, with a network of specialized monitoring stations deployed across the city.
In the Moscow Region, the regional digital transformation project for housing and utilities services was launched in 2025 at the direction of the regional Ministry of Housing and Utilities.
Scaling Up and Improving the System
In the coming years, utility providers across the Moscow Region face the major task of replicating Istra’s experience in other municipalities. The goal is not simply to install smart sensors, but to connect them into a single regional system. That would allow each city’s water supply and wastewater infrastructure to operate as part of a shared digital network spanning the entire region, rather than as a standalone system. This would help utilities respond to even minor disruptions, make timely decisions, identify and assess the need for repairs and upgrades, and plan new network construction.
The system’s success will ultimately be measured by tangible reductions in service disruptions, response times and operating costs, along with improvements in the reliability and safety of water supplies.
