Many people think that water towers are only used as telephone antennas these days. In fact, those hefty, yet reassuringly familiar, old structures serve as reservoirs perched high above the rooftops.
If you see one, there is a strong chance that it is managed by Veolia, one of two traditional operators and the world leader in environmental services. In 2016, the Veolia group supplied 100 million people with drinking water and 61 million people worldwide with wastewater services.
Sites of critical importance
Security is always a concern in this highly sensitive sector. Drinking water sites are classified as sites of critical importance and their security must be safeguarded in all circumstances, under the control of local administration and, where appropriate, military authorities.Security is always a concern in this highly sensitive sector
The primary requirement is to prevent any risk of malicious intrusion. However, Veolia has its work cut out, since its sites are scattered all across the country, from large conurbations to small villages, and even out in the middle of nowhere.
Collection systems must be as close as possible to springs and rivers and to complicate matters further, water towers sometimes host the equipment of telephony or energy operators, which need access in order to perform maintenance operations.
Facilitating single key access
In late 2016, Veolia in France chose LOCKEN as its preferred access control service. This gave all of its public service concessions (DSPs), spread throughout the country, access to the electronic key solution, with the transmission of access rights in real time. As always with LOCKEN solutions, the person seeking access now only needs a single key containing the necessary authorisations.
Moreover, the keys are connected by Bluetooth to their smartphone, which communicates with the centralised access management system through the MyLocken App. The system combines flexibility and security, enabling Veolia to provide access rights to personnel upon their arrival at the site and, if necessary, for a single entry.
The cable-free installation requires no additional operation other than the replacement of cylinders. The electronic keys can also open the numerous padlocks used on the storage tanks, as well as the key deposits intended for the partner operators positioned at the site entrances.
The cable-free installation requires no additional operation other than the replacement of cylinders.
Seamless integration
Vincent Govelet, a buyer at Veolia, who champions the LOCKEN solution, explains: "LOCKEN provides a solution, which allows sensitive sites to be secured, without electrifying the equipped doors, while adapting to the mobility and multiple-use imperatives specific to Veolia Waters’ activities.
"Bluetooth technology, coupled with a smartphone application, is particularly popular in the field for the distribution of access rights. The fact that the cylinders are weather-resistant is a decisive advantage in our business."
Nick Dooley, Managing Director of LOCKEN UK says: “LOCKEN has secured over one million access points worldwide and has seen huge success with Veolia in France. There is big potential to replicate this achievement in the UK and we take great pride in offering a robust and reliable access control solution to an industry that is vulnerable to risks, including terrorism, vandalism and theft. With this collaboration, LOCKEN is once again demonstrating its reliability in securing the sensitive sites of network operators.”
