The industrial world faces pressing challenges around water management, with traditional treatment processes often being resource-intensive, costly, and inefficient. The AR3K Project—a collaborative effort between IRIS srl and LIBRA AI Technologies, funded by the AIBC Euroclusters Project—set out to solve these challenges. AR3K has paved the way for sustainable, cost-effective water treatment solutions by leveraging AI-driven optimization and blockchain-enabled smart contracts. 

The Challenge 

Industrial water treatment is vital for manufacturing processes but often results in high operational costs, excessive energy consumption, and limited water reuse. Optimizing these processes while ensuring operational efficiency, water conservation, and cost reduction was a significant challenge for many industries. The AR3K project aimed to address these issues by implementing cutting-edge technologies to retrofit existing water treatment systems with advanced capabilities. 

LIBRA AI Technologies’ Role: AI and Blockchain in Action

As a leader in AI and process optimisation, LIBRA AI Technologies played a pivotal role in the AR3K project by developing the AI-driven optimization framework and the blockchain-based billing system:

  • AI-Powered Optimization: LIBRA AI created Machine Learning models that continuously monitored and optimized water treatment processes. By adjusting operational parameters like pump speed and water flow, these models maximized water reuse, minimized energy consumption, and maintained water quality. The AI system ensured real-time adjustments, allowing the plant to operate at peak efficiency.
  • Predictive Maintenance: LIBRA’s AI also featured predictive maintenance capabilities, which monitored the water treatment plant's health and detected early signs of issues like membrane fouling. This functionality minimized downtime and improved plant reliability.
  • Blockchain Integration: To ensure transparency and security in billing, LIBRA developed a private blockchain network between IRIS and its customers using Hyperledger Besu. This system recorded water treatment performance data, such as water savings and energy consumption, and automated billing through smart contracts. These smart contracts linked payments to real-time water savings, ensuring accurate, performance-based transactions.

Key Achievements

The AR3K project delivered impressive results across several key performance areas:

  • Blockchain-enabled payments tied to real-time water savings: With Hyperledger Besu at its core, the blockchain system recorded water treatment performance and automated billing through smart contracts.
  • Energy savings: AI-driven optimization, led by LIBRA, reduced energy consumption by over 25%, thanks to real-time adjustments of operational parameters​​.
  • Water reuse and recovery: The AR3K system achieved over 70% water recovery, significantly reducing the need for freshwater intake​.
  • Cost reductions: Operational costs were reduced by more than 10%, driven by both energy savings and optimized chemical dosing​.
  • Scalability and adaptability: The system was designed to be retrofitted onto existing water treatment plants and scalable across various industrial scenarios.

Looking Ahead

The AR3K project has demonstrated the significant potential of combining AI-driven optimization and blockchain technology to revolutionize water treatment processes. By integrating multiple components—such as real-time monitoring, AI-powered process adjustments, and blockchain-enabled billing—AR3K offers a robust system that enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and supports sustainable water management.

This integrated system is scalable and adaptable, capable of being implemented across various industrial contexts. With its proven results in energy savings, water reuse, and operational cost reduction, AR3K paves the way for future advancements in industrial water treatment, showcasing how technology can drive both economic and environmental benefits.