The UK's largest clean water supplier will have next-generation satellite systems by summer 2008

Utilities group Veolia Water UK is using a web-based geographic information system (GIS) to relieve the burden of regulatory reporting.

The upgrade is part of the firm's plans to improve systems integration and enhance visibility in business processes.The benefits will span a range of areas, said Veolia IT systems manager Ted Volpe.

"The system will help us to use a powerful browser solution for most users, better fit our field and design staff into the data maintenance process, meet critical business needs, and build an open database that we can readily integrate with our other corporate systems," he said.

The ArcGIS software from supplier ESRI UK will provide a hub of geographic intelligence to boost efficiency while supporting emergency and water supply planning. It will also support asset management and customer services and improve the analysis of operations.

Veolia Water UK operates Valleys Water, Folkestone & Dover Water Services, and Tendring Hundred Water Services.

GIS technology allows geographical data to be captured, stored, managed and displayed in digital form.