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Achieve peak performance in water management: iC7-Aqua

Achieve peak performance in water management

Optimize water infrastructure performance and efficiency

Water is one of the world’s most essential resources, but water systems are under growing pressure.

  • 80% of wastewater globally remains untreated
  • 25% of people lack safely managed drinking water
  • Water demand could exceed supply by 40% by 2030
  • Energy consumption in the water sector is expected to double by 2030

As water infrastructure expands to meet rising demand, energy consumption and electrical network stability are becoming critical challenges. Pumping systems require large amounts of power, and maintaining grid compliance and power quality is increasingly important for utilities and infrastructure operators.

To meet these demands, water systems must become more energy efficient, resilient, and electrically optimized.

Explore water solutions

Key challenges for water systems

  • Energy consumption continues to rise
    Pumping systems are among the largest energy consumers in water infrastructure, creating pressure to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.

  • Power quality and grid compliance are becoming critical
    Large pumping installations can introduce harmonic distortion into the electrical network, affecting grid stability and requiring compliance with increasingly strict power quality standards.

  • System reliability is essential
    Unexpected failures in pumps or motors can disrupt water supply, wastewater treatment, and industrial processes, potentially impacting communities and operations.

  • Digitalization is reshaping water management
    Operators are expected to monitor systems more closely, detect issues earlier, and optimize performance using real-time operational data.

    These challenges require water infrastructure solutions that can improve efficiency, maintain power quality, and protect critical assets while supporting smarter system management.

ultra low-harmonic variants

Manage harmonics with ULH drives

Discover how our ultra low-harmonic variants can help you stay compliant, cost effectively.

Read the fact sheet

iC7-Aqua portfolio: Your ambition. Our drive.

With the iC7-Aqua portfolio you can finally fulfill your ambition for your water application. Whether you operate water distribution networks, wastewater treatment plants, desalination facilities, irrigation systems, or industrial water processes, iC7-Aqua delivers the intelligence, efficiency, and power quality required for modern water management.

Thomas Ammon, Project Manager & Deputy CEO. Water Association Region Bern AG (WVRB)
Hear from our water customer

"My ambition is to supply the more than 300,000 people in Bern with safe drinking water, every day".

Thomas Ammon, Project Manager & Deputy CEO. Water Association Region Bern AG (WVRB)

Thor Danielsen, Global Water Development Lead at Danfoss Drives
Hear from our water expert

“My ambition is that we at Danfoss can help bring clean sanitation and drinking water to the world. We know that 80% of the world's wastewater is not treated, and 25% of the world's population still lack access to clean drinking water. With our technologies, like the iC7-Aqua, we are positioned and have the responsibility to help bring those technologies to the world. That is what really drives me.”

Thor Danielsen, Global Water Development Lead at Danfoss Drives

How the iC7-Aqua portfolio can help you

The iC7-Aqua portfolio has been designed specifically to help you with your challenges within water management systems. That means you get a drive that’s intelligent, efficient, easy to use, reliable, and 20% more compact than the next-best alternative.

integrated intelligence
Smarter water systems with integrated intelligence

Water infrastructure generates vast amounts of operational data. iC7-Aqua transforms this data into actionable insights through integrated intelligence and edge computing. Built-in condition-based monitoring continuously analyzes pump and motor performance to detect issues such as cavitation, clogging, and vibration anomalies early, which helps operators to prevent failures and reduce downtime.

Begin condition monitoring today
Pumping systems
Optimize energy use across pumping systems

Pumping systems account for a large share of energy consumption in water infrastructure. iC7-Aqua adjusts pump speed to match real-time system demand, significantly improving efficiency. This demand-driven control can deliver energy savings of up to 40%, lower operating costs, and reduced emissions. For strict power quality requirements, the iC7-Aqua ULH drive delivers <3% THDi.

Estimate your savings with MyDrive® Energy
Easy installation and intuitive operation

Water infrastructure projects often involve complex installations and tight timelines. iC7-Aqua simplifies commissioning and operation with guided pump setup assistants, universal compatibility with pumps and motors, and integrated fieldbus connectivity. The intuitive interface and compact design make it easier to install, configure, and operate drives across water applications.

Discover MyDrive® Insight
End-to-end encryption
Protect critical water infrastructure

Reliable water infrastructure is essential for communities and industries. iC7-Aqua supports maximum uptime with dedicated pump protection features such as dry-run detection, de-ragging, and flow monitoring. Robust hardware, advanced cybersecurity, and back-channel cooling that removes up to 90% of heat losses from the electrical room help ensure stable, reliable system operation.

Try MyDrive® Harmonics

Tailored for your needs

Water infrastructure involves multiple stakeholders. The iC7-Aqua portfolio supports the priorities of each.

For water utilities and infrastructure leaders

For consultants and specifiers

For contractors

For water plant operators

For water utilities and infrastructure leaders

For consultants

For contractors

For water plant operators

Ensure reliable water services while reducing environmental impact.

iC7-Aqua supports utilities by delivering:

- Improved energy efficiency and lower operating costs

- High system reliability and uptime

- Cybersecure infrastructure protection

- Support for decarbonization and sustainability goals

Specify future-ready water infrastructure solutions.

iC7-Aqua offers:

- Motor and pump independence

- Compact installation footprint

- Built-in compliance and cybersecurity

- Advanced monitoring and analytics capabilities

These features make it easier to design efficient and resilient water systems.

Deliver projects efficiently while protecting margins.

With iC7-Aqua you benefit from:

- Easy commissioning and installation

- Clear documentation and engineering tools

- Global service availability

- Reliable supply from a trusted partner

Operate water systems with confidence.

iC7-Aqua provides:

- Intelligent monitoring and automation

- Improved energy efficiency

- Easy daily operation

- Reliable performance and high uptime

The iC7-Aqua series is built around ease of use, intelligence, efficiency, and reliability. This is really what companies and users are looking for. Water and wastewater systems have to run 24/7, 365 days a year, because so many people and industries rely on them. The iC7-Aqua and the iC7-Aqua ULH are designed to enable that.

Thor Danielsen
Thor Danielsen
Global Water Development Lead

Why choose Danfoss water dedicated drives?

Benefits of iC7-Aqua frequency converters

•    Dedicated pump functions optimize pump performance
•    Integrated monitoring enables predictive maintenance
•    Cybersecure design protects critical infrastructure
•    Compact design allows flexible installation
•    Integrated fieldbuses simplify communication
•    Global DrivePro® service support network

Learn more about iC7-Aqua
frequency converters

Benefits of iC7-Aqua ULH

•    Ultra-low harmonic distortion (<3% THDi)
•    Power factor of 1.0
•    Lower losses than conventional ULH drives
•    Excellent performance even at partial load
•    Compliance ready for the standards of tomorrow

Learn more about iC7-Aqua ULH
Benefits of iC7-Hybrid
The potential of the water-energy nexus

In this Impact paper, we emphasize the critical importance of seeing water and energy as interdependent resources.

Download the Impact paper now
Our latest Impact paper emphasizes the critical importance of seeing water and energy as interdependent resources.

FAQ

How does a VFD improve pump efficiency?

A variable frequency drive (VFD) controls pump speed to match system demand. Instead of operating continuously at full speed, the pump runs only at the speed required, significantly reducing energy consumption and improving process control.

How much energy can be saved using variable speed pump control?

Reducing pump speed by 20% can reduce energy consumption by up to 50%, depending on the system design and application.

What water applications are iC7-Aqua designed for?

iC7-Aqua supports a wide range of water applications including:

  • Water supply and distribution
  • Wastewater treatment
  • Wastewater and stormwater collection systems
  • Desalination
  • Irrigation
  • Industrial water processes
What makes the iC7-Aqua ULH drive unique?

The iC7-Aqua ULH drive delivers less than 3% harmonic distortion, protecting electrical networks and improving power quality without requiring additional harmonic mitigation equipment.

How does iC7-Aqua improve system reliability?

Built-in pump protection features and condition-based monitoring detect issues early, allowing operators to perform maintenance before failures occur and ensuring maximum uptime.

Talk to our iC7-Aqua drive expert

Thor Danielsen, Global Water Development Lead

Are you ready to optimize your water systems with next-generation drives?

Our water expert, Thor Danielsen, is ready to help you find the right solution for your application. Submit your details below and start the conversation.

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