Influx of stormwater and infiltration of groundwater into sewers is a continuing operational problem, however a water utility in Norway is gaining higher understanding of its community with an modern digital strategy, says Marco Westergren, chief analytics officer at water analytics platform supplier InfoTiles.
The influx and infiltration (I&I) of stormwater and groundwater into sewerage networks can add appreciable value to water utilities in pumping, treating, and discharging extra water. In Norway, InfoTiles’ digital water and wastewater administration system is being utilized by one municipality for I&I water detection and real-time monitoring of extraneous water in sewer networks and is already decreasing service failures.
Utilizing the system’s built-in web of issues (IoT) and machine studying applied sciences, together with pre-existing real-time knowledge from their SCADA methods, operators found that pumps have been pushing 5 million m3 of wastewater by way of its methods per 12 months, of which not less than 1 million m3 was water from I&I. The additional working value to the utility in processing this extraneous wastewater was as much as €2 million, not together with the power value of transporting the water to the remedy works.
System overload
For a lot of utilities and municipalities, influx and infiltration can account for a mean of 20-50% of the annual circulate in sewers, nonetheless, throughout snow soften and moist autumns in Norway the determine often hits 80-90 per cent.
Influx is stormwater that flows into wastewater pipes by way of faults equivalent to holes, cracks, joint failures, and damaged connections. Infiltration happens when groundwater enters the wastewater community by way of faults in pipes, compounding the circulate.
It’s extensively acknowledged that the majority I&I is brought on by ageing infrastructure that requires upkeep or substitute, however some can be brought on by inaccurate connections equivalent to constructing drainage and rooftops linked to the incorrect pipes. When this water penetrates the wastewater community, it will possibly overload the system, which is a specific threat in periods of heavy rain or storm occasions.
Within the worst instances, it will possibly result in the discharge of untreated wastewater into the setting and air pollution of rivers and seas. It additionally will increase the chance of cross-contamination of ingesting water, the place polluted water from the setting enters by way of faults in clear water pipes.
Will increase within the frequency and depth of rainfall because of a altering local weather is exacerbating the issue, making the wastewater community ever extra susceptible to failure and placing the setting at better threat. Moreover, if left untreated, pipeline integrity will solely deteriorate over time, growing the quantity of ingress water to be handled.
Climate evaluation
The problem for InfoTiles, which is headquartered in Stavanger, Norway, and its utility associate was to find out when and the place I&I used to be occurring and resolve on the suitable response. The InfoTiles platform makes use of SCADA management system knowledge along with meteorological knowledge to analyse dry and moist climate behaviour of wastewater networks. Utilizing data from pump stations in real-time, the mannequin calculates the entire and extreme quantity transported, permitting operators to see not solely weather-related developments, but in addition the ensuing prices each when it comes to remedy and energy expenditure.
As soon as downside areas have been recognized, the search space might be narrowed down utilizing compact IoT gadgets throughout the similar platform. Some pumping stations have a number of inputs or lengthy upstream pipeline networks. By selectively measuring completely different branches, it’s doable to determine precisely the place the water intrudes or exclude areas that aren’t the issue.
Sensor gadgets positioned at important factors within the community can accumulate extra meteorological knowledge equivalent to precipitation, problematic thresholds of rain quantity, or seasonally different sensitivities. That feeds right into a central dashboard and these detailed measurements can then be analysed by water managers and operators.
Difficult funding selections
For InfoTiles’ Norwegian associate, the software program discovered that about 50% of I&I used to be dealt with by solely 4 of its 27 pumping stations, which enabled upkeep groups to focus on additional knowledge gathering and prioritise upkeep and repairs.
The evaluation discovered that a lot of pumps have been consistently overloaded with I&I – even in dry climate situations. It was discovered that upstream pipes located near the banks of a river have been laid in soil saturated by water. The wastewater community was unnecessarily absorbing extra groundwater, which was then being transported, handled, and launched again into the river.
The 4 pumping stations recognized had already been chosen for improve as a result of present pressure, however with the insights gained utilizing InfoTiles’ software program, this determination may very well be challenged. It was determined that a greater funding could be to enhance the integrity of the upstream wastewater community.
With an absence of detailed proof of the place and when the I&I is happening, many utilities choose to extend the capability funding of wastewater transport and remedy to keep away from methods changing into overrun. Whereas this may occasionally mitigate the chance of air pollution incidents, it additionally will increase prices for purchasers and doesn’t clear up the underlying downside.
Lowering power and carbon prices
Vitality is a big a part of the extra remedy and transportation prices concerned when processing I&I. Subsequently, decreasing power consumption additionally represents a possible saving on operational expenditure.
The Norwegian utility’s power value reached file highs of €0.7/kWh in 2022, a dramatic enhance over the earlier 12 months as a result of Europe-wide power disaster, and sitting alongside different worth will increase together with for wastewater remedy chemical substances. Taking the utility’s common I&I of 1 million m3 of water as a baseline, this implies it was going through a complete extra working value of not less than €2million, 165,000 kWh of extreme electrical energy use, and 4.1 tonnes of extreme carbon emissions.
Further power consumption additionally represents increased carbon footprint, so precisely figuring out and remedying I&I might help utilities meet carbon commitments, together with web zero targets.
Focused funding
By utilizing InfoTiles software program, the exact location, value, financial savings and options of I&I has turn out to be clearer to the utility. Higher knowledgeable capital and operational funding selections might be made to enhance probably the most susceptible elements of wastewater infrastructure and processes.
With out correct I&I monitoring, utilities might make misplaced investments, together with pump upgrades, pipe replacements, and remedy gear upgrades. This may result in ever growing working expenditure on power and upkeep as extra water continues to enter the community and undergoes remedy.
Magne Eide, chief business officer, InfoTiles stated, “By working intently with the Norwegian utility to grasp and tackle its I&I challenges, InfoTiles has demonstrated greatest practise on this difficult space. We search to share these developments extensively in order that different organisations can additional perceive the advantages that digital transformation can carry to key important operations.
“With digital software program know-how equivalent to InfoTiles, water utilities can get close-to-real-time knowledge on I&I and use it to make calculations and knowledgeable selections. For these utilities pushing digital transformation, monitoring and understanding I&I represents a big alternative to scale back whole expenditure, shield the setting and ship an enhanced service to prospects and communities.”
