Leveraging existing infrastructure for central automatic control of multiple sewer systems

Abstract

In this paper we discuss a project in which water quality improvements of surface waters are gained by upgrading locally controlled sewer systems. The paper focuses on the reuse and extension of existing sewer systems and hardware and software infrastructure in an experimental integrated automatic control system for a rural region in the Netherlands. The region contains five municipalities and one regional water authority (water board). The goal of the project is to improve the water quality through increased, technology-driven, cooperation between the authorities. The largest threat for water quality of open waters in the project area is the presence of combined sewer spills (CSOs). In this project we focus on reducing the number and volume of spills and changing the distribution of the spills to protect sensitive locations. The methods best suited require an extensive sensor network and central real-time control (RTC). Such a network is an expensive proposition and the same holds true for RTC. At the other hand, by re-using parts of the existing hardware and software infrastructure a non-viable project is made viable. For the project the controller software was adapted to reuse fixed rate pumps, existing telephone lines to pumping stations were converted to high-speed ADSL connections and municipal and water board SCADA systems were online connected to an automatic central control system. This system itself was originally developed as a flood forecasting system (Delft-FEWS) but proved to be very suitable as an automatic central control system (Control NEXT). Preliminary results indicate that the number and volume of spills already have decreased significantly.Water ManagementCivil Engineering and Geoscience