Three connected dimensions to fight overloaded sewers, overflows, sewer blind spots, and downtime due to clogging
Inflow and infiltration (I&I) consumes sewer network capacity with unwanted water, while pump clogging, downtime and sewer blockages can disrupt wastewater operations. Limited pump and network insight can also lead to reactive maintenance, repair or replacement decisions.
This is where Grundfos comes in, addressing three connected dimensions to fight daily sewer network capacity challenges.
1. Get better visibility into the sewer network
I&I, blockages and other hidden issues can develop unnoticed, reducing available capacity and disrupting wastewater flow before the problem is detected. Sewer flow monitoring can help utilities get a clear picture by bringing level, flow, rainfall and operational data together across different parts of the network.
Comparing conditions across monitored locations can help narrow down where excess flow is entering the sewer network or where a blockage may be developing.
Turn visibility into preventive action
Combining sewer sensors, intelligent controls and digital solutions can create a wastewater monitoring system that brings real-time sewer data together with rainfall information. This can help identify developing pressure on the network and support earlier intervention and predictive sewer overflow management.
This moves sewer management beyond fault correction and sewer overflow reporting towards earlier risk detection and proactive intervention that can help prevent overflows before conditions become critical.
2. Ensure optimal operating conditions
Reliable wastewater assets are essential to maximise sewer capacity. When pumps clog, a sewer blockage restricts flow, or equipment fails, wastewater can build up upstream and increase sewer overflow risk. During wet-weather events, this can also contribute to sewer overflow.
Protect capacity with reliable pumping and control
Wastewater pumps with resistant impellers designed for free passage help minimise the risk of clogging. Intelligent controls can respond automatically to abnormal operating conditions, by reversing the pump rotation to remove a clog, and provide a flush-out function to keep wastewater flowing. Smart controllers can also calculate pump flow while connecting to monitoring and alerts from digital solutions helping operators identify issues early and reduce downtime.
3. Use network data to improve sewer planning
Visibility across the sewer network, and not just known trouble spots, provides a system-wide view by combining data from sensors, pumping stations and other monitored points. This helps in tracking flow patterns and identifying network anomalies such as inflow and infiltration or other issues that may need attention.
Prioritise maintenance and investment with data-backed insights
Unlike periodic manual inspection, continuous remote monitoring provides ongoing data and insights into operations. Notifications and alerts help utilities prioritise inspections and maintenance. Over time, this broader view supports better planning by showing where issues recur and where repair, pipe replacement or further investment should be prioritised, helping reduce sewer overflow risk and make better use of available network capacity.
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