The development of information systems  has allowed the concept of Intelligent Networks to become a reality. The ability to have online and real time data measurements of activities within a range of water, sewer and recycled water networks has enabled the networks to relay information about what is happening in those networks so action can be taken to perform maintenance or decide not to undertake maintenance. The additional availability of information systems and their ability to more vigorously interpret and develop algorithms from the data assures the concept of intelligent networks can be applied across all the networks.

Maple & Associates can assist in developing these processes and practices linked to the overall strategy of the business.

SCADA

A critical component of any intelligent network is the SCADA system which has primarily being used to monitor and manage pump stations and major treatment plants and larger  plant and equipment. The improvement in both the cost and technology of data transfers has enabled the more extensive use of the SCADA system to transmit online and real time data back to main line systems. This data is then managed and monitored via the Operational Control Centre (OCC) to have active control of any network. The further development of remote managed valving technology can  allow the direct and visual  control of the network operation via the OCC.

SCADA systems need to be implemented across the entire network and by feeding the data into the SCADA historian it allows direct access to the critical information that makes the network function effectively.

 

Water

The potable water network is a critical component of everyday life within a community. This network requires regular and careful management to ensure the supply, water quality and at pressures consistent with the demands of the community are maintained.

The task looks simple but is currently a complex and difficult process to achieve the required targets. The concept of intelligent networks focusses on achieving this task at lower costs and even greater security of supply. The parameters that are outlined below are some key management processes that will achieve the intelligent networks.

• Pressure & Flow Management

Pressure and Flow Management are the key determinants for the successful operation of any water network. Maintaining critical pressures, across the network and linking with hydraulic system design ensures flows to support the full 24 hour operation.

The online measurement of pressures and flows can ensure the network operates in an effective and controlled manner. The ability to control the network and manage pressures can assist in protection of the pipe assets and ensure supply through the network.

The ability to have real time on line measurement of pressures and flows should allow the identification of breaches in the pipe assets or valves not open or closed properly which can be effectively maintained via a planned activity rather than have  major reactive maintenance at potentially an inappropriate time.

In addition the monitoring of water meters across the entire network would effectively give immediate feedback on usage trends and allow better management of water systems and could allow more customer visibility of their water usage and long term potential water reduction activities.

• Leak Detection

As with the pressure and flow information having better knowledge of what is happening with the water network can assist in isolating leaks for a planned repair activity and may assist in re-directing water flows away from the leak and potentially enabling no water loss for customers.

• SCADA Data and Information

The data collected on flows and pressures across the water network will allow optimisation of the water supply as well as focussing on more planned maintenance activities which should drive overall operating costs lower.

The ability to interpret and develop algorithms to interpret and manage the broad data information is a key component of monitoring and managing the data across the water network.

•  Water Quality and Monitoring

In addition to the monitoring and measuring of the water pressures and flows is the opportunity to further include water quality measurement. Not all parameters can be monitored directly as many require laboratory analysis. But with the development of measuring technology the natural extension is to measure some of the water quality parameters at many spots within the network. The online and in real time measuring of TDS, Chlorine residuals and potentially bacteria levels would allow great focus on further improving water quality.

Operational Control Centre

For many years the Operational Control Centre has played the role of the first face of the company to its customers, who are usually calling because of a service difficulty or fault. The concept of intelligent networks is to change this process so that the OCC becomes a proactive operational group that can monitor and maintain the network with an aim to remove or substantially reduce the level of customer interaction with the OCC.

The need to potentially staff the OCC with engineers who understand and manage the network continuously and develop plans to ensure the network is always operational and minimise the potential impact for customers.   The main aim is to reduce the reactive nature of the operational maintenance team.

Sewer

The sewer network generally doesn’t operate under pressure but the monitoring of the sewer network through flows, manhole levels is an important process of ensuring the network operates effectively and with minimal maintenance.

•  Flow  and CCTV information

Traditionally the sewer pipe condition has been monitored using CCTV and various in line flow meters to determine levels of flow. These processes tend to be batch or off line monitoring and assessed using the software tools and vision from the CCTV.

There is a requirement especially in those areas or catchments that do not meet all the requirements of an asset management model that they are monitored more effectively and again in many cases may not result in new technology but could allow on line and real time assessment of the condition of the sewer.

This concept works as effectively as the water network and by feeding into an Operation Control Centre where the network is being monitored and managed with the maintenance activity clearly focussed on the activity within the sewer.

Many large storm events can cause major sewer issues and the sewer system has been designed to overcome certain storm level activity. With better knowledge and measuring capability the design parameters might be readjusted potentially giving lower construction and operating costs.

• Pipe condition

CCTV has been used as the process to monitor and measure pipe condition but with newer measuring techniques and better pipe integrity measuring systems this might allow more effective pipe condition monitoring. In addition smaller, low powered cameras and better communication techniques may allow in pipe cameras to be maintained indefinitely within the pipe network. This would give on line real time view of the sewer network as well as long term change in pipe and sewer condition.

• Pump station data

A significant component of the sewer network is the sewer pump stations where the gravity sewers are linked to establish the full sewer network. The pump stations are designed and operate to ensure there is no spills from the station but the maintenance regime, the actual design and the criticality of the station require both review and regular understanding of capacity and capability.

Many stations may need generator back up because of their critical nature and the use of SCADA in these environments has been critical to ensure that the pump stations operate in all conditions to monitor the behaviour of the sewer system during those conditions.

• Trade Waste Information

The remaining element of the sewer system is to measure and identify the quality of the sewer or trade waste that is flowing through the sewer network. The type of sewer can impact on the pipe condition, flow conditions under different climate conditions (cold temperatures), flow rates within the pipe network and of course the final treatment process.

As with water and recycled water the improvements in technology allowing devices to measure on line and in real time can allow better management of the final sewer treatment but also lead to better management of the waste producer further enhancing the proper management of the network.

Recycled Water

The focus on fully understanding water usage and how it applies across the entire landscape has allowed a focus on reducing the overall dependency on potable water for activities that do not necessarily require this level of purity. As this develops further the ability of an intelligent network to monitor and then control some of the water parameters and potentially the water source will allow effective management of the water resources.

Recycled water can come from many different sources with potable water replacement and potential environmental improvements resulting from less  outflow to the environment especially from sewer treatment outflows. The ability to monitor flows and water quality and maintain long term records of this information will become a critical component of the water supply system and the intelligent networks.