Real-Time Monitoring and Data Enhances Houston’s Sewer Operations & Predictive Hydraulic Modeling | SmartCover Systems

Real-Time Monitoring and Data Enhances Houston’s Sewer Operations & Predictive Hydraulic Modeling

  • Houston, TX
  • Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO), Inflow & Infiltration (I&I), Cleaning Optimization
  • Central

BACKGROUND

As one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, Houston, Texas, faces mounting challenges managing its sewer collection system. Among the issues are more frequent and intense storms that increase high wastewater levels and flow intensity, inflow and infiltration (I&I), and ongoing system blockages from fats, oils, and grease (FOG), all of which have contributed to sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) that impact residents, businesses and the environment. This is all happening at a time of heightened environmental regulations, pressure to sustain aging infrastructure, and operate with limited resources.

Houston’s Wastewater Operations (WWO) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the sewer collection and conveyance system within the city of Houston, which at 637.4 square miles is the ninth largest city in the United States by area and the fourth most populated with more than 2.4 million residents. WWD’s separate sewer infrastructure includes approximately 6,100 miles of gravity sewers and 300 miles of force mains, more than 350 lift stations, 38 wastewater treatment plants, 1,500 catch basins and 125,000 manholes.

SUMMARY

From a 20-unit pilot in 2022, Houston has grown its use of real-time sewer monitors to 113 units to have continuous collection system visibility and to acquire predictive data for analysis on the diurnal behavior of its system flows. The technology and data is helping Houston address capacity issues to meet the consent decree requirements and to perform hydraulic modeling.

Having data is helping Houston’s WWO make better informed decisions regarding operations, including cleaning and preventative maintenance, and has reduced operations and maintenance costs.

The mobility of the monitors helps to assess more high-risk locations as needed, especially in Houston’s older neighborhoods. Operators call the technology a “manpower multiplier” that has increased WWO’s effectiveness and efficiency doing preventative maintenance.

Houston WWO is further expanding its use of real-time monitors for preventative maintenance/optimized cleaning and increased focus on I&I.

Interested in finding out how our SmartCover solutions can work for you? Reach out to sales@smartcoversystems.com or call (855) 291-1980.