Not just going with the flow

Overview

Precise load management is key to efficient and effective sewerage system activity. Accurate and timely load data is crucial to informing a number of important decisions for asset owners, including:

• Division of load between the high energy activated sludge process and the parallel low energy oxidation ponds.
• The waste charges applied to the three large traders that represent 40% of load, and to the two Council reticulation networks
• How to react to load spikes, especially if trade wasters release concentrated waste

Prior to Nelmac’s takeover, previous load measurement practices resulted in inadequate data capture, too-late reporting outcomes and non-optimal performance.

Activities

Nelmac proposed the installation of S::CAN optical probes at the WWTP. S::CAN probes ‘fingerprint’ waste streams in real-time and deliver data online about the chemical and biological composition of the flow.

This can be used to:

• Quantify influent load in real-time and inform decision-making
• Identify load spikes as they occur allowing for timely response
• Analyse influent anomalies in retrospect to direct system improvements
• ‘Finger-print’ individual waste streams to better understand the impact of large trade waste streams

Implementation of S::CAN has helped optimise load management, improved knowledge and coordination around seasonal loads variability and given a tool to analyse load spikes that can be detrimental to the plant.