Current Challenges in municipal Water Management

Climate change is reflected in the change in weather patterns. Weather phenomena such as storms, rain and floods are increasingly leading to devastating consequences. The damage caused, regional states of emergency and people in need now regularly dominate the news.
The weather is hard to change. What we can do, however, is adapt to the challenges. With the right solution, negative consequences can be prevented or at least mitigated. Find out which applications have already proven themselves in use.

Table of Contents

Climate change with its accompanying weather phenomena leads to property damage and personal injury. In addition, the environment is polluted and damaged. Surveillance and monitoring systems are increasingly required and become a necessity. Comprehensive monitoring systems with historical data recording for precipitation, surface water and runoff provide a comprehensive picture of the situation and infrastructure.

Such systems consist of sensors and data loggers that collect data. This data is then aggregated on a platform and provides an overarching picture of the situation. Historical data storage allows evaluations and optimisations.

The following applications have already proven themselves in use:

Early flood detection

Early flood detection allows data-based and earlier decision-making for emergency services and mayors. In addition, citizens are informed promptly – day and night.

  • Citizen service with free alerting on zones
  • Early detection by means of level and precipitation monitoring in real time
  • Direct alerting of the emergency services
  • Traceability via historical data collection, publicly accessible via www.wasserstand.info
Citizens' Service wasserstand.info

Heavy rainfall events with regional early detection and recording

Within a few minutes during a heavy rain event, rivulets develop into raging streams. Sewer systems are reaching their limits and flooding is the result.

Monitoring and alarm systems provide transparency and enable measures to be initiated more quickly.

  • Early detection and monitoring of regional rainfall events
  • Rain overflow recording according to legal requirement
  • Detection of blockages in the sewerage system
  • Traceability via historical data collection, alerting and reporting

The applications for heavy rainfall events are many and varied. Uniform systems for data collection result in real added value. The data from the different applications, which can be viewed centrally on one platform, provide a comprehensive picture of the individual situation.

Odour and corrosion control in sewer infrastructure

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is produced in sewers. This leads to serious consequences: corrosion of the components and subsequently to expensive renovation measures. In addition, the gas is harmful to human health.

Monitoring systems help to control (automatic) dosing systems and minimise the toxic gas to almost zero.

  • Measurement campaigns and monitoring equipment for H2S reduction
  • Remote control via dosing pumps
  • Operating fluid level for simple or automatic reordering
  • Traceability via historical data collection, alerting and reporting

Operate water networks efficiently

For transparency and easier loss detection in water networks, higher-level monitoring systems with several measuring points are suitable. In addition to monitoring, alarms and control options bring advantages.

Water management
  • Control and monitoring of water supply systems
  • Monitoring of distribution networks and recording of large water meters
  • Dynamic alerting via individually definable profiles
  • Traceability via historical data collection, alerting and reporting

Conclusion

We cannot change weather phenomena, but we can ensure early warning systems and permanent historical data recording for better planning data and future dimensioning.

The result of a modern, communal infrastructure:

  • Efficient operation of infrastructure in urban water management
  • Fulfilment of the requirements of urban water management and data security
  • Support for future planning support using historical data and live data
Water management

It calls for a change in thinking so that the population is also involved. Live data in publicly accessible areas and targeted alerting as an efficient tool for those responsible in the event of an emergency allow information and status to be brought directly to those affected. Practice has shown that there is still time to move cars, fill sandbags, place currencies, remove valuables from the basement to avert or mitigate the damage as much as possible.

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Preisträge beim Niederösterreichischen Innovationspreis dem Karl Ritter von Ghega Preis
Blog

Non-contact level measurement wins the “Niederösterreichischer Innovationspreis”

Under the motto “Never again miss an event in the sewer to protect the environment”, Microtronics won the “Niederösterreichischer Innovationspreis” worth 10,000 euros with an innovative measuring system. The award was presented at a ceremony on 24 October in the House of Digitalisation by Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Wolfgang Ecker, President of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

BLE Radarsensor montiert im Kanal
Applications

Incredibly flexible: 5 ways to mount the BLE radar sensor

There is a lot going on in the rough environment of a sewer or rain overflow basin. During heavy rainfall events, for example, the water level swells and recedes within a very short time. In order to register the event at all, the measurement intervals must be very short. It is precisely in these situations that the BLE radar sensor shows its strengths.