Process control & telecontrol for wastewater, freshwater, sewer & treatment plants

Process control involves the monitoring and control of industrial processes to ensure their efficiency, safety and reliability. It is particularly important in wastewater and sewerage networks to ensure the proper treatment and disposal of wastewater, to prevent overflows and to comply with environmental legislation. It helps to identify faults at an early stage and take action to prevent environmental damage.

Telecontrol technology allows systems and processes to be monitored and controlled remotely. It is based on the use of sensors that collect data and transmit it to central control systems via communication networks. These systems can then react in real time. They can send control commands back to the systems.

Advantages for water networks:

• Real-time monitoring: Continuous monitoring of water quality and flow.
• Early detection of faults: Quickly identify and resolve problems.
• Increase efficiency: Optimise operations and maintenance through accurate data analysis.
• Cost savings: Reduce on-site inspections and manual labour.
• Safety: Improving the ability to respond to emergencies and minimising environmental damage.

IoT data loggers are devices that continuously record and store environmental data (such as temperature, humidity, pressure, water level, etc.). They play a central role in data monitoring:

• Real-time data transmission: Send recorded data in real time to central systems for analysis and monitoring.
• Remote monitoring: Enables remote or hard-to-reach locations to be monitored without a permanent physical presence.
• Automated data storage: Continuous data collection and storage to improve data integrity and availability.
• Efficient maintenance: Early detection of deviations and anomalies that indicate the need for maintenance.
• Integration with larger systems: Easily integrates with existing monitoring and control systems to provide comprehensive visibility and control.

ATEX data loggers are specialised data loggers certified for use in potentially explosive atmospheres in accordance with the ATEX Directive of the European Union. This directive specifies the requirements for equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres.

For use in waste water and sewage systems:

• Monitoring gases: Flammable gases such as methane can be produced in sewage and sewer systems due to organic decomposition. ATEX data loggers safely record these gas concentrations.
• Data monitoring in hazardous areas: They allow continuous monitoring of parameters such as water level, temperature and pH in hazardous areas.
• Safety and compliance: They help ensure the safety of workers and monitor compliance with legislation.
• Remote monitoring: Enables monitoring of hard-to-reach or hazardous areas without direct human intervention, increasing safety and reducing the need for on-site inspections.
• Early warning systems: These are early warning systems that can trigger alarms in the event of dangerous gas concentrations or other critical conditions, allowing timely action to be taken to prevent environmental damage and accidents.

Data transmission from sewers, manholes or stormwater overflows presents a number of challenges:

• The environment: These areas are often damp, corrosive and dirty, which can affect the life and reliability of electronic equipment and communications systems.
• Signal blocking: The dense and deep structure of channels and ducts blocks or attenuates radio signals, making wireless data transmission difficult.
• Risk of explosion: Explosive gases can accumulate in ducts and shafts, requiring the use of ATEX certified equipment to ensure safety.
• Power supply: Remote or inaccessible locations often have no direct power supply, requiring the use of battery-powered or energy-efficient devices.
• Communications infrastructure: Installing and maintaining communications infrastructure in underground or hard-to-reach areas is complex and expensive.
• Interference: Electrical and magnetic interference from machines or other equipment can affect the quality and reliability of data transmission.
• Maintenance: The harsh conditions make regular maintenance and replacement of equipment difficult and require robust and durable solutions.
• Data integrity: In such demanding environments, systems must ensure that captured data is transmitted reliably and without loss or corruption.

Despite these challenges, the transmission of data from such areas is essential for effective monitoring and control of wastewater infrastructure. Modern technology and specially designed equipment help to meet these challenges.

Data collection is essential for the analysis and management of water and wastewater networks. It contributes in the following ways:

• Trend analysis: Continuous data collection allows long-term trends to be identified, helping to plan and optimise network operations.
• Fault diagnosis: Data acquisition allows problems such as leaks, blockages or overflows to be quickly detected and diagnosed.
• Increase efficiency: Analysis of the data collected helps to optimise operations and use resources more efficiently.
• Predictive models: The data collected can be used to create models that predict the future state and demand of the network.
• Compliance: Ensuring that network operators comply with legal requirements and environmental regulations.
• Maintenance planning: Regular data logging helps plan preventive maintenance, reducing downtime and repair costs.
• Responsiveness: Real-time data enables rapid response to unexpected events, such as extreme weather conditions that can cause flooding or congestion.

Modular telecontrol stations offer specific advantages for monitoring and controlling wastewater and sewer networks:

• Adaptability to different conditions: Modular systems can be adapted to different environments and requirements, whether in sewers, manholes or storm overflows.
• Integration of different sensors: They enable the integration of a wide range of sensors (e.g. for level, flow, temperature and gas detection) required for monitoring in wastewater and sewage systems.level, flow, temperature and gas detection) required for monitoring in wastewater and sewage systems.
• Real-time monitoring: Continuous data collection and transmission allows real-time monitoring of system status, helping to prevent overflows and other problems.
• Automated control: Modular telecontrol stations can automatically respond to certain conditions, such as turning on pumps or opening and closing valves to regulate wastewater flow.
• Simplified maintenance: Modularity allows faulty modules to be replaced quickly and easily, minimising downtime and making maintenance more efficient.
• Scalability: Modular systems can be easily expanded to meet new requirements or growing networks, e.g. by adding new monitoring points.e.g. by adding new monitoring points in a growing urban area.
• Cost efficiency: Costs can be saved through targeted enhancements and customisations, as only the components that are actually needed need to be installed and maintained.
• Increased reliability: Redundant modules can be installed to increase reliability and ensure that the system continues to function even if individual components fail.
• Environmental and regulatory compliance: Continuous monitoring and automatic control help to ensure compliance with environmental legislation by ensuring that waste water is properly treated and disposed of.

Process control technology supports the management and monitoring of critical infrastructure such as wastewater and sewer networks through a number of mechanisms and benefits:

• Real-time monitoring: Continuous monitoring of operating parameters (e.g. flow, pressure, water quality) enables immediate response to anomalies or faults.flow, pressure, water quality) enables immediate response to anomalies or faults.
• Automated control: Systems can automatically respond to changing conditions, e.g. by adjusting pump output or opening/closing valves to optimise operation and prevent breakdowns.e.g. by adjusting pump output or opening/closing valves to optimise operation and prevent breakdowns.
• Data collection and analysis: Collecting and analysing data to identify patterns and trends that inform decision-making and long-term planning.
• Early warning systems: Identifying and reporting potential problems before they become serious malfunctions, e.g. by monitoring limit values for e.g. by monitoring limit values for pollutants or gas emissions.
• Remote monitoring: Enables remote or hard-to-reach locations to be monitored without a constant physical presence, increasing efficiency and security.
• Optimise resources: Efficient use of people and materials through targeted maintenance and operations based on up-to-date data and analysis.
• Increased operational reliability: The integration of redundant systems and automatic contingency protocols increases the reliability and availability of the infrastructure.
• Compliance and reporting: Ensure compliance with legislation and environmental standards through continuous monitoring and documentation of operating conditions.
• Integration into larger networks: Enables the networking and coordination of different infrastructure elements, e.g. by linking pumping stations.e.g. by linking pumping stations, sewage treatment plants and overflow basins to form an integrated system.

These capabilities help ensure that critical infrastructure operates more efficiently, safely and reliably, ultimately improving security of supply and environmental protection.

A data monitoring system performs several key functions that are critical to the effective management and monitoring of processes and infrastructure:

• Real-time data monitoring: Continuously collect and display real-time data from multiple sensors and devices to provide instant insight into system health.
• Data logging: Storage of historical data to analyse trends, diagnose faults and support long-term decisions.
• Alarm and notification systems: Automatically trigger alarms and notifications when critical thresholds are reached or faults occur, enabling rapid response.
• Data analysis and visualisation: Provide tools to analyse and visualise the data collected, such as charts, graphs and reports, to identify patterns and anomalies.
• Remote monitoring and control: The ability to monitor and control systems and processes remotely to increase efficiency and flexibility.
• Integration with other systems: Ability to integrate with existing IT and Operational Technology (OT) systems to provide a comprehensive view of the entire infrastructure.
• Reporting: Automatically generate reports for documentation, compliance and management decision support.
  Security features: Protect data integrity and security by implementing access controls, encryption and other security measures.
• Scalability: The ability to expand the system to accommodate additional data sources and growing needs.
• Ease of use: Intuitive user interfaces and simple configuration options make the system easy to use and maintain.

These features help improve the efficiency, reliability and security of monitoring and control processes and ensure compliance with regulatory and operational requirements.

The analysis of water networks is important for several reasons:

• Increased efficiency: By analysing water network data, operational processes can be optimised and resources used more efficiently, resulting in cost savings.
• Fault detection and repair: Analyses help to quickly detect and correct leaks, blockages and other problems before they cause major damage.
• Sustainability: Efficient water use and distribution contributes to the sustainable use of resources and minimises water losses.
• Quality control: Monitoring and analysis of water quality ensures that legal requirements are met and that the water is safe for consumption.
• Prediction and prevention: Data analytics enable predictive models that forecast future challenges, such as extreme weather or demand fluctuations, and support preventative measures.
• Compliance: Continuous monitoring and documentation of network performance ensures compliance with environmental and safety regulations.
• Cost savings: High repair costs and downtime can be minimised through preventive maintenance and fast troubleshooting.
• Operational safety: Continuous monitoring and analysis contribute to operational safety by reducing the risk of failures and emergencies.
• Long-term planning: Data-driven insights support strategic planning and decision-making for the expansion and upgrading of water networks.

Overall, water network analysis improves the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of the water supply, helping to meet environmental and cost targets.

Various technologies are used in wastewater process control to monitor, control and optimise wastewater treatment processes:

• Sensors and meters: Record physical and chemical parameters such as flow rate, level, temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and contaminant concentrations.
• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs): Industrial control systems used to automate wastewater systems. They control and monitor pumps, valves, aerators and other equipment.
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA): SCADA systems allow remote monitoring and control of wastewater treatment plants, providing real-time data and the ability to manage multiple sites from a centralised interface.
• Telecontrol technology: Enables the transmission of measurement data and control commands over long distances in order to monitor and control remote or difficult-to-access locations.
• Data loggers: Continuously record and store data from sensors and meters for later analysis and reporting.
• Communication technologies: Use of wireless networks (e.g. GSM, LTE, LoRaWAN) and wired networks (e.g. Ethernet, fibre optics) for data transmission between different system components.
• Data analysis and visualisation software: Tools and platforms for analysing large amounts of data, identifying patterns and trends, and creating reports and visualisations.
• Cloud-based solutions: Enable access to monitoring and control systems via the Internet, increasing flexibility and scalability.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: Supporting predictive maintenance and optimising operations by analysing historical data and predicting future conditions.
• Internet of Things (IoT): Networking of sensors, devices and systems for comprehensive and integrated monitoring and control.

These technologies work together to improve the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of wastewater treatment, ensuring that regulatory and environmental requirements are met.