{"id":47917,"date":"2023-08-29T11:53:34","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T09:53:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microtronics.com\/?p=47917"},"modified":"2025-07-22T13:30:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T11:30:37","slug":"logging-in-the-rain-overflow-basin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microtronics.com\/en\/blog-en\/logging-in-the-rain-overflow-basin\/","title":{"rendered":"Rain overflow monitoring: Take 3 simple steps for the environment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The climate is changing and so are heavy rainfall events. These present a particular challenge to our sewerage system. Especially for combined sewers in which wastewater meets rainwater. The sewerage system then reaches its limits. Overflows occur.<\/p>\n\n

A wastewater treatment plant can only treat a certain volume of water per day.When there is heavy rainfall, the volume of water in the sewerage system rises sharply and mixed water \u2014 i.e. a mixture of wastewater or sewage and rainwater \u2014 enters the public waterways.Due to the pollutants it contains, untreated mixed wastewater poses a threat to the environment.<\/p>\n\n

Rain overflow basins or combined sewer overflow basins prevent this by storing excess water and releasing it to the sewage treatment plant at a later time.<\/p>\n\n

Why should you monitor your rain or combined sewer overflow basin?<\/h2>\n\n

1. Improvement of the drainage system’s data basis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Although stormwater overflow basins are an important component of combined sewer systems, they have been monitored much less frequently than wastewater treatment plants. Continuous logging enables reliable data to be collected on accumulation and discharge processes, allowing for a well-founded evaluation and optimisation of the overall system. <\/p>\n\n

2. Monitoring the function and operational safety<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Measurement data can be used to monitor technical equipment, such as throttles, pumps and relief structures. This allows deviations from target operation to be recognised at an early stage, even during a rain event when no one is on site, for example due to backwater or malfunctions. <\/p>\n\n

3. Traceability in the event of malfunctions and operational incidents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

In the event of malfunctions or damage, the logged data provides an objective basis for analysing the cause. This enables technical and legal traceability of events, making it an important prerequisite for the responsible operation of plants. <\/p>\n\n

4. Data is key to sustainable planning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Long-term optimisation requires reliable information. By using recorded measured values, it is possible to realistically simulate and optimise rainwater overflow basins in a targeted manner. This can be used for the construction of new systems, hydraulic network calculations, or the implementation of measures to comply with water legislation, for example. This makes investments more efficient and effective. <\/p>\n\n

Targets for documenting water pollution<\/h2>\n\n

In the event of persistent heavy rain showers, an overflow occurs even in the rain overflow basin. Although the water is pre-cleaned in the basin, the water itself was not yet in the treatment plant at that time. Dissolved pollutants as well as micropollutants from detergents, cosmetics and medicines are still in the water and enter public waters.<\/p>\n\n

In Germany, for example, legislation already requires documentation of water pollution. But even if it is not mandatory, the pollution of public waters should be recorded.<\/p>\n\n

The following targets are necessary for this:<\/p>\n\n