Wessex Water is using the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is to help monitor its sewer network and protect waterways across the region.
The water company is partnering with StormHarvester to detect high levels in sewer pipes caused by blockages like flushed wet wipes or sanitary products, which often contain plastic and don’t break down.
The AI software generates alarms when depths are outside their normal operating range but before the network becomes overwhelmed, helping to prevent storm overflow discharges into rivers and the sea.
StormHarvester’s machine-learning algorithms, which have since been adopted by most other water and sewerage companies, also lead to better knowledge of when equipment has failed or started to behave differently.
Investing in improvements – further 3,500 monitors to be installed by end 2024
Wessex Water has also installed 1,300 in-depth sewer depth monitors to prevent stormwater discharges due to blockages and will accelerate the installation of a further 3,500 monitors by the end of 2024.
Further investment will create a smart network system to better monitor our water recycling centres, while a programme of sealing sewers and manholes will reduce groundwater infiltration in key catchments.
Around 200 of the utility’s overflows are impacted by groundwater, held between rocks and soil.
Wessex Water said that when the water table is high, overflows can operate for many weeks – discharging largely clean groundwater that is cleaner than treated sewage.
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