Tech consultancy Opencast is playing a key role in a new ‘smart sewer’ approach to tackling discharges from storm overflows.
Northumbrian Water recently launched a £20m project that is set to significantly reduce storm overflow discharges across the Tyneside area. The project is the first of its kind in the UK and will use world-leading technology.
A combination of new tech, sensors and AI analytics is being used to lower the risk of overflows and is based on proven techniques used in the US, where smart sewer technology has produced an 80 per cent reduction in discharges over a 10-year period.
Opencast will be working with HydroDigital a US-based water technology company and Northumbrian Water partner, which has developed the new smart sewer technology. The HydroDigital team has over two decades implementing smart sewer technologies and has worked with over 40 utilities globally.
Tyneside-headquartered Opencast will work on integrating technology alongside fellow project partners Bluesmith and Axiologik.
Opencast director of private sector growth Andrew Howard said: “We’ll be building a user-centred interface and platform that will be easy to use for those running the system. We’ll also be ensuring the digital infrastructure is properly integrated between the partners. Discharges from storm overflows into our seas, lakes and rivers is a very high-profile problem – and we’re proud to be part of such an innovative partnership tackling the issue.
“The HydroDigital team provides the brains behind the smart sewer technology. With the firm based in the US, Northumbrian Water needed a UK-based tech partner. HydroDigital has built the AI part of the solution, and we are building operations user interface, and integrating with Northumbrian Water’s cloud infrastructure.
“Northumbrian Water felt we were a good cultural fit and we had the quality of digital services they were looking for. Our user-centred design work is a particular strength.”
Storm overflows are used by UK water companies and others across the world during heavy rainfall to prevent sewer flooding from taking place in customers’ homes. The overflows are a relief valve on the wastewater network and are used – with Environment Agency consent – to protect homes from internal flooding. The smart sewer system will allow Northumbrian Water to dynamically control flows in the sewer network to make discharges less likely to happen. Smart sensors will be positioned in sewer pipes and weather forecasts will be used to predict when and where sewer networks are more likely to reach capacity and spill.
The technology will help control flows across the network, enabling Northumbrian Water to balance network capacity between areas experiencing heavy rainfall and areas with more capacity. It will help decision making, so the company can better manage wastewater flows and capacity across its network, reducing discharges and allowing further targeted infrastructure investment where it is needed most.
The real-time support system will be powered by a digital twin – a digital version of the sewer network, which uses predictive analytics to determine the most optimal strategy to minimise discharges.
Harry Armstrong, chief growth officer at Opencast, said: “Tech for good, including for the utilities sector, is a key priority for Opencast and we’re delighted to be doing such important work, with a forward-thinking client willing to innovate to help people in local communities. We want to make a difference to people’s lives and that’s exactly what we’ll be doing through this project, which has the potential to be duplicated elsewhere in the UK and in other countries too. It’s a hugely significant project.”
