Optimizing meter locations in sewage networks for sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) detection

Dana Z. Abu Sier, Kevin E. Lansey

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Sanitary sewer overflows (SSO) are becoming of increasing concern in the sewage system management to utilities and regulators. Many overflows are not easily identifiable. If undetected, they can adversely impact public health and are an environmental hazard. The number and severity of SSOs can be reduced through the proper sewerage maintenance and the detection-correction of ongoing events. A methodology is presented to locate meters to maximize the likelihood of detecting a system blockage. When a blockage occurs the discharge rates in the system are affected. If the changes are greater than one would expect due to random variability, they can be attributed to a blockage. The proposed method attempts to optimize the monitoring locations to maximize the number of blockages that can be identified by a given number of meters. The problem is solved using a set-covering approach. The approach allows the tradeoff between the number of detections and cost of gages to be easily assessed. Data from Pima County Wastewater Management's monitoring system is used as a case study. To introduce blockages and analyze system hydraulics a full hydraulic model for the sewer system is applied.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2004 World Water and Environmetal Resources Congress
Subtitle of host publicationCritical Transitions in Water and Environmental Resources Management
EditorsG. Sehlke, D.F. Hayes, D.K. Stevens
Pages1134-1141
Number of pages8
StatePublished - 2004
Event2004 World Water and Environmental Resources Congress: Critical Transitions in Water and Environmental Resources Management - Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Duration: Jun 27 2004Jul 1 2004

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 2004 World Water and Environmetal Resources Congress: Critical Transitions in Water and Environmetal Resources Management

Other

Other2004 World Water and Environmental Resources Congress: Critical Transitions in Water and Environmental Resources Management
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySalt Lake City, UT
Period6/27/047/1/04

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Optimizing meter locations in sewage networks for sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) detection'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this