SAN DIEGO EXPERIENCE: APPLICATION OF NEW SYSTEM FOR SANITARY OVERFLOW EARLY DETECTION

The City of San Diego's Metropolitan Sewer System serves a population of 1.9 million generating an average annual flow of 7.89 m3/s (180 mgd). In an innovative attempt to minimize the occurrence of major sewage spills, the Metropolitan Wastewater Department of City contracted with the firm of ADS Environmental Services to implement San Diego's Flow Metering Alarm System (FMAS). The system is fully automated and integrates several customized algorithms for early detection of actual or potential sewage spills. The FMAS consists of the IntelliScan® server, two computer workstations, and 96 permanently installed ADS sewer flow meters. The objective of the FMAS implementation is to detect the anomalous flow conditions within approximately one hour of occurrence and to provide early warning to the operator.