BASINiQ Revolutionizing Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Detection in Wastewater Collection Systems

It is well established that utilities experience continuous challenges from inflow and infiltration (I&I) resulting in collection system overflows and increased flows to plants. These result in threats to public health, negative environmental impact, and increased utility operating costs. To respond to these challenges, utilities employ a variety of means to locate and assess the impact of I&I including flow monitoring systems. While this can be a costly endeavor, these systems can effectively be used to locate and quantify flows in suspect basins. Yet, utilities need additional more localized assessment that can cost-effectively determine the specific pipe segments within the basin where remedial action (lining, grouting or replacing) will directly reduce I&I impact. To pinpoint these I&I locations, utilities have discovered a new, highly cost-effective method termed Target Basin Assessment (TBA). This approach combines two technologies: manhole digital-twins and sensor-dense level monitoring. Within 60 & 90 days, the TBA methodology can reliably identify the precise pipe(s) or manhole(s) I&I sources. With this, capital resources can be applied with high assurance of successful remediation. To illustrate the efficacy of the TBA methodology, two utilities, San Rafael Sanitation District (California) and City of North Logan (Utah) employed it. San Rafael conducted a 14-basin assessment, quickly ranking them by I&I contribution levels. North Logan applied TBA across 68,000 linear-feet of pipe using 80-sensors and were able to pinpoint the exact manhole and pipe needing remediation. Using video, the TBA findings were confirmed and validated. The value of the TBA methodology is rooted in its assessment speed and deployment scale. It uses radar-based level monitors which are highly accurate, fast and easy to deploy, and low-cost. This combination enables dense and wide-scale deployment with hundreds of monitors being installed concurrently. This compresses the timeframe for pinpointing I&I locations without significant impact on staff resources. These studies are significantly less costly while providing highly consistent results when compared to alternative methods including flow metering, smoke testing, flow isolation, or CCTV studies. This presentation will provide a detailed description of the TBA methodology including the interplay of the level monitors and manhole digital twins. It will present assessment findings and provide full assessment costs.