The inter-municipal Syndicat de la Région Mulhousienne (SIVOM) has dramatically reduced wastewater overflows in its aging urban drainage system by 75% through the implementation of SUEZ’s AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage software. This significant achievement not only ensures compliance with stringent environmental regulations but also underscores the potential of digital innovation in transforming public infrastructure.
Serving a population of 490,000 across a sprawling 791-kilometer network, SIVOM’s wastewater system, in the Alsace region of France, has been in operation for well over a century. Originally constructed between 1897 and 1902, the network met the needs of a bygone era. Over time, it has struggled to cope with modern demands, resulting in frequent overflows and growing challenges to meet 21st-century regulations.
The Challenge: An Outdated Network
By 2015, SIVOM found itself grappling with 15 overflows per year, a figure that far exceeded the regulatory allowance of just four incidents annually. These overflows posed serious risks, both environmentally and for regulatory compliance. Complicating matters further was the network’s limited monitoring capabilities, with insufficient measurement points across the system. Despite having unused capacity at the wastewater treatment plant, SIVOM was unable to fully utilize this resource, exacerbating the system’s inefficiencies.
Initially, SIVOM considered conventional infrastructure expansion and in 2003 proposed to add 45,000 cubic meters of additional storage capacity to the system. However, this approach was projected to be prohibitively expensive, offering limited long-term value. As the costs and complexity of this traditional approach became clear, SIVOM began exploring more innovative solutions that could deliver better results at a lower cost.
Turning to Digital Innovation
The turning point came with a strategic re-evaluation in 2015, which led SIVOM to shift focus from purely physical infrastructure to a smart network approach. This marked the beginning of a partnership with SUEZ. Together, they embarked on a project to implement AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage, a cutting-edge software solution designed to optimize urban drainage systems in real time.
AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage offers three levels of decision support, ranging from basic monitoring to advanced predictive control. The software allows operators to visualize the entire network in real time, predict potential overflows based on weather forecasts, and automatically adjust system operations to prevent incidents before they occur. This capability was particularly appealing to SIVOM, which needed a solution that could enhance its control over the network without the need for extensive new infrastructure.
Remarkable Results and Operational Efficiency
The results of the implementation were both immediate and impressive. By adopting AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage, SIVOM managed to reduce the number of annual overflows from 15 to fewer than four, achieving full compliance with regulatory requirements. This 75% reduction not only mitigated the environmental impact of the overflows but also significantly lowered the risk of regulatory penalties.
Financially, the decision to embrace digital innovation was a success. The software-driven approach reduced the anticipated investment costs by 55%, as it eliminated the need for large-scale infrastructure expansions. Instead of expensive new storage facilities, SIVOM was able to optimize its existing resources, including the underutilized capacity at the wastewater treatment plant. This allowed for a more efficient allocation of both financial and operational resources.
Beyond the reduction in overflows, the AQUADVANCED® system also brought about operational efficiencies. The software’s predictive capabilities enabled operators to shift from reactive to proactive management. By forecasting potential issues before they occurred, the system allowed SIVOM’s team to address problems early, reducing the time and effort spent on emergency interventions. This not only improved day-to-day operations but also freed up staff to focus on other critical tasks, further enhancing the overall efficiency of the network’s management.
A Model for the Future
“The implementation of AQUADVANCED® has been a game-changer for us,” a spokesperson from SIVOM noted. “We now have the tools to manage our network more effectively, ensuring that we not only comply with regulations but also operate in a more cost-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.”
SIVOM’s experience with AQUADVANCED® serves as a compelling case study for other utilities facing similar challenges. Their success demonstrates the potential of smart technologies to revolutionize the management of sewage networks, offering a path forward that is both sustainable and economically viable.
This project has set a new standard for urban drainage management, showing that with the right digital tools, even century-old systems can be brought up to modern standards.
suez.com/uk
