Monitoring

Dependent upon choices made during the design process, the plant may be monitored using the same systems that the client already has in place or it may be monitored using our open-system setup.

Sensors

We only use top-of-the range sensors from Endress & Hauser. With the combination of in-water sensors at various stages of the process, environmental sensors inside and outside the building to measure PAR, temperature and pressure and the control framework for pumps, blowers, valves and level switches we have a complete process-view giving us and our clients the ability to monitor and control the process in real-time. Each plant is also monitored with CCTV inside and out that is recording continuously. The combination of this Data collection means we will build a wealth of operational data that can be used to auto-tune plants in the future on the basis of the influent quality and environmental conditions. For the moment, it means we can automate reporting, build alarms and some automated actions to protect effluent quality.

ELEIoT & WQSP

At the backbone of our intelligent plant management is the ELEIoT system from our partners, Watersource combined with their WQSP (Water Quality Safety Plan) solution. Both of these elements are included in a Cloud environment dedicated for each plant, with a specific ELEIoT gateway used at each location to act as the single point for gathering Data to send to the cloud environment and sending control instructions to change operational settings. The ELEIoT system gives us our control and reporting mechanism for the operation of the plant. The WQSP system allows us to maintain our documentation, planned reactions, operational responses and management system for the plant. The combination of these two systems means that our customers have full visibility on the operation and performance of the plant and that we have a fully maintained, digital record of operations and the ability for everyone maintaining the plant to have a clear record of what to do, and of what has been done before, wherever they may be.

Periodic Testing

Aside from the sensors, there are two sets of testing regimes that are used for the plants. With auto-sampling fridges gathering samples periodically and maintaining them in a temperature-controlled environment, we have the ability to visit on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and carry out testing using our mobile field-testing equipment, as well as package samples for testing by certified laboratories. The manual testing allows us to check-point the in-tank sensors and gather additional Data to be loaded into ELEIoT, with further Data and validation provided by the laboratory testing. The weekly visits with testing also provide us with the ability to carry out our maintenance activities.

Maintenance

While the plant is incredibly simple to operate, aside from the testing regime, there is a regular requirement to clean weirs in clarifiers and the biological reactor, check tank levels for solids tank and biomass tank, ensure there are no unexpected leakages, log test results into ELEIoT and clean sensors and cameras as required. With the WQSP guiding activities and the Cameras recording activities, maintenance activities are monitored and supported. As the mechanical elements in the biological reactors are “powered” by buoyancy delivered using low-energy blowers, there are no entrapment risks. Due to the tanks design and capacity, there is no risk of drowning, with no exposed water available. As per building requirements, the air within the plant is changed five times per hour, limiting any potential exposure to harmful odours or gases. In fact, the principle risk for anyone entering the locked plant in order to carry out maintenance activities is the biological risk of coming into contact with contaminated wastewater, necessitating the use of PPE when conducting activities and normal hygiene precautions and provisions in the event of any such contact.