IT in Sewers

This is not another satirical entry on the IT industry. This is literally about “IT in Sewers” or to put it professionally it is about “IT in the Drainage Systems” This design solution was a prize winning entry of the “Pan India Solutions Community’s” monthly challenge sometime in the recent past. Rewriting certain sections of the text was imperative for making it a suitable journal entry.

The main reasons for overflowing drains are:

1. Littering causing accumulation of garbage in drains
2. Authorities unable to pin point the exact point of clog within the drainage system and
3. Authorities unable to send a team to the location to clear the clog on time

Littering is an issue with social responsibility, there is not much IT can do. In my country, finding people with civil sense is as difficult as finding them with common sense.

However, IT can be of immense help with the other points, equipping the authorities with the right information at the right time to keep the drains clean (figuratively speaking) and clear. 

Using sensors, geo-spatial data and mobile technology can help overcome these two inadequacies. As a first step, it will be required to embed sensors in the entire drainage system. These equally and logically spaced sensors should be designed to be able to determine the level and the velocity of water currents. The difference in the level and speed of water between adjacent sensors can give a fair idea on the presence of blockage in the drain.

A Single Line Diagram (SLD as the industry will like to call it) will provide a layout of the drainage system along with the locations of the sensors. Diagrammatically depicted as:

 

There can be two modes of transmitting the sensor readings in real time to a centralized remote Control Center:

1. Consolidating the readings from several sensors first to a single location called “Concentrator” and then transmitting the data from the Concentrator to the Control Center using GSM/CDMA mobile technology. Cheaper technology like Bluetooth or Infrared can help transmitting data between the sensors and the Concentrator
2. Directly transferring data from the sensor the Control Center using mobile technology

Appending the readings from the sensors in the drain to the SLD will enable the managers of the Control Center with the data required to decide on the presence of a block in the drain. Super imposing the SLD on a satellite image of the region will provide the managers with geo-spatial information that will help in assigning priorities and in routing mobile cleaning units, equipped to clear the clog, to the clog site.

Additional feature of this system design can include:

1. Setting auto alerts for clogging which require immediate attention
2. Creating work orders for mobile unit field staff
3. Business rules for setting priorities to work orders created. Some areas will require immediate clearance of clog while others can be delayed for a period of time  
4. Better city planning
5. Introduce regular maintenance works

With multiple mobile servicing units, work assignment and clog clearance can be efficient by using the GPS to track and locate the nearest field staff and assigning work to them.

This design solution can be extended for any piping system such as gas and water. For such utilities, this system can facilitate in:

1. Keeping a tap on leakage due to breakage or burst in pipes
2. Keeping a tap on theft
3. Ensuring timely and efficient supply
4. Better Planning of supply connection
5. Better forecasting of requirement

Does your country have such a solution in place? What are the typical features or pain areas you think there could be?