Ramboll develops a model for intelligent wastewater handling, which enables cleansing of a larger amount of wastewater as well as cost savings for the wastewater sector.

Climate change greatly affects our society, and that in turn influences the environment and economy.  It is now necessary to deal with more wastewater than ever before; this can result in it being necessary to enlarge wastewater pools, or to rebuild and remove existing sewer systems. These drastic measures could, however, be avoided.  Ramboll has developed a system for intelligent wastewater handling - it enables the cleaning of a greater amount of wastewater as well as being extremely cost-effective.

Intelligent and sustainable

Are we exploiting the full potential of drainage systems, and how can we improve our control over the cleaning process?  These are the questions that have resulted in Rambøll DK working with the very first Intelligent Wastewater Management System.

“This has never been done before” says Christian Nyerup Nielsen, project leader at Rambøll, describing the connections forged between the management of sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants.

“What is being developed is a system of opening and closing the pumping stations and valves automatically, via rain radars built into the system.  By the summer of 2009 there will be a calibrated model for the sewer system.  It can then be put into practice, by combining both existing software and hardware.” The project started in 2008 with the construction of hydraulics and water-quality models for drainage systems and waste-water plants. These were ready by 2009.  The next phase consists of calculating the optimum scenarios for coordinated management of sewer systems and treatment plants.  This was completed in 2010.  The value of this first part of the project came to 1.6 million kroner.

More control gives better results

Fewer floods, a greater capacity to treat wastewater, and less pollution in that water – these are the goals of the new system.  Ramboll is currently collecting data from the Lynetten and Damhusåen STPs (sewage treatment plants), as well as main drainage systems in the area.  This means we can create an effective new control strategy, which will prevent flooding and relieve the pressure on waste-water treatment plants.  “This is an opportunity to save money”, adds Christian Nyerup Nielsen, “which in turn can be used to address the issue of climate change itself.”