Detection and Control of Combined Sewer Overflow Events Using Embedded Sensor Network Technology
Timothy P. Ruggaber, Jeffrey W. Talley · 2005
The American Society of Civil Engineers considers combined sewer overflow (CSO) control the greatest water/wastewater infrastructure need in the United States and estimates that it may cost up to $45 billion to solve. CSOs fill their receiving waters with pathogens, nutrients, and organic matter, which can lead to human illness and the eutrophication of these water systems. A wireless embedded sensor network may be a cost effective method of monitoring and controlling the flow of the sewage in the combined sewage lines resulting in a reduction in the number and severity of CSO occurrences. This in-situ system is able to turn an existing "dumb" control system into one that is able to adjust and act on its own in response to changing flow conditions with minimal alterations to the current system. Prototypes are currently being evaluated to support a field deployment in sections of the South Bend, Indiana storm water/wastewater distribution network in the summer of 2005. Wireless sensor networks have already been successfully tested in the two lakes on the University of Notre Dame campus as a part of design evalution for full-scale network.