New Smart Wastewater System

UPDATED: August 1, 2024

The District has been performing a pilot test of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system to assist our Wastewater Collection Department in the near real time monitoring of sewer flows and critical assets in areas of concerns.

Where It All Started

In 2022, the District began researching ways to better improve the wastewater collection system regarding Infiltration and Inflow (I&I) and Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs). During that time, the District was introduced to SmartCover technology which consists of sensors mounted inside of a manhole that learn to read a wastewater systems behavior between low- and high-level flows in addition to I&I. Soon after, the District decided that it wanted to conduct a pilot test by installing SmartCovers and flow meters which have been deployed since June 2023.

It was during that first stretch of the pilot program when the District began analyzing data which soon revealed that they had unauthorized discharges into their Lift Station W basin. The Wastewater Collection Department staff addressed the issue by regularly inspecting and showing up to the exact location where dumping was identified. Further data analysis over the next several weeks showed that having a presence in the area was enough to stop the illegal dumping activity.

What Does Smart Wastewater Look Like?

On August 21, 2023, the Wastewater Collection Department received an alarm indicating that there was a higher-than-normal flow level and the threshold for a potential Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) had been triggered. The District’s Emergency Operations protocol was set into motion, and staff and sewer vacuum assets were deployed to respond. 

After further evaluation by field supervisors, it was determined that there was not a single blockage but rather multiple blockages that were threatening an SSO in dry weather conditions. The District quickly acted and eliminated the blockages returning the sewer basin to normal operation. 

This event provided operational intelligence of a blockage occurrence. In turn, the District applied the new threshold to the other deployed sewer basins to expedite their Emergency Operations protocol. 

“The District is now getting an idea of how the system is behaving and is using the new technology to generate new ideas. We work to raise the level of service to all our customers in the District as we live and work here too,” says Armando Reyes, the District’s Wastewater Collection Crew Chief. He also added that the “Wastewater Collection Department was able to mobilize after studying the data between the first call and the actual call that let us know that the level trend was still rising and not falling. That also gave us enough time to find the issue and correct it. The SmartCover allowed us to be proactive instead of reactive.”

It’s All in The Data

Pictured to the right is a snapshot view of an alert triggered by the first SmartCover installed within the District – which in turn sparked the idea to explore the possibility of becoming a Smart Utility.

This particular alert captured a main line back up on September 2, 2023. Technicians were able to respond to the call quickly and clear the blockage efficiently before an SSO occurred.

Pictured to the left is another snapshot view of Lift Station O which had a main line blockage between a manhole and lift station wet well on May 13, 2024. Depicted within the graph and legend are three different colors. The red line represents SmartCover O3, the blue line represents SmartCover O21, and the lack of an orange line present, representing a rain gauge, revealed that this was another dry weather event.

 

So, What’s Next?

Governor DeSantis approved $3.5 million via state appropriations for the project.  The District has continued to seek funding for the entire project. Additionally, the District is preparing to roll out the Super Smart Utility Project which incorporates the components of the water distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment systems and ties them all together to give a full picture from start to finish as water travels from consumers tap to the end cycle at our wastewater treatment plant.

About The District

The Immokalee Water and Sewer District was established by the Florida Legislature in 1978, for the purpose of providing water and sewer services to Immokalee, an unincorporated area of Collier County, Florida. The District operates and maintains the water and sewer plants and systems as an Independent Special District of the State of Florida.