New intelligent sewer technology is being pioneered by Thames Water in a game-changing drive to prevent pollution from blockages caused by cooking fat and wet wipes.
As a digital leader in the industry, Britain’s biggest water company is trialling the next generation of ‘sewer level monitors’ which send data to help pinpoint emerging problems before they grow into blockages that can cause flooding and pollution.
More than 300 smart devices have just rolled off the production line and are being put to the test in real-world conditions in West Ham and Harlesden in London, and Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.
If successful, the water company says there is then the potential for a bigger trial later in the year.
The upgraded monitors are fixed under manhole covers and measure the depth of wastewater underneath. Rising water can signal a blockage is forming in the pipe, normally caused by fat poured down the sink or wet wipes flushed down the toilet. Blockages can also be caused by debris and tree roots.
Compared to older monitors, the new devices will help Thames Water build a digital model of the network in the trial zones, giving a much clearer picture of what is happening underground. The older monitors are also much bigger, meaning they don’t fit into all types of pipes.
If levels begin to rise, an alert is triggered at Thames Water’s control centre in Reading so engineers can work out the best plan of action, including sending a team to the scene to clear the blockage before it impacts customers or the environment.
The monitors are another example of the tech Thames Water is embracing in the fight against leaks and pollution. In November, it was recognised as one of the country’s leading digital companies after winning four titles at two prestigious IT industry awards.
Anna Boyles, Thames Water operations manager, said:
“We’re industry leaders in harnessing the latest digital tech to find and fix blockages and leaks before they affect customers or the environment.
“These new sewer level monitors are the very latest bits of kit – they’ve only just come onto the market. They have a longer battery life, are smaller and easier to install. The data they provide will give us a much better picture of what's happening in our sewers and will help us to nip blockages in the bud before they cause problems.”
Last year Hounslow had more sewer blockages than any other local authority in the Thames Water region. The West London borough had more than 3,150 blockages between November 2019 and October 2020. In the Thames Valley, Swindon came out worst with 1,332 blockages.
On average, Thames Water spends £18 million every year clearing 75,000 blockages from its sewers, unclogging five house blockages and removing 30 tonnes of material from just one of its sewage works every day.
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