With the increasing demand for clean water for human purposes, wastewater asset managers have had to rethink mechanisms to treat wastewater faster and more accurately. In order to address this, the wastewater industry has incorporated industry 4.0 technology into its operations. The process of infusing such technologies into the sector is known as Wastewater Treatment 4.0. If you are new to the wastewater industry, this guide will discuss the technologies that can help wastewater managers save the dwindling water available today.
Why Is Unlocking Wastewater Treatment 4.0 Important?
While wastewater can be cleaned by following primary and secondary steps of wastewater treatment, new forms of waste are harder to remove. For instance, traditional methods to treat wastewater may not remove heavy metals, toxic substances, or chemical compounds. Hence, the cleansed wastewater may not be entirely safe for human purposes. Utility managers, therefore, use industry 4.0 technology to guarantee higher water quality standards. Here is how four advanced technologies are helping wastewater managers in wastewater treatment.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is adopted to warn managers of filaments. Filaments are fungi or bacteria that can cause foaming in wastewater. While this is typically removed through the sludge process, incorporating AI can address sludge expansion problems. Thus, AI can improve wastewater treatment’s aeration and pump efficiency with real-time monitoring capabilities as managers can guarantee the number of bacteria is removed in every phase. This is also a more reliable method of monitoring wastewater quality and detecting any infections caused by wastewater. In this respect, IIoT incorporates smart sensor technologies to surveillance the water quality and quantity produced. It is attached to various wastewater industry assets to monitor their heath. It can moreover carry out ground-level analysis and take steps for flood management.
Predictive and Prescriptive Analytical Tools
Predictive and prescriptive analytics tools help wastewater managers monitor their wastewater assets’ health. An integral aspect of wastewater treatment is to ensure that the assets used are maintained. Failing to do so could not only lead to its breakage, requiring managers to incur expenses to repair it but would also mean that the treatment process will not be as efficient. By infusing predictive and prescriptive analytical tools, managers can be warned of any impending risks or be notified of the right time maintenance is required. Through this, the lifespan of assets can be increased and can reduce any downtime. Predictive and prescriptive analytical furthermore merges all data into one central place and can produce detailed reports. As a result, managers can make smart decisions to improve energy levels, resources, money and time.
Digital Twin
Finding feasible designs and engineering methods to ensure wastewater is treated correctly can be a technical and tedious process. It requires engineers to test out the tanks and other assets used consistently to guarantee that they can withhold the pressure and amount of wastewater passed through the asset and that they can withstand various environmental conditions. Traditionally, managers had to make the asset and test its feasibility simply. With digital twins, however, managers will no longer have to be in the dark until it is made. The advanced technology of digital twins lets asset managers make a digital replica of any type of asset and stimulate what-if situations, all the while monitoring its reaction. By testing and recording its reactions, managers can at once make the asset that is perfect in design, layout, function and every other aspect.
Geospatial Information System (GIS) Technology
GIS is a technological advancement tool that enhances asset visualisation abilities. It monitors assets in real-time, whereby it collects and gives managers an aerial overview of wide geographical footprints. Cover the wastewater treatments in an entire city through GIS technology. Map out all wastewater treatment assets and ensure they are in optimal condition daily. Municipal councils that must mainly handle various wastewater assets can now do it under one smart screen. No matter where they are located, managers will be instantly notified when an asset requires maintenance or shows signs of breakage. This way, wastewater utility managers can prioritise which assets require imminent repair and utilise public funds efficiently. Maintenance teams can be deployed on time and will not need to waste time conducting tests to find the root cause when GIS does all the detective work for them. One significant advantage GIS provides the ability to know of natural disasters that may potentially occur. This gives utility managers time to implement collateral measures to protect their wastewater whilst evacuating the public to safer places if required.
Cerexio Provides Compact Solutions that Embraces Wastewater Treatment 4.0
Cerexio’s Smart Infrastructure Asset Suite is an all-equipped advanced technological solution for wastewater asset managers. It includes a range of industry 4.0 solutions that can help individuals in the sector to treat wastewater, monitor wastewater assets and receive valuable insights to improve overall operations. This includes Cerexio Digital Twin System, Total Investment System, Predictive Maintenance, AI, GIS technology and more. This gives wastewater asset managers a comprehensive overview of any toxic and harmful solids and organic and inorganic matter that remains during and after wastewater treatment from one smart screen. It, moreover, helps asset managers monitor and keeps track of their lifecycle, thereby preventing random breakdowns and wastage. By ensuring that assets meet high standards, wastewater utility providers can also assess the quality of wastewater produced after treatment. Take advantage of the detailed reports, recommendations and disaster management tools that will help you to manage, and protect the wastewater treated annually. With Cerexio, you can ensure that the hard-earned taxpayer’s money is spent to protect them.
Connect with Cerexio to learn how your wastewater treatment can guarantee its quality and safety standards before merging it with fresh water bodies when wastewater treatment 4.0 is incorporated.
Ensure Wastewater Is Safely Reused for Human Purposes
Before global warming, wastewater underwent a natural treatment process which, in other words, meant that water naturally cleaned itself. Hence, the wastewater that subsequently joined water bodies did not affect clean water surfaces, as it would be overpowered by clean water. This meant the waste in the water was diluted. Today, however, the amount of wastewater generated is much higher, making it hard for nature to clean itself promptly. Consequently, clean water surfaces are now overpowered by wastewater, contaminating it much faster and more intensely. Therefore, the changes wastewater does to the clean water bodies are irreversible unless humans adopt advanced technologies to treat it. Water utility providers thus utilise wastewater treatments to speed up the natural purification process.
Wastewater managers are responsible for ensuring that the treated wastewater is safe for human reuse. While wastewater is not necessarily used for drinking, it must be safe for domestic, recreational or gardening purposes. It is, therefore, not sufficient to believe that wastewater is thoroughly cleaned just because it has followed the relevant treatment stages. Infusing wastewater treatment 4.0 means guaranteeing that you have taken due care to ensure wastewater is safe every time it is treated. The data-driven insights industry 4.0 technology allows you to monitor how clean wastewater is and therefore comply with the highest safety standards.
