Sewage network sectorisation

Context

A biological wastewater treatment plant in the Beaujolais region treats, during the grape harvest period, a large part of the discharges from the wineries in its sector. These effluents can affect the proper functioning and performance of the WWTP, due to their high organic load and/or their toxic nature for the plant’s biomass. 

In order to identify the most polluting sections of the sewage network, the Villefranche-Beaujolais-Saône urban community (CAVBS) mandated HYDREKA to carry out continuous monitoring of the quality of the effluents entering the WWTP and a sectorization of the main sections of the network. The objectives for the CAVBS were to identify the origin of the problematic effluents in order to improve its knowledge of the transited flows and to carry out actions with the concerned wineries.

Solutions & Results 

To meet these objectives, HYDREKA deployed 5 NODE multiparametric solutions over a period of 3 months at the WWTP inlet and in the sewer system. This instrumentation enabled real-time and continuous evaluation of several key parameters such as the organic load (NODE biosensor : DBO5eq), flow rate, pH, conductivity and toxicity of the effluents.

The network was thus sectorized into four strategic zones. Long-term events (increases in organic load over several days) and more occasional events (peaks in load and/or conductivity, toxicities) were detected and attributed to one of the four zones of the network. In total, 95%of the events affecting the WWTP were qualified (nature and intensity of the pollution) and could be attributed to one of the upstream instrumented branches.

The relative contributions of each of the branches in terms of organic load, flow rates and number of remarkable events could thus be defined. 

Feedback & Perspectives

This study enabled our customer to have a better understanding of its wastewater network, the amount and the origin of the organic load, the types of events that can impact the performance of the plant and the seasonal phenomena  linked to the grape harvest. This study has enabled the urban community to meet its objectives, which can now lead discussions and consider actions with the actors concerned.

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