Overview
Westland is located in South Holland between the metropolitan areas of The Hague, Delft and Rotterdam, and the coast. With its greenhouse horticulture industry, the municipality has an important economical function in the region. Recent urbanisation has placed increased pressure on the sewage network, which required better monitoring and management in order to maximise performance of the current asset without need for additional investment.
The Challenge
The Westland sewer system has more than 2,700 mini-pumping stations and, to use this network optimally, it is important to know which inhabitants and businesses discharge unwanted rainwater and when. To accurately monitor the load and pressure on the system, all mini-pumping stations are equipped with sensors.
A new way of doing business
In consultation with Royal HaskoningDHV, a trusted advisor to the municipality for many water-related topics, Westland opted for Aquasuite FLOW, a digital application that fully automates the measurement and analysis of sensor data.
The municipality is constantly looking for ways to use the existing sewer system better and more efficiently. Vellekoop adds, “Many parties with whom we collaborate report digitally. We can include this data in our system and display it geographically. We are expanding step by step because it works best with our people from the field. We give our people new opportunities and ask them for feedback. In this way we continue to work on optimizing our wastewater system.”
A longer asset lifespan
The choice of Aquasuite FLOW enables the municipality to make better use of its existing system. It is not only simpler to monitor the load/pressure on the system; the data from Aquasuite FLOW also helps to predict pressure in a reliable manner. Preventing bottlenecks and overloading directly contributes to a longer asset lifespan. With over 2,700 pumping stations, this offers a considerable cost saving. And, by reducing the number of manual actions, Westland requires less external support and reporting is less open to error.
Impact
By creating a well-organized process and centralising reliable data, the municipality now has a continuous up-to-date overview of the sewer system; as well as continuous insight into the number of peak discharges and the amount of discharges throughout the day. This allows the municipality to immediately determine if and where intervention is needed.
While providing real-time insight instead of delayed hindsight, Aquasuite FLOW is also approximately 50% more cost-effective than the old, manual solution. Other benefits include better asset maintenance and planning; calmer networks with less unaccounted sewage flows; a system that is less open to abuse; and better reporting to third parties.
Contact us
Client
Gemeente Westland / Municipality of Westland
Challenge
To optimise the management and operations of Westland’s existing sewage system.
Solution
A digital innovation, Aquasuite FLOW, for accurate data analysis and real-time, predictive reporting.
Results
- Better asset management with predictive maintenance
- An automatic analysis process of sensor data
- Quick up-to-date insight into the performance of the sewer system
- A uniform process that minimises errors
- Reliable information for efficient management and maintenance
- Improved operational performance of the networks
- Reduced energy consumption
- Cost savings through a longer asset lifespan and the need for fewer external consultants