CSO Forecasting: Np Surprises
As infrastructure ages and the frequency of extreme weather increases, so do asset impact events such as flooded residential areas, sewage overflows and failed dams. Especially, CSOs for cities that use combined sewer systems not only spill sewage into our waterways, but also spill polluted stormwater runoff that flows off rooftops, streets and other hard surfaces.
Now with CSO forecasting combined with a map overlay, based on real-time monitoring and advanced analysis tools, specific locations and areas of a collection system are highlighted where potential problems are predicted to occur. Operations staff and engineers can strategize and prepare to prevent or mitigate overflows, protecting infrastructure and the environment.
Infinitii CSO Forecaster by FlowWork uses GIS-based maps, Machine Learning, and up to eight discrete weather models to identify when and where collection system overflows will take place up to seven days in advance. And the City of Elkhart, using this solution, was recognized by the Indiana Water Environment Association (IWEA) with the 2018 Collection Systems Large Facility Award. Elkhart is the first Great Lakes Basin community to provide a user-friendly, web-based map to notify the public where to take caution when engaging in recreational activity in local rivers and creeks, during and after a rainfall or snowmelt event.
As far as I’m concerned, we could take one step forward, using CSO prediction to provide insights for the implementation of GI (Green Infrastructure). For example, with prediction of places with higher CSO risk, we can determine the potential site for rain gardens implementation around the spots to make full use of the CSO prediction and get the GI implementation more cost-efficient.
