Actual-time monitoring helped Scottish Water handle an surprising upkeep downside at a strategic sewage pumping station in St Andrews, avoiding the necessity for momentary over-pumping and lowering environmental threat, in accordance with expertise provider Xylem. Mark McCullagh, Xylem’s Scotland South undertaking supervisor, writes
Scottish Water and Xylem had been finishing up deliberate upkeep at St Nicholas Sewage Pumping Station (SPS), a big, terminal website in St Andrews, which receives flows from 5 upstream stations. The scope included changing an inlet gate valve and non-return valve (NRV), together with pump impellers and put on plates.
In the course of the works, engineers discovered the isolation valve was not sealing, permitting strain to backflow. This meant the NRV couldn’t get replaced with out totally draining the road again into the moist nicely. Makes an attempt to reseal the flanges failed because the strain had broken the gasket past restore.
Tankering was not viable on account of excessive inflows exceeding obtainable capability, leaving the station reliant on its standby pump. And not using a fast answer, expensive and disruptive over-pumping would have been required – with any failures doubtlessly impacting the well-known St Andrews golf course.
The staff as an alternative developed an answer to limit flows from the 5 upstream stations utilizing their obtainable storage, whereas the rising important was drained and the NRV changed. This method required real-time monitoring of the 5 stations. Crucially, two of the property had been outfitted with Xylem’s Avensor monitoring system, offering stay knowledge on ranges and asset well being.
Information-driven insights
Avensor is a digital service that gives alerts and data-driven insights from a tool related to pumping stations or different property. As soon as a modem is put in, Avensor collects and analyses knowledge to provide an entire overview of all related operations, together with developments and alerts, by way of the net and a cellular app.
Insights from Avensor allowed engineers to remotely monitor circumstances and attend websites solely when essential to pump water in a managed method. The remaining three stations had been monitored by means of periodic website checks. With this intelligence in place, St Nicholas SPS was safely shut down, the rising important totally drained and the NRV changed.
All through the operation, groups labored collaboratively, adapting plans in real-time. In consequence, Scottish Water requested Xylem to cite for added work onsite.
Outcomes
- St Nicholas SPS returned to full operational standing with out the necessity for over-pumping
- Vital value and time financial savings achieved by avoiding further mitigation measures
- Environmental threat diminished, with managed flows stopping air pollution occasions
- Minimal disruption to Scottish Water operations regardless of the complexity of the positioning
- Demonstrated worth of Avensor, offering real-time intelligence at a essential second.
This undertaking highlights how Xylem’s engineering experience, speedy downside fixing and digital monitoring expertise can resolve surprising points on advanced property. It additionally demonstrates the broader worth of Avensor, enabling operators to make knowledgeable, well timed selections that mitigate air pollution threat and ship higher outcomes.
Mike Kelly, Scottish Water’s wastewater networks staff chief, mentioned: “This was a fancy job on a busy terminal pumping station. Having stay data obtainable allowed our staff to handle incoming flows safely, reply shortly and maintain the broader atmosphere protected whereas the work was accomplished. Working carefully with Xylem, we had been capable of restore the station to full operation, avoiding the associated fee and disruption related to momentary over-pumping.”
