Water & Wastewater
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Santa Monica, CA puts stormwater to better use with its Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project
SWIP connects a stormwater harvesting tank to an advanced water treatment system under a public parking lot. This system can treat up to one million gallons of water each day and store up to 1.5 million gallons. Stormwater and runoff treated at SWIP are sent for use in irrigation, aquifer recharging, and toilet flushing. Santa Monica diverts 100 million gallons of untreated water from the bay each year and produces 10% of its annual water supply with SWIP.
Santa Monica, CA
United States
Buffalo, NY prevents sewer overflows during storms with the Wastewater Network Optimization System
Xylem's platform collects data from sensors throughout the city's sewer system. Machine learning processes result in predictions about potential overflows during heavy rains. This system automatically channels water into sewer pipes with available capacity, thus preventing wastewater from entering local waterways. The Buffalo Sewer Authority did not need to add new infrastructure for the project and can scale up the platform's use for future system extensions.
Buffalo, NY
United States
Darwin, NT opens Australian-first wastewater treatment process focused on PFAS removal from leachate
A Low-Energy Evaporative Fractionation (LEEF) system was added to the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility. LEEF removes poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from landfill leachate without additional chemicals, thus preventing harmful runoff. This process can eliminate up to 99% of PFAS from leachate. The facility also features a wetland evaporation system for the removal of ammonia and other contaminants. Local officials estimate a processing capacity of 50 megaliters per year for the new system.
Darwin, NT
Australia
Apeldoorn, GE adopts new technologies for emission-free and digitized sewer maintenance
Repair teams use BAM Infra electrical excavators and compactors that eliminate noxious fumes created by diesel-powered machinery. Apeldoorn worked with The People Group on a 3D scanning pilot for sewer surveillance. The scanning system produces accurate images in minutes without lengthy road closures. A BAM Infra reporting system enables predictions of future maintenance needs based on work order response times and system data.
Apeldoorn, GE
Netherlands
Prospect, SA adopts Water Sensitive Urban Design features for better management of water supplies
Prospect pursued WSUD principles to reduce flooding, naturally filter water pollutants, and support local wildlife. Council officials installed 80 TREENET inlets on roadside verges with irrigation to nearby trees. Additional features like the permeable pavement at Devonport Terrace and raingardens on select streets further Prospect's WSUD goals. Passersby learn more about how each feature functions by scanning QR codes on adjacent signs.
Prospect, SA
Australia
Vaughan, ON experiments with Ioticiti system for automated stormwater pond monitoring
The Public Works team selected 10 ponds across the city's five wards for a one-year pilot. Sensors gather real-time data on metrics like salinity, water temperature, dissolved solids, and oxygen reduction potential. The Ioticiti system generates predictive analytics for proactive decisions on Vaughan's stormwater treatment system. City officials use reports from the automated system to inform infrastructure repairs and flood mitigation efforts.
Vaughan, ON
Canada
Glasgow City Council, GB incorporates smart water systems into newly built nursery schools
Greywater tanks at Broomhill and Govanhill Nursery Schools are connected to a Smart Grey Water Systems hub. This platform analyzes upcoming weather forecasts for potential flood risks. Each tank releases collected water into the surrounding property once it receives the hub's signal. This automated process reduces the magnitude of flooding in the surrounding neighborhood. Council officials also approved air-source heat pumps at four new schools for low-cost climate control.
Glasgow City Council, GB
United Kingdom
Game changing technology that transforms harmful algae and wastewater biosolids into biofuel
The City of Altamonte Springs announces a partnership with AECOM and Genifuel to conduct a demonstration using hydrothermal processing (HTP) to transform harmful algae and wastewater biosolids into carbon neutral biocrude and biogas. This technology offers a platform to help solve the renewable energy crisis by transforming raw materials into fuel for cars, jets, trucks and more. A display of this technology is taking place at the Altamonte Springs Regional Water Reclamation Facility
Altamonte Springs, FL
United States
Napier City Council, NZ collects data on water system with manhole sensor network
Water level sensors were installed on 20 manhole covers for an initial testing period. Local officials plan installations at an additional 30 manholes during the pilot. Sensors track passing water for changes in flow rates and levels. Environmental team members receive mobile alerts ahead of potential blockages and overflows. This pilot evaluates the sensor network's impacts on system maintenance, flood prevention, and the health of the Ahuriri Estuary.
Napier City Council, NZ
New Zealand
Pocatello, ID considers $10 million expansion of water/sewer infrastructure to help neighboring city
The City of Pocatello and Bannock County are considering a proposal to expand the city's water and sewer infrastructure to include the neighboring city of Inkom. The $10 million proposal was based on recommendations from preliminary studies conducted in Inkom to determine options for accommodating the needs of its rapidly growing population. The city is evaluating whether the project could benefit from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality's Source Water Protection Grant program.
Pocatello, ID
United States
Bannock County, ID
United States
Bloomington, IN improves water pump technology
CBU found a way to improve old water lifts after prototyping a technical solution. With installation of the computer boards, CBU has more control over the lifts and can essentially code which pumps they want pumping to which tank. The computer boards automate the two lift stations without relying on solely the air compressor's old parts. In establishing safer and more effective technology, this innovation has significantly decreased the chance that the older lifts fail to fulfil their functions.
Bloomington, IN
United States
Bloomington, IN wastewater treatment plans use a noodle to make collecting samples easier
Workers attached a pool noodle to the water sampler, both extending the reach of the worker using the sampler while also creating a form of buoyancy should the worker drop the sampler in the tank. Innovations such as this one, using common items one can buy from the Dollar Store may seem simple and small, but their impact is large. Dropping a sampler is still an annoyance, but the recovery is much faster and the instrument remains intact and no longer needs replacement.
Bloomington, IN
United States