Most utilities know inflow and infiltration is consuming collection-system capacity. The harder question is where to act first. This eShowcase shows how flow monitoring narrows a systemwide problem into a focused investigation, using Emerald Coast Utilities Authority in Pensacola, Florida as a working example. After a four-inch rain event triggered high-water alarms at five lift stations, ECUA used redeployable flow and level monitoring to reduce its search from miles of gravity main to a couple hundred feet, where crews identified six to eight lateral breaks admitting stormwater to the sanitary system.
Learning objectives:
1. Compare dry-weather flow, wet-weather flow and rainfall data to identify where I&I is concentrated.
2. Match monitoring technology to site conditions rather than standardizing one device across a system.
3. Use monitoring data to target smoke testing, CCTV and rehabilitation spending.
Vincent Favre is the North American Manager at Flow-Tronic S.A., where he supports utilities and channel partners applying open-channel and full-pipe flow measurement in collection systems. He works with municipal and industrial teams across North America on monitoring strategy, instrument selection and field deployment.
George Elaro is a Sales Engineer at Badger Meter, supporting utilities that use remote monitoring to bring collection-system flow, level and rainfall data together. He works with utility staff on deployment planning and on interpreting site data to guide field investigation.
Mark Robertson is Manager of Wastewater Infrastructure at Emerald Coast Utilities Authority in Escambia County, Florida, a system serving roughly 90,000 wastewater customers with about 900 miles of gravity main and 400 lift stations. He leads ECUA’s collection-system monitoring and I&I investigation program.
