Combined sewer overflow warning and prevention system

Abstract

A monitoring and alert methodology ascertains conditions that may result in a combined sewer overflow (CSO) event. The method employs a semantic model of a combined sewer system that includes specification information describing the components of the combined sewer system. Sensors distributed throughout the components of the combined sewer system sense operating parameter information for those components. A monitoring and alerting (MA) information handling system (IHS) receives operating parameter information from the sensors. The MA IHS analyzes the operating parameter information received from the sensors together with the specification information in the semantic model of the combined sewer system to determine if a combined sewer overflow (CSO) event is possible. The MA IHS generates an alert to provide notification of a possible CSO event if the MA IHS determines that a CSO event is possible. In this manner, an operator may take early corrective action before a CSO event occurs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 providing a semantic model of a combined sewer system that includes specification information with respect to components of the combined sewer system;   sensing operating parameter information by a plurality of sensors distributed throughout the components combined sewer system;   receiving, by a monitoring and alerting (MA) information handling system (IHS), operating parameter information from the plurality of sensors;   analyzing, by the MA IHS, the operating parameter information received from the plurality of sensors together with the specification information in the semantic model of the combined sewer system to determine if a combined sewer overflow (CSO) event is possible; and   generating, by the MA IHS, an alert to provide a notification of a possible CSO event if the MA IHS determines that a CSO event is possible.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a component of the combined sewer system is a main pipe in which a weir is situated, the main pipe handling both wastewater and stormwater, the weir exhibiting a weir height that the semantic model stores as specification information. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the specification information includes respective pipe diameter information for the main pipe, for the wastewater pipes and for the stormwater pipes that connect to the main pipe in the combined sewer system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the MA IHS receives wet weather information and dry weather information to enable the MA IHS to determine if a possible CSO event is a dry weather or wet weather CSO event. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein in response to a determination that a CSO event is possible, the MA IHS instructs a buffer storage to temporarily store wastewater and stormwater to prevent the wastewater and stormwater from overtopping the weir and causing a CSO event.