Sewer sleuths

Sewer systems are under growing stress from climate change, as rainfall grows and becomes more intense. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates more than $700b is needed over the next 20 years simply to maintain current networks. To improve predictive maintenance of sewer systems, DC Water uses PipeSleuth to analyze pipe inspection video footage, detecting anomalies faster and at less cost. And a project in Sheffield, England analyzed more than 21,000 days of data, using Fuzzy Logic (FL) algorithms to predict blockages in sewer pipes up to 2 weeks in advance, improving the performance of combined sewer systems, which collect rainwater runoff and domestic sewage into a single pipe, and avoid overflow events that discharge untreated waste into nearby waterways.

As use of AI-enabled tools for monitoring sewer and stormwater systems grows, cities can boost their ability to withstand climate-change induced downpours. This not only improves local water quality but also reduce surface flooding and postpone or eliminate the need for costly infrastructure projects.