English wastewater network to undergo extensive satellite surveillance

SUEZ has recently signed a contract with Anglia Water agreeing to provide the water utility company satellite surveillance of its entire water recycling network, following a successful trial in 2023. The survey will aim to identify possible ex-filtration points near to a watercourse so Anglia Water can expand the scope to the whole recycling network. The entire network will be surveyed four times over the next twelve months to fulfil the project.

SUEZ along with ASTERRA, their technology partner, has provided satellite leak detection to Anglia Water’s drinking water supply over the last few years. Their flexible and innovative approach has saved the organisation ten megalitres daily, enough to fill four Olympic-sized swimming pools every day.

Effective network surveillance is crucial for the efficient operation of wastewater systems. Ageing sewer networks are more and more susceptible to infiltration and exfiltration issues, while the effects of climate change have stimulated network deterioration even further. These factors lead to further surface water overflows and sewer flooding, especially in older urban locations where Combined Sewer Overflows are prone to becoming overloaded during heavy levels of precipitation.

Using satellite surveillance technology provides a contemporary, non-invasive solution to the difficulties of locating wastewater leakage; the same technology helped discover water on Mars. This cost-effective and reliable approach offers several superb benefits: a better understanding of pipe conditions, effective maintenance procedures, optimised resource allocation – as well as seamless integration into existing water management systems.

The benefits of Satellite surveillance enables wastewater management organisations to prioritise pipes needing replacement, repair or rehabilitation, helps to avoid polluting the local community and its flora and fauna, reduces risks to public health from the effects of sewer overflows, significantly reduces negative impact on bathing waters, and enables compliance with environmental legislation.