DIGAR-CV: Digitisation of the wastewater treatment sector through the installation of sensors at 467 WTP

EPSAR manages a large network of sanitation and wastewater treatment facilities in the Valencian Community, with varying levels of sensor coverage, multiple information systems and uneven availability of operational data.
A large number of wastewater treatment plants had a low level of digitalisation and sensor coverage, particularly in relation to critical water quality parameters, flow measurement, discharge control and automatic data transmission.

The primary requirement was to provide the facilities with a measurement and communication infrastructure that would enable continuous, remote monitoring of key parameters relating to inflow, outflow, discharge and reuse, generating reliable, traceable data that could be utilised on EPSAR’s digital platform.

The technical challenge involved deploying a standardised solution that was nevertheless adaptable to the specific characteristics of each WWTP, installing new instrumentation and, where necessary, utilising existing signals, whilst ensuring secure connectivity, real-time monitoring, compatibility with industrial environments, and compliance with
requirements relating to cybersecurity, traceability, maintenance and data reception.

Adasa has provided a comprehensive solution for sensor installation, integration and data transmission, combining field instrumentation, integration cabinets, industrial communications and OT cybersecurity measures.

• Installation of water quality probes, flow meters, level sensors and overflow detection sensors, portable stations for discharge monitoring and smart vision devices. This equipment enables the monitoring of inlets, outlets, relief outlets, collectors and reuse points at the WWTPs included in the project.
• For data integration and transmission, Adasa has proposed an architecture based on Ewon Flexy 102 industrial devices within the plants and Lacroix Sofrel DL4W data loggers at external relief outlets without a power supply. The solution enables the integration of new and existing signals via protocols such as Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, 4–20 mA analogue signals and digital signals.
• Data is transmitted securely to the central server via 4G communications, a private APN, VPN and the MQTTS protocol with TLS encryption, ensuring reliability, traceability, security and future scalability.

The benefits for facility managers include:

1. More connected, proactive and data-driven management
2. Access to real-time operational information
3. A wide range of data types: water quality, flow rates, relief discharges, discharges and reuse
4. Further analysis of the data on the EPSAR digital platform
5. Improved remote monitoring
6. A more agile response to incidents

The Valencian Community Public Wastewater Treatment Authority (abbreviated to the Wastewater Treatment Authority) was established by Law 2/1992 of the Valencian Regional Government, dated 26 March, as a public-law body with its own legal personality, independent of that of the Valencian Regional Government, and with full public and private legal capacity.