DIGICARE: Development and Implementation for sensorisation and digitisation in wastewater treatment plans

The La Rioja Water and Waste Consortium (CARE) has launched a sensorisation and digitisation project in wastewater treatment plants to comply with new regulations on overflows and drainage discharges, improve operations and optimise water cycle management in the region.

The initiative aims to modernise sanitation management and improve the operational efficiency of the entire regional network. The Adasa and Aqlara joint venture is developing the sensorisation and digitisation project for wastewater treatment plants in the community of La Rioja, within the framework of the PERTE for the digitisation of the water cycle, and is co-financed by Next Generation EU funds.

Thanks to this digital transformation, the La Rioja Water and Waste Consortium will have greater capacity for detecting and preventing spills, a more efficient response to episodes of rain or overflows, and enhanced compliance with environmental regulations. In addition, the model developed is scalable and replicable in other regions facing similar water management challenges.

Adasa has been responsible for the initiative, which covers a network of 68 collectors, 30 pumping stations, 70 treatment plants and 17 wetlands, to ensure compliance with discharge standards. It has been involved in:

1. Real-time monitoring of quality and quantification of flow in WWTPs and EBARs.
2. Real-time monitoring of quality in authorised industrialdischarges.
3. Development of digital models in different types of WWTPs.
4. Development of a central discharge register.
5. Acquisition and control of new and existing signals.
6. Integration into an open source platform.
7. Integration and development of CMMS.
8. Real-time monitoring of flow quantification in overflows/reliefs.

The infrastructure allows for the prediction of hydraulic behaviour and minimises the detection of discharges, which is essential in a region with 66.6 days of rain per year that affect the sewerage network.

The benefits obtained by facility managers include:

1. Data-driven decision-making and process automation.
2. Anticipation of operational problems and optimisation of infrastructure performance.
3. Maintenance planning and monitoring, spare parts inventory and incident management.
4. Monitoring of authorised discharges and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
5. Controlled treated water quality and energy optimisation.
6. Remote viewing and improved incident response.
7. Evaluation of different scenarios and optimisation of water distribution based on demand and resource availability.
8. Reduction of operating costs and improved system sustainability.

The La Rioja Water and Waste Consortium (CARE) is a public law entity with its own legal personality responsible for providing sanitation and wastewater treatment services established within the framework of the La Rioja Wastewater Sanitation Master Plan and Law 5/2000.