Context

In a demonstration of advanced water management, the Intellistorm® smart water management system, developed by SDS, has showcased its capability to handle significant rainfall events. Deployed at a school in Lancashire, the system effectively managed stormwater over a rainy period, reducing the load on local sewer systems.

The Intellistorm® system utilised weather forecasts over a 7-day period to make informed decisions on water storage and release. By anticipating rainfall, the system was able to create sufficient capacity to capture stormwater, preventing potential flooding and sewer overflows.

The accompanying data (as illustrated in the chart above) highlights the system’s performance. The blue line indicates water depth, while the green line shows the predictive target depth based on forecasted rainfall (represented by the black line). During this period, the system acted multiple times to release water before the actual rainfall occurred, mitigating the impact on the combined sewer system.

Key insights

Proactive management

The Intellistorm® system released water prior to predicted rainfall, effectively reducing peak load on the sewer system by several thousand litres.

Forecast vs actual

The data illustrates the variability between forecasted and actual rainfall, a critical factor in understanding the system’s operational decisions.

Significant capacity creation

By pre-emptively releasing water, the system created significant capacity, allowing it to capture and manage several cubic metres of stormwater.

This intelligent approach to water management is particularly relevant given the increasing frequency and intensity of rainfall events due to climate change. Systems like Intellistorm® are crucial in urban areas where impermeable surfaces can lead to rapid run-off and overwhelm sewer systems.

The proactive release of water before significant rainfall events not only protects the local environment but also ensures that infrastructure can cope with sudden increases in water volume.

The Intellistorm® system’s performance in Lancashire is a testament to the potential of smart water management solutions in creating resilient urban infrastructure.