Hunter Water is an Australian facility operating the Belmont WWTP, covering 100,000PE. Facing the dual pressures of population growth and stricter environmental regulations, Belmont needed to expand its hydraulic capacity to ensure sustainable operations. By implementing the Hubgrade Wastewater Plant Performance solution, a cutting-edge software for real-time monitoring and analytics, the plant successfully increased capacity, optimized operations, and achieved a significant 5M€ of cost savings. This case study explores the implementation and benefits of Hubgrade, offering valuable insights for other wastewater treatment facilities grappling with similar challenges.
Belmont Wastewater Treatment Plant needed to increase its hydraulic capacity to effectively manage rising water volumes. Existing infrastructure struggled to accommodate growing demand, risking potential overflows and inefficiencies.
The plant faced challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and compliance with effluent Total Suspended Solids (TSS) limits due to capacity limitations. They were unable to manage increased water flow, which could necessitate constructing an additional clarifier and flow splitting structure.
The plant was operating near its maximum capacity, with frequent instances of peak flow exceeding manageable levels. As a public institution, Hunter Water had to take an important decision: spend capital, and build a new clarifier and distribution structure - all of which are costly, lengthy and expensive investments. Or they could explore the digital twin option.
Hunter Water selected Hubgrade Wastewater Plant Performance to address its hydraulic capacity challenges with advanced digital tools.
They integrated Hubgrade into the plant's systems to enhance data-driven decision-making and optimize flow management, leveraging Hubgrade’s predictive analytics to anticipate and manage peak flow events more effectively.
The solution provided real-time visibility into hydraulic performance, enabling proactive adjustments and resource allocation. By using data integration, they were able to streamline operations and improve overall capacity management.
The implementation of Hubgrade Performance resulted in significant improvements in operational efficiency and cost savings for the Belmont WWTP.
👉 Increased Hydraulic Capacity: The plant can now handle a larger volume of water without compromising efficiency, ensuring smoother operations and reducing the risk of overflows.
👉 Energy Savings: Overall site energy consumption was reduced by 18%, with a substantial 65% reduction in energy use during stormwater events.
👉 Cost Avoidance: By optimizing existing infrastructure and processes, the plant avoided a costly infrastructure expansion, saving approximately 5 million € (8 million AUD).
👉 Improved Compliance: The enhanced operational efficiency has resulted in better compliance with regulatory requirements, particularly concerning effluent TSS limits.
A. Webb, representative of Veolia Water Operations in Australia, highlighted Hubgrade's crucial role in achieving these outcomes: “Operation of HWP relies on stable and reliable network connections and local sensor reliability. In case of sensor failure, HWP offers fallback modes that progressively reduce control complexity.”
⭐ Capacity Enhancement
Leveraging digital solutions like Hubgrade can significantly enhance hydraulic capacity, allowing facilities to manage increased water volumes efficiently.
⭐ Operational Efficiency
Integrating real-time data analytics leads to improved operational efficiency, reducing costs and streamlining processes.
⭐ Cost Savings
By optimizing existing infrastructure, facilities can avoid expensive expansions while still meeting capacity demands.
⭐ Predictive Management
The use of predictive analytics enables proactive management of peak flows, minimizing the risk of overflows and disruptions.
⭐ Scalable Solutions
The success at Belmont demonstrates that similar facilities can achieve capacity expansion and operational improvements by adopting innovative digital solutions.