Monitoring wastewater flow in remote or hard-to-reach areas remains a challenge. These sections of remote sewer infrastructure must be monitored, but there are not always sufficient ‘eyes’ underground to do this.
This challenge is compounded by parts of the sewer network that typically lack power and connectivity, making it especially difficult to gain insights into system performance.
It can also be difficult to detect blockages, overflow risks, and inflow and infiltration (I&I) early, further increasing maintenance costs and environmental risk.
The Solution: A Portable, Self-Powered Logging System with Built-In Intelligence
Danish company Consibio has developed the Consibio Logger WD-68, a portable datalogger designed specifically for these challenging environments.
Founded in 2017, Consibio is a spin-out from the Department of Engineering at Aarhus University and has grown into a mission-driven provider of real-time monitoring and automation solutions designed for use throughout the sustainable water, wastewater, and environmental sectors.
The company’s core offering is a plug-and-play IoT platform that captures, analyzes, and controls critical environmental data, including flow, level, pH, and H2S.
Consibio’s solution offers intelligent decision-making and ease of deployment, enabling proactive compliance, maintenance, and efficiency without the need for comprehensive technical expertise.
Consibio Logger WD-68 with VEGAPULS C21 sensor. Image Credit: VEGA Grieshaber KG
The battery-powered Consibio Logger WD-68 features cellular and satellite connectivity and is packaged for rapid deployment in challenging settings such as manholes and underground chambers.
The logger integrates VEGA’s radar sensor VEGAPULS C 21 in order to reliably capture real-time level data from the sewer. It is also compatible with other pressure devices and radar sensors from VEGA, however.
VEGAPULS C 21 delivers accurate non-contact level measurements irrespective of dirt, weather, or changing flow conditions. Its robust design and compact size allow it to be directly mounted above the wastewater in a manhole.
Overflow structure at a wastewater utility in Jutland, Denmark. Image Credit: VEGA Grieshaber KG
Data acquired using the VEGAPULS C 21 is fed into Consibio’s own cloud-hosted software, allowing utilities’ staff to view data via The Rich Dashboard. The system leverages basic input values, such as slope and pipe diameter, to calculate flow in real time, delivering actionable insights and early warnings of risks, such as overflow and I&I. These capabilities offer a comprehensive view of otherwise blind spots in the infrastructure.
VEGA is a global sensor manufacturer offering level, point-level, and pressure measurement sensors, as well as the devices and software required to integrate them into process control systems.
The company has been pioneering innovative measurement technology for more than 65 years. Its headquarters are in Schiltach, Germany’s Black Forest, with further representation in over 80 countries.
Its instruments have been developed to deliver ease of use, maximum safety, and reliable performance across an array of demanding industries, including water and wastewater, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, energy, chemicals, and shipbuilding.
Better Decisions and Cleaner Cities
Consibio Data Loggers have already installed sensors in ten countries, enabling municipalities across the US and Europe to gain valuable insights into their sewer networks. These sensors enable early detection of signs of overflow or infiltration, so problems can be addressed before they escalate.
The system runs independently of external power or infrastructure, enabling it to be implemented in areas where conventional monitoring was historically impossible. Basing measurements on VEGA’s trusted radar technology affords utilities unmatched confidence in the critical data needed to plan maintenance or investments.
Being able to combine VEGA's reliable sensors with our own data analysis tools means we can offer something that's both simple to deploy and powerful in what it reveals. For many customers, this is the first time they've had real insight into what's happening underground.
Søren J. Kjær, CEO at Consibio
Summary
The partnership between VEGA and Consibio highlights how trusted measurement technology can unlock new value when combined with practical design and smart software.
I’ve been using VEGA for a long time and I’m very happy with it. The combination of VEGA and Consibio’s Data Logger gives us a solution that is intuitive and extremely reliable – it’s something I prioritize above everything else.
Ulrik Thygesen, Automation Technician, KLAR Forsyning, Denmark
Combining reliable radar with a compact datalogger offers significant benefits to cities modernizing their infrastructure.
We rely on Consibio’s solutions for accurate measurements of H2S and flow in our sewer systems. Our close collaboration with Consibio continues to push the industry standard forward – not only in terms of measurement quality but also through automated data analysis. Their technology and commitment have significantly enhanced both our operational efficiency and long-term planning.
Latif Laari, Environmental Compliance Manager at VVWRA, Victorville, CA
Acknowledgments
Produced from materials originally authored by VEGA Grieshaber KG.
This information has been sourced, reviewed, and adapted from materials provided by VEGA Grieshaber KG.
For more information on this source, please visit VEGA Grieshaber KG.