Groundwater Infiltration Risk Mapping
Challenge
Infiltration can add stress to the wastewater network, requiring the transport and treatment of additional water.
This reduction in capacity associated with infiltration can also increase the likelihood of Storm Overflow (SO) spills.
Research
This project aims to generate groundwater hazard mapping for a pilot study in the SWW sewer network, developing RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rating for areas most prone to ground water infiltration and enabling SWW operations staff to proactively target site investigations.
By cross referencing this new map with areas of high SO spill and pollution events, it provides an enhanced evidence base to target infiltration and contribute to a reduction in these events.
Research on the groundwater project involves scoping, building, calibrating, and demonstrating a range of groundwater models across several trial catchments. These models can then be applied in operationally focused follow on projects to extend successful approaches across the entire SWW network, ultimately aiming to identify how best to target infiltration reduction measures.
Research
Impact
The project has so far completed a range of detailed and screening models for catchments across the SWW network, including the Lower Otter, Dawlish and Cambourne regions.
This has included a range of highly calibrated MODFLOW models, as well as an innovative screening methodology, intended to provide a high level hazard assessment using readily available data. This new methodology is suitable for rapid scaling in a way previous methods have not been capable of, providing huge opportunity to better understand and target interventions to manage our wastewater networks.
Project team
Dr James Webber
Senior Lecturer in Water Systems Engineering
Prof Akbar Javadi
Professor of Geotechnical Engineering
Dr Nejat Zeydalinejad
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Mark Jacob, Senior Asset Manager, South West Water Professor Javadi and Dr Webber are members of the prestigious Centre for Water Systems, based at the University of Exeter
Funded by
