Using Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) for Locating and Characterising Infiltration and Inflow into Foul Sewers before, during and after Snowmelt Period

• Published in: Water (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 8; p. 1529
• Main Authors: Panasiuk, Oleksandr, Hedström, Annelie, Langeveld, Jeroen, de Haan, Cornelis, Liefting, Erik, Schilperoort, Remy, Viklander, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 2019
• Subjects: Cables; Climate; Cold weather; distributed temperature sensing; Drinking water; foul sewers; Groundwater; infiltration and inflow; infiltration and inflow; Rain; Rainfall; Runoff; Sewer systems; Sewers; Snowmelt; Stormwater; Urban Water Engineering; VA-teknik; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Water treatment; Weather; Sweden
• ISSN: 2073-4441; 2073-4441
• DOI: 10.3390/w11081529

Infiltration and inflow (I/I) into sewers cause negative effects on the sewer system, wastewater treatment plant and environment. Identifying the causes and locating the inflows is necessary in order to address the I/I problem. This paper focuses on using distributed temperature sensing (DTS) for identifying, locating and characterising I/I into a sewer system during the end of winter–beginning of summer transition period under dry and wet weather conditions. During snowmelt, several locations with I/I were identified, while these locations did not show I/I during storm events after the snowmelt. In addition, during a very heavy storm after the snowmelt period, I/I was found at other locations. Therefore, DTS was demonstrated to be effective in identifying the type of I/I and in locating I/I. Finally, I/I monitoring campaigns in cold climates should take into account the variety of pathways of I/I during snowmelt and during rainfall.