Case Study - Albany, New York

Smart Watershed Network Management Mitigates Flooding and Reduces Combined Sewer Overflows to the Hudson River

The Challenge:
Beaver Creek District, the largest sewershed within the City of Albany’s combined sewer system, previously discharged over 530 million gallons average of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to the Hudson River every year. The City has invested in several capital projects as part of its Long-Term Control Plan to address CSO and flash flooding issues, while mitigating property damage and potential health and safety hazards.

The Solution:
To maximize the benefits of those investments and optimize the performance of new infrastructure, the City’s Department of Water and Water Supply and their consulting partner,  CHA Consulting, Inc., has implemented a smart network utilizing the Opti platform and products across the Beaver Creek sewershed.
Opti’s advanced technology integrates with multiple platforms, SCADA systems, and applications to extend networks and capabilities for an efficient, smart watershed network. These integrations provide operators with peace of mind by consolidating data and streamlining operations and maintenance of assets outside the fence. The use of Opti’s digital solutions for data-driven stormwater management has helped Albany protect people, property, and environment while meeting regulatory compliance.

Results:
Wet weather flow volume reductions were observed to increased by an average of 8X or 75MG per year using Opti’s adaptive controls as compared with modeled passive control systems. Coordinated control across multiple assets maximizes upstream capture while minimizing downstream overflows at the “Big C” sewer outfall and wet weather flow at the Albany South Treatment Plant.