Real Time Water Quality Monitoring & Alert Systems, Applications and Sustainable Monitoring using...

REAL TIME WATER QUALITY MONITORING

AND ALERT SYSTEMS, APPLICATIONS AND

SUSTAINABLE MONITORING USING OPEX

BUSINESS MODEL

Water India 2011, Water Purification, Recycling & Supply

February 10-12 2011, New Delhi, India

TriTechTritech Group Limited SysEng (S) Pte Ltd

Abstract

The paper covers the following:

o Methodology of Real Time Monitoring and Alert

System (RTMAS) for Water Quality system

successfully deployed in Singapore.

o Considerations for sustainable operation of RTMAS.

Use of OPEX (Operational Expense) Model in water

quality monitoring

Real Time Water Quality Monitoring and Alert System

System Setup and Methods

Illustrates the System Setup based on two following

applications successfully deployment in Singapore:

o Remote Monitoring of Reservoirs Water Quality

profile.

o Remote monitoring of Total Suspended Solid

(TSS) in drainage catchment.


Remote Monitoring of Reservoirs Water Quality Profile

The Challenge:

Water quality in reservoirs varies at different depths.

Water quality at deeper level can deteriorate extensively

even when the water near to surface level still shows good

quality. On the other hand, surface water may show signs

of deterioration, but the extent of problem can only be

properly evaluated with the water quality known for the

entire depth (column) of water.



The Solution:

The Profiler Station is a

fully automated system

designed for measuring the

entire vertical column of

water qualities of the

reservoir. These stations

continuously winch the

water quality sensors to

various pre-programmed

depths every 20 minutes.

(programmable interval)



The 5 main components of Reservoir Profile Monitoring system

• Water Quality Sensor

• Profiler Station

• Wireless network

• Data processing and publishing server

• Alert system



Data processing & Hosting Server

and Alert System



Web-base Central Monitoring Room


Remote Monitoring of Total Suspended Solid discharge

The Challenge:

Municipal reservoirs are in higher risk of

pollution as it within the vicinity of highly

populated areas. One major pollution source is

urban construction sites discharging silt contain

water into catchment drainage network which

eventually end up in municipal reservoir(s).

• In Singapore, legislation requires that all construction sites to pre-treat any

water to below 50mg/l of TSS, before it is discharged into open public drain.

• Code of Practice on Surface water Drainage, Clause 6.3 (part of effective earth

control measure ECM)



• As a precaution measurement, wireless TSS monitoring stations are setup at drainage

canals near potential source of pollution discharge.

• When the TSS readings exceed their limits SMS alerts are send out to inform various

stake holders for immediate attention.





Live data from on-site sensors (TSS)

On-demand* Live Video Streaming site

• Brings the real time TSS information from multiple remote sites to the desktop of the

stake holders leveraging on smart sensor, wireless and internet technologies.

• Equipped with live video feed, leveraging on 3G network. The video are also

automatically recorded on the server when TSS readings are above preset trigger level


Sustainable Monitoring with OPEX model

Total Cost of Ownership (TOC) of Water Monitoring System:

1. Initial Setup Cost of Capital Expense (CAPEX)

2. Operation Cost in running and maintaining of the monitoring

system over the entire lifespan.



A sustainable monitoring operation includes two components:

1. Scheduled equipment servicing

2. Specialized manpower running the monitoring

operation.

However the running and operation cost for a sustainable long-

term monitoring are not readily available and are often under-

estimated or left out. This unbudgeted cost often caused

monitoring system to be left in-operable as servicing and support

budget is not available.



monitoring system operation cost 1: Scheduled equipment servicing

Mainly involves on-site system preventive-maintenance, Equipment

repair and logistic of spares.

Risks:

• Cost are commonly not accurately forecasted(especially after

warranty period)

• level of technical skill in preventive-maintenance

• Environmental conditions of the deployment sites

• The annual cost of repairs can easily increase over the years

due to spare obsolescence, consumable parts and wear and

tear.

• Operation expenses for data communication, facilities and

calibration consumables

• Others…



monitoring system operation cost 2: Specialized manpower running

the monitoring operation

Mainly involves specialized manpower in diversified areas of skilled.

The skilled recruited for configuration and setup of monitoring system is

a different skill-set from the requirement in long-term preventive

maintenance and operation of monitoring system

Regular operational maintenance requires areas of expertise in:

• water parameters properties

• sensor calibration and repairs

• electronic and mechanical expertise

• Information Technology and networking

• Facilities and Operational management etc.



Mitigate Ownership Risk with sustainable OPEX monitoring services.

In OPEX model, the service provider supplies a one-stop monitoring

solution:-

• Supplying the monitoring system,

• running the preventive maintenance

• hosting the server system. (Data processing, Data hosting,

Alert system)



Advantage of service provider establishment:

• Focus core business in providing remote monitoring solutions

• Able to amortize infrastructure, equipment and facilities

• Establishment to develop core competence teams over many

monitoring projects.

• Resource for continual upgrade of its monitoring system and

exploring new emerging technologies



Client benefits from

• Able to lease monitoring services anytime (rental basis)

• Leverage on the vast expertise without heavy upfront capital

investment,

• Enjoy a shorter lead time to deployment

• Ensure continuous support through the entire life span of

monitoring operation.

KEY POINT:

This allows the client to focus their valuable resources on

analysis of data for prompt decision making in water qualities

control strategies.



OPEX model over various phases of Water Quality Monitoring System

System Setup Phase

S/no. Cost components Responsibility in CAPEX

model

Responsibility in OPEX

model

1 Measurement

parameters and sensors

selection.

Client requirements inputs and

support from sensor supplier.

Client requirement inputs with

support from service provider

2 Monitoring station

configuration,

fabrication and setup.

System integrators, equipment

distributors and system

suppliers

Supply by Service Provider

3 Back-end wireless

communication and

data server setup.

Wireless equipment supplier,

Telco, Server system supplier,

Software suppliers

4 Server Software

development and

customization.

Software developers




System Operation Phase


model


model

1 Sensor calibration,

laboratories facilities

and reagent supplies

Stake holder’s setup Service Provider’s

Establishments

2 Scheduling of site

maintenance and

servicing

Stake holder’s maintenance

manpower

3 Site station health

check and preventive

servicing

Stake holder’s system

management team

4 Equipment spares and

repairs

Supplier spare inventories and

repair services

5 Server maintenance

and software updates

Stake holder’s software

specialists and suppliers

6 Upgrades involved

with Equipment / spare

obsolescence

Stake holder’s Engineering

team




System Operation Phase (con’t) & End of Monitoring


model


model

7 Measurement Data

auditing

Independent accredited

Laboratories

Independent accredited

Laboratories

8 Data analysis and

decision

Stake holder’s Management

team

Stake holder’s Management

team with Server Provider

support


model


model

1 Decommission of

system

Stake holder’s system

management team Service Provider’s

Establishments

2 Recovery of sites Ad-hoc Contractors


Conclusion

• Water quality monitoring system requires detail planning in both system

configuration setup and operation considerations.

• To ensure sustainability of monitoring, the Critical operation resources are:

• specialized manpower

• facilities

• equipment and redundancies/spares

• support system

• A cost effective option of sustainable monitoring operation is OPEX service

model, which stake holder can leverage on the establishment setup of the

service provider and focus their limited resources on result analysis and

formulation of water qualities control strategies.

Choo Chun Keong

Tel: +65 62875710

Mobile: +65 96673684

[email protected]

Thank You

TriTechTritech Group Limited

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