System for Regulation of Combined Sewage Flows

The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle has installed a computer directed control system which provides centralized control of regulator and pumping stations on trunk and interceptor sewers. The system will represent a procedure for regulation of combined sewage flows through use of available storage in trunk and interceptor sewer to reduce or eliminate overflows. The equipment includes the computer based central facility and automatic controls for 36 remote pumping and regulator stations. A procedure has been developed for automatic control using the rule curve technique. The central facility includes an operator oriented console and facilities for background data processing. Communication with remote stations is over leased telephone lines. The equipment at each remote station is designed for failsafe operation to return to local control in an orderly manner in the event of failure of the central station equipment or communication lines.