Distributed Utility System for Storm Water Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sewage and storm water management systems lack flexibility in utilizing treated water, often resulting in inefficient use or wastage, particularly during varying weather conditions, and require large underground tanks that can be overwhelmed during exceptional rainfall events, leading to flooding and untreated water discharge.
Innovation Solution
A distributed integrated water management system that allows for selective routing of water sources to various destinations, including aquifers, and incorporates localized storm water filtration systems to reduce the need for large collection tanks, enabling excess storm water to be diverted and filtered before discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large underground tanks are used to collect storm water, then the system can handle normal rainfall events, but the tanks become overwhelmed during exceptional rainfall events, leading to flooding and untreated water discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the storm water management function into multiple distributed filtration units located throughout the urban area, each handling local storm water independently. This segmentation allows the system to process storm water at many points simultaneously, preventing any single collection point from becoming overwhelmed during exceptional rainfall events.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically routes storm water based on real-time conditions at multiple discharge destinations. When one destination reaches capacity or is unsuitable, the system automatically redirects flow to alternative destinations such as aquifers, impoundments, or bodies of water, providing adaptive response to varying rainfall conditions and destination availability.
2Device complexity
If treated water is discharged to a single destination, then the discharge process is simple, but the system cannot adapt to varying weather conditions and seasonal changes, resulting in inefficient water use
Solution Approach 1:
The water discharge system is designed with multiple discharge destinations (aquifers, impoundments, bodies of water, irrigation systems) that can serve different functions based on conditions. The same treated water can be routed to different destinations depending on weather, season, and destination availability, making the system universally adaptable to various operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates monitoring of weather conditions, seasonal changes, and destination status to dynamically control water routing. This feedback mechanism allows the system to respond to changing conditions in real-time, directing water to the most appropriate destination based on current environmental context and water needs.
3Reliability
If storm water is collected and stored before treatment, then treatment can be performed systematically, but large storage tanks are required that occupy significant space and can be overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment function is distributed across multiple localized filtration units rather than concentrated in one large centralized facility. Each unit performs systematic treatment of its local storm water input, maintaining reliable treatment effectiveness while eliminating the need for large centralized storage tanks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary filtration and treatment at the source through distributed filtration units before water enters the collection and routing system. This preliminary action reduces the volume and contamination level of water requiring further processing, decreasing the required storage capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed utility system includes water source supply lines capable of being placed in fluid communication with a separate water source, water discharge lines capable of being placed in fluid communication with a separate water discharge destination, a water source and destination control manifold to allow selected water source supply lines to be placed in fluid communication with selected water discharge lines, and a storm water collection and distribution system. The storm water system includes a storm water collection conduit and a collected storm water discharge line in fluid communication with the storm water collection conduit, and the storm water discharge line can be placed in fluid communication with the plurality of water discharge lines via the control manifold.