The Tarragona Water Consortium (CAT) faced challenges in maintaining potable water quality due to highly variable raw water conditions, affecting over one million users. Implementing Badger Meter's BlueEdge® solutions, including the spectro::lyser V3, enabled continuous monitoring and optimization of treatment processes, ensuring safe drinking water and infrastructure protection.
Description of the use case / service / project
Client Profile and Context
The Tarragona Water Consortium (CAT) is responsible for producing and distributing potable water to approximately 86% of Tarragona province's population in Spain. This encompasses around 800,000 residents on average, with numbers rising to 1.5 million during peak summer demand. CAT abstracts up to 4.0 m³/s of raw surface water from the Ebro River, treating it at the Ampolla Drinking Water Treatment Plant (DWTP) and distributing it through a 400 km pipeline network, which includes 23 pumping stations and over 100 delivery points.
Challenges in Water Quality Management
CAT's raw water supply is subject to significant variability due to factors such as seasonal changes, reservoir operations, algal blooms, industrial discharges, and wastewater outfalls. These fluctuations can adversely affect water chemistry, posing risks to drinking water safety and potentially disrupting treatment operations. Without continuous monitoring, these variations could compromise the quality of water supplied to consumers and strain aging infrastructure.
Implemented Solution: BlueEdge® Sensor Network
To address these challenges, CAT implemented Badger Meter's BlueEdge® solutions, integrating advanced monitoring technologies to enhance water quality oversight and optimize treatment processes. Key components of this implementation include:
Continuous Water Quality Monitoring
spectro::lyser V3: This device provides real-time, in-situ measurement of multiple water quality parameters, including UV254 absorbance, turbidity, and dissolved organic carbon. By deploying the spectro::lyser V3 at critical points, CAT can continuously monitor raw water quality, enabling early detection of contaminants and facilitating prompt responses to water quality fluctuations.
Data Integration and Analysis
moni::tool: This software platform aggregates data from various sensors, offering a comprehensive view of water quality across the network. It supports data analysis and visualization, aiding in decision-making processes.
con::cube V3: Serving as a centralized data hub, con::cube V3 collects and processes information from the sensor network, enabling CAT to detect anomalies early, manage hydraulic constraints, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Optimization of Treatment Processes
FilterSmart Technology: By enhancing backwash performance by 35%, FilterSmart reduces water usage and improves the efficiency of filtration systems. This optimization leads to cost savings and more sustainable operations.
Outcomes and Benefits
The integration of BlueEdge® solutions has transformed CAT's approach to water quality management. Continuous monitoring and real-time data analysis have enabled the utility to proactively address water quality issues, ensuring the delivery of safe drinking water to over one million users. Additionally, the system aids in protecting aging infrastructure by providing insights that inform maintenance and operational decisions. The implementation underscores CAT's commitment to leveraging digital solutions for modernizing and expanding water infrastructure, positioning the consortium as a pioneer in the field.
For more information on the spectro::lyser V3, visit the product page: spectro::lyser V3
