A Cost-Effective Solution for Precipitation Analyses

A Cost-Effective Solution for Precipitation Analyses
A Cost-Effective Solution for Precipitation Analyses

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The RainAlert III wireless rainfall monitor from ADS provides rainfall data acquisition and intelligent alarming to support wastewater capital improvement, operations and maintenance, and regulatory programs. Applications include inflow and infiltration studies, hydraulic modeling, and overflow response and reporting.

“When we think about managing sewer systems, we often think about understanding the conditions that are happening within them,” says ADS region engineer Kevin Enfinger. “But you also need to understand the drivers that are causing them. Rainfall is one of the key drivers, so you have to be able to measure rainfall effectively.”

Designed for ground-level, pole-mount or rooftop installations, the monitors can be deployed as stand-alone units or part of a comprehensive flow and rain monitoring network. Monitors weigh about 10 pounds and connect to an ADS or customer-supplied tipping bucket.

“A mounting hardware kit allows you to install the device in one of three different configurations,” Enfinger says. “You want to put these in places that are both secure and accessible, while providing rainfall measurements that are representative of the surrounding area. The mounting hardware is meant to be flexible and facilitate those different options.”

Rainfall totals are time-stamped and stored at one-minute intervals or greater based on operator specifications. Data is delivered through established 3G/4G mobile communications. The monitors are configured and managed using ADS Qstart software and are also compatible with ADS FlowView Operations, a web-based application that allows access to rainfall data and associated alarms.

Rainfall intensity alarming enables a faster response to wet weather overflows and alerts operators via text or email when rainfall exceeds a critical threshold. Automatic daily check-in messages provide battery status and other hardware alerts.

“It has some pretty diverse alarm capabilities,” Enfinger says. “You can set the alarm on various intensities of your choosing, and you can direct those alarms to several different people in several different ways. It will alarm up to five different people by text message and up to five different people by email.

“Often, collections system operators and managers understand where the stress points in their system are located and about how much rainfall or rainfall intensity their system can handle before there are problems,” he says. “The ability to understand when that’s happening as soon as it happens can allow them to be more proactive. Monitoring rainfall is one of the ways in which utilities can gain the upper hand and be more aware of what’s happening — and when — in their system.”

Monitors have up to a six-year battery life depending on modem configuration. 800/633-7246; www.adsenv.com.



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