Summary
CENTAUR® was deployed at Terminus Road in Cowes, a site with a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) to reduce storm overflow releases, regulate pass-forward flow, and protect a downstream wastewater pumping station (WPS).
By dynamically controlling the flow in the sewer, the CENTAUR® system has reduced storm overflow releases, even during periods of heavy and frequent rainfall, providing a low-cost, low-carbon solution with minimal civil works.
The Client
Southern Water manages water supply and wastewater services across the Isle of Wight and surrounding areas. The organisation seeks to maintain high service standards while adopting innovative solutions to reduce environmental impacts and improve network resilience.
Client Benefits
- 90% reduction in storm overflow releases at the site
- Rapid deployment using off-the-shelf equipment and readily available site power
- Protection of downstream properties and a wastewater pumping station
- Low-cost, low-carbon solution requiring no civil engineering works
- Autonomous operation with full visibility to operators via SCADA
The Challenge
Terminus Road CSO activates automatically when the wastewater pumping station becomes overwhelmed and cannot pass forward anymore water. It prevents the water from backing up through pipes, drains and manholes, protecting local homes and businesses from internal and external flooding and pollution.
To reduce the frequency of storm overflow releases, a solution was needed that could dynamically manage flows in near real time and maintain protection for downstream properties and infrastructure – all without major civil works or long lead times.
The Solution
A single-gate CENTAUR® system was installed directly on the face of the manhole controlling flow into the continuation pipe. The system replaced the existing throttle device and leveraged readily available site power and off-the-shelf components, allowing full operational deployment within weeks.
CENTAUR®’s AI-based algorithm dynamically regulates flows to create equivalent storage capacity, reducing storm overflow releases while maintaining protection for downstream properties and the wastewater pumping station.
The impact was immediate: it reduced storm overflow releases by 90%, allowing Southern Water to comfortably meet the government required storm overflow target of 10 or fewer releases per year, down from an average of 79. This includes 135 forecasted storm overflow releases prevented in the first year following installation, despite periods of intense and frequent rainfall. The system continues to operate autonomously with real-time visibility provided through SCADA.
Testimonial
The team brought a high level of professionalism, expertise and responsiveness to the project. CENTAUR® has delivered what was demonstrated in the ICM modelling, successfully translating modelled performance into real-world results. Its flexible single and multiple dynamic gate configurations offer a new and promising approach to managing storm overflow releases more effectively.
Ally Potts Head of Technical - Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force, SOUTHERN WATER
