Problem / Opportunity Definition
The client has a number of roadside assets that house electrical equipment which are located in full sun.

The problem for the cabinets is that excessive heat is causing the internal electronics to fail in the peak heat of summer and reduces the life of components. Cabins contain a larger amount of more critical temperature sensitive equipment and are therefore air conditioned to maintain a constant temperature. These air conditioning units operate 24/7 and could be consuming an unnecessarily large power load.

Historical records show that components in cabinets are typically failing where they are situated in full sun, during the hottest days of the year and at the hottest time of the day. While investigating measures for reducing the temperature in cabinets, there may be scope to also investigate passive measures which could reduce the energy consumption of the Cabin AC units.

• Cabinets – metal cabinets that house electronic equipment, but have no air-conditioning

• Cabins – small brick enclosures that contain a reverse cycle air-conditioner to maintain temperature of temperature sensitive equipment (like a UPS)

The Wanneroo groundwater treatment plant uses a treatment technique known as MIEX Resin Purification which reduces the concentration of dissolved organic carbon/matter within the raw water. The resin has a magnetised component and when contacted with raw water containing ions absorbs into the resin bead. Once adequate contact is achieved the water makes its way into one of six settlers whereby the velocity field is significantly reduced allowing the saturated resin to settle out of the fluid. Once settled the saturated resin is pumped, via the resin recycle pumps, to the recovery facility whereby it is regenerated. More information on the process can be found at https://csiropedia.csiro.au/miex-water-purification-process/ and http://www.ixom.com/our-business/products/water-treatment/miex-resin.

Currently magflow meters are being used for measure flow pumped from Wastewater Pump Stations. When the magflow requires replacement, the pump station needs to be bypassed in order to replace the magflow as the instrument is fitted in-line on the pressure main.

Ultrasonic flow measurement devices are clamped to the outside of pipe to measure flow, so bypassing the pump station is not required. This results in significant cost savings and reduces the risk of personnel becoming exposed to contact with wastewater.

Gross pollutant traps (GPTs) are devices that use physical processes to capture gross pollutants (>5mm) and potentially reduce litter that is transported into receiving water bodies via stormwater systems. By definition, GPTs include screens, trash racks, net structures, boom structures and proprietary structures. The design of GPTs determines how they operate and what material they capture. GPTs operate at different scales in different locations in a drainage catchment.

Ragging of wastewater pumps is a significant issue in our network, with the potential to cause a loss in pumping ability and leading to overflows to the environment. Partial ragging is not immediately detected, but does impact on the performance of the pumps. Early detection of ragging events will allow operations staff to respond more effectively and prevent overflows.

The Water Corporation is increasingly coming under pressure to temporarily allow relaxation of its pipe cover and external loading criteria during the construction of major infrastructure projects. The cost and time implications of not allowing these temporary relaxations can be considerable.