Securing infrastructure. Preventing flooding. Building resilient wastewater systems.
When wastewater is no longer reliably removed, technical infrastructure quickly becomes a societal risk. Flooded streets after heavy rainfall, unpleasant odours in residential areas, overloaded and ageing pumping stations or unplanned discharges into watercourses – the consequences are immediately visible and become a political issue. At the same time, the system itself remains invisible: underground, hidden in shafts, dependent on technology that in many places has been in use for decades.
Sewers used to be designed for very different conditions, such as more even flow rates and lower solids content. Today, lower flushing volumes due to water-saving measures coincide with increasing loads from coarse solids. Deposits build up, blockages occur more frequently, and the formation of hydrogen sulphide leads to acid corrosion as well as odour problems.
During heavy rainfall, by contrast, huge volumes of water enter the system in a very short time. Combined sewers reach the limits of their capacity, pumping stations run at full stretch – flooding and costly emergency measures are the result.
At the same time, cities continue to grow and new residential areas are being developed in places where there is currently no efficient drainage infrastructure. New developments without network connection, rural properties or topographically challenging locations without natural gradients further increase planning and technical complexity.
In parallel, the requirements for transparency, energy use and documentation are rising. With the revised Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD), stricter requirements now apply to:
- Collection and discharge of wastewater
- Monitoring and verification
- Handling of stormwater and combined water overflows
- Minimising leakages
- Reducing overflows
- Demonstrably limiting environmental impacts
Wastewater collection and transport are therefore under double pressure:
Operating existing systems safely while at the same time creating new infrastructure capable of coping with extreme weather, changing wastewater composition and new regulatory requirements. Those who fail to modernise their system strategically now risk rising operating costs, growing liability risks and a loss of confidence in the performance of public services.
Our solutions for a future-proof wastewater infrastructure
From legally required network extensions for small municipalities and high-performance pumping stations through to intelligent sewer network management – we support local authorities in making their wastewater infrastructure safe, efficient and resilient for the long term.
Systematic modernisation of pumping stations – safe, integrated, future-proof
Wastewater pumping stations operate 24/7 under high mechanical and hydraulic loads. Many of these installations have been in service for decades. Obsolete control technology, a lack of transparency regarding the condition of the plant and increasing solids content in the wastewater all raise the risk of clogging, failures and unplanned callouts. At the same time, the demands around energy use, documentation and operational reliability are increasing.
We see the modernisation of pumping stations as a targeted strengthening of the entire wastewater infrastructure.
Based on a hydraulic and technical condition assessment, we develop solutions that reduce the risk of clogging, increase plant availability and control energy consumption according to actual demand. Modern pump technology, intelligent control systems and seamless integration into existing control platforms create transparency – while preserving the existing control system structure.
The result is a high-performance, digitally connectable pumping station that operates reliably even under changing loads. The outcome: fewer unexpected shutdowns, planned maintenance and stable operation under extreme weather conditions – all of which are a key step towards greater safety and future readiness in wastewater collection and transport.
Drainage in rural areas
Pressure drainage with Wilo-Nexos Intelligence
Not every area can be economically connected via a conventional gravity sewer system. In dispersed settlements, new developments without an existing network connection, holiday home areas with highly fluctuating occupancy, or in topographically challenging locations, traditional solutions quickly reach technical and financial limits. Deep, large-scale pipe trenches drive up investment costs and extend construction times – and the systems are still prone to deposits and overload peaks.
Pressure drainage unlocks new flexibility
With small-diameter, flexible discharge pipelines and decentralised pumping stations, wastewater is transported independently of natural downward slope. Civil engineering requirements are reduced, and development becomes more predictable even in difficult ground conditions or with high groundwater levels. At the same time, fluctuating inflows demand intelligent control: in practice, pipelines operate below optimal flow velocities up to 70% of the time, leading to frequent clogging, odour problems and higher energy consumption.
With Wilo-Nexos Intelligence, individual pumping stations are digitally networked and controlled as a single system. Inflow peaks can be actively balanced, minimum flow velocities during low-load periods can be achieved, and operating data is transparent and can easily be evaluated. The result is a controllable, energy-optimised drainage system that adapts to real load profiles, allows for planned maintenance and provides the basis for an economical, resilient wastewater disposal solution.
Rethinking urban drainage – consistently delivering urban resilience
When intense rainfall floods entire streets within minutes, it becomes clear just how much pressure urban areas are under. Enormous volumes of water surge into the sewer system. Pumping stations are pushed to their limits. There is a growing risk of backflow and flooding.
At the same time, cities are facing longer dry periods and overheated neighbourhoods. Reduced flows and insufficient flow velocities lead to deposits in sewers, odour problems and increased cleaning requirements. Existing infrastructure is reaching its limits.
We see urban drainage as a holistic approach that combines modern stormwater management concepts with integrated sewer network management. The basis is a comprehensive hydraulic design that brings together retention, controlled discharge and the protection of watercourses.
Precise flow controls, flow restrictors, as well as functional flow-control baffles and weir structures enable demand-driven regulation of water levels in sewers and structures. In combination with efficient stormwater treatment measures, existing storage capacities can be used to optimum effect, the frequency of discharge at overflows can be reduced and pollutant inputs into watercourses can be limited.
Alongside centralised measures, decentralised stormwater management concepts are becoming increasingly important. The so‑called sponge city principle aims to retain rainwater as close as possible to where it falls and to strengthen the natural water cycle in urban areas. The principle includes measures such as urban greening, infiltration areas, the use of rainwater, and decentralised on-site treatment for polluted runoff.
In view of the increasing frequency of heavy rainfall events, targeted flood protection also plays a key role. Stormwater retention can absorb peak flows discharge rainwater into bodies of water in a controlled manner. Combined with technical flood protection measures, flood risk and potential damage in urban areas can be significantly reduced.
With holistic concepts for stormwater management and flood protection, we support cities in making their drainage infrastructure more resilient, protecting watercourses and ensuring that urban environments remain safe and liveable in the long term – even under changing climatic conditions.
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Protecting infrastructure together
Wastewater collection and conveyance are critical infrastructure. Their modernisation determines how reliably wastewater can be collected and transported, as well as the level of environmental and water protection and the economic operation.
Let us work with you to analyse the status of your system and identify how it can be made future-proof from a technical, hydraulic and operational perspective.
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