Asset Management Tools Deliver Substantial Savings for Wessex Water
Starting 2022 datumpin have supportedWessex Water in optimising the operation of their ion exchange water treatment centres (WTCs) near Blandford. Three of their WTCs use ion exchange plants to remove nitrate from high-nitrate water sources, which produces high-salinity waste (brine). The site near Blandford can only dispose of brine in limited quantities at a nearby water recycling centre (WRC), which means surplus waste is tankered to a larger site.
Rising Nitrate Levels Create Financial & Environmental Challenges
Wessex Water has seen an increase in nitrate levels in the groundwater source in recent times, which requires additional treatment, leading to an increase in brine waste. This has created extra financial costs and environmental challenges, which is what led Wessex Water to run a Marketplace challenge to identify a sustainable approach to brine waste.
datumpin’s Patented Software Monitoring Tool
We proposed the use of our patented software monitoring tool to provide embedded data memory (eDM) capturing key data and insights that would guide and validate Wessex Water operational optimization . They decided to trial the tool and validated that it offered wide-ranging benefits.
The Benefits
The eDM technology has been in use for over 18 months now, delivering an impressive net saving of over £40,000 annually for Wessex Water. The insights provided have informed adjustments to the control software, leading to a reduction in brine waste. This translates to less waste to be tankered away, creating savings of at least £20,000 per year on tankering costs.
The eDM tool has also helped introduce operational changes to reduce scaling issues, leading to further savings of £25,000 per year. Separating brine waste from a second waste stream (softener) has significantly reduced scale accumulation in the brine discharge system, which allows for substantial savings on cleaning hours and the cost of descaler chemicals.
The increase in efficiency has led to a few other benefits, including lower salt usage (also reducing costs) and a reduction in maintenance. Optimisation enables Wessex Water to plan for proactive maintenance on key components of the ion exchange plant, preventing costly downtime and issues that could affect their ability to treat water and put it into supply. Work can be programmed to be conducted outside of critical hours, helping to avoid unplanned outages that could cost tens of thousands.
Future Plans
Due to the significant financial and operational benefits of implementing the datumpin tool, Wessex Water plans to install the technology at the other two treatment centres later this year. The software will also likely be part of the ongoing optimisation at the new nitrate treatment plant to be built in the 2025-2030 investment period at a WTC near Poole.
We were thrilled to support Wessex Water and help them make significant annual savings while optimising operations. We are excited about the future and look forward to continuing to work with them, supporting their plans for further installations and ongoing optimisation.