Modernizing Wastewater Operations via Data-Driven Insight

The day-to-day management of a sewer network is a balancing act of regulatory compliance, emergency response, and long-term planning. For decades, wastewater operations have relied heavily on the accumulated experience of field crews and operators—the people who know every lift station and manhole by heart. However, as the complexity of our networks grows and climate patterns become more unpredictable, relying on "gut feeling" and manual oversight is no longer sustainable.

To ensure the resilience of our communities, we must transition toward data-driven wastewater operations that unify fragmented information into a single, actionable truth.

The Risk of Knowledge Loss in Wastewater Operations

Tacit knowledge has long been a strength of the water and wastewater sector. Many decisions have traditionally been based on experience rather than data, and skilled employees have been able to “sense” when something was about to fail in water supply networks, treatment plants, or wastewater systems. However, when these employees leave the organization, their knowledge often leaves with them. The consequences for wastewater operations can include slower response times, higher operational costs, reduced asset performance, and increased risk of service disruptions or compliance issues.

At the same time, the sector is characterized by data silos. Data does exist – often in large volumes – but it is spread across systems, departments, and disciplines. Operational data, maintenance records, SCADA data, asset information, financial data, and customer data frequently remain isolated. As a result, the full value of data is not realized, and organizations continue to rely heavily on individual experience rather than shared insight.

From Intuition to Data 

This is where the future lies: systematic use of data and the breakdown of data silos. By integrating, structuring, and analyzing data across the organization, water and wastewater utilities can begin transforming tacit knowledge into shared, accessible knowledge. When data from sensors, historical incidents, work orders, hydraulic models, and decision logs are connected, patterns emerge and knowledge is preserved – even as employees retire or change roles.

Advanced analytics, digital twins, and artificial intelligence can support this transition. These technologies enable predictive maintenance, early leak detection, optimized wastewater treatment processes, and data-driven decision-making based on facts rather than gut feeling.

One of the most resource-intensive challenges in daily wastewater operations is managing inflow and infiltration (I&). Solving I&I is nearly impossible through individual intuition alone; it requires integrated data to identify hidden leaks and overflow risks. 

However, technology alone is not enough. A cultural shift is also required, where knowledge sharing is encouraged and data is viewed as a common asset rather than something owned by individual departments or systems.

"Dark Data" in Daily Operations

Beyond the risk of losing human expertise, the existence of data silos creates a phenomenon known as "dark data": information that is collected and stored but never used to drive better operation. When SCADA flow data is not automatically layered over GIS asset maps or maintenance logs, the utility misses the opportunity to see the "cause and effect" of system failures.

For example, a pump station may be consuming 30% more energy than it did three years ago. Without integrated data, the operations team might assume it is simply an aging pump. However, by breaking down the silos, they might discover that the increased energy use correlates perfectly with a rise in local I&I after a specific storm event. In this scenario, the solution isn't a new pump—it's a targeted repair of a cracked sewer main upstream. Modernizing wastewater operations is about finding these hidden correlations before they turn into expensive emergency repairs.

Knowledge loss is not inevitable. The water and wastewater sector has a unique opportunity to turn this challenge into a strength by combining experience with data. By breaking down data silos and working strategically with data utilization, utilities can ensure continuity, resilience, regulatory compliance, and innovation – even in a future with fewer highly experienced employees and increasing operational complexity.

The ultimate goal is to build a "resilient brain" for the utility. A system where data flows as freely as the water, providing every team member with the insight they need to protect the environment and the community’s infrastructure.