3d printed pills to investigate mis-connections

Mathieu Lepot, Benjamin Hernandez, Sebastian Cedillo Galarza, B.H.G. Goes, Alma Schellart, Jouke Verlinden, Francois Clemens

Research output: Contribution to conferenceAbstractScientific

Abstract

Separate sewers are more and more preferred over combined ones but are sensitive to misconnections. Several inspection techniques (time consuming and expensive) are specifically devoted to detecting such misconnections: smoking test and dye tracing are the most popular. This paper presents a new, low-cost and easy to apply method based on 3D printed pills. Numbered (with a unique code) and coloured (blue or red) pills are thrown in toilets, washbowls etc. and then collected in sewers. After an automatic treatment of the collected pills in both the wastewater and the storm water system, the comparison between the sent and collected pill databases allows the identification and the location (inside the building itself) of the misconnections present. Pill and pill analyser designs, analysis methods and on-line tools are described on this paper. Social acceptability and legal issues are briefly discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages399-400
Publication statusPublished - 2016
Event8th International Conference on Sewer Processes and Networks - SS Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Duration: 31 Aug 20162 Sept 2016
Conference number: 8
http://www.spn8.nl/

Conference

Conference8th International Conference on Sewer Processes and Networks
Abbreviated titleSPN8
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityRotterdam
Period31/08/162/09/16
Internet address

Keywords

  • 3d printing
  • illicit connections
  • inspection technique
  • low-cost
  • separate sewers

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