How Welsh Water Digitised Odour Monitoring at Critical Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations

Welsh Water, serving 1.4 million homes across Wales, faced challenges with odour management at their wastewater treatment facilities while maintaining positive community relations. By implementing Envirosuite's Omnis solution, Welsh Water transformed their approach from reactive to proactive odour management. The digital solution delivered significant reductions in data collection time, decreased on-site odour incidents, improved operational efficiency, and strengthened community trust across three critical facilities. 

Company

Welsh Water is one of the UK's largest water and wastewater service providers, operating as a not-for-profit company serving 3 million people across Wales. The company manages an extensive network of treatment facilities, including major sites in Cardiff, Cog Moors, and Swansea Bay, processing significant volumes of wastewater through advanced treatment works in both urban and rural settings. 

Region

EMEA

Industries

Wastewater
Water Treatment

Platforms

EVS Omnis
EVS Water

Limited Real-Time Odour Monitoring Data Created Reactive Responses to Events

Prior to implementing Envirosuite's solution, Welsh Water relied on static odour loggers that provided limited contextual information. Data collection and analysis took up to two weeks per incident, making it impossible to address issues promptly. Without integration of weather conditions or directional data, teams struggled to identify odour sources accurately, validate community complaints, or implement targeted mitigation strategies when events occurred. 

“Before Envirosuite, there was no real technology in place. If a customer complained, we could only check historical data, which wasn’t helpful in real-time.”

- Mike Loyns, Wastewater Asset Engineer at Welsh Water

Implementing Omnis for Real-Time Monitoring and Predictive Insights

Envirosuite's Omnis platform was deployed across Welsh Water's sites to integrate real-time odour monitoring with hyperlocal weather conditions. The solution included sensor networks for odorous compounds like H₂S, site-specific alerts customised to each location's unique requirements, emissions trajectory analysis to predict impact, and automated reporting capabilities. This comprehensive approach provided operational teams with the situational awareness needed to address odour issues proactively. 

“Live data is a game-changer. We can now preempt odour issues and even divert sludge tankers based on wind direction.”

- Mike Loyns, Wastewater Asset Engineer at Welsh Water

Key Benefits on Odour Control Strategy and Return on Investment Across Multiple Areas of Operations

  • Dramatically Reduced Response Times: Investigation time cut from days to minutes, enabling immediate remote action 

  • Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Ability to schedule high-risk activities during optimal weather conditions and validate problematic sources 

  • Strengthened Community Relations: Improved transparency with tangible evidence and proactive notifications about potential odour events 

  • Regulatory Endorsement: Solution endorsed by Public and Environmental Health officers as "game-changing" 

  • Strategic Resource Allocation: More targeted investments in odour control technologies based on accurate data 

Discover how Envirosuite's environmental intelligence solutions can transform your operations from reactive to proactive. Book a demo today to find a tailored solution for your specific requirements and join industry leaders like Welsh Water in setting new standards for environmental management.