Evaluating the Potential of a Geospatial/Geostatistical Methodology for Locating Rain-Derived Infiltration and Inflow into Wastewater Treatment Systems in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, USA

Author

Vinson Aaron Williams, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Abstract

A significant issue facing municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure (WWTI) is how to manage infiltration and inflow (I/I). I/I of rain and ground water permeate into WWTI after precipitation events, periods of groundwater table rise, and percolation from surrounding surface waters. This can create discharges above the infrastructure's flow capacity, increase costs for processing the wastewater and add undesired stress to aging wastewater networks. In an attempt to assess this problem cost and time inefficient approaches have commonly been applied. This study utilizes a new and more radical methodology to try and make WWTI management more efficient. This study applies ArcGIS and Geostatistical Analysis to seven counties within the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) network in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. Data is collected from rain gauges and flow meters an average ten-year flow record is created from this data. The data is then analyzed in ArcGIS through Kriging to interpolate and predict where significant rates of I/I, due to high magnitude precipitation events, are located throughout the study area. I/I rates for high magnitude precipitation events are estimated through the comparison of the max flow rate data and the ten-year average flow rate. A percentage of increase flow is then calculated. Results reveal spatial patterns indicating variable I/I susceptibility across the MCES WWTI. By collaborating with MCES it is possible to determine how accurately this methodology can locate areas of high-risk I/I potential within the existing WWTI.

Advisor

Phillip Larson

Committee Member

Rama Mohapatra

Committee Member

Cynthia Miller

Date of Degree

2017

Language

english

Document Type

Thesis

College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Recommended Citation

Williams, V. A. (2017). Evaluating the Potential of a Geospatial/Geostatistical Methodology for Locating Rain-Derived Infiltration and Inflow into Wastewater Treatment Systems in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, USA [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/746/

Creative Commons License

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