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Overview

The purpose of this project is to evaluate and develop a “smart sewer” real-time controls decision support system to improve the performance of the northeast Omaha combined sewer collection system. Flows in large, combined sewers in northeast Omaha will be managed with a smart sewer system to direct as much flow as possible to a new treatment facility near downtown. This separate, coordinated proposed project — the Northeast Omaha High-Rate Treatment Basin — will treat combined sewage (wastewater and stormwater) before discharging it into the Missouri River. 

The smart sewer project is evaluating the use of real-time controls at key points in the sewer system to monitor flows and levels during dry- and wet-weather conditions. These controls can be implemented in several ways. Fundamentally, as rainfall runoff enters the combined sewers, smart sensors in the sewers will collect and send real-time data about water levels and flows to inform operators. These operators can make decisions for how to best route flows to the treatment facility and other parts of the system with capacity, helping reduce overflows to the river. The sensors can also help detect when there are blockages or other unexpected conditions in the sewer, alerting city staff to the need for maintenance activities. 

By targeting key areas to install real-time sensors and controls, instead of modifying major sections of the sewer system, this innovative solution will maximize the use of our current wastewater infrastructure and help future infrastructure work more effectively. The technology will not only help to reduce combined sewer overflows but also overall construction time, the size of the impacted project area and possibly future infrastructure costs. The project team is currently collecting data to determine the best real-time control technology for our city’s needs and developing and evaluating operational strategies. The included map is an approximate area for where project evaluation and construction may occur. Other components of the project include systemwide planning and updates for the operational controls, cybersecurity, and communications infrastructure for the overall wastewater system. This project is part of the City of Omaha’s CSO Program 2021 Long Term Control Plan Update, a federally mandated program to reduce the amount of untreated combined sewage entering the Missouri River and other local waterways.
 

Schedule

• Design: 2025-2026
• Construction: 2027-2028   

What to Expect

Construction will occur in targeted locations within the orange boundaries as shown in the map above.

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