Sewer Network Modelling and Control – A Literature Review

This paper addresses a literature review on the sewer network modelling and control topic with the scope of identifying research gaps that, through future research, would lead to improved wastewater collecting and transport systems in terms of their impact on the environment. Recently research on sewer network modelling is focusing on data-driven models instead of mathematical ones, this technique being the more suitable one to be used in the future to also model one of the important environmental problems: emerging pollutants. The current sewer network control strategies are focusing on minimizing the overflow volume or the overflow loads, however, a balance between the two objectives must be found to reduce the overall effect. Another approach that should be considered in future research is to consider the processing capacity of the treatment facilities when developing sewer network control strategies, by implementing optimal control strategies for the integrated sewer network - wastewater treatment plant system.