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TracWater analysers endure a severe storm event

A network of TracWater analysers were recently subjected to a severe storm event on the Gold Coast (QLD, Australia). The below case study investigates their performance over this period.

Problem statement

On the evening of 25th December 2023, the greater Gold Coast region experienced one of the most severe weather events on record, with heavy rainfall, power outages and widespread loss of mobile phone reception. Twenty-nine Tracwater Water Quality Analysers were in place, providing real-time, cloud based information to the City of Gold Coast Council, the local drinking water supplier. As critical infrastructure, it’s imperative that TracWater equipment is reliable and robust. The case study below illustrates the performance of the units over this period.

Figure 1-a) Severe thunderstorms were forecast for the region several days prior to the event; b) a large rainfall front approached from the west; c) damaging winds also accompanied the storm front

Analyses

Data were collected from the analysers (23rd December 2023-8th January 2024), to assess the impact of the storm on the operation of the units, and the quality of the data. Key criteria assessed included:

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  • General operation- were the units damaged or otherwise inoperational due to the storm?

  • Sensors- did the units continue to accurately measure water parameters?

  • Network connectivity- were the units able to continually upload data to the cloud?

Key Takeaways

93%

Remained operational

86%

Network connectivity

99%

Sensor survival rate

General Operation

Twenty-seven out of twenty-nine units continued to operate uninterrupted during the weather event (Figure 2). A regional cellular network outage was responsible for the two units that were disrupted.

Figure 2- Number of analyser units that remained operational during the storm event

Results

Outcome

The Christmas day storm event on the Gold Coast had a significant impact on local power, water supply and cell phone infrastructure with downed trees, flooding and widespread severe property damage (Figure 5).

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Despite the severity of the storm event, TracWater Water Quality Analysers continued to perform as expected, with only minimal interruptions to service. High quality data continued to be collected and uploaded, and where extended network connections were encountered, data was uploaded and available on the cloud when networks were restored. A number of design features ensure uninterrupted service:

 

  • Long life battery, independent of the power grid

  • Robust design with rugged external cases

  • Multiple levels of IP68 waterproof seals and gaskets

  • Built in network redundancy that features:

    • Multiple data upload attempts during weak signal events

    • Auto upload/restore data upon network reconnection

    • Options for external antennas

    • Options for network agnostic SIM cards, so that the most reliable network can be used

  • Remote alarms alert the customer to any water quality issues, as well as allowing TracWater technicians to provide timely servicing to any units.

Figure 5 a) A TracWater in-ground water quality analyser was covered by appx 60mm of mud and debris after being under appx 500mm of water (Figures 5b and 5c show the level of water in the area). Although data could not be uploaded during this time due to poor signal strength, the unit continued functioning and recording data until its battery was exhausted.

Sensor Data

Most operational units continued to collect and transmit accurate water quality data (Figure 3). The only exception was a single sensor on an in-ground unit which flooded. The failure rate of total sensors deployed was <1% (1/130).

Figure 3-Number of individual sensors operational during the storm event

Communications

During the storm, network connectivity was lost at 14% of sites, either through very low signal strength, or complete cellular network loss.

Of the four sites that lost communications, two self-recovered (restored network connectivity and uploaded data), and two required intervention (Figure 4). The units that required intervention had made multiple upload attempts during the network outage, exhausting their batteries. However, the units continued to collect data up until that time, and once batteries were replaced, the units were operational and missing data was uploaded to the cloud portal.

Figure 4- Network connectivity of analyser units during the storm event

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