Sewer sensor trial aims to prevent messy spills
12 Aug 2025
An innovative trial is underway to help prevent sewer spills along the Barwon River.
Barwon Water has teamed with Australian Internet of things (IoT) specialist Kallipr to test the effectiveness of new sensors in managing sewer networks and proactively identifying and preventing potential sewer spills.
The devices will provide early warning alerts of potential blockages that could result in sewer overflows, which are harmful to the environment and disruptive to the community.
The trial targets an area of high environmental, cultural and recreational significance, with the Barwon River and its users experiencing a range of impacts when a spill event occurs.
Barwon Water General Manager Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure David Snadden said the trial aimed to use smart analytics to improve the efficiency of proactive maintenance of the sewerage network.
“This is one more step in our transition from reacting to disruptive and damaging spills, to proactively identifying issues and acting quickly to prevent them,” Mr Snadden said.
“The sensors will help us to spot the warning signs of a spill and to stop them before they occur, allowing us to direct our resources into timely and high-value maintenance.”
Sewer renewal program
Alongside our approach to leverage data and technology to reduce the risk of sewage spills, we are proactively maintaining and upgrading our assets.
The long-term works program is extending the lifespan of the sewer system and helping us advance our Towards Zero Spills Strategy.
“We are investing more than $50 million over five years to carry out maintenance and renewals to the sewer system across the Geelong region,” General Manager Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure David Snadden said.
“The works are ensuring our sewers remain in good condition, improving sewerage services for customers and reducing the risks of spills to the environment.”
We invested $14 million to upgrade 25 kilometres of sewer pipes in 2024-25, with works taking place across Geelong, the Bellarine, Torquay, Anglesea, and Apollo Bay.
This financial year, we plan to invest $9.5 million to upgrade 20 kilometres worth of pipes, across Colac and other areas.
For more details on sewer upgrades, visit https://www.yoursay.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/sewer-upgrades
Kallipr CEO Gerhard Loots said the trial brings next-generation monitoring to one of Victoria’s most important waterways.
The all-in-one radar device, called Spectra, uses edge and AI intelligence to detect changes in water levels.
“Spectra combines precision radar sensing with onboard intelligence to detect sewer issues earlier and more accurately,” Mr Loots said.
“Local analysis on the device means crews get faster alerts, fewer false alarms and can focus resources where they’ll make the biggest difference – protecting both the river and the network.”
To quickly and safely clean up and mitigate the impact of spills is resource-intensive, costing Barwon Water about $600,000 per year.
Barwon Water is committed to moving towards zero sewer spills across its 2200-kilometre-long network and has the support of customers to invest in digital technology to achieve its goal.
The community can help keep the sewerage system healthy, by only flushing the 3Ps – Pee, Poo and (toilet) Paper – down toilets and drains.
Flushing items such as non-flushable wet wipes, tissues, paper towels and sanitary products can create blockages such as the 15-metre-long ‘fatberg’ that was removed from central Geelong in 2024.
The extended dry conditions have also impacted on the sewerage system.
Tree roots and vegetation searching for moisture can infiltrate and crack pipes, which can result in material such as soil and silt building up and forming a blockage.
For more information on Barwon Water’s nation-leading research, development and innovation program, visit www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/about-us/research-and-development
General Manager Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure David Snadden says the smart sensors will improve sewerage services for customers and reduce the risk of sewer spills.