Real-Time Decision Support System Helps Buffalo Cut CSOs By 450 Million Gallons Reducing Consent Agreement By $145 Million

Due to its mid-20th century sewer design, Buffalo typically experiences nearly 2 billion gallons of combined sewer overflow (CSO) annually, discharging into its receiving waterways. As the level of national awareness for the need to protect our nation’s water resources continued to grow, federal and state regulators began pursuing a consent agreement in 2006 requiring further improvements to Buffalo’s collection system. Recognizing the generally inadequate stormwater capabilities of their existing combined sewer system, the Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA) began to prepare a comprehensive watershed improvement plan with grey, green and smart sewer solutions.

City officials knew they couldn’t continue operating their collection system the same way they had been since the 1950s, and costly investments in new gray infrastructure like tunnels and storage tanks were equally as infeasible. With Xylem, consultants and BSA’s talented team of engineers, they begin designing and implementing a real-time decision support system (RT-DSS) across the city.