| Resource Monitoring System (RMS)
is a CPI project, planned, researched, designed, and presented
by a group of Old Dominion University's computer science undergraduates
of spring 2003 semester. RMS group involves four enthusiastic
students from the Computer science department of ODU.
The Problem
Homeowners must be careful of the amount of water flowing through
their septic system. The author of the website
http://www.septic-info.com says:
"“The greatest factor in a properly working septic system is the amount
of water flowing through the system, due to overuse in the home.
Keeping your household's water usage well below your septic system's
"daily designed flows" is a simple but powerful way to promote your
system's smooth functioning. Consistently exceeding these flows impacts
both the volume and quality of wastewater that enters your
leachfield--the latter because higher flows disrupt the solids settling
process and "push out" under-treated wastewater into your leachfield.
This spells drainfield failure, and in fact water overuse is one of the
leading causes of premature septic system failure."
Too much wastewater flow through the septic system can damage the leachfield
and reduce its drainage capabilities.
The RMS Solution
RMS helps homeowners to maintain and prolong the longterm functionality
of their septic system by monitoring the household intake of water and
alerting the homeowner if their water consumption rate exceeds their
septic systems ability to disperse the effluent.
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| Model Septic Tank |
Model Drainfield |
The sample above show a model septic tank. The
water flows from the house to the septic tank where the wastewater seperates into three
layers. The scum layer floats on top, the solid sludge sinks to the bottom,
and the water (effluent) is in the middle where it flows out into the
drainfield for dispersal.
RMS in a Nutshell
RMS would be centerally located near the thermostat in the house
and would bring real-time consumption
data from the water meters to the consumer. RMS will do the following:
- Monitor and collect water consumption data
from homes
in order to make an accurate estimate on the level of effluent going
to the septic system.
- Warn the user if the current water use will exceed
their septic system's capacity
- Calculate and provide daily, weekly, and monthly averages of
water consumption
- Use multiple water meters to improve accuracy and pinpoint
trouble spots
- Use commercial, off-the-shelf hardware and existing infrastructure
as much as possible
- Be sold to contractors to reduce installation costs
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| Major Functional Component
Diagram |
Major functional diagram is given above and it shows how the
data is currently being transferred from the meters to the RMS
central wall unit.
Conclusion
The RMS team has a solution that can help to empower the homeowner with knowledge
about the current capacity of their onsite sewage system. By knowing the status
of their septic system, they can make changes to the way they use water thereby
increasing the life span of their septic system and
minimizing complete septic system failure
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