Director of Regulatory Affairs OptiRTC, Inc., Virginia, United States
Abstract Submission: The concept of real-time control (RTC) for urban sewer systems dates back to the late 1960s, when the first prototype was introduced in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Adoption was slow at first, but the 1990s saw a major shift as advances in microprocessors and computing power propelled RTC into mainstream use. Key research papers and guidance documents, including a state-of-the-art report produced by the International Association on Water Pollution Research and Control (1989) and the U.S. EPA’s Combined Sewer Overflow Technology Fact Sheet (1999), played a critical role in establishing RTC as a trusted solution for managing wastewater and combined sewer systems.
RTC for stormwater management, however, has been slower to take off. The first research paper focusing on RTC applications for urban stormwater management was not published until 2001 (Jacopin et al. 2001) with significant publications on optimizing stormwater control measures (SCMs) with RTC only emerging in the last decade. The U.S. EPA’s 2021 publication, "Smart Data Infrastructure for Wet Weather Control and Decision Support," further showcased the technology’s potential.
Despite ample research documenting the potential benefits of applying RTC technology to SCMs as well as a federal-level guidance document, securing regulatory approval and/or credit for stormwater RTC applications is exceedingly difficult, and industry hesitancy to embrace RTC persists.
This presentation will share experiences in pursuing regulatory approval, highlight the barriers to wider adoption of RTC in stormwater, and offer actionable recommendations for overcoming these challenges. With the right support, RTC has the potential to transform stormwater management, delivering smarter, more resilient infrastructure.
Learning Objectives/Expected Outcome (Optional) : 1. Examine Regulatory Challenges: Analyze the difficulties in securing regulatory approval and industry acceptance for RTC applications in stormwater management. 2. Explore Barriers to RTC Adoption: Identify the key obstacles that hinder wider adoption of RTC in stormwater management, including regulatory and industry hesitancy. 3. Develop Actionable Strategies: Gain insights into practical recommendations for overcoming barriers to RTC implementation, promoting smarter and more resilient stormwater infrastructure.
