The University of Sheffield and Detectronic Limited KTP 24_ 25 R5

Fibre optic cables threaded through sewer pipes will track pollution in real time, catching toxic spills from storm overflows the moment they happen. When heavy rain overwhelms sewage systems, untreated waste and chemicals are discharged directly into rivers through storm sewer overflows. Current monitoring relies on occasional spot checks or lab analysis, meaning pollution events often go undetected for hours or days. This project pairs fibre optic sensing technology with artificial intelligence to measure water quality continuously—tracking changes in temperature, pressure, and chemical composition along the entire length of a pipe. If the technology works, water companies and environmental regulators could receive instant alerts when a storm overflow releases untreated sewage. That would allow faster containment, better enforcement of pollution limits, and more accurate data on which rivers are most at risk. The system could also help utilities prioritise infrastructure upgrades by pinpointing the worst-performing overflow points. This is an applied engineering project with a clear practical goal: build a sensor that works reliably in the harsh, dark, flow-varying conditions inside a sewer. Success would mean shifting from reactive clean-ups to real-time pollution control.