Can AI Keep Sewers From Overflowing?

A US–UK partnership rolls out AI controls to prevent sewer spills and modernize stormwater systems across Britain and Ireland

28 Mar 2025

HydroDigital, a U.S.-based smart infrastructure company, has formed a partnership with StormHarvester, a stormwater technology firm based in Belfast, to deploy predictive sewer controls across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The companies said the system is designed to reduce storm-related sewer overflows by as much as 25 percent within two years, a goal that reflects mounting pressure on utilities to limit pollution from aging networks.

Heavier rainfall linked to climate change has strained combined sewer systems, which can discharge untreated waste into rivers and coastal waters during storms. In Britain and Ireland, those spills have drawn public criticism and prompted tighter oversight from regulators, forcing water companies to look for alternatives to large-scale construction projects that can take years to complete.

The joint offering combines HydroDigital’s artificial intelligence software, which forecasts rainfall and dynamically manages capacity in pipes and storage tanks, with StormHarvester’s experience installing and operating stormwater controls for regional utilities. According to company statements, the system can be added to existing infrastructure, allowing operators to adjust flows in real time rather than responding after overflows occur.

“This is about proactive control, not reactive cleanup,” said Jamie Lee, HydroDigital’s chief technology officer, who said the technology gives utilities tools to manage networks more efficiently as weather patterns become less predictable. Aidan Sullivan, StormHarvester’s managing director, said the partnership is aimed at utilities facing growing expectations with limited budgets.

Initial deployments are planned or underway in cities including Birmingham, England, and Limerick, Ireland. The companies said those early projects will be used to assess whether the technology can reduce emergency callouts, improve compliance with environmental permits and lower operating costs before it is expanded to other regions.

The timing aligns with regulatory shifts. Ofwat, the water regulator in England and Wales, and European authorities have been urging utilities to back investment decisions with data and performance monitoring, particularly where sewer overflows affect sensitive waterways. Digital controls, proponents argue, can help meet those requirements without extensive excavation.

HydroDigital and StormHarvester said they ultimately aim to offer the system to more than 100 utilities, alongside training and technical support. As rainfall events become more volatile, the results of the early deployments could shape how utilities approach stormwater management in the years ahead.