HawkEye is the first device of its type to be fully safety tested and certified to the new ATEX standards for installation in the potentially explosive environment of a CSO chamber.

Using HawkEye reduces civils costs as it requires no additional power or telecommunication connections, no road cuts, pavement-mounted pillars or cabinets and the use of a non-contact ultrasonic sensor means that maintenance visits and fouling problems are also reduced.

HawkEye's communication structure has been designed to integrate with already established asset monitoring and alarm systems. Any future changes or upgrades can also be easily implemented as the whole structure can be reprogrammed remotely using the communications interface.

Overflow compliance monitoring formed a significant part of the requirements of AMP3 and the water companies are still facing an uphill task. It is estimated that, as a result of investigations carried out during AMP3 up to 3,000 of the UK’s 4,700 Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) were scheduled to be re-designed, upgraded or replaced.

Schemes are gathering pace, but the scale of the programmes will continue to place significant pressure on existing operational work schedules.

Though the Environment Agency highlights the fact that the general river quality within the UK is improving, further improvements are necessary. Much of the improvements have come as a result of tighter controls over the number of discharges from water companies and industrial sites. On a strategic level compliance monitoring has moved away from monitoring the performance of CSO's during storm events. It is generally accepted that during certain rainfall periods CSO's are going to spill. Of more significance are discharges during 'dry' periods. Constant monitoring of CSO's, and in particular during 'dry' periods, allows for water companies to identify problem areas. Spills could indicate that there are problems associated with the catchment area, the performance of particular WwTW or bottlenecks within the network.

By the end of 2006 water companies will have had to establish and maintain appropriate monitoring networks within river basins in accordance with the WFD. This is in addition to the programmes associated with AMP3 and AMP4 present further monitoring costs. Solutions that provide continuous monitoring capabilities are essential within each of these drivers, but they must also provide significant cost and operational benefits. HawkEye does exactly that.

Various procurement options are available from simply purchasing individual units to fully integrated, turnkey solutions utilising IETG's Information Management System (IMS). The IMS software suite can provide time and event, trending and predictive data.

Further details about HawkEye can be obtained from Neil Scarlett on:

+44 (0) 113 201 9700

or email:  hawkeye@ietg.co.uk