Geumcheon builds ‘smart covers’ for storm drains
Employees of Geumcheon-gu Office, southwestern Seoul, have invented what they claim to be the nation’s first “smart covers” for storm drains. These street-side drains often get clogged by leaves or trash, causing the drains to smell and making them ineffective at times of flooding. Lids for the drains provide a manual solution, but become a nuisance during sudden downpours.
The problem has led some residents to oppose plans to build new storm drains near shops or homes. In response, employees at Geumcheon office’s sewer management department came up with the idea of automatic lids for outdoor drains.
The four-member team started working on the project in November last year. In September, the team built the prototype and patented the design. The finished “smart cover” uses rain-detecting sensors to open and close the drain on its own, powered by a small strip of solar panels above the drain.
A prototype is currently being tested on the side of a road next to the district office. After necessary changes are made, Geumcheon district will set up these smart covers in low-lying areas or near crowd-drawing facilities like subway stations and big hospitals.
“We are hoping to further simplify the design if possible. Trimming down electric circuits and wires to reduce the chances of mechanical failures,” Heo Won-hoe, head of the sewer management department, told The Korea Times in a phone interview.
“Meanwhile, we want to improve the software so the municipal government can remotely control and monitor these smart covers without a problem.”
Seoul, which has a month-long rainy season each year, has around 480,000 storm drains. Fitting one drain with a smart lid - a process which requires part of the street curb to be replaced with a new block containing the sensor and solar panel strip — costs 500,000 won ($430).
Despite the high production costs, Heo’s team believes the smart lids will prove economical in the long run by lowering clean-up costs. This year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government spent 27.2 billion won on cleaning out blocked drains and pipes. Installation costs could also fall once the smart lids are produced in bigger quantities.