Drone technology was used to inspect the interior of the regulatory station.

This morning, Viaqua carried out inspection work using a drone at the Puerto de Ferrol flow regulation station, where the sewer system interceptors converge on the right bank of the ria. The company has been managing the infrastructure since it won the public tender organised by Acuaes.

The device, manufactured specifically for this type of work, consists of a small aircraft fitted with a camera and protected by a light casing, which can fly a distance of up to 400 m inside pipelines with diameters of over 40 cm. Its characteristics mean it can work in confined spaces, such as pumping wells, underground tunnels and storm tanks, or very deep spaces such as sewer and supply networks, permitting access to places that are inaccessible to people, while capturing high resolution and thermal images.

This innovative service, the result of research and which SUEZ Water Spain first began providing last year, offers numerous advantages: elimination of risks to staff; savings in costs and time; complete structural inspection; task streamlining; and locating possible incidents, all of which is included in a final report.