CASE STUDY
Malta Goes Smart:
Nationwide Deployment of IoT Sensors in Sewage Cesspits
The Water Services Corporation (WSC) is Malta’s national utility responsible for water supply and wastewater management, operating across Malta and Gozo with approximately 1,000 employees. As part of a nationwide infrastructure upgrade, WSC partnered with IoT Solutions Ltd. to deploy NB-IoT-enabled level sensors in cesspits, enabling real-time sewage monitoring through integration with its SCADA system. The system supports much more efficient scheduling and unfilling of private cesspit tanks.
What Prompted the Project
WSC aimed to modernise its cesspit management through automation, improving response times, data availability, and service delivery—driven by the need for digital transformation of its processes.
Key challenges
The real-world problems that needed solving
WSC received constant calls from residents to unfill cesspits, creating logistical bottlenecks and reactive, inefficient scheduling.
With no monitoring in place, there was no way to verify if cesspits were truly full or prioritise based on urgency, leading to misallocation of resources.
Without sensor data, WSC couldn’t confirm when tanks were emptied, how much sewage was removed, or if employees and contractors were completing jobs properly.
The absence of live data prevented intelligent planning of routes, resulting in inefficient use of vehicles and personnel and higher operational costs.
Our Solution Architecture
Hardware
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The IoT Pro Radar Tilt by IoT Solutions Malta is a fully battery-powered, sealed sensor designed for long-term, maintenance-free operation in harsh environments.
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Its compact enclosure allows for flexible installation on either the lid or side wall of the cesspit. When fixed to the lid, the sensor can also detect and report lid openings—ideal in space-constrained setups.
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For side-wall installation, a dedicated bracket ensures the sensor is positioned centrally within the cesspit to provide accurate and reliable level readings.
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When mounted on the lid, the sensor is secured with metal and plastic rod protectors to safeguard it against potential damage from drops. Additionally, a custom through-the-lid antenna, also designed and manufactured by IoT Solutions Malta, boosts signal performance even in remote locations.
Network
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Sim-based, wireless over 4G/5G Cellular Grade NB-IoT technology from the same network operator, widely available throughout Malta through various network operators, even in remote areas, working on a licensed spectrum and reliable through having multiple gateways covering each spot.
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The IoT Pro communicates over the UDP protocol to IoT Solutions cloud servers.
Software
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All asset-related data—including location, contact details, service history, images, and cesspit dimensions—is securely stored within the IoT Pro Software Platform.
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The platform offers a comprehensive health management system to monitor and maintain the performance and condition of all deployed units.
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All alarm settings are configured on the IoT Pro Software Platform based on WSC’s specific operational requirements.
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Alarm notifications are transmitted via a RabbitMQ integration API to the WSC SCADA system, which then automatically generates corresponding work orders for the WSC service team.
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Client data and alarm events are accurately correlated using WSC account numbers, which are consistently applied across both systems for seamless integration.
Competitive Advantage
Equipped with over 17Ah battery capacity and a pulsed hybrid capacitor for industry-leading service longevity.
Pre-configured devices activate via magnet removal and connect automatically, requiring no field software setup.
Industry-unique onboard microamp current meter detects latent faults, enabling automatic recovery or remote reporting to the health management system.
Full over-the-air firmware upgrades ensure seamless rollout of new features and security patches.
Built with glass fibre–reinforced plastic, corrosion-resistant seals, and rated IP68/IK10 for extreme environmental durability.
A robust, flexible platform supporting both REST API and queue-based methods for third-party system integration.
Results and Impact
Key Performance Indicators & Achievements
400+
cesspit assets
are now digitally monitored and managed on the IoT Pro Software Platform.
100%
real-time alerts
and live data now enable real-time detection of full tanks, eliminating reliance on resident complaints and manual checks.
80%
reduction
in work order generation time through seamless RabbitMQ API integration with WSC’s SCADA system.
20–30%
decrease
in unnecessary cesspit servicing, thanks to verified fill-level data that prevents premature or false call-outs.
25%
savings
in fuel and labour usage, enabled by optimised routing and prioritised scheduling.
50%+
fewer
emergency responses, due to proactive servicing triggered by live sensor alerts.
< 18
months
payback period achieved through reduced truck rollouts, optimised scheduling, and lower overtime HR costs.
60%
reduction
in time spent by field teams on scheduling and verification tasks, leading to significantly improved user satisfaction.
15–20%
cut
in carbon emissions owing to fewer unnecessary trips and more efficient fleet usage.