Views From The Top: What Every Operator Should Know About Automation

By Kevin Westerling,
@KevinOnWater

A Q&A with Craig Correia, Head of Process Automation (U.S.), Festo Corporation

Without a doubt, automation in water/wastewater plant operations is a growing trend. It makes sense, given the need for accuracy and reliability in today’s regulatory environment, coupled with the reduced manpower attributable to short budgets and a retiring workforce. But many plants have done quite well with the status quo, so what’s to convince them to change? Even then, how does one get started, and what are the cost implications?

For insight on these topics, I spoke to Craig Correia from Festo Corporation, an automation solutions company active in the water industry for over 80 years, present in more than 180 countries. The conversation serves as a good primer for operators just wading into the world of automation.