The Pump Curve Doesn't Lie: What SCADA Data Reveals About Real-World Performance

In Part 4 of the Get Pumped Up series, the focus shifts from planning to performance—with a clear message: pump inefficiencies aren’t always due to failure, but to how (and where) pumps are operating.

Most utilities track runtime and power use, but few overlay that data against pump performance curves. When they do, the results are often alarming. As shared during the roundtable, one pump appeared stable but ran outside its efficiency zone almost nonstop—costing up to $500 per hour in wasted energy.

By visualizing SCADA data through tools like Autodesk Info360, utilities can see exactly where a pump sits on its curve, calculate real-time costs, and pinpoint root causes like oversized equipment, bad control logic, or downstream bottlenecks.

The key? Actionable insight. When inefficiencies show up on the curve, utilities can quickly redesign using Transcend’s generative tools—eliminating months of delay and thousands in wasted OpEx.

Efficiency isn’t just an engineering metric—it’s a budget issue. And with the right data and tools, it’s one utilities can finally tackle head-on.