Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are the digital pulse of water and wastewater treatment plants. Serving as the information hub, SCADA makes the most of the day’s cutting-edge technology and in turn uses it to make the most of the plant’s operations. But how to keep up with a system that evolves as quickly as the greatest minds in the field will allow?
In 1994, Westinghouse (now Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions) was selected by the City of San Diego's Metropolitan Wastewater Department for the Central Operations Management Network (COMNET) project -- a massive $1.4 billion dollar effort to upgrade its primary treatment facilities and construct two water reclamation plants, a sludge processing facility, and an operations center
Until recently, simulation was perceived by many to be out of reach for the water and wastewater industries due to its expense and the complexity of the technology.
These days, operators and managers of water treatment plants are losing sleep. Why? Because they may be losing water.
Water Online caught up with Doug Johnson, director of business development at Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, to get his take on the many challenges utilities face, and how these challenges can be overcome by incorporating an automation master plan.
A five-year plan prepared by SRCSD identified the challenges associated with a rapidly expanding service area while meeting increased environmental regulations. Major changes to the wastewater treatment pant computer system were required to overcome these challenges
If wastewater treatment plant operators have nightmares, it’s a good bet that many of them have to do with sewage overflows. Few events are as catastrophic for a wastewater facility as a surge of water it can’t process being churned out into the public sphere, in violation of environmental regulations, and to the detriment of public health.
The water and wastewater industries face challenges at every turn — from population growth to strict environmental and financial regulations to downsizing. The complex nature of both industries puts a great deal of pressure on plant operators, who typically tackle tasks manually. Download this datasheet to learn how integrated automation software delivers improved reliability and flexibility throughout the entire operation.
In the early 1990s, the Borough of Ridgway purchased several separate systems to control their water treatment and five bay filtration processes. Through the years, technology obsolescence led to difficulties in obtaining support and spare parts for all the systems. At one point, the existing systems completely failed, leaving Ridgway employees to manually operate the plant for several months. A new, more efficient system was desperately needed.
Whether it is dining out less often or putting off that new car purchase just a bit longer, it seems that doing more with less is something many of us have become accustomed to over the last few years. Consumers are not the only ones feeling the pinch. By Doug Johnson, Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions
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