Automated Reporting For Wastewater Operators
It is no secret that automating processes leads to efficiency. When machines do things by themselves, they perform tasks faster, better, and with almost no errors. This is what leads to increased productivity and much lower costs of production.
This tenant holds true for almost every discipline under the sun and is finally catching up with wastewater treatment. Lack of proper monitoring equipment or techniques can often lead to less than desirable test results for the management companies. And due to the pressures of remaining operational, ethics may be put aside, and reports falsified.
Wastewater Scandal in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
One example is in the case of the president of a private wastewater treatment and engineering facility in Fitchburg MA. He was found guilty of falsifying wastewater samples and test results. The judge sentenced him to three years’ probation, a $19,500 fine, 50 hours of community service, and a four-month suspension of his operating licenses.
If you are a plant operator, utilizing automation can ensure compliance with the Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Automation
The automation of processes within wastewater treatment plants yield higher levels of efficiency and reliability. This helps operators realize a better quality of treated water. Automated designs self-diagnose and recommend the necessary interventions, which enables the facility’s managers to take preemptive measures, either directly or by contracting a water technology firm. Automating processes sees to better resource management as personnel usually tasked with overseeing pipe valves, and leaks, instrumentation equipment, and electrical systems are freed up for other crucial endeavors.
This is especially critical at a time when some places are experiencing a shortage of skilled operators due to many of the industry’s workers nearing retirement. Moreover, the training of new operating personnel tends to put emphasis on being familiar with device interfaces, instead of the diagnosis of issues surrounding mechanical equipment.
How SCADA Has Changed Treatment Plant Monitoring
Customizable control hardware and software systems for wastewater treatment are currently available and can be integrated into the existing treatment technologies to boost operational efficiency, and thus, water quality. This software optimizes the performance of processes using real-time monitoring and control. This enables the plant operator to know the actual conditions in the treatment process, instead of relying on guesses and cooking up results.
Additionally, such software stabilizes processes hence helping to avoid common pitfalls such as excess treatment or excessive energy expenditure. These process performance optimizers typically adapt to the dynamic conditions in order to guarantee high effluent quality while consuming energy as minimally as possible.
Compliance monitoring has relied on lab measurements of composite samples for a long time. However, online analytical instruments are increasingly being utilized to do these measurements. This allows for continuous process control, minimization of chemical and energy usage, and avoiding conditions that lead to upsets in the process. Additionally, the constant monitoring enhances decision making while reducing the burden of having to manually sample and measure process parameters multiple times throughout the day.
In addition to promoting the need for lower costs of operations, these technologies are enabling wastewater managers to meet the stringent regulations set by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Wastewater treatment plans are one of the most vital links towards promoting a secure water future. Over a third of the global population suffers from water scarcity at least one month every year. With that, there is an increasing need for innovations that will ensure water security. Utilizing smart water technologies should help facilitate intelligent operations that will go a long way in enhancing efficiency, compliance with standards, and better water quality.
High Tide Technologies
High Tide Technologies is an end-to-end cloud-based SCADA company which utilizes satellite, cellular, and Ethernet communications as well as field units and the internet to monitor and control systems automatically. Our SCADA monitoring systems will help you have detailed insight into the various processes which will not only allow you to achieve higher quality but also ensure that you do not break any regulations.