ERWAT Water utility uses ELPRO to upgrade their infrastructure
Established in 1992, ERWAT provides bulk wastewater conveyance and treatment to thousands of industries and more than 3,5 million people. It currently operates 19 wastewater treatment works that release between 700 to 1000 megalitres of wastewater, both domestic and industrial, per day.
ERWAT’s strategic focus areas are:
- To provide sustainable, affordable and quality wastewater services through scientific, innovative and effective organisational practices.
- To continuously research and develop new technologies and energy-saving methods, tested prior to implementation.
- To utilise the best technologies to provide the right-sized wastewater treatment works at the right time in the best geographical location.
- To be a partner of choice for growth and to create competitive value for shareholders and stakeholders.
Challenge and scope
Due to ageing and increased demand on its existing infrastructure, ERWAT a local water and wastewater utility company required upgrading and expansion of the overall control and monitoring system.
The scope of this project was design, manufacture, install and commission Telemetry and SCADA process control system. This system was to offer operators lacked real-time visibility as well as to provide automatic pump control in order to maintain increased water demand and sanitation service delivery requirements.
Solution and results
Solution
- A highly reliable and scalable solution was implemented: Adroit SCADA system, ELPRO Network Management System (NMS), was installed with long-range meshing wireless ELPRO RTU, Ethernet modems and Ethernet switches.
- The RUT’s, Ethernet Modems provided DNP3, Modbus TCP and Ethernet connectivity to interface with existing serial PLCs, Process Control Instrumentation and newly added Ethernet enabled Programmable Automation Controllers PAC.
- The NMS provided real-time network and diagnostic monitoring allowing for preventative measures and minimal downtime. Installation and commissioning of the solution was straight forward and simple.
Results
- The installed Telemetry system with wireless ELPRO Ethernet RTU’s and modems allowed for any type of network topology, self-heal, are reliable, and allow for future expansion.
- Remote diagnostics water utility personnel meant technicians were able to measure performance and pinpoint problems from the NMS. This integrated approach integrated solution of SCADA, NMS, wireless radios, and wired Ethernet switches fulfilled the critical monitoring and control needs of the district.
- A reliable communications system was now in place and immediate cost savings were realized.