The remote tank level sensors and associated telemetry allow operators to recognize, and react to, high demand situations before an emergency arises.  The report-by-exception feature on the Moscad provides early notification of pressure drops or spikes.  This information helps to smooth out the day-to-day operation of the plant.  The fine- tuning of supply and demand has helped to reduce operator stress and the number of overtime hours associated with trying to track down problems.
 

     The Moscad system was sized for future input/output points at each site as well as a 300% increase in the number of sites.  This flexibility has allowed the district to add information to their database that was not originally considered.  A recently added smoke alarm and associated I/O point proved its’ worth last summer when a remote pump station took a direct lightning hit.  The surge arrestor on the pump motor absorbed the surge, but melted into a smoldering heap. This super heated slag created lots of smoke and had considerable potential for starting a fire.  The smoke detector closed the digital input on the Moscad and triggered the radio to transmit an alarm back to the water plant. With prompt response by the district personnel, the loss of the building and pumps due to fire was avoided.

The fact that this Well 12A is housed in a wood framed building and surrounded by a ponderosa pine forest makes the potential for a crisis, and the investment in prevention, all the more valid.  Dana Duthie, Donala’s General Manager stated, “After our lightning hit at 12A we realized we needed smoke detection in all of our buildings!” 

In the wake of recent terrorist events, all water districts have a heightened awareness of protecting the public’s water supply.  Robert Hull, Donala’s Superintendent of Operations, (a.k.a. “The man that knows it all and does it all”), is looking into using the Moscad system to monitor security.  He has asked Timber Line Electric and Control, the telemetry system integrators, to look into various intrusion alarm techniques for water tanks and other district facilities. “Our only problem with the telemetry system has been underestimating how much information we want to gather.  We keep needing to add input/output modules as we discover new ways to employ technology.”

Monitoring of pump cycle time and total run time at lift stations is another way that the district is making the most of their technology.  Hull says, “by looking at our report on pump cycling, we can detect when a pump is not functioning correctly, and we can use the run time totals to schedule preventive maintenance.”

Donala is also utilizing their over-the-air capabilities to start-up and monitor the Hull WTP, the TriView WTP, three booster stations, two sewer lift stations, and twelve wells. The central computer at the District’s main Holbein Plant displays the status and parameters of these remote sites and the levels of their respective tanks. This remote viewing allows the operators at Holbein to respond to potential problems.  Within the last year, operators answered two low chlorine residual alarms and were able to resolve the problem in a timely fashion. 

Solving problems quickly allows the district to save money, prevent wear and tear on equipment, reduce operator stress, and have better Consumer Confidence Reports.  The advantages and benefits of the radio telemetry system and associated technology have far exceeded the original scope and expectations!

 

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Timber Line Electric & Control Corp.
17591 Hwy. 8, P.O. Box 793, Morrison, CO 80465-0793
Voice (303) 697-0440 Fax (303) 697-0450
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