DRINKING WATER DISTRIBUTION OPERATOR LIFECYCLE DELIVERY – ASSET OPERATIONS & OPTIMISATION
Element of Competence:
Awareness of how the SCADA system is used to control the Distribution Network and collect Data
Context
Remote automation systems, such as SCADA (Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition) systems are used to monitor and control the water distribution network. Depending on the water supply system, most of the control relating to the distribution network will be automated or controlled by others e.g. Drinking Water Treatment Operators. The typical parameters that Drinking Water Distribution Operators may need to monitor using SCADA include: - reservoir levels - pump status - flows - pressures - free available chlorine equivalent (FACe)
Outcome
The water distribution network is monitored controlled using the SCADA system. Data collected by the SCADA system is analysed and used to comply with the Drinking-water Standards of New Zealand.
To do this, Drinking Water Distribution Operators need to be able to: ▪ For the distribution network aspects of the water supply system the Drinking Water Distribution Operators need to be able to use the SCADA system, including: - Logging into and navigating around the SCADA system. - Adjusting control set points and alarm levels for the different types of equipment used to control process operations. - Interpreting alarms. - Accepting, or overriding, alarms. - Viewing and understanding trend data and reporting any unusual trends. - Setting up ad-hoc records. - Interpreting mimic pages. - Undertaking basic maintenance of the SCADA system i.e. shutting down and restarting nodes. ▪
Interrogate the SCADA system to: - Identify and control items of mechanical, electrical and instrumentation equipment. - Evaluate trend data differentiating normal operational cycles from developing fault conditions or emerging risks.
To do this, Drinking Water Distribution Operators need to know:: ▪ The control philosophy for the water distribution system. ▪ How to use the SCADA system to assess the status of the distribution network and escalate issues to the appropriate people when SCADA data highlights fault conditions or emerging risks.
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