January 08, 2024
Automation in Temporary Bypass for Wastewater Management
How Can Temporary Bypass for Wastewater Management Benefit from Automation?
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), described as a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure, aims to deliver clean water to all American families and eliminate the nation’s lead service lines. Many municipal water and wastewater systems will require substantial upgrades while existing systems are being repaired and replaced. During these repair periods, automated wastewater management can reduce costs and manpower, saving time and keeping workers safe.
Automation in wastewater management
As sewer lines, pump stations, and industrial equipment age, bypass pumping is often necessary to complete repairs and upgrades and during new construction. Examples include re-lining pipes and ruptured mains and lift station repair and maintenance. Automated water transfer can increase efficiency of pump operations while ensuring safety and reducing the manpower necessary for 24/7 monitoring and operations. This is especially beneficial with multiple feeder pumps or remote collection and treatment facilities.
Benefits of automated water transfer
- 24/7 monitoring
- Real time data
- Remote control from anywhere
- Safety interlocks that shutdown pumps in the event of a pressure spike, tank overflow, or other programmed shutdown
- Less manpower required which reduces costs and frees personnel for other duties
- Modular automated components that quickly adapt to a project’s needs and space requirements without major rework to existing systems
What is SCADA?
SCADA or Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition systems combine software and hardware components to monitor, gather, and process information in real-time to provide automated remote control of industrial operations. Components including sensors, PLCs (programmable logic controls), remote terminal units (RTU) and communication devices control industrial equipment such as pumps and valves. Web-based software allows the operator to view data and, if necessary, manually control the system from any internet connected device.
The FieldForce automation and control system features a control center connected to equipment, including “smart” manifolds, automated valves, remote pump control, and control and remote instrumentation. Communication options include dual-cellular SIM with automatic failover, mesh radio, fiber-optics, and satellite networks for reliability and performance. A UPS backup battery system ensures continued operations with alerts to the operator. An optional CCTV surveillance system is available for added security. The system is protected by an industrial-grade cybersecurity network. A Realtime Reporting Dashboard and Data Analytics Suite provides up-to-the-second visualizations of current and historical data and analytical insights.
Why FieldForce?
Our FieldForce automation and control system was designed by our parent company, Keystone Clearwater Solutions, for total water transfer management and control in the extreme terrain of water management associated with Appalachian shale gas extraction. Our proprietary automation was used in the first fully autonomous water transfer system on a customer’s well completion job in the Marcellus Basin.
FieldForce offers automation to enhance its services along with rental and sales of Atlas Copco’s best-in-class pumps, compressors, and generators. Our team of engineers and automation technicians can customize FieldForce’s SCADA control scenarios to meet a wide range of water and wastewater management applications.
Expert solutions
Backed by Keystone Clearwater Solutions’ extensive experience in the natural gas industry, FieldForce provides equipment and water transfer services for the municipal, construction, and industrial sectors. Our well-maintained equipment, including Atlas Copco pumps, generators, and compressors, is available for rental or purchase. A full range of water and wastewater management services include FieldForce automation, bypass pumping and temporary pipelines, dewatering, emergency response, and specialized filtration. Our trained workforce is ready to handle the delivery, installation and service process smoothly. Request a quote or call us for more information.