Island Water Utility Ensures Uninterrupted Service, Improves Compatibility & Scalability

Project Summary:

Barbados Water Authority (BWA) implemented a comprehensive SCADA system using Ignition to monitor and manage 55 drinking water stations, nine wastewater stations, and two treatment plants. The project aimed to ensure the provision of uninterrupted and high-quality services while addressing operating system compatibility, scalability, and network issues.

Aquatec-Automation designed the SCADA system using the Vision Module for desktop and the Perspective Module for the mobile application.

Problem:

BWA faced several challenges with their existing SCADA system, including compatibility issues with updated operating systems, limitations in scalability, unreliable alarm notifications, and network connectivity issues leading to intermittent outages. These issues collectively hindered efficient monitoring and control of their water and wastewater facilities.

Solution:

To address these challenges, BWA opted to implement Ignition. Since the platform is built using open standards, it allowed them to solve compatibility with operating systems and scalability. Also, due to Ignition’s unlimited licensing model, BWA was able to acquire a license that was more tailored to the needs of the project.

Regarding the reliability of alarm notifications, the Ignition's Alarm Notification Module provided advanced tools to ensure that operators were alerted to the most critical alarm notifications.

Ignition’s component library, along with vector graphics, allowed Aquatec to develop a wide range of functions to customize and optimize the system’s graphical interface, resulting in an intuitive and easy-to-use application.

Aquatec leveraged Ignition’s Reporting Module to tackle the challenge of designing screens that present useful information and generating automatic monthly reports with concise, summarized data. This module provided advanced tools to design customizable reports that effectively convey critical information to users. Additionally, monthly and automated reporting capabilities ensured timely delivery of summarized data for informed decision-making and efficient analysis.

Perspective addressed the need for a mobile-responsive application, ensuring that field operators had instant access to system data and could perform maintenance tasks efficiently.

Finally, Ignition's compatibility with the different industrial protocols allowed BWA to make a direct connection with the PLCs at remote stations without having to go through another additional system, thus ensuring the rapid transmission of data to and from the PLCs.

A completely isolated Linux server in the AWS cloud helped address network and outage challenges, ensuring efficiency in problem resolution and data protection.

Results:

Choosing Ignition as a comprehensive solution allows BWA to effectively address all the challenges associated with implementing a modern SCADA system, preparing the organization for future success and maximizing operational efficiency.

The implementation of Ignition SCADA yielded substantial benefits for BWA. The system's enhanced compatibility ensures seamless operation with updated operating systems, alleviating the need for costly software updates and mitigating potential disruptions. Additionally, Ignition's scalability facilitates the seamless expansion of BWA's infrastructure, accommodating growth without imposing additional licensing expenses.

Ignition's Alarm Notification Module significantly bolstered operational efficiency by providing timely alerts to personnel, enabling swift responses to potential issues, and minimizing downtime. The intuitive mobile application empowered field operators with real-time access to critical system data, enhancing responsiveness and streamlining maintenance tasks, thereby optimizing operational workflows.

The deployment of the Ignition SCADA system marked a transformative milestone for BWA, enhancing service quality, and operational reliability while positioning the organization for sustained success in the dynamic landscape of water and wastewater management.

Start Date: January 1, 2022

Deploy Date: January 1, 2024