Automation is important for the water and wastewater industry. Why? The simple answer is that automation improves efficiency. Automation is becoming more and more mainstream. From fridges to thermostats to home security, automation is quickly infiltrating our daily lives. If it can be such an asset in daily life, it stands to reason that automation can help on a larger level.
Automation is becoming a necessary element in the water and wastewater industry. When discussing utility automation, Water & Wastewater Treatment said, �Nearly 80 percent of US water utilities have replaced some level of inefficient equipment.�
While it�s clear automation offers many potential benefits, plants often find themselves faced with knowing exactly why they need automation. Need some help?
Here is a list of why automation is important for the water and wastewater industry.
- Reduction of energy consumption and costs: It takes a large amount of energy to power wastewater treatment facilities and to keep all systems running all the time. Because of this, many plants find themselves faced with huge energy costs.
- Better access to data: Automating processes often comes accompanied with data. And the best way to notice trends, of the negative or positive variety, it to analyze data. Seeing how patterns emerge in times of high or low consumption can help you modify your approach to make the best use of your resources.
- Best use of labor: Automation is absolutely a time-saver when it comes to labor and employee resources. By automating your processes, you can often remove or reduce the need for physical manpower in particular areas. This frees up your staff to tackle other important issues.
- Less waste: Water is a finite resource. By automating our approach, we can make better use of our water supply by reducing waste and consumption. A large amount of water is often wasted unnecessarily, but with better data and more automation, we can alter this trend.
- Improved processes: Having more access to trending and historical data gives you the ability to refine and modify your processes as necessary. Delving into what works and what doesn�t work is at the heart of automation.
- Remote monitoring: Often, automation gives you the ability to remotely monitor processes when you are away. Having a set of eyes on things when you can�t be there is often one of the most loved features of a good automated system.
Although it may involve a significant initial investment, automation can help you make the most of your resources, processes, and time. Ultimately, it helps us preserve our precious supply of water. For more information, check out our post to see how the SCADATA Software Suite can make your life easier.
