A small rural water utility in the southeastern U.S. has transformed its operations—cutting costs, boosting efficiency, and gaining real-time system visibility—by adopting a cloud-based SCADA solution from Mission Communications.
For decades, the utility relied on an outdated monitoring system made up of basic pressure switches and unreliable phone lines. It lacked real-time visibility, failed frequently during storms, and provided no historical data. Field personnel had to physically inspect treatment plants and tanks multiple times a day, making leak detection slow and costly. Operating expenses kept rising, putting pressure on already tight budgets.
From Manual Guesswork to Smart Automation
Frustrated by inefficiencies, the utility’s leadership team launched a search for an affordable, modern SCADA system—something traditionally associated with large utilities and million-dollar price tags.
At a rural water industry event, they were introduced to Mission Communications’ managed SCADA platform, which offered a cost-effective solution tailored to smaller utilities. Within two days of installation, the new system was up and running, using Mission’s M850 RTUs and level transducers across tank and well sites.
Today, the utility can:
- Remotely monitor and control pumps in real time
- Automatically rotate pump usage for even wear
- Receive instant alerts for leaks or anomalies
- Log historical data for system performance and compliance
- Access the system via smartphones and tablets anytime, anywhere
Real-Time Data, Real Savings
Staff now make just one daily site visit—to add treatment chemicals—rather than multiple inspection trips. Issues like leaks or abnormal pump behavior are flagged automatically, helping crews pinpoint problems before they escalate. System access via mobile devices has added even more flexibility to operations.
Recordkeeping, once a manual and error-prone process, is now automated and compliant with regulatory requirements. Water loss has been kept under 10%, and spikes in usage are detected and addressed rapidly by comparing tank level trends across the system.
With Managed SCADA, your team can focus on what matters most: delivering safe, reliable water and wastewater services. Let your SCADA system be one less thing to worry about.
Looking Ahead
With future plans to upgrade treatment plants and further automate operations, the utility is confident in the scalability of its new system. By eliminating storm-prone phone lines and leveraging cloud-based technology, it now operates reliably in all weather conditions—delivering clean water efficiently to its 2,000+ customers.
As one utility manager summed it up:
“This system has done far more than we expected. We’re not just reacting to issues—we’re anticipating and preventing them.”