AWWA CSC91045

Several years ago the Chicago Water System decided to convert the operation of six electric powered pumping stations from manual operation to unmanned operation through a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. Benefits were two-fold: personnel cost savings and more efficient system operation. To prepare each of the six stations for unmanned operation, separate facility modernization contracts were let to replace obsolete equipment, automate specific control operations, and provide wiring to new data terminal cabinets. While this was going on, signal lists were developed, revised and expanded; this list of 1700 input/output signals became the basis for the SCADA system. Details of the design of the SCADA system, the manufacture and installation of the system, and start-up, testing, and training are given. Hardware and software are described. Four bugs have been found: process queue overflow, motor winding temperature fluctuations, history file failure, and DEC router service interruption; each has been fixed. Later additions to the system will include expansion to include steam powered pump stations, a new pumping station now under construction, and monitoring pressure data at strategic points in the distribution system. Operating experience gives rise to observations regarding operator acceptance, size of memory needed for such programs, and bugs.