AWWA CSC91068

The Kansas City, Kansas Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is instituting a new supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA). The system goes beyond traditional SCADA systems by featuring an optimization software package that will help operators make daily optimal control decisions and minimize pumping costs. The software package includes a hydraulic network simulation model capable of using both real-time data and demand forecast data as inputs. This will allow the operator to analyze current real-time and "what if" simulations. The optimization software consists of four integrated programs: water demand forecasting, hydraulic model, water flow optimization, and pump optimization. Each program can access data from its own database as well as data from other program databases. Each program is briefly described. Water quality monitoring will be incorporated in the system to help BPU comply with regulations and to correlate water temperature to main breaks. Direct cost savings will be realized by increasing operating efficiency; indirect cost savings will result from the benefits of increased knowledge and better communication.