Implementation issues when installing control and condition monitoring at water treatment works

Monitoring (and control) systems at many of Northumbrian Water's treatment sites are based on a highly centralised configuration. A study was carried out on a programme of control system development and enhancement that would realise: (i) a high degree of reliability in the system operation, (ii) consistently good quality water satisfying stringent EU regulations, (iii) reduced operational costs, and (iv) improved standards of safety and environmental protection. It was anticipated that such a study would highlight the benefits of a distributed control scheme. The first part of the study was to collect information on the topology and operational condition of the various loops which together provide the basic plant monitoring and control support for the diverse water treatment plant which constitute the supply base. The paper documents some of the findings of these investigations but first a brief explanation of the various unit operations which together represent a typical surface (river or reservoir) water treatment plant employing a basic three stage (clarification, filtration and disinfection) treatment process.