Tetra Tech’s Luke Stephenson, digital automation systems engineer, breaks down the basics of SCADA systems and shares best practices for using them effectively.
This article was originally published in SOURCE magazine and emphasizes the critical components and best practices for developing and maintaining SCADA systems in water and wastewater management, highlighting the importance of cybersecurity, documentation, and ongoing maintenance. Rooted in his experience, Luke also advocates for system segmentation and virtualization to enhance efficiency and reliability.
The world of water and wastewater management relies heavily on automation, and at the heart of this automation lies the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, also known as SCADA. When dealing with SCADA systems, a lot is on the line. These systems aren’t just about controlling equipment; they act as guardians of public safety and stewards of valuable resources.
SCADA provides stewardship: modern systems protect the public by minimizing human error, ensuring reliable service deliveries, preventing spills, and avoiding contamination events. SCADA ensures performance: control systems for industrial digital transformation tools which unlock significant value when paired with knowledgeable, seasoned operators. SCADA delivers a payback: a well-maintained control system is as valuable an asset as the staff operating it and can reduce the cost of treating and delivering water.
These systems aren’t just about controlling equipment; they act as guardians of public safety and stewards of valuable resources.
What is SCADA?
SCADA is often used as a synonym for an industrial control system, when in reality they are a subsystem orchestrating data acquisition and the display of graphical interfaces. While traditionally SCADA may have just meant screens and data, it now encompasses everything from networking hardware to programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
System segmentation
Segmenting SCADA networks into functional zones is crucial for enhancing cybersecurity and the performance of water or wastewater systems. This structured approach reduces the attack surface, provides data control, and optimizes system performance by organizing the system into distinct layers, following the Perdue Enterprise Reference Architecture.
In water and wastewater SCADA systems, key elements include telemetry systems for remote data collection, alarming and notification systems for real-time alerts, automated regulatory reporting features, and redundancy to ensure system continuity in case of failures.
This segmentation enhances cybersecurity by isolating critical components and provides efficient, secure, and reliable operations for critical infrastructure, ensuring compliance with industry standards and improving overall system resilience.
Virtualization in SCADA systems
Virtualization has become a pivotal technology in modern systems, enabling organizations to manage control systems more efficiently. By creating virtual instances of physical hardware, multiple virtual machines (VMs) can operate on a single physical server, leading to enhanced efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
Traditionally, SCADA systems relied on dedicated physical hardware, which posed challenges such as limited capacity, high maintenance costs, and complex redundancy setups.
Virtualization addresses these issues by decoupling SCADA software from the hardware, allowing for dynamic resource allocation and better infrastructure utilization. Virtualization also streamlines SCADA system operations, offering cost savings, improved flexibility, and stronger disaster recovery while fostering collaboration between information technology (IT) and operations teams.
Making the most of a SCADA system
Building a SCADA system is one thing; effectively using it is another. Operators must be familiar with PLC logic, troubleshooting, screen navigation, alarms, trends, and histories. Proper training and familiarity with these tools can prevent costly errors and improve efficiency.
Maintenance is vital to ensuring the longevity and reliability of a system. Establishing a proactive maintenance strategy, addressing physical conditions, and performing regular inspections are essential practices.
Change management is also crucial, as having a transparent process to govern updates and modifications ensures a system’s integrity over its lifetime. One of the main reasons SCADA systems don’t meet their expected lifespan or fall into disrepair is that too many people have access to freely modify or change the system at will. What that does is create more bugs, discrepancies, and a lack of documentation for those who follow. Proper software, system access, and change management are critical in driving long-term system value.
SCADA systems are powerful tools that require careful planning, development, and maintenance. By taking cybersecurity seriously, embracing virtualization, and following a structured development and maintenance process, organizations can harness the full potential of SCADA. These systems will then ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operations at water and wastewater facilities. This frees staff to focus on other priorities and allows organizations to effectively deal with the workforce limitations that are common in the water sector.
Want more detailed insight on SCADA systems? Read the full article in SOURCE magazine.
About the author
Luke Stephenson
Luke Stephenson is president and part of the Tetra Tech Digital Systems Group leadership team.
He drives strategic growth initiatives aligned with client and market objectives. He is responsible for identifying and educating new partners and prospective clients and helping them reach their corporate objectives through the effective use of automation tools. He holds a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine. He is a registered professional engineer in California and a Project Management Institute-certified Project Management Professional.