In recent years, our Company has conducted several research programs providing a clear view of the international market for supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems among electric, water and gas utilities, and gas and oil pipeline companies. This study is Newton-Evans’ sixth water industry study of SCADA usage patterns and trends, but the first in several years.

This new series will provide an in-depth appraisal of the central and remote site hardware, applications software, and communications services that water and waste water utilities are now using and will be requesting during their next round of procurements for SCADA systems.

The research study has resulted in a comprehensive and informative series of reports on control systems usage patterns and plans of water utilities in more than 100 major and mid-size cities and water districts throughout North America. Volume one contains a summary of research findings from the North American market. An analysis and forecast for the water industry IT and SCADA market is the second volume in the series. The final volume profiles more than 20 suppliers of SCADA -related systems, software and services to the water utility marketplace is also available.

Sample Survey Topics

- Ranking of Vendor Performance in various “Best in Class” Categories

- Current SCADA System Vendors and Those to be Considered for Future Procurements

- RTU’s and PLCs in use at Water Utilities and Water Treatment Plants

- Operation of Central Site Control Center and/or Regional Control Centers

- Water-related SCADA Applications Software in Use and Planned

- Data Communications Usage Patterns for Remote Data Acquisition

- Approaches for Reducing Vulnerability on Water SCADA systems

Research Methodology

Chief Operations and chief engineering personnel were the principal source of information for this research program of water and wastewater SCADA systems serving municipalities throughout the United States. The field survey work was conducted using several primary research methods including personal interviews, e-mail and fax surveys, with telephone and e-mail follow-up conducted by Newton-Evans staff. A mixture of water and wastewater organizations were contacted, including city, county and regional public utilities as well as private and investor-owned companies.

Following several successful gas and oil industry and electric utility SCADA studies, this is our first review of water industry SCADA trends since 1995. Technology and communication advances, new market participants and growth in the use of modern computer-based supervisory control and data acquisition systems pointed to the need for a new nationwide study.

Key Issues Addressed in the Study Series

•Current use of supervisory control and data acquisition systems.

•Plans to upgrade/replace or install new SCADA systems by year-end 2007.

•Budget considerations and contract award dates.

•Approximate number of RTUs/PLCs currently installed and planned for installation in water SCADA systems, as well as protocol and communications requirements.

•Specific water-related functions and applications now being performed on SCADA systems, and plans for additional applications.

•Profiles of the leading suppliers of SCADA-related systems and services to the water and waste water utilities in North America.

•Communications methods and protocols in use at planned at major and mid-size water and waste water utilities.


Publisher: Newton-Evans