BISMARCK WATER TREATMENT FACILITY CONTROL SYSTEM UPGRADE PROJECT WINS “ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE” AWARD
7/15/2008

The City of Bismarck and Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. (AE2S) recently received the “Engineering Excellence” award in the Special Projects category from the North Dakota Council of Engineering Companies (NDCEC) for the Bismarck Water Treatment Facility Control System Upgrade project. The plant’s computer-based control system monitors water quality, flows, and other parameters; adjusts treatment processes, such as chemical feeds rates, to consistently produce high-quality water; and records data for regulatory compliance reporting and historical reference. The upgrade consisted of strategically planned replacement of the entire Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to provide more effective and efficient operations.

The Bismarck Water Treatment Facility is one of the largest water treatment plants in the state. Providing a seamless transition from the old control system to the new one was critical because the treatment facility had to remain operational throughout construction. Implementation of the new control system has considerably enhanced the plant’s capabilities with the existing level of staff.

“The project represents one of the final steps in the overall optimization of the facility. It provides a state-of-the-art control system specifically designed to deliver the level of functionality and reliability required by operators, maintenance, and administrative staff,” says AE2S Instrumentation & Controls Group Manager Brett Jochim, PE.