Brisk pre-registration for water & wastewater sympsium!

The International Society of Automation (ISA) tells us that pre-registration activity for the 2015 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium has been brisk.

Taking place at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in Orlando (FL USA) the 2015 ISA WWAC Symposium is a three-day event that focuses on the challenges associated with automation and instrumentation in the water and wastewater sectors. The symposium features more than 30 technical speakers, two full days of technical presentations, a tour of a local plant, a general reception and a supplier showcase. This symposium is unique as it focuses entirely on the needs of automation professionals in the municipal water and wastewater sectors.

The full programme may be viewed here and registration for the 2015 WWAC Symposium is still open.

“Our secret is our focus,” says Patrick Gouhin, CEO and Executive Director at ISA. “Our annual ISA Water/Wastewater Symposium specifically caters to the needs of professionals involved with automation, instrumentation and SCADA in the municipal water and wastewater sectors. It is a unique niche event and we are proud of its increasing popularity. There is no other event like it in North America.”

A strong technical program

Helping to kick off the conference will be John S. Young, Jr. P.E., who will deliver a presentation to attendees on how the water/wastewater industry presents numerous challenges that must be addressed for utilities to be sustainable and provide safe, reliable service.

Young has worked in the water utility industry his entire career. In 2010, he retired from American Water, the largest water/wastewater utility in North America, after a 33-year career. At American Water, he served in numerous technical and management positions, including Vice President of Engineering; President of the American Water Works Service Company; Chief Water Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Recently, as a utility consultant, he supported or assessed numerous water utilities, including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (during the Detroit bankruptcy) and the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA).

• Read our report on the 2014 event (also held in Florida).

Call for papers on water and wastewater.

The Program Committee of the 2015 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium has issued a Call for Papers, inviting authors, innovators, thought leaders and other professionals in the water and wastewater industry to submit abstracts for presentation consideration at the conference.

The symposium, which will be held 4-6 August 2015 at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA, is aimed at helping professionals in the water and wastewater industries understand how instrumentation, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) and automatic control applications are vital to the treatment and distribution of water, and the collection and treatment of wastewater.

Presented by the ISA Water/Wastewater Industries Division, in collaboration with the Florida Section of the AWWA (FSAWWA), the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA), the WEF Automation and Info Tech Committee, and the Instrumentation Testing Association (ITA), the 2015 WWAC Symposium is expected to draw approximately 300 attendees and more than 30 speakers.

“Instrumentation, controls and automation professionals in the water and wastewater industry know they need to be prepared for the many changes, emerging trends and challenges, and advances in technology,” says Kevin Patel, the Vice President of Dallas-based Signature Automation and General Symposium Chair for the 2015 WWAC Symposium. “WWAC Symposium attendees receive the information they need to stay informed and gain the critical insights and tools required to make their facilities more robust and efficient.”

Particularly in demand, he explains, are applications that can leverage and share the large amounts of data that are being collected within water and wastewater facilities. “Being able to quickly access and convert data to usable, actionable information is essential in today’s fast-moving work environment.”

In addition to these applications, other compelling and popular subject areas for abstracts include:

• SCADA security, ISA99, CSET, and mitigating risks
• Control system redundancy and robust design
• Wireless technologies
• New control system technologies
• Process optimization
• Asset management Integration
• Energy use modeling and optimization with SCADA
• HMI design for operator effectiveness
• Human factors and control room design
• Alarm management and alarm rationalization
• Data reporting and presentation techniques /strategies
• Data management, historians and data retrieval

Prospective authors are invited to submit a 250-word abstract based on a 30-minute presentation, a six-12-page paper or large-format poster. Papers for acceptance should address topics in automation within the water and wastewater industry.

All papers are peer reviewed to conform, or to be modified to conform, to ISA Water and Wastewater Industry Division and ISA format, content and quality guidelines. The submission deadline for papers, which must not be product or company specific in nature, is 15 December 2014. 

“I continue to receive feedback that this event is truly one of the best of its kind due to the fact that the attendees and exhibitors are focused on solutions to real-world challenges and what’s actually experienced in on-the-job settings,” Patel reports. “Adding to its value are the training opportunities, and the networking, professional development and continuing education credits (CEUs and PDHs).”

Two optional training courses will be offered in conjunction with the 2015 WWAC Symposium which is still being finalized. The training courses will be announced soon. Keep checking the symposium website for the latest details.

The WWAC symposium has continued to see increased attendance and a very broad spectrum of attendees.

“Our secret is our focus,” says Robert Lindeman, the past-President of ISA who provided the opening remarks at the 2013 WWAC symposium. “The symposium caters specifically to professionals involved with automation, instrumentation and SCADA in the municipal water and wastewater sectors. There is no other event like it in North America.”

Details of August Water/Wastewater symposium released!

Don’t miss the Early Bird Discounted Rate – Register by June 15!

!News Flash! Early-bird registration for this ISA WWAC Symposium has been extended to 1 July 2014.

This year’s ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium (#WWAC) features 33 technical speakers. This 3-day symposium (5-7 August, 2014, Orlando, FL, USA) is focused on the challenges associated with automation and instrumentation in the water and wastewater sectors. It features 2 full days of presentations on each day, a tour of a local water/wastewater facility, a general reception, networking events, a poster session, and a supplier showcase.

The keynote, from Thomas W. Sigmund, P.E., Executive Director of NEW Water, is entitled A Vision for the Water Resources Utility of the Future (Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 8:15am) and there will be a forum session to further discuss this topic.

Keynote abstract:

Thomas Sigmund

The Water Resources Utility of the Future (UOTF) Task Force was created by the (US) National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) in 2012 to bring together industry experts to identify opportunities and challenges faced by clean water agencies and to identify forward looking solutions, some of which are being implemented today. The UOTF will transform both the way traditional wastewater utilities view themselves and how they will manage their operations and relationships with their communities and contributions to local economies. The Blueprint presents a vision for the future of clean water agencies as well as a series of actions to deliver the vision.

Originally technical engineering entities, today’s utilities now embrace sophisticated management approaches and are transforming themselves into managers of valuable resources, partners in local economic development and a member of the watershed community seeking to deliver maximum environmental benefits at the least cost to society. This presentation will present a vision for these new utilities and explore how instrumentation and automation are key to delivering on that vision.

Register by June 15 to get early-bird pricing for the 2014 ISA water/wastewater and automatic controls symposium. Register for only $325 – special early-bird ISA member rate ($125 discount).

• Please note that ISA headquarters has been doing an upgrade of their online registration system.
If there are any problems with the online registration, the paper forms should be used or call ISA customer service directly at +1 919-549-8411. 
Forms can also be sent in via fax to +1 919-549-8288.

There will also be a number of guest and invited speakers including Tom DeLaura, Chair, WEF Automation and Information Technology Committee & Vice-President, Eramosa Engineering International and Michael Sweeney, Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) & Deputy Executive-Director, Toho Water Authority. Last year DeLaura was named ISA’s Water and Wastewater Industry Division Member of the Year.

The 2014 symposium will therefore offer an unique opportunity for automation, instrumentation and SCADA professionals in the water and wastewater sectors to share ideas, network and earn continuing education credits.

The event includes two full days of technical speakers/presentations, networking events, a poster session, and a supplier showcase. A tour of a local wastewater treatment facility, and two short courses on SCADA Cyber Security and Troubleshooting Instrumentation & Control Systems are optional.


 
a proud Media Partner to ISA WWAC

IBM Smarter Water Group's Hidaka to keynote Water & Waste seminar

Carey E. Hidaka from IBM’s Smarter Water Group will be giving the keynote address for this year’s 2013 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium.

Here is our report on the event published 15/8/2013

Hidaka’s keynote will introduce the concept of smarter water management and use examples to illustrate how the innovative application of data analysis and visualisation can play a pivotal role in addressing industry challenges. He will talk about how modern software can leverage existing and new data sources and apply
analysis/visualisation/optimisation tools, aggregate siloed data and create situational awareness and insights to help people make better and timelier decisions.

Carey E. Hidaka

Water supply and distribution systems and wastewater collection and treatment systems generate and rely on significant amounts of data, from supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems to computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and enterprise asset management systems (EAMS), to geographic information systems (GIS), to web-based data, like that from the US Geological Survey.

When this data is harnessed appropriately it can be used to drive better decision making, whether used in treating/conveying water or in repairing/replacing infrastructure prior to catastrophic failure, to ultimately improve water/wastewater operations and efficiencies. Better decision making, underpinned by strong data analytics, also facilitates planning processes and maintenance and repair operations to better manage and forecast future water/wastewater needs and requirements.

“Fresh water, a fundamental requirement for life on the planet, is becoming a scarce resource as the world’s population grows and competition increases for available water,” says  Hidaka, a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience in the water and information technology sectors. “Against this backdrop, the world’s cities will require new and innovative approaches to address these significant challenges. Business-as-usual and traditional engineering solutions won’t be enough.”

In addition to Hidaka’s keynote address, this year’s symposium also features several distinguished speakers. This year’s invited speakers include:

Bill Hollifield, of PAS, a long-time member of the ISA18 alarm management and ISA101 HMI standards committees, and published author, will talk about the advantages of high performance HMI design and real-world proof about how better design results in real operational improvements. Bill returns this year by popular demand.

P. Hunter Vegas, co-author of the book 101 Tips for a Successful Automation Career, will talk about how to successfully manage SCADA retrofit projects and how to manage schedule/risk and context of the differing perspectives of team members, such as system integrators, operators, maintenance technicians, middle management and ultimately the utility owner.

John Cusimano, from exida security services, will provide an update on the current state of cybersecurity in municipal water plants and what sorts of risk management programs owners can put in place to protect themselves.

In addition to this year’s keynote, invited speakers and the 40-plus technical papers being presented, guest speakers from the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will also give state of the industry addresses.

• Taking place 6–8 August in Orlando, Florida, USA, the 2013 ISA WWAC Symposium is a three-day event that focuses on the challenges associated with automation and instrumentation in the water and wastewater sectors. The 2013 symposium features over 40 technical speakers, two full days of technical presentations, a tour of a local water treatment plant, a general reception, networking events, and a supplier showcase. This highly focused event has a long tradition as an event that caters to the needs of automation professionals in the water and wastewater sectors.
Advances in computer technology have meant that process data now be collated, cross-referenced and analysed in ways never before possible. 

• The Read-out Signpost is a proud sponsor of the ISA WWAC 2013

Collaboration in water & waste event

WEF and ISA Collaborate on 2012 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium and WEFTEC 2012

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Society of Automation (ISA) are teaming up to co-promote the 2012 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium. Now in its seventh year, the symposium offers a unique opportunity for automation professionals from the water and wastewater sector to come together to share ideas. As a technical co-sponsor of the 2012 WWAC Symposium, WEF is helping ensure that the symposium continues to meet the needs of automation professionals who work in the wastewater sector. For the first time, discounted pricing is available to both WEF and ISA members; underscoring the mutual benefit for both associations.

Barry Liner, director of the WEF Water Science & Engineering Center based out of the Washington, DC area, adds “The collaboration between WEF’s Automation and Info Tech Committee and ISA’s Water and Wastewater Industries Division (WWID) will strengthen an already well-established ISA WWAC Symposium and bring specialized content to the WEF’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) to enhance knowledge transfer across the entire water sector.”

Taking place 7-9 August in Orlando (FL USA), the 2012 ISA WWAC Symposium is a three-day event that focuses on the challenges associated with automation and instrumentation in the water and wastewater sectors. It features two full days of technical speakers/presentations, a tour of a local water treatment plant, a general reception, networking events, a poster session and a supplier showcase. This highly focused symposium has a long tradition as an event that caters to the needs of automation professionals in the water and wastewater sectors.

“Automation plays an important role in the effective control of wastewater collection, treatment and reclamation systems,” says ISA Executive Director & CEO Pat Gouhin. “ISA has a wealth of expertise and resources in all areas of automation and we are pleased to share this with members of WEF. Through the new-found partnership between WEF and ISA, we are able to bring together professionals from both associations to focus on effectively leveraging wastewater and automation technologies.”

“This type of collaboration aligns with WEF’s new Strategic Direction, connecting water professionals to leverage knowledge and promote innovation,” adds WEF Automation and Info Tech Committee Chair Tom DeLaura. “I am very much looking forward to leading WEF’s technical co-sponsorship of the 2012 WWAC Symposium. It has been a pleasure to be part of the team that brought ISA and WEF together for this symposium, as well as on several other initiatives.”

One of these initiatives is to promote greater involvement of ISA’s automation and instrumentation expertise within WEF’s annual wastewater show WEFTEC. Later this fall, after the WWAC Symposium, the WEFTEC 2012 conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, will be hosting a special session entitled “The Best of the 2012 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium” where select speakers from the 2012 WWAC Symposium will be invited to present their talks.

At this year’s WWAC Symposium, invited guest speaker and WEF Automation and Info Tech Chair, Tom DeLaura, will give a presentation about automation technology trends in the wastewater sector. DeLaura, vice president of Eramosa Engineering International Inc., is a long-time member of both ISA and WEF and has a career in the wastewater sector that spans over 38 years. He has written and presented on numerous topics of interest to the water and wastewater industry; he has received several awards from the industry for his dedication and service.

The 2012 ISA WWAC Symposium will feature over 25 technical presentations on a wide variety of automation, cybersecurity, instrumentation, plant optimization and system integration topics. Two major themes this year are creating high performance human machine interfaces (HMIs) to improve operational effectiveness and developing effective SCADA/automation cybersecurity best practices. The symposium continues with its traditional strength of sharing new ideas and lessons learned from recent plant upgrades and new-builds.

“ISA’s WWAC Symposium is targeted at professionals involved with automation, instrumentation and automated control systems in the water and wastewater sectors. Attendees typically range from plant operators, facility owners, maintenance and technical personnel to engineers, programmers and system integrators,” says General Symposium Chair Graham Nasby of Eramosa Engineering Inc., who was the driving force behind the newly signed agreement between WEF and ISA. “We are delighted to welcome the WEF onboard as a technical co-sponsor for the 2012 WWAC Symposium.”

Tour of new water supply facility at symposium

The Orange County (Florida) Utilities (OCU) Water Division will host a tour of their newly constructed Southern Regional Water Supply Facility as part of the 2012 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium (WWAC). Taking place 7-9 August 2012 in Orlando (FL USA), the WWAC symposium caters to the needs of automation and instrumentation professionals in the municipal water and wastewater sectors. The tour is scheduled to take place during the late-afternoon of August 7.

“This tour offers a unique look at a state-of-the-art, ozone-based water treatment facility,” says OCU’s supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) Administrator, Robert Doyon. He looks after the plant’s automated SCADA system and manages the automation systems at several other OCU facilities.

Doyon, a long-time ISA member, is an ISA Level III Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®). The plant, which was brought on-line in 2012, uses a highly optimized process for removing the naturally occurring sulfide that is present in much of Florida’s groundwater. “The facility’s fully automated and redundant control system ensures that the plant is able to continuously provide a reliable source of water for both drinking and fire-protection needs in Orange County,” adds Doyon. The tour will give symposium attendees a glimpse at how leading-edge automation is being used in the municipal water sector to minimize costs, increase efficiency and offer enhanced reliability.