Most people do not realize that the city of Akron owns, operates and maintains one of the largest drinking water utilities in Ohio. Akron’s drinking water supply system distributes 133 million liters per day of water through 2,000 kilometers of pipe to approximately 300,000 customers throughout nine political jurisdictions. That is a huge responsibility. Doing it right and doing it smart are high priorities.
Akron’s initial venture into our present day Smart Water Network began nearly 10 years ago through a major commitment by Akron into the upgrade and significant expansion of our Esri Geographical Information System (GIS) and our supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks. The GIS started initially as a simple underground record keeping program and is now one of the most expansive GIS networks for a city of Akron’s size. It also has been leveraged as a critical tool for most of Akron’s government.
Exceeding standards
Akron’s expansive Smart Water Network involves three major components: smart water distribution, smart watershed protection and smart water plant operations.
Smart water distribution technologies include a state of the art GE Proficy SCADA system, remotely read industrial and residential billing meters, multiple pressure sensors, flow meters, tank level sensors, water quality analyzers and remote camera systems. The network also includes GIS and SCADA interfaces to Akron’s customer billing system, computerized maintenance management systems and automated vehicle locating systems. Leak detection and electromagnetic testing is also a part of our recent investments into infrastructure assessment.
Smart watershed protection includes technologies that secure and environmentally protect four large, Akron-owned, raw water reservoirs storing greater than 10 billion gallons of water. The watershed technologies in place include an expansive 207 square mile GIS network, watershed SCADA, multiple real-time reservoir water quality meters, expansive sampling and data analyzing, level and flow sensors, remotely controlled valves and intruder detection.
Smart water plant operations consist of an array of new technological investments to optimize, control and secure our treatment facility. Through the utilization of the SCADA system and the integration with multiple supporting data management systems, nearly every electronically controlled device and water quality analyzer at the plant is continuously monitored. The optimization for water quality and costs of treatment processes such as flocculation, filtration and oxidation consistently meet and exceed all Environmental Protection Agency drinking water quality standards.
Ongoing investments
Akron is unique in its commitment to invest and establish relationships with renowned water organizations within Israel, such as Mekorot, WaTech, Targetech and Mei Netanya. Akron became the first American government entity to invest $500,000 into the Targetech Innovation Center, which is a dynamic high technology company incubator located in Israel. In addition, Akron and Mei Netanya have collaborated on the development of a water asset management capital planning tool, which is powered by Akron GIS and Riva Modeling.
This exciting water infrastructure management tool predicts upcoming water capital improvements, necessary capital funding and the expected time period until replacement. Akron is also proud of its ongoing efforts to establish relationships with various water entities in the Netherlands.
