Water and Wastewater Operations and Maintenance
SAWS Operations Group
maintains one of the largest
water delivery and wastewater
collection systems in the country in a
560-square mile service area.
Excellent maintenance operations and attention
to water leak detection programs have allowed SAWS to reduce
its unaccounted-for water losses to seven or eight percent
per year, which makes the SAWS system one of the “tightest”
in the nation.
SAWS relies on its Supervisory
Control and Data Acquisition
(SCADA) systems to maintain
efficient operations. SCADA is
used by utilities to remotely control
and monitor pumps, lift stations,
and facilities necessary to maintain
good pressure throughout the water
system. SAWS will be updating the
SCADA system in 2003 – replacing
both software and hardware.
SAWS — like many other utilities
across the nation — is dealing with
an aging infrastructure of pipes,
pumps, and treatment centers. The
total replacement value of SAWS
infrastructure is valued at $3.8 billion,
including the water distribution,
wastewater collection and treatment
systems.
We are actively participating in state and national
discussions concerning the challenges of infrastructure replacement.
Although we are working to obtain federal or state funding,
we realize that we might have to address and manage this issue
locally.
Over the next 10 years, SAWS
will spend $110 million per year
for water and sewer replacement
projects. Seventy percent of the
funding is allocated to repairing and
replacing the water and wastewater
infrastructure, and 30 percent will
be allocated to build facilities to
accommodate new growth.
Long-term funding of these kinds
of infrastructure improvements will be
one focus for SAWS in 2003. We will
complete the necessary rate studies and
public involvement efforts in the coming
months to chart a practical course to
meet the current infrastructure needs.
