Crucial to any water treatment plant in the 21^st century and the Fourth Industrial Revolution is the extended use of automation systems, with Scada being a crucial aspect.

Although many municipal sectors see automation as an unnecessary complication to water treatment plants, water treatment specialist QFS argues that knowledge and support are key. Leading the way in automation and process control for the municipal and utilities sector, QFS has 22 years’ experience with supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada) systems.

QFS offers service level agreements and training with all its plants handling water and wastewater treatment as well as odour control. Additionally, the company has good relations with its South African automation suppliers that help to source replacement parts quickly and effectively.

Successful projects

One of the many sites where QFS has successfully utilised Scada is the V&A Waterfront desalination plant in Cape Town. Here, Scada provides information reporting structures that can inform the municipality of the potable water quality.

Furthermore, QFS still plays a key role at South Africa’s very first reuse plant in Beaufort West, Western Cape, constantly monitoring the installed facility using Scada systems and assisting the end user with fault finding and water quality management. Trained technicians still regularly visit the site to assist in training operating personnel on the maintenance and operation of the plant.

The continual monitoring of plant performance is also undertaken at a wastewater reuse facility in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, where QFS assists the client with training and operational support. The installed Scada system empowers the end user with data that contributes to their knowledge and understanding of reuse plants, and assists in training new plant operators.

In addition, the end user at the De Doorns water reuse facility in the Cape Winelands has been given an effective Scada system that allows them to quickly assess plant issues and that can help them address these issues with accuracy and efficiency.

Improved safety

A final important aspect of Scada is safety. The automation and controls that QFS implements on its Scada systems ensure that end users are protected from harm. The programmers take safety seriously and QFS’s systems are programmed to ensure that the operator has peace of mind and protection, so that they will always be working in a safe environment.