Item 10ECity of Southlake, Texas
MEMORANDUM
December 28, 2010
To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager
From: Pedram Farahnak, Director Public Works
Gary Gregg, Manager Technical Services
Subject: Approve Emergency Purchase of SCADA Software and Radio
Equipment in Support of Water and Sewer Operation Facilities City
Wide.
Action
Requested: Approve emergency purchase of SCADA software and radio equipment in
support of water and sewer operation facilities city wide.
Background
Information: As you may recall, on June 24, 2005, Fort Worth informed the Public
Works Department of a major water line break in their system. A 54 -inch
water transmission pipe capable of transporting 80,000,000 gallons of
water had sustained damage while a Fort Worth contractor attempted to
close a valve and install an in -line pump near Beach Street in order to
increase water production to the customers north of Forth Worth.
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is our computerized
link to our pumps, motors, control centers, valves, elevated and ground
storage tanks, etc. Because of SCADA we are able to understand status of
hundreds of active points in Southlake system and control the daily
function of our system. Simply put, SCADA runs our pumps and motors
and keeps our water tanks full.
During the Fort Worth break, due to an area wide rationing, it was critical
to know the status of our system. For example, how much water was
leaving our system to our Customers and how much water we were getting
from the Fort Worth system. It was during this critical period that we
experienced a total SCADA system breakdown and lost contact with the
entire Southlake system. As Fort Worth began to ask questions about our
consumption, we were not able to respond in a timely manner and
determine how empty or full Southlake's system had become.
Memo To: Shana Yelverton
RE: Approve Emergency Purchase of SCADA & Radio Equipment
12/28/10
Page 2 of 3
We contacted Primco, the firm that maintains the Southlake system. Once
they checked various components of Southlake's SCADA system, they
reported that the current components making up the system such as radios
and software had become outmoded and no longer manufactured by the
Southlake provider, Motorola. We also notified Southlake Technical
Services manager, Gary Gregg. Gary confirmed the above finding and in
addition he discovered the need for correction in the following areas:
• All PC (personal computer) units operating the SCADA system are
about 4 years old and in need of replacement. Existing software,
Windows 98 is outdated and no longer supported by Microsoft.
• The existing radios located at various water pump stations, water
elevated storage facilities and sewer lift stations are not capable of
sending strong signals to the operations center. This is partially due to
topography changes in Southlake (new construction, vegetation
growth, etc.). These older radios are discontinued by the manufacturer,
Motorola. The newer, proposed radios are capable of overcoming the
topography and sending stronger signals on the status of each operating
facility.
• In order to correctly process the signals sent from the new radios, the
software translating the signals into understandable language must also
be upgraded.
The cost associated with upgrade of computer equipment, radios and
SCADA software is as follows:
Upgrading the Computers ....................Provided by Technical services
Changing Old Radios ........................... $28,598.99
Upgrading the SCADA Software ..............$5
GRAND TOTAL ............ .....................$82,998.99
Financial
Consideration: Funding is available from the operating budget 147 (Water Maintenance)
and 148 (Sewer Maintenance).
Citizen Input: None
Legal Review: This matter has been discussed with the City Attorney.
Alternative: Council may approve or deny this request.
Memo To: Shana Yelverton 12/28/10
RE: Approve Emergency Purchase of SCADA & Radio Equipment Page 3 of 3
Supporting
Documents: Vendor's Price Quote
Staff
Recommendations: Approve emergency purchase of SCADA software and radio equipment in
support of water and sewer operation facilities city wide.
Staff Contact: Pedram Farahnak, P.E., Director Public Works
Chuck Kendrick, Operations Manager Public Works
Gary Gregg, Manager Technical Services