Project Profiles: Information Management
Streamline workflows, reduce costs, and boost "operational intelligence" with Wachs Water Services groundbreaking GIS capabilities.
Streamline workflows, reduce costs, and boost "operational intelligence" with Wachs Water Services groundbreaking GIS capabilities.
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The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) has a large and aging water system with 70,000 valves and 21,000 hydrants. In 2008 Wachs Water Services began a multi-year contract to provide professional consulting, valve and hydrant assessment field operations, GIS and field data information technology and integration services for all small diameter valves and other appurtenances. This program provides field assessments and the capture and integration of up to 50 distinct physical and operational attributes for each asset. The data is delivered as high accuracy GIS data (sub-foot) and our team is transferring asset management system identification numbers from the CMMS records to the GIS records, and developing an integration pathway between field operations, GIS mapping and CMMS systems. Wachs Water Services data experts developed and launched a custom, online web-based tracking database for all work order management and ongoing project updates. This interactive application is designed to be a highly accessible but secure web-portal to allow authorized users the ability to query completed and outstanding work based on discrepancy category and criticality. In addition, pipe tracing capabilities have been incorporated to analyze the direct impact the valve has on the local network. |
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| In Culver City, Wachs Water Services performed a system wide valve analysis and information renewal program. With valve operability increased to 85% the Utility was able to better prepare for and limit the service interruption of planned main replacements. In one instance, only half a mile of main required a temporary shutdown using 10 valves and 2 hydrants with no major service interruption. Prior to having renewed asset information and control points, the same planned shutdown would have affected over 2 miles of main using 13 valves, 13 hydrants and impacted 3 major services lines. |  |
| In the greater Baltimore region, Wachs Water Services has been working closely with the City and County in a multi-year, phased approach to help regain and maintain operational control of one of the oldest water distribution systems in the United States. Tremendous progress has been made by the utilities to date in developing an accurate water GIS system which includes over 22,000 as-built drawings indexed and integrated with GIS system, resolution of thousands of hydraulically significant mapping errors, implementation of automated geo-referencing system to reduce mapping lag and a complete water GIS layer with over 45,000 assets and 2,000 miles of water mains. |  |
| Wachs Water Services completed a three year comprehensive valve and fire hydrant assessment and repair program in Henrico County. In this program, Wachs assessed, evaluated, tested and documented both large and small valves. All of the information from this program was linked to Henrico County’s water GIS system and to their Hansen work order management system. In addition to valve work, Wachs Water Services evaluated, tested, preserved and painted fire hydrants and linked the collected information into water GIS and Hansen systems. |  |
Wachs Water Services is the leading provider of water distribution system asset management solutions that significantly improve efficiency and network control. Our specialized approach combines condition assessment and rehabilitation services for valves, hydrants and water mains with the capture and integration of critical water asset GIS information. We provide the expertise, equipment and personnel to locate, assess, operate and document virtually any water asset.
