engineering and information technology committee …

1

ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MEETING SUMMARY MINUTES

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 4:30 p.m.

ATTENDANCE Directors: Judy Huang (chair), Paul Sethy Staff: Ed Stevenson, Rekha Ippagunta, Ben Egger, Nicholas Busse Public: None

Due to COVID-19 and in accordance with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-25-20 which suspends portions of the Brown Act, this meeting was conducted by Zoom Webinar and Teleconference and members of the public were invited to participate. Materials presented to the Committee were posted in advance of the meeting at www.acwd.org and copies of materials as presented are attached to these minutes.

DISCUSSION TOPICS

1. Update on Distribution PLC Upgrade Project: Ben Egger, Project Engineering Supervisor,provided an update on the Distribution Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) UpgradeProject. District water supply, production, and distribution facilities, such as treatment plants,water production wells, storage tanks and reservoirs, booster and pressure-regulating stations,groundwater recharge facilities, and interconnections to other water facilities, all utilize PLCsto control and report status of the District’s water system. Over 60 PLCs are used to controland automate the District’s various water supply, treatment, and distribution facilities. Mr.Egger explained that much of the District’s existing PLC hardware is reaching the end of itsmaintainable life and is no longer supported by its manufacturer. Moreover, the existing PLCprogramming environment is also no longer well supported, nor compatible with new PLChardware technology, and hence require upgrading when the PLC hardware is upgraded.

The objective of the Distribution PLC Upgrade Project is to provide a new PLC control systemat water supply, storage, and distribution facilities of maximum lifecycle, with minimalinterruption to water distribution operations, per the District’s PLC replacement prioritizationmatrix. The project will improve system reliability and security, and address deficiencies inlegacy equipment by implementing modern PLC equipment. Due to the extent of work, theproject is being programmatically implemented over multiple fiscal years. To date, 23 PLCshave been upgraded as part of the Water Treatment Plant No. 2 PLC Upgrade Project and theDistribution PLC Upgrade Program.

The first phase of the Distribution PLC Upgrade Project included the upgrade of the PLCequipment for the Canyon Heights Booster Station, Vineyards Heights Booster Station,Fremont takeoff, and Central and Cherry takeoff facilities, and was completed in FY 2017/18.The second phase was completed in FY 2018/19 and includes the upgrade of the PLCequipment for the Whitfield Booster Stations No. 1 and No. 2, Decoto Reservoir, VineyardHeights Tank, Warren Takeoff, and Durham Takeoff facilities. Phase 3 of the Project iscurrently in design and includes 8 distribution facilities, namely Rancho Higuera Booster

http://www.acwd.org/

2

Station, Scott Creek Booster Station, Washington Booster Station, Avalon Tank, Mayhew Reservoir, PR-3 Regulator Station, FR-1 Regulator Station, and FR-2/PR-2 Regulator Station. The design effort is being performed in-house and is in progress. Currently the design is at approximately 75% completion. Staff are anticipating issuing the construction contract for bid in Q3 FY 2021/22. The Construction approach for Phase 3 is to include the PLC programming work, PLC panel fabrication, and installation related construction work under a single construction contract. Mr. Egger additionally reported that CEQA for the Project was adopted previously by the Board, at the August 2017 regular Board Meeting, and the estimate for Phase 3 of the project is in the order of $1.1M, which is consistent with per facility costs for prior project phases. Staff responded to questions from Directors Huang and Sethy.

2. Hydraulic Model Update: Nicholas Busse, Engineer 1, provided a status update on the hydraulic model update and calibration. Mr. Busse provided a brief history of the prior 2006 hydraulic model, referred to as the backbone or “skeletonized” model that represented the distribution system but did not include pipes smaller than 10-inches in diameter. Mr. Busse explained that a more accurate “all-pipes” model was later developed by model software vendor Innovyze in 2012.

The all-pipes model utilized the District’s digital mapping Geographic Information System (GIS) software to reflect the real-world layout of the distribution system and allowed for operational controls such as individual pump timings. When created there was only a limited effort to calibrate the model with operational controls. Changes to the distribution system since the creation of the model including the decommissioning of the Mission San Jose Water Treatment Plant and the installation of new pipelines and facilities, and changes to overall water demands necessitated a more complete update and calibration. A Professional Services Agreement was executed with West Yost Associates in 2018 to provide model update and calibration services to the District. The calibration techniques used by the consultant provided both steady-state and extended period simulations which were generated using SCADA data. Demands were also imported from customer billing records and geospatially placed throughout the distribution system. The benefits of having an accurately calibrated hydraulic model include the ability to model system pressures, velocities, and storage levels under various demand and operational conditions. West Yost Associates completed the calibration of the model in the early spring of 2021 and a training was given to District staff at that time. Mr. Busse explained that engineering staff is currently using the hydraulic model to support the main renewal program through the prioritization of future main replacements, and to investigate future hydraulic capacity requirements and optimize water transmission in the distribution system. Future uses of the model will include Development Services providing fire flow requirements to land development projects, planning new water supply scenarios, capital project planning, and updating the Engineering Report. Next steps may also include additional

3

model maintenance services as new facilities or operational controls are implemented and potential support for model investigations while updating the Engineering Report.

Staff responded to questions for directors Huang and Sethy.

3. Public Comments: There were no public comments. RECOMMENDATIONS Topics discussed by the Committee were informational only, and no recommendations are being made.

1

Update on Distribution PLC Upgrade Project

EIT Committee Meeting | Sept 15, 2021

Presenter: Benjamin Egger, Project Engineering Supervisor

2WWW.ACWD.ORG/AMI @AlamedaCountyWD #SmartWaterConnect

Agenda

1. Introduction

2. Distribution PLC Status

3. Phase 3 Scope

4. Next Steps


What is a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)?

SSCADA

PLC Programming Language/Environment:• ProWORX 32 (Old)• EcoStruxure (New)

PLCC CPU

Reporting

Fieldd DevicesFieldd Devices


District Facilities with PLCs

Water Production

Facilities

Other Water Sources

Pressure Regulating

Stations

Booster Stations

Reservoirs

Tanks

GroundwaterProduction Wells

GW RechargeFacilities

(SBA/LDV, SFPUC)

(Fish Screens, Shinn Pond, Rubber Dams)

(Hayward, Milpitas, SFPUC)

Takeoffs & Emergency

Interties

ACWDCustomers

Total PLCs: 62

ACWDCustomers

ACWDCustomers


Project Driver

Existing PLC Hardware is approaching end of useful life• End of commercial life • End of support • Limited/depleted spares in stock

Existing PLC Software is approaching end of useful life• End of commercial life • Not compatible with new PLC hardware (nor Windows 10)• Training uncertainty• District has adopted a new software platform standard


Project Objectives

Objectives:

• To provide a new PLC control system of maximum lifecycle, with minimal interruption to water distribution operations, per the District’s PLC replacement prioritization matrix.

• To provide accurate documentation of the new PLC control system.


Distribution PLC Upgrade Status

Prior to 2017 (10) PLCs

FY 17-18 (6) PLCs

FY 18-19 (7) PLCs

Total number of PLC’s throughout distribution facilities – (62) PLCs

Total number of PLC’s still need to be upgraded – (39) PLCs


Scope of Work for Phase 3Upgrade the following (8) PLCs:

• Rancho Higuera Booster Station• Scott Creek Booster Station• Washington Booster Station• Avalon Tank• Mayhew Reservoir• PR-3 Regulator• FR-1 Regulator• FR-2 and PR-2 Regulator


Booster Stations: Rancho Higuera

Existing PLC Panel to be replaced:Existing MCC to remain:


Existing MCC to remain:

Booster Stations: Scott Creek

Existing PLC Panel to be replaced:


Booster Stations: Washington

Existing MCC to remain:



Storage Facilities: Avalon Tank

Existing Utility Building & MCC to remain:



Storage Facilities: Mayhew Reservoir

Existing Utility Building & MCC to remain:

Existing PLC Panel & Enclosure to be replaced:


Regulator Stations: FR1

Existing enclosure to be replaced: Existing PLC Panel to be replaced:


Regulator Stations: FR2/PR2

Existing enclosure to be replaced: Existing PLC Panel to be replaced:


Regulator Stations: PR3

Existing enclosure to remain: Existing PLC Panel to be replaced:


Scope of Work and Budget

The Distribution PLC Project is phased over multiple years.

Adopted CIP for Phase 3:Job No. Project Title Year 1 (FY21/22) Year 2 (FY22/23) FY23/2421206 Distribution PLC Upgrade $200,000 $529,362 $329,362


Next Steps for Phase-3

CEQA CatEx adoption – complete.

Project Design (in house by ACWD) – 75% design complete.

Construction:• PLC programming services.• Fabrication of cabinets and panels.• Installation work.

Construction Management (in house by ACWD).

Commissioning (joint effort ACWD & Contractor).


Questions

Benjamin Egger – Project Engineering Supervisor

Month, Day, Year

Alameda County Water DistrictHydraulic Model Update

Presenter: Nick Busse, Engineer I, Project Engineering

September 15th, 2021

Hydraulic Model Background

• Backbone “Skeletonized” Model– Originally developed in 2006– Modeled pipes 10-inches and greater in

diameter– Simulated general flow demands and

constraints of system– Software advancements since creation

2

Hydraulic Model Background, Cont.

• All-pipes Model– Developed using Innovyze in 2012– Developed using the District’s digital

Geographic Information System (GIS)– Includes all pipes of distribution system– Limited calibration at creation

• Detailed information for pump curves, system controls, and pipe parameters not included

3

Model Update and Calibration

• Professional Services agreement executed with West Yost in 2018

• Update to All-Pipes Model– Production Changes (changes to facilities)– System Demands - resolution– New facilities– Operational Controls

4

Model Calibration

• Calibrated for steady state and extended period simulation

• Utilized existing District facility data– Inputs from real-world observations (SCADA)– Mathematically match model demands with

recorded facility data• Demands taken from observed conditions

– Localized system demands from billing records– Developed demand sets for Summer, Winter,

Average day and Summer during Drought

5

Validated Model Features

• Accurately simulates distribution system and facilities at multiple demand scenarios– Pressure– Velocity– Reservoir levels– Hydraulic energy (head) losses

• Training of District staff completed in Spring 2021– Super users from Engineering, Operations, and

Water Resources

6

Current Model Uses

• Main Renewal Program– Prioritization of future main replacements– Pipeline hydraulic capacity planning– Optimization of Distribution System

transmission• Ongoing Capital Improvements

– Curtner Booster Station Upgrade– Support operational intuition with data

7

Map of Hydraulic Model

88

Upcoming Model Uses

• Fire Flow Simulation– Model demand requirements for development

projects– Insurance Services Office (ISO) Audits

• Water Supply• Engineering Report

9

Next Steps

• Additional Services for Hydraulic model maintenance

• Potential modeling in support of Engineering Report

10

engineering and information technology committee …

Documents