Management software for drinking water production

With the construction of the new Lange Erle pumping station, IWB wanted to replace the previous water management software (WMS). The new system was to provide hourly updated distribution plans for the pumping stations and groundwater wells to ensure that households and industrial companies in the region had an adequate supply of water at all times. CTE was commissioned to develop the WMS. The contract included the following requirements:

• Better traceable distribution plans for the next 72 hours based on consumption forecasts. 

• Input option for operating plan entries (cleanings, revisions, production volumes) 

• Use of LabVIEW and the LabVIEW NXG web module (new G Web Development Software) 

• Browser-based access to the user interface 

• Data exchange via OPC 

• Simulation tool 

A major concern for IWB was the traceability of the distribution plans. The target behaviour was analysed by CTE in many discussions and on the basis of a mathematical model and then written down in a software concept.

During implementation, a simulation tool was created at the same time. Using the consumption data from the previous year, scenarios could be run through, analysed and improved before commissioning.

The water supply also had to be guaranteed during commissioning. It therefore took around three months until all defined scenarios could be run. During this time, the WMS ran in parallel operation. This meant that plans were continuously calculated and reviewed by IWB employees. However, the control system continued to run manually.

After a successful year of operation, a balance sheet was drawn up. IWB was very satisfied with the WMS. In the course of a major update, the WMS was again tailored more specifically to IWB. Since then, the WMS has been used by IWB in daily day and night operations.

Thanks to remote access, we at CTE can continue to provide support at any time and carry out minor extensions quickly and easily.