What Happened?
The Utilities Department in Lorain, Ohio, has equipped its water engineering division with the latest digital technologies to cut costs by $175,000 and increase efficiency in the water and sewer system operations. The computer networks not only improve how water and sewage is treated in the city, but also makes it easier for residents to handle billing online.
Goal
According to the Mourning Journal, Lorain’s Utilities Department leverage information technology resources to more effectively:
- Plan and build water and sewer lines
- Treat water and wastewater
- Collect payments from city residents
The goal of the increase in efficiency is to generate enough savings to cover the cost of providing services to residents. Starting in 2006, the department has been consistently adding new technology to its operations. Currently, the department has:
- 13 physical servers
- 13 virtual servers
- 67 work stations
- 18 iPads
- 10 smartphones
Dozens of meters and pumps that feed water out of homes and businesses, and transport wastewater to treatment plants are also integrated with the computer network to ensure accurate data is used throughout the department. A computerized geographical information system has been created by the department allowing inspectors to use iPads to track water and sewer line repairs and upgrades.
The computer network has reduced time and manpower needed to handle all billing operations as well. Moving forward, Lorain’s Utilities Department plans to invest in a new laboratory information management system to track results of drinking water and wasterwater tests, the Morning Journal reported.
Million Dollar Recommendations
The Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority is moving forward with a utility enterprise initiative to improve the efficiency of its water and wastewater system. The $6.4 million project may pay for itself in cost savings generated, according to the results of an assessment on the city’s water and wastewater systems. Tulsa World reported the estimated cost savings based on the consulting firm’s assessment of the project:
- $2.6 million savings from improving the sewage treatment process
- $2-$4 million savings from new management software and operations monitoring systems
- $2-$3 million savings from new prices and streamlined support services
- $3-$5 million savings from optimizing maintenance processes
An upgraded asset management system would improve the efficiency of maintenance and upgrade schedules and cut costs by analyzing data to weigh the costs of each decision. Cutting costs is a top priority for the department, which is projecting a 7 percent increase in water rates, a 9.75 percent jump in sewer rates and a 9 percent bump in stormwater rates as of October 1st. Over the next five years, water rates will increase 7 percent annually and sewer rates 9 percent. The authority hopes to modernize its operations with computer technology to reduce this projected long-term rate growth by 15 to 20 percent, saving valuable taxpayer dollars. The new asset management system is expected to be rolled out by 2018, Tulsa World reported.
Computerized Savings
Gov1 has kept a close eye on the use of disruptive technologies to help municipalities cut costs.