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The San Diego Water Department (SDWD), like most utilities, is facing significant challenges. Fromrapid growth to community pressures to issues unique to the California utility market, San Diego is inneed of management tools that can help the Water Department navigate the complexity. OperationsOptimization is a tool SDWD has chosen to help minimize costs and maintain a reliable, high-qualitywater supply while enabling the utility to exceed set performance targets that will lead to achieving thegoal of becoming a "Best-in-Class" water utility for its customers.This paper presents how SDWD's Optimization Group worked with utility management and technologyconsultants EMA to meet or exceed its two primary performance metrics that include:a reduction in net imported treated water purchases bypurchasing less treated water, and/or increasing treated water pump-back to the San Diego California Water Authority; and,a reduction in annual energy costs byminimizing energy consumption, andshifting pumping from peak electric energy periods to semi-peak and off-peak periods.Operations Optimization (OO) offers a comprehensive set of management tools that allow SDWD to achievethese goals. Included in the solution is an accelerated software development cycle, advanced softwaresolution techniques, maximized use of existing SCADA system assets, new business processes, and theempowerment of staff through involvement and training. Every utility is different, requiring a solutioncustomized to manage the unique features of its water supply, treatment plants, distribution system, andtechnology. San Diego's optimization process uses several different components of OO including: Water Demand Forecasting to allow for planned operations; Water Supply Analyzer to optimize water supply purchases and water treatment plant productionscheduling; Pump/Valve Optimizer and SCADA modifications to operate pumps and valves to minimizeenergy cost and use;Energy Cost Schedule for managing energy pricing and accounting for energy consumption andbilling; and, System Mass Balance Simulation and Performance Monitoring.San Diego also uses an optimization website to: communicate activities, objectives, and schedule; providea mechanism for clearing equipment out of service that may affect system operations; communicate thewater system daily operating plan; and, to track system performance. By using a "systems" approach tooptimization and sharing information through the website, SDWD is able to minimize cost, maximizewater quality, and exceed a comprehensive set of performance measures. Includes 4 references, figures.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 06/17/2005 Number of Pages: 10File Size: 1 file , 810 KB