The Los Osos Community Services District is extending a system upgrade to its drinking water network, replacing an outdated component on a key booster station before it becomes completely obsolete.
The LOCSD board approved the fourth change order on a 2024 contract that would upgrade the “Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition” (SCADA) System, a system-wide computerized control to manage the water flow and supply.
Canon Associates was given the contract back in October 2024 and has been working on the project. Initially the company said the “problematic logic controller” on the 16th Street booster station could remain in place but with an upgrade to sync with the new SCADA being installed. The decision initially saved some money on the original project.
But things have since changed and now the District wants to replace that controller as well.
“During commissioning of the new SCADA system and coordination with the booster station pump improvements,” LOCSD General Manager Greg Kwolek said in a report, “it became evident that the existing Siemens controller had reached the end of its practical service life. Vendor support is no longer available, replacement components are limited, and the proprietary programming software necessary to troubleshoot or modify the controller cannot be obtained.”
Having this outdated and unsupported piece of machinery presented a risk to the water system, so the staff decided it would be more cost effective to amend Canon’s current contact and change out the booster controller now.
Kwolek reported, “Replacing the controller as part of the current SCADA project will:
• Provide compatibility with the new District-wide SCADA platform;
• Allow District staff to remotely monitor and troubleshoot operations;
• Improve system reliability;
• Eliminate dependence on obsolete hardware and software; and,
• Avoid higher mobilization and engineering costs associated with completing the work under a separate future contract.”
Since Canon is already doing the project and is mobilized and up to speed, as well as being the design-build contractor, the Board approved what amounts to the fourth contract amendment. The increased cost was listed at $73,000.
Canon’s original contract was awarded at $855,000. The three previous change orders increased it by another $53,000; add in the fourth amendment ($73,000) and the overall contract now tops $981,000.
The contract timeline was also extended by 300 days and now runs through Oct. 30.
In a formal letter to Kwolek, Canon wrote: “ This project will provide LOCSD with a more maintainable and serviceable pump control system.”
The company added, “The upgrade will preserve the existing hardwired pump control signals where practical, remove the unsupported Siemens controller, add local OIT access, and provide operators with consistent local and SCADA-based visibility of pump status, alarms, set points, and control functions.” (OIT stands for “Operator Interface Terminal.”)
In general, a SCADA system is a combination of software and hardware used to monitor and control industrial processes.
In a water system SCADA would be used to monitor the flow in the pipes and the water levels in storage tanks. The software collects and reports the data to a central computer where the CSD crew can keep an eye on the water system and troubleshoot potential problems before they become critical.
SCADA systems are also used in sewer systems, energy plants and distribution grids, and in manufacturing.
Maintaining the flow and storage supply of a water system is vitally important to any community for public health and fire safety — ensuring the fire hydrants remain charged in case of a major blaze.
It’s also a main responsibility of the LOCSD, which provides drinking water to about half of the community.
