Sensors in Municipal Water Systems Case Study

Hi, my name is Ben with APG Sensors. Every day, municipal water systems rely on accurate data to keep water moving safely and efficiently. From wellhouses to storage tanks, APG sensors helps operators monitor critical infrastructure in real time. This city uses multiple wellhouses to support municipal irrigation water systems during peak seasonal demand.

Summer water usage can increase from around 7 to 9 million gallons up to nearly 25 million gallons per day. They use our APG PG10 pressure gauges to monitor inlet and outlet pressures throughout the systems. That sensor data is tied directly into the SCADA systems for real-time monitoring and alerts. The SCADA system plays a crucial role in the drinking water infrastructure. It works directly with APG sensors to ensure correct water levels, pressures, things like that.

This city uses multiple spring water storage tanks throughout their system. This specific example is a 5.5 million gallon storage tank to help keep up with changing water demand throughout the day and throughout the year. The tank is divided into four compartments and cycles water multiple times daily. This city uses APG PT-500 submersible pressure transducers to continuously monitor the water levels in these tanks. Operators value these sensors because, for many reasons, one being they can field zero the sensors and that this limits downtime. Field zero capabilities are crucial. Instead of taking a sensor and and sending it back to the manufacturer and you know having a week to two week turnaround time, our sensors have the option to be zeroed in the field with a simple magnet. This allows for reduced downtime, less costs, and making sure the infrastructure is up and running constantly. Many of these sensors can remain in service for up to 5 to 10 years while being fully integrated into the SCADA network. The PT-500 submersibles in the drinking water storage tank determine level. And if those happen to drop too low to provide necessary drinking water, it then directs that message through the SCADA system to the the wellhouse to turn those pumps on to increase the water volume to ensure needs are met.

Due to the geographic location of the city, pressure reducing valves are necessary to maintain water pressure throughout the system. The APG sensors PG7 pressure gauge monitors both the inlet and outlet pressures on the drinking water lines. And this pressure regulation really helps protect pipelines, plumbing, and appliances from damage. Much of this infrastructure operates underground, but it plays a critical role in daily water delivery. Every part of the system is connected with real-time sensor data, helping operators monitor conditions, respond to demand, and keep water moving reliably throughout the city.