Common Pitfalls that Affect Water and Wastewater Instrumentation, Control and Automation Systems

It is a general belief that plant Instrumentation Control and Automation projects (ICA) will deliver powerful, flexible, and user-friendly technology that more than meets the specific requirements of any particular project while offering a wide range of tools and capabilities. However, the measurement of the cost/benefits of an ICA is generally difficult to determine (Olsson, 2005). The open question that remains is whether these benefits will translate into improved performance and reduction of operational cost. Often, plant managers and executives are unpleasantly surprised to find that a newly installed system does not perform as expected or reinvestment will be needed to update a SCADA system or other component of the ICA. Many factors contribute to project failure. Reviewing some of the most common mistakes can help facility executives reduce risk. The general objective of this paper is to summarize the most common pitfalls that can affect an ICA system. The paper will evaluate the aspects of design, project implementation, and system operation and maintenance. To achieve the planned objectives, a Delphi methodology (Wechsler 1978) will be designed and implemented in order to develop and execute structural surveys and group discussion that will allow the use of information from the experience and knowledge of the I&C experts and end users.