Optimizing Maintenance Workforce Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Environments with a CMMS

Water and wastewater treatment plants are responsible for providing us with safe drinking water. Water is pumped from various sources like rivers and streams and sent to treatment plants before being distributed to consumers. The wastewater treatment plants collect waste water from sewers and send it to the treatment plants. After the treatment procedure the water is either released into the oceans or used for irrigation. The operators in both plants have to handle processes and equipment to remove harmful chemicals and microorganisms from the water.

These water and wastewater plants depend on computers to monitor their equipment, store samples, make process related decisions, schedule and record maintenance procedures and provide results. The workforce in these plants consists of engineers, chemists, mechanics, laboratory technicians, helpers, supervisors and superintendents. It is also extremely dangerous to work in these treatment plants due to prevailing hazards such as dangerous gases, malfunctioning equipment, etc. Water and wastewater environments require a maintenance management program that can provide solutions for asset maintenance management and improve the efficiency of the workforce for enhanced productivity.


An Asset Management software and CMMS, or Computerized Maintenance Management System, is ideal for water and wastewater treatment plants. The software automates and tracks all maintenance activities and handles the planned and unplanned work order logistics very easily. The CMMS system provides solutions to effectively deal with water/wastewater maintenance work order management, preventative maintenance and parts and tools management. It is a flexible program that demonstrates how to track materials, time and workload. It is compliant with GASB34 and CMOM regulations meant for protecting the environment.

Features of the CMMS Program

a) The program has a preventative maintenance scheduling module that allows you to maneuver the controls and set work order triggers. It also facilitates the management of work orders once the triggers go off. This helps you to conveniently manage options such as what procedures are required, how many and who should be assigned the responsibility, what kind of skills are required, etc.


b) The work order management module allows you to track the time, materials, schedules, dates, responsiveness and many other features.

c) The CMMS system can interface with the SCADA system so that operators can view forthcoming work orders, open work orders, and the status of work orders along with the history of work orders via the SCADA/HMI screen. You can also enter work order requests, which set up email notifications promptly.


d) In addition, integration with SCADA systems allows the WTP or WWTP to planned PM activities based on actual equipment usage or utilization (ie, runtimes or number of starts) versus a calendar only approach. They can also employ condition-based maintenance management practices based on equipment best operating practices and knowledge.

e) The CMMS program provides compelling parts and materials management solutions that help track parts that are required in respective locations at predetermined times pertaining to any particular machinery or asset.

f) The materials management software suite in CMMS system helps to identify, allocate and track replacement parts required for repetitive tasks.

g) The web browser enabled architecture provides complete supply chain connectivity as the purchasing module can interface with all internal and external systems.


h) The system also provides the mobile workforce with the flexibility to access and enter information into the system, which helps them access work orders, update notes/asset information, enter the time and submit work orders through handheld mobile devices.


Powerful maintenance management software with mobile computing improves productivity, restructures management operations and maintains compliance with government regulations can maximize efficiency levels for water and wastewater environments.