INFRASTRUCTURE INSIGHTS
Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M)
blends experience, vision and technology to
build lasting infrastructure strategies for local communities throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. 
June 13, 2017
Volume 4, Issue 11

SCADA System TLC 

Is your SCADA System showing signs of neglect? Water and Wastewater Utilities depend on their Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems to operate, monitor, alarm and report on the critical processes that their municipality's residents take for granted. But are you taking your SCADA System for granted too?

It is important to keep your SCADA System maintained. As time goes by and your focus is on whatever the fire of the day may be, SCADA Systems continue to plug along in a critical role to keep the fresh water available and the spent water pumped away and treated. Without routine check-ins, several components of the SCADA System may start to reach critical stages in their life cycle that can lessen their reliability.

Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M) has SCADA experts that perform routine system check-ups to evaluate where your SCADA system components are in their life-cycle. Things that need to be evaluated are:
  1. Software versions, patches and security status.
  2. Hardware age and availability of spare parts.
  3. Operator reported nuisance alarms or control abnormalities.
  4. Report data fields not being automatically populated.
  5. System communications method, equipment age, and costs versus current industry best practices.
Now is a good time to identify the TLC your SCADA System is due for in order to incorporate your needs into your upcoming budgeting process. Please contact Pat Wohlers or Dave Beyer to discuss the specifics of your SCADA System.
Green Sustainability:
    
Full Depth Pavement Reclamation

I n recent years, many states and local municipalities have made enormous strides in reducing carbon emissions and increasing the overall sustainability of their operations and infrastructure projects. Many sustainable construction methods, which often go unnoticed, are gaining popularity due to their lower cost and big environmental benefits.

Full depth reclamation (FDR) of existing pavements is just one way that municipalities are saving money, reducing the use of non-renewable resources, and decreasing their overall carbon footprint. According to the Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association (AARA), full depth reclamation is a pavement rehabilitation technique in which the full flexible pavement section and a pre-determined portion of the underlying material are uniformly crushed, pulverized or blended, resulting in a stabilized base course. FDR is unlike other pavement rehabilitation techniques due to the fact that the mill always penetrates completely through the existing asphalt layer and into the underlying base as opposed to just the asphalt layer(s). It's not necessarily suitable for every situation, but if FDR is a viable option it has the potential to significantly lower project costs by reducing the amount of excavation, trucking, and base course material necessary.

FDR also offers several environmental benefits by reducing the amount of fossil fuels expended and recycling existing road materials. For more information on full depth reclamation, contact Andy Sikich and for more exciting ways to help your municipality "go green", visit www.sustainablecitynetwork.com. 
Quick Links: 
 
 
 
Waukesha, WI    Kenosha, WI    Madison, WI    Chicago, IL   Global Water Center, WI   Fox Valley, WI 
www.ruekertmielke.com
STAY CONNECTED: