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Approximately five percent of Mission RTUs are powered by solar energy.
Mission utilizes polycrystalline photovoltaic panels which are affordable and efficient. They work best when they are pointed properly and are not shadowed by buildings or vegetation.
We recommend that you make seasonal adjustments to the angle of the solar panel to optimize efficiency. This is particularly important during winter months when there are fewer hours of daylight.
While the azimuth (left and right) position remains fixed for a given installation location, if voltages degrade during the winter months the elevation (up and down) angle may be adjusted to improve performance.
To achieve the best angle for the season, use a suction dart attached to the center of the panel at noon, local time until all shadows disappear.
You can also use
this calculator to ensure the proper tilt of your solar panels.
If you have any questions regarding solar panels and your Mission system, please contact Mission technical support at (877) 993-1911, option 2.
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Tradeshows
January 9-11
Pierre, SD
January 21-24
Boston, MA
January 22-25
Indianapolis, IN
Pacific Water Conference
February 7-8
Honolulu, HI
February 12-14
Des Moines, IA
CRWA Annual Conference
February 12-15
February 13-15
Fargo, ND
February 19-20
Redmond, WA
February 27-March 1
St. George, UT
March 5-6
Charlottesville, VA
March 11-14
Myrtle Beach, SC
March 13-14
Québec City
March 14-15
French Lick, IN
Week 2: Hardware, Instrumentation, and Installation
Week 4: Web Portal II -Supergraph, Reporting, Volumetric Flow, and Advanced Topics
Week 5: Special Topics
Week 1: Survey of Features
Week 2: Hardware, Instrumentation, and Installation
Week 4: Web Portal II -Supergraph, Reporting, Volumetric Flow, and Advanced Topics
Week 1: Survey of Features
Week 2: Hardware, Instrumentation, and Installation
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Enhanced Daily Report Graphically
Simplifies Complex Data
Mission Communications is pleased to announce the availability of a new report that shows important metrics for your stations at-a-glance. By configuring the Daily Station Summary Report, you can receive information regarding connectivity, AC power events, alarm counts, site visits and events, pump performance, flow, rainfall information, and more. The report is emailed each day in PDF format.
A convenient cover page shows all of the stations with hyperlinks, so you can review additional site details.
To configure report preferences, go to your customer page in 123SCADA.com, select Start Menu > Setup > Reports to access the report setup page. Select the Daily Station tab and enter your email and preferences. You can select the RTU icon to change the report configuration, which includes choosing the devices that will be listed on the report. For each device, you can opt to see analog data, flow data, site event data, and whether the device will appear on the cover page. All system users have the ability to receive the report via daily email. This can be configured for each user.
Here is a breakdown of our new report features:
- The Summary Page highlights information regarding communication, power status, alarms, site visits, and pump starts and runtimes.
- The Analog Page shows data from the configured analog channels for the selected RTUs. Each channel has a daily chart and call-outs for the highest, lowest, and average readings.
- The Flow Page displays a flow versus rainfall chart and a flow data table for customers who need to monitor this information. The Mission system supports multiple methods of flow measurement.
- The Site Event Page displays a chronological list of events that occurred the previous day. There are three types of events reported: alarm events, notification results, and site visits. The notification result shows the time and individual who acknowledged the alarm. The site visit chronicles who visited the site and the time of the visit.
Our New Report is Easy to Use and Easier to Configure
The Daily Station Summary Report uses a color-coded grading system similar to the Weekly Management Report. Green indicates the functionality is currently good, while yellow and red suggest there is room for improvement. The report only displays data for the devices you have selected, along with the pages you want displayed for each of them. This allows you to customize how data is arranged based on your particular needs.
If you have any questions or comments regarding our new report, please fill out this contact form or call technical support at
(877) 993-1911, option 2.
We welcome your feedback so we can incorporate features you find helpful as we enhance our other reports.
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Mission Streamlines Monitoring for Effluent Guidelines Saving STMA $100,000
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made changes to permitting requirements for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) about a decade ago. According to effluent guidelines, an NPDES permit is required for any point source of wastewater that is discharged into U.S. waters. These guidelines are generally enforced by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
There are two ways to treat wastewater in compliance with the EPA effluent guidelines. Utilities can either choose to treat water with ultraviolet light or chemicals. In the case of chemical treatment, wastewater utilities must conduct daily checks for pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and chlorine levels.
Collected readings are used to fill out mandatory monthly discharge monitoring reports (DMRs), and m
unicipalities face cost overruns and compliance issues when monitoring or information gathering is inefficient. Real-time reporting helps utility operators better control treatment processes.
Somerset Township Municipal Authority (STMA) owns and operates three sewage treatment plants and four water systems in rural Western Pennsylvania.
STMA treats their wastewater with chlorine and sodium bisulfite. Lead sewer and backup water operator, Anthony Griffith, said they faced serious cost overruns after the new reporting mandate was issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). STMA wastewater workers were going to have to make daily on-site visits to comply with the new state standards, including weekend trips. "I wasn't about to come in every day for a 15-minute test that would turn into two hours of pointless work," explained Griffith.
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| Anthony Griffith, lead sewer operator for STMA, switched to the Mission system in 2008 after changes were made to EPA effluent guidelines. Photo credit: Ben Flower |
Mission Simplified Daily Lab Chores
STMA uses peristaltic pumps, chemical sensors, and Mission M800 remote terminal units (RTUs) to collect data from their discharge sites. They were using simple auto-dialers before new state mandates took effect. Griffith decided to streamline chlorine monitoring by converting exclusively to Mission RTUs.
He consulted his distributor, Mark Place of John P. Place Inc., to see how Mission RTUs could simplify their daily lab routine.
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The Mission Chlorine Report displays information for sites configured for chlorine monitoring. It shows pump starts, runtimes, and the low and high levels with time stamps for each site.
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Place suggested Griffith integrate 4-20mA analog analyzer signals with M800 RTUs to obtain updated chlorine levels every two minutes. The RTUs also report pH, DO, flow rates, and water temperature in two minute intervals, as well as pump run status and times. Additional benefits to converting to Mission were that f
ewer site visits would be required because all information is gathered remotely, chart recorders would no longer be necessary, and flow could be monitored online.
Mission RTUs support two onboard analog inputs and accommodate up to six inputs by adding an analog option board on legacy series (M110/M800s) or expansion modules on MyDro 150/850 units.
These inputs can be used to report any dynamic readings through an analog transducer. Alarms are sent via phone call, text, email, fax, or page if permit values are exceeded or equipment malfunctions. Pre-formatted reports can be generated for each instrument that is connected to an RTU. High and low-value samples are documented throughout a 24-hour period, as well as the duration a value is reported outside of minimum/maximum mandated standard values. Griffith said he was extremely pleased with the switchover. "I'm using you guys for everything reporting," he explained.
Mission Monitoring Pays for Itself
STMA was the first utility in Pennsylvania to use the Mission system to complete the DMR. Griffith said remote monitoring not only reduced his costs but improved process control through online interfaces that allow operators access to more data like accredited labs and daily trending on remote devices and laptops.
Immediately following the Mission integration, STMA operators discovered that manganese had caused previous equipment to generate a false positive and use more chemical than necessary. Griffith said they went from spending $7,902 to $222 on chemicals each year. They also eliminated about $11,232 in annual overtime charges since weekend site visits were no longer necessary. The Mission equipment paid for itself in just a year and a half, Griffith said.
"In five years, I saved $100,000 because of Mission. I think you guys have got the best product out there," he explained. "Your reps and you guys provide spot-on service."
If you would like more information about remote chlorine monitoring, please contact us at sales@123mc.com or fill out our contact form.
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Charitable Organizations Keep
Clean Water Flowing
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Access to clean, potable water is a necessity that is easily taken for granted, especially if we live in areas where good water is plentiful. We were reminded of the importance of this valuable resource following the natural disasters that occurred this year, which restricted access to fresh water supplies in many areas of the United States. Clean water scarcity is a daily reality for many people in other parts of the world. This holiday season, Mission felt it noteworthy to showcase a few groups that are working to bring clean water to millions of people.
Project HOPE
Project HOPE was founded in 1958 by Dr. William B. Walsh, a WWII veteran. Originally, Walsh envisioned a floating medical center that would bring health education and medical care to communities around the world. A repurposed naval ship, the S.S. Hope, fulfilled Walsh's vision for 14 years before it was retired, but the motivation and dedication of the organization have survived time.
This year, Project HOPE concentrated their efforts in Puerto Rico, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. Their medical volunteers have treated nearly 1,200 people throughout the island since the end of September. Teams coordinated the delivery of 2,600 water purification kits to victims, offering up to 10,000 people clean water for over a year. Each purification kit provides nearly 3,000 liters of clean water, which is enough to sustain a family of four for 12 months. Project HOPE also distributed necessary medical supplies including 1,500 vials of donated insulin, $500,000 worth of medicine, and hygiene kits.
In addition to their work in Puerto Rico, Project HOPE teams assisted victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in Texas and Florida.
Water.org
Water.org is an organization that helps provide safe water and sanitation to 13
countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The organization was co-founded in 2009 by engineer Gary White and actor Matt Damon after they met at an international summit on global poverty. Their mission is to provide affordable financing to help people get access to water and sanitation solutions in their home. They state, "charity alone is not a long-term solution. We seek sustainable financial solutions that empower people with access to the water and sanitation solutions they need." Since its inception, Water.org has helped more than nine million people worldwide.
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Photo credit: Water.org
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Katherine Faulkner, senior marketing associate for Water.org says their work has had the most impact in India where they've changed the lives of more than five million people. They recently
expanded their efforts in Brazil to broaden access to safe water and sanitation in the region.
"There are five million people who lack access to safe water and 25 million people who lack access to improved sanitation in Brazil. We're looking forward to changing lives there," Faulkner explained.
To read more about Water.org and their work, visit
http://water.org.
WATERisLIFE
WATERisLIFE (WiL) was also formed in 2009 after years of charitable service by founder and clean water advocate Ken Surritte. WiL offers clean water technologies and education to people in over 44 different countries. Recently, they provided clean water assistance to hurricane victims in Haiti and Puerto Rico.
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Photo credit: WATERisLIFE.com
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Surritte says, "I think right now for the first time in history we have the opportunity to solve the world water crisis because of the advancements in technology." The WiL team developed a medical grade polyiodide crystal water filter and a solar- and wind-powered water desalination unit that can process 5,000 gallons a day. WiL also engineered a drinking straw technology that converts unsanitary water into clean, drinkable water.
Surritte says the straw uses two metals that have reverse polarity. An electric charge is created when water hits them. This bonds the contaminants to the elements in the filter. "There's activated charcoal in the end that clears it all up, makes it taste good, and deals with not only bacteria but also viruses, chlorine, fluoride, and a host of other things," explains Surritte.
To read more about WATERisLIFE, their technological advances, and how to get involved, visit
http://waterislife.com.
Give the Gift of Clean Water
This holiday season, Mission Communications made
donations to Water.org and Project HOPE. We encourage our subscribers to help organizations that promote and provide clean water. There are many wonderful charities to explore. Visit guides like
Charity Navigator or
Charity Watch to learn how funds are allocated by an organization. Please be aware there are worthwhile organizations that are too small to be evaluated by these sites. You can also determine charitable legitimacy by reviewing their Form 990. Consult
this guide from Charity Navigator for more tips on assessing the credibility of an organization.
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