Renewing outdated software at Aquafin's water treatment plants

Replacing and renewing hard- and software at every wastewater treatment plant in Flanders

Situation

In Flanders, Aquafin manages over 230 wastewater treatment plants. Most of those plants are running on outdated soft- and hardware of nearly 15 years old. After this period, most of the hardware, such als PLC's, are end-of-life and will no longer be supported.

Task

After winning the public tender, Yitch was selected as partner. Our job is to install and configure the hardware and program the software.

Action

Since a lot of regulations change in 15 years, Yitch and Aquafin worked together to make sure that the new software is written with the new standards taken into account.

The preparation for each site starts with converting the I/O lists. Afterwards, the actual programming of the PLC and SCADA-system is up, along with creating new images and user interfaces. When required, we provide the installation of the alarms and the linkage of the wastewater treatment plant to the pump station.

Finally, we provide written specs of each installation, making it possible for every operator to control the plant without prior knowledge.
Yitch commits itself to carry the responsibility for each existing STP, to make sure that interventions are carried out independently.

Result

The renewal of wastewater treatment plants is one of many steps taken to improve our environment. After purification, the formerly polluted water will flow into streams and rivers again, cleaned!

Some numbers:

• Every STP in East- and West-Flanders
• 79 new PLC's 
• 43 created SCADA systems
• 14 pump stations coupled
• 3 days start up
• Maximum 4 hours downtime