Application of scada systems in water management: an analytical assessment in the context of digital transformation, infrastructure resilience, and environmental safety
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Abstract
In the modern era, against the backdrop of global climate change, increasing hydrological extremes, rapid urbanization, and aging infrastructure, the efficient and secure management of water resources emerges as a strategically important engineering and environmental challenge. Traditional management approaches are not sufficiently effective in ensuring real-time monitoring of highly dynamic water supply and wastewater systems, maintaining stable pressure balance, promptly detecting leakages, and optimizing energy consumption. In this context, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems serve as a key technological foundation of digital transformation in the water sector, enabling multi-level management of cyber-physical infrastructure. Within the research framework, the components of SCADA architecture—sensor networks, PLC and RTU modules, telemetry communication lines, central SCADA servers, HMI interfaces, and analytical computing modules—are systematically analyzed. The technological advantages provided by SCADA in real-time monitoring, fault detection, hydraulic process optimization, and data integration are examined from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Pressure regulation in water networks is synchronized with SCADA data based on Bernoulli’s equation, the continuity law, and non-linear hydraulic modeling, which together create adaptive control mechanisms that enhance energy efficiency. Variable-frequency drive (VFD) control of pumps results in a 20–35% reduction in energy consumption, significantly lowering operational costs. The conducted analysis shows that SCADA systems also offer strategic advantages in forecasting emergencies and managing risks in the water sector. Through the automatic analysis of pressure anomalies at hydraulic nodes, vibration and temperature variations in pump assemblies, and level fluctuations in water reservoirs, the formation of critical situations can be identified in advance. This reduces accident risks and environmental impacts, while extending the operational lifespan of infrastructure. Additionally, data-analytics platforms (Big Data, IoT, AI) integrated with SCADA make water resource management more flexible and predictable, enhancing the resilience of urban water supply systems. SCADA modules operating in parallel with geographic information systems (GIS) ensure the localization of leaks, real-time updating of hydraulic network maps, and optimization of maintenance strategies. The results of the study demonstrate that the application of SCADA systems is not only the main driver of digital transformation in the water sector but also a vital technological platform for improving energy efficiency, ensuring environmental safety, and enhancing infrastructure resilience. Consequently, SCADA-based management becomes an integral component of sustainable development strategies for the cities of the future.
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