The SCADA has three consoles, a unisex restroom, and a food area (26x24).

Full Question:

The SCADA has three consoles, a unisex restroom, and a food area (26x24).  The SCADA room appears to have its own refrigerator and food counter space with a restroom.  Is the SCADA operation and manning so critical they cannot walk down the building for a restroom or break room?

Is the SCADA room and equipment not configured to sound audible and visual critical alarms which would allow the staff to leave the room temporarily for using the break area or restrooms, thus eliminating the need for a restroom or break area within the SCADA?  

The SCADA room is essential to our business and is manned 24-7.  The SCADA system monitors and controls the complex systems of pipes, valves, pumps, water storage facilities, intake points, flow meters, temperatures, environment, fluid chemistry, and many more system-wide operational factors and controls.  This control room is also the hub for real-time communications with GVSUD field personnel working on the system and interaction and collaboration with our partners that supply us with critical water, power, fuel, and other services. 

The weather events of February 2021 indicate that the SCADA system will likely undergo significant expansion, which will be in addition to the expansion already anticipated to respond to rapid growth, and the addition of wastewater treatment facilities.  The SCADA system does not take a break, and so it must be actively managed at all times.

Currently, the plan shows three consoles in the SCADA room, but future expansion is a certainty.  In addition to the current three stations, it is anticipated that other critical functions such as our GIS analyst may reside in this room. 

Our company and its employee base are growing at an incredible pace. Proactive planning, especially when it comes to systems vital to our business, allows us to serve our customers now properly and into the future. 

Supplying our employees with adequate bathroom facilities is necessary.   The layout of the new facility provides our employees, as well as customers, with those facilities.  The refrigerator and sink within the SCADA room are not "break facilities," nor will they be used as such. 

 The refrigerator is used to house testing samples, and the sink is there for operators to wash their hands after testing and handling specimens. Storing these samples in the defined breakroom is not an option, nor would it be an acceptable practice.  The SCADA restroom is there for the use of the employee or employees staffing the control room, so they are never far from the consoles.

 Throughout the facility concept, planning and design, there has been consistent utilization of staff, management, board, customer, and architect input.  Including but not limited to those derived from their experiences, observations, conversations, business logic, measurements, conclusions, and common sense.   This may also include the same from other facilities that have both similar and, in some cases, different requirements.  

In particular, the architect has designed several facilities in the area with many similar requirements and possesses a wealth of knowledge directly pertinent to this facility.  All of this must be placed into the context of providing the infrastructure and capabilities for this facility to address the organization's needs and expansion for the next 40 years.

Show All Answers

1. What is the purpose of the SCADA room, and when will it be utilized?
2. What is the need for office space in the Wastewater Treatment Plant?
3. Are the gate and ornamental fencing consistent with the design used in other facilities of a like nature?
4. Why does the facility need an exercise room? Will it be open after regular working hours and weekends?
5. What is the need for office space in the Warehouse and Operations area?
6. What is the rationale for the projected size of the breakroom?
7. Are all the conference rooms needed?
8. Is the Board Room situated so that people attending an after-hours function would not have access to the office space?
9. Why is covered parking necessary?
10. When the Board room is in use for a large meeting, is there adequate parking for employees?
11. Other than the Board Room where the Board will meet, are there any offices, workrooms, computers, phones, parking spaces, cubicles, or facilities of any type dedicated for use by GVSUD Board members?
12. Why is it necessary to have more than one drive-through lane?
13. What will the new facility cost GVSUD?
14. If GVSUD borrows funds to finance the facility, what is the expectation regarding interest rates that would be secured?
15. Where will the money come from to build this facility?
16. What is the life expectancy of the proposed new facility?
17. Has the proposed facility undergone "value engineering" to balance cost/benefit?
18. Will any part of the existing facility continue to be used once the new facility is complete?
19. Where will the facility be built?
20. Was employee input utilized in the design of the facility?
21. Has the architect selected by Green Valley worked on similar projects?
22. Are the proposed Green Valley facilities consistent in cost, function, and design, with other facilities of similar entities?
23. What options did GVSUD examine regarding its need for facilities?
24. When was the investigation started regarding the facilities' needs of GVSUD?
25. Is a new facility required for GVSUD to continue to provide water and wastewater services to its customers?
26. Why does Green Valley Special Utility District (GVSUD) need a new facility?
27. How can GVSUD plan for a facility to last 40 years into the future? Maybe 20 years. It isn't going to be enough in 40 years.
28. Does GVSUD provide the proper PPE for its lineman? Should the linemen even have been wet and muddy?
29. How is the architect's fee scheduled? Is it a flat rate or a percent of the overall project value?
30. Why are the proposed office spaces for the new facility so large?
31. Why is the mail-out being mailed out from North Carolina?
32. The meeting room is 19 x 26 and seats 24. What type of meetings would be held in this large room, and who would attend? What is the projected number of employees that will work at this site?
33. Why is so much space needed for a break room?
34. What is the justification for the gate structure and Ornamental fencing?
35. What is the cost justification for a washer and dryer?
36. Why is there a ladies locker room and two showers?
37. Office – 18x12. Who would use this large office?
38. Kitchen (5x5 pantry, Dishwasher, stove, double oven, and warming drawer).
39. The meeting room is 19 x 26 and seats 24. What type of meetings would be held in this large room and who would attend? What is the projected number of employees that will work at this site?
40. The 23 x 8 break room is mostly counter space and appliances and only allows seating for two.
41. What is the justification for the gate structure and Ornamental fencing?
42. What is the justification for the 13 x 22 exercise room?
43. Why do you need locker room and showers?
44. Training room (58x43) seats 75. What is the frequency and number to attend per session that justifies the need for a room that seats 75?
45. Office – 18x12. Who would be using this large office?
46. What is the justification for such a huge kitchen with a pantry and cooking appliances, including a double oven?
47. Private Restroom for the General Manager.
48. Conference/meeting rooms (one future, 1- 18x14, 1-12x11, one -32x24, Board room for 100). What is the justification for one huge Board room?
49. The SCADA has three consoles, a unisex restroom, and a food area (26x24).
50. The plans are for four drive-thru lanes, one for a kiosk and two with pneumatic tubes.
51. Why is there a need for 20 covered parking spaces in the "employee parking" lot?