Modern SCADA and Telemetry for Water Utilities

Building reliable communications for real-time operations and AMI integration

SUMMARY

Most people never think about the systems that keep clean water flowing—or what happens if operators lose visibility into them. Tacoma Water does. Tamazari partnered with the utility to modernize the microwave communications backbone that supports SCADA across its water system. The work strengthened reliability across 15+ remote sites, delivered four-nines availability, and ensured operators always have real-time insight into the critical infrastructure communities depend on.

CLIENT BACKGROUND

Tacoma Water is part of Tacoma Public Utilities, serving thousands of homes and businesses across the Tacoma region. Its system includes reservoirs, pump stations, treatment facilities, and miles of distribution infrastructure. Because Tacoma Water shares communications infrastructure with the utility’s Power and Rail divisions, the network must perform flawlessly—not just for efficiency, but for public safety and essential services.

"When communications go down, operators lose visibility into the system—and that’s not acceptable. Tamazari treats our infrastructure with the rigor it deserves.”

Client Testimonial — Tacoma Public Utilities Operations

CHALLENGE

Tacoma Water relied on an aging microwave telemetry network to support SCADA monitoring and control across its system. As monitoring needs expanded and data volumes increased, the network needed to be modernized to maintain reliability and support future Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) initiatives. At the same time, management of this critical infrastructure had to transition without interrupting water operations or reducing system visibility. Because the communications backbone was shared across Power, Water, and Rail, any changes also required tight coordination to avoid operational impact across multiple utilities.

SUCCESS CRITERIA

• Achieve 99.99% or greater availability

• Transition network management with no SCADA downtime

• Maintain continuous monitoring and control of water operations

• Establish consistent, repeatable service management practices

• Enable future AMI and smart water capabilities

• Coordinate effectively across shared multi-utility infrastructure

SOLUTION

Tamazari assumed end-to-end management of the microwave telemetry backbone and treated it with the same rigor as critical operational infrastructure. The team modernized key communication links while implementing ITIL-based service management practices to bring structure, visibility, and consistency to daily operations. The upgraded network now delivers low-latency, real-time connectivity for SCADA while providing capacity for future AMI data and smart water applications.

“The transition of our water telemetry operations was seamless. We’re seeing consistent four-nines availability, which is essential for SCADA."

Client Testimonial — Tacoma Public Utilities Operations

IMPLEMENTATION

The team began with a detailed assessment of more than 15 telemetry sites, identifying upgrade priorities and opportunities for redundancy. Modernization work was carefully sequenced and scheduled during low-impact windows to avoid operational disruptions. Incident, change, and configuration management processes were introduced, monitoring and alerting were enhanced, and coordination protocols were established to align Power, Water, and Rail stakeholders. Lastly, training ensured a smooth operational handoff.

RESULTS

The project delivered consistent 99.99% availability across all water telemetry sites, exceeding reliability requirements for SCADA operations. The modernized microwave backbone now provides stable, low-latency connectivity for real-time monitoring and control of pump stations, pressure zones, reservoir levels, and distribution system sensors. Incident response times improved through clearer processes and better visibility, while change management became more predictable and controlled. Just as importantly, the network is now fully positioned to support Tacoma Public Utilities’ water AMI deployment and future smart water capabilities without requiring additional communications retrofits.

LONG-TERM VALUE

Tacoma Water now has a resilient, scalable communications foundation that supports both current operations and future innovation. Proactive monitoring and structured service management reduces unplanned outages and extends equipment life. Unified management across Power, Water, and Rail improves efficiency and ensures consistent service levels.

KEY LEARNINGS

• Water utility telemetry requires the same reliability standards as electric grid SCADA

• Critical communications can be modernized without outages when carefully planned

• ITIL service management translates effectively from IT to operational technology

• Investing in communications infrastructure early enables smoother, lower-cost AMI deployments.

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