A new, cutting-edge Operational Control Centre (OCC) for the Water and Sewerage Authority will be fully commissioned on Wednesday, July 10. The Centre was initiated in April 2023, and was completed on time and below budget by May 2024.
“This milestone underscores the Authority's commitment to leveraging advanced technology for improved water and wastewater management,” the State entity said in a news release, describing it as a “pivotal development” and “significant leap forward”.
WASA explains that development and completion of the OCC—located at WASA’s Head Office in St. Joseph—were made possible through funding from the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) via the Ministry of Finance and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT).
The OCC emerged out of a mandate issued by the Cabinet in 2022, that the Authority develop a strategic Action Plan aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Development Strategy 2026-2030 (Vision 2030).
According to the WASA statement, the 2,500-square-foot facility, “offers a glimpse into the future of water and wastewater management in Trinidad and Tobago.”
This image released by the Water and Sewerage Authority shows its new Operational Control Centre (OCC) located at its head office in St Joseph. The facility will be fully commissioned on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. [Image courtesy WASA]
It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology—including video walls and a centralized platform for 24-hour monitoring and control of SCADA Systems, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and telemetric devices—thereby enhancing executive, tactical, strategic, and operational oversight.
“In addition to improving monitoring capabilities, the OCC automates the management of several manual processes such as leak repair and water trucking, thereby increasing efficiency and transparency,” WASA says.
“The OCC’s advanced server room, equipped with backup power supply, ensures continuous data collection and monitoring, enabling a proactive approach through real-time data flow and improved operational efficiency,” the Authority notes. “This dynamic space allows the Authority to remotely manage and monitor operations across its extensive network of water and wastewater facilities.”
WASA assures that security and cybersecurity issues have been factored into the new OCC’s design and operability metrics, noting that it features robust cybersecurity measures, including encryption, two-factor authentication, and biometric access control. In addition, surveillance cameras with analytic capabilities provide an additional layer of safety and security for the facility and its personnel.
WASA says future projects “will continue to drive digitization and automation of water and wastewater services, supported by anticipated funding from international and domestic stakeholders.”