determine the effectiveness of using the SCADA systems in Water and sewage in crisis management

Introduction and research objectives: Crisis management has many aspects, which include the need to use the new advances and technologies for collection of correct information and for appropriate and timely response to crisis creating processes. Industrial automation is the means of realizing this goal and the most comprehensive forms of these systems, which have been designed with a holistic approach to management of systems in operation during crisis and emergencies are the SCADA systems. This article has been written with the objective of reviewing the effectiveness level of SCADA systems in the crisis management of urban water and wastewater companies (case study of Alborz Provincial Water and Wastewater Company), to be able to analyze their role and impact on crisis management by monitoring the condition of installations in operation circuit equipped with SCADA as compared to those devoid of such systems.
Methodology: The methodology in this research is descriptive and post event approach. The reason for this view is that given the financial weaknesses of the urban water and wastewater companies, the high costs of installing the SCADA system and the lack of proper planning (for setting up or completing the ongoing SCADA projects
Findings: The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of SCADA system on pre and during crisis management as well as the comprehensive crisis management of the Alborz Water and Wastewater Company, while it has no impact on the post crisis management of the Company.
Conclusion: Based on the research findings and the data analysis conducted, among the three stages of pre, during and post crisis management, the SCADA system leaves its greatest impact before and during the crisis. As prevention is always better than cure and since in this project in parallel to confirming the effectiveness of SCADA system in managing the crisis during its occurrence has been demonstrated, the use of such control systems appears to be an undeniable necessity, which ought to be included in the agenda of every water and wastewater company in the country.