The Western Area Water Supply Project provides water to over 70,000 people across 5 counties in North Dakota. It utilizes both Missouri River water and groundwater sources. WAWSA uses ArcGIS applications to enhance communication between staff and external partners. Field operators use Survey123 to report findings and Workforce to receive assignments on their devices. This geospatial data is then accessible on a dashboard for efficient decision making. The same data points collected in the field can convey different meanings to different staff depending on their roles and needs.

1. Well-Rounded with GIS
Managing the Flow of Information
inWaterworks
ND Geospatial Summit
September 14, 2022

2. Western Area Water Supply Authority
The Authority of the Western Area Water Supply Project
About the Project
The Western Area Water Supply Project utilizes a combination of Missouri River water treated
at the Williston Regional Water Treatment Plant and groundwater treated by the R&T Water
Supply Commerce Authority’s Water Treatment Plant in Ray. This water supply system meets
the needs of municipal, rural and industrial users in five northwestern North Dakota counties.
• Service area includes 5 counties:
Burke, Divide, McKenzie, Mountrail
and Williams (Williston, Ray, Tioga,
Stanley, and Watford City)
• Currently providing water to over
70,000 people
• Estimated to provide water to
160,000 people by 2038
Represents Five Water Entities:
• Williams Rural Water District
• McKenzie County Water District
• City of Williston
• BDW Water System Association
• R&T Water Supply Association

3. WAWSA and ArcGIS
WAWSA utilizes ArcGIS applications for enhance the flow of communication
internally (staff) and externally (customers, member entities, contractors, etc.)
• Data is easily accessible in a common format
• Spatially based data makes sense for a regional water utility
• “Real-time” availability allows for efficient decision-making → Those sharing
the data are on the same page
WAWSA Operations uses ArcGIS
to coordinate operational
objectives
• Pipelines, appurtenances, and
facilities are features
• Survey123 → report from the
field
• Workforce → instruction to the
field
• Collector → Assets are
geospatially accurate

4. • Staffing and movement of staff
• Planning for staffing needs within the
organization
• Gathering data to support quadrants
• Reducing equipment size and
maintenance
• Location of Supplies
Domestic Utility

5. Four Quadrants

6. Three Quadrants

7. Domestic Utility – Project Management

8. Domestic Utility – Project Management

9. Industrial Utility – Oil and Gas

10. Private/Public Partnership
• Private/Public Partnership - Faye Pit
• Siting Appurtenances
• Front Office Billing

11. Workflow through Web GIS (ArcGIS)
WAWSA Field Operations
Workforce
Survey123
Dashboard

12. Survey123 – From the Field
Operators report findings onsite, in the field
• Customized forms – tasks or procedures
• Documentation with writing and pictures
• Easily accessible on one device (no paperwork)
• Data collected as point, geospatially linked to the asset
WAWSA surveys (some of them, anyway …)
• Task Reports
• Generator Inspections
• Routine Sampling
• Backflow Preventer
Testing
• Valve Maintenance
• Facility Inspections
• Meter Testing
• Line Crossings
• Leak Discovery
• Inventory??

13. Workforce – To the Field
Sometimes you just have to see it …

14. Workforce – To the Field
Operations Manager creates
assignments to coordinate efforts
• Browser based – no installation
• Location-based for easy navigation
• Mobile app lists assignments – helpful
for operator’s time management
• Written (comments) and visual
(pictures) information are conveyed
• Data collected as point, geospatially
documented with the asset
– What actions have been taken to address
this issue?
– What operator has previously worked on
this asset?
– Has this been an issue before? Is there a
systemic problem?

15. Dashboard – Node of Management
Task Reports
from
Operators
Operations
Manage
categorizes
task
Assignments
from Workforce
Survey123 form on
Assignments Data
Survey123 form on
Task Report Data

16. • All the data collected from Survey123 and created
with Workforce can be utilized for three objectives
– Operational → What should be addressed – when and
how?
– Analytical → What is the relationship between assets
(and assets to other datasets)?
– Historical → Detailed data enhance Operational and
Analytical objectives
• Accumulation of data points illustrates a more
complete understanding of individual assets
→ Wholistic perspective of the system
Data Collection

17. The same data point (feature) conveys specific
information to different staff, for different applications
Same Data – Different Meanings
Dataset → Blow-off appurtenance
• Short piping connected to the mains
that extend up to ground level,
designed for flushing water (i.e.,
emergency repairs)
Dataset → Temporary Connections
• Industrial companies (usually oil & gas)
connect to a blow-off to temporarily draw
from the system
OM – Does this work?
Operator – Where is this?
Director – Available for
temporary connection?
OM – Meter Trailer?
Operator – Emergency Contact?
Director – System Demand?
Business Manager/Controller –
Reimbursement rate for member entity?

18. Data collected at time for one purpose becomes
insightful at another time, for a different purpose.
Same Data – Different Objectives

19. Questions?
Tami Madsen, Executive Director
Tami.Madsen@wawsp.com
Jacob Monson, Operations Manager
Jacob.Monson@wawsp.com
www.WAWSP.com