Over the years, as the Agency acquires other water systems, replaces facilities and adds new construction, maps have been updated to reflect facilities. Information pervaded to the Engineering varies greatly from electronic AutoCAD drawings to sketches on  napkins. Mapping information has improved significantly over the past years. Hand drawn parcel maps are slowly being replaced with accurate digital and GPS data. Aerial maps of the County also provide more detailed information. Software programs have become more sophisticated and have enabled the interface of data base information and other software programs to allow the system maps to become more powerful and relay more information pertaining to customers, parcels of land, and Agency facilities. The Engineering Department has been building a system map to accurately place facilities using updated County data, GPS coordinates interfaces with the Customer Service Data Base through a Graphic Information System or GIS software program. Any authorized employees can access the GIS system and view the system maps with attached data.

Agency Manager Jim Abercrombie said, “The Graphic Information System shows not only map of all the subdivisions and services, but also shows where facilities are, customer records, and if there is equipment in area. It will show all of that so it is a really a big database showing a lot information that we use as we manage our assets and our customer service requests.” The Engineering Department plans to budget for a new GIS software package to make better use of the system maps and attach additional information to provide staff with tools to more efficiently carry out their duties. Wolfskill provided recommendations to the board on how they can do that through increased technology. He suggested that the agency increase both their hardware and software capacities so that they can essentially do more information compiling with better efficiency.

Abercrombie gave an example. “When we are in the field and installing a new asset like a valve or a working on a piece of infrastructure pipe we can actually take a picture of it and know the condition of asset in the log because we have that picture corresponding with asset.” Abercrombie said this will help with future maintenance. Abercrombie said, so in the future the agency “can go directly to the map and click and have a lot of information.” Wolfskill also recommendation that field service vehicles receive the technology so employees have access to maps and customer service information, as well as service order information in real time. Abercrombie commented, “Some big guys like PG&E and FedEx have that capability. We are exploring to see if that is something the agency should get involved in or not.” Advantages of this technology then were explained. “For example,” said Abercrombie, “the underground alert system. We would get a call from another utility or contractor wanting to locate a facility because they are doing work in the roadway. Our employee would take the map and working device and more efficiently locate the facility.” Another benefit to the technology upgrades is the impact it will have on the maintenance of Agency facilities.

With increased upgrades to the GIS program the agency would be able to use it to quickly access asset information and know when these assets such as a valve or fire hydrant will need to be replaced and the agency can preplan for replacing or maintenance of these facilities. “So not only efficiency, but predictive maintenance too, it can help us manage our assets better,” said Abercrombie. Also discussed at the meeting was the Computer Main Management System or CMMS. Abercrombie said it can be integrated into the GIS system to help detect and keep track of water leaks which in turn will help the agency realize that the pipe may need to be replaced or is failing. Abercrombie concluded, “We want to be as efficient as we can and that comes with technology.” The item was a discussion item only and not action was taken.”