OmniSite adds peer-to-peer control for water and wastewater systems

OmniSite says its peer-to-peer control feature lets municipal water and wastewater devices communicate directly, cutting out complex SCADA programming for operators. The company says the technology can help smaller utilities coordinate pumps, towers, and alarms across dispersed infrastructure more quickly.

Why it matters: - Municipal utilities often manage pumping stations, water towers, and treatment sites spread across wide areas. - OmniSite’s peer-to-peer control is designed to reduce the need for custom control panels, specialized SCADA programming, and dedicated technical staff. - The feature is meant to help smaller municipalities coordinate infrastructure with less complexity and faster setup.

What happened: - OmniSite introduced peer-to-peer control technology for remote infrastructure management in municipal water and wastewater systems. - The feature lets OmniSite devices communicate directly with one another for coordinated control over long distances. - The company says a water plant operator can configure the system through a fill-in-the-blanks table in minutes. - The feature works across the OmniBeacon, XR50 PLUS, and Crystal Ball PLUS product line.

The details: - Direct device communication can trigger immediate action, including stopping pumps when a connected station reports a high-level alarm. - The system supports control of municipal drinking water pumping systems and water towers. - OmniSite says the technology works with multiple towers and pumps in complex alternation or zoned setups. - Live reporting is available through the OmniSite GuardDog interface on a tablet, PC, or phone. - The system includes remote water level monitoring. - GuardDog is a web-based notification and historian platform included with every OmniSite device. - OmniBeacon installation requires mounting the device to a pump control panel, connecting five wires, and submitting a short form. - OmniSite handles the GuardDog configuration after installation. - Operators receive high-level alarm alerts, power-fail alerts, low backup battery alerts, weak cellular signal alerts, and device failure-to-report alerts. - Alarm histories include date and time stamps, plus who was called and who responded. - Notifications can arrive by text message, voice call, and email. - A free smartphone app provides 24/7 monitoring from any location. - OmniSite offers free in-person product training in Indianapolis. - Training lasts 1.5 days and is designed for operators and utility managers.

Between the lines: - The release frames peer-to-peer control as a lower-cost alternative to traditional utility automation systems. - The pitch appears aimed at municipalities that need remote control but lack the budget or staff for more complex systems. - OmniSite is positioning GuardDog and its rapid-install products as part of a broader effort to simplify deployment and ongoing monitoring.

What's next: - OmniSite is directing potential customers to its website and blog for more information about the peer-to-peer control feature. - The company is likely to continue expanding the use of the feature across its installed base of municipal monitoring devices.

The bottom line: - OmniSite is betting that simpler device-to-device control will make remote water and wastewater management more accessible for smaller utilities.