Water Company Research Articles

Use of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) in Water Chemistry Studies.

Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) equipped with integrated sensors are a tool valuable to several monitoring strategies, offering enhanced temporal and spatial coverage over specific timeframes, allowing for targeted examination of sites or events of interest. The elaboration of environmental monitoring programs has relied so far on periodic spot sampling at specific locations, followed by laboratory analysis, aiming at the evaluation of water quality at a catchment scale. For this purpose, automatic telemetric stations for specific parameters have been installed by the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters of Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (IMBRIW-HCMR) within several Greek rivers and lakes, providing continuous and temporal monitoring possibilities. In the present work, USVs were deployed by the Athens Water and Sewerage Company (EYDAP) as a cost-effective tool for the environmental monitoring of surface water bodies of interest, with emphasis on the spatial fluctuations of chlorophyll α, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH, observed in Koumoundourou Lake and the rivers Acheloos, Asopos and Kifissos. The effectiveness of an innovative heavy metal (HM) system installed in the USV for the in situ measurements of copper and lead was also evaluated herewith. The results obtained demonstrate the advantages of USVs, setting the base for their application in real-time monitoring of chemical parameters including metals. Simultaneously, the requirements for accuracy and sensitivity improvement of HM sensors were noted, in order to permit full exploitation of USVs' capacities.

Application of the K-Medoids Algorithm in Clustering PAM Customers Based on Provinces in Indonesia

Application of the K-Medoids Algorithm in Clustering PAM Customers Based on Provinces in Indonesia

Adaptive Mechanism for Water and Wastewater Construction Companies in Coping with the Disruption of Projects Due to Crisis

The water and wastewater construction company (WWCC) plays an important role maintaining water sustainability for human. It is a very intricate industry vulnerable to disruptions, delays, and disputes in times of crisis or pandemic. It is a system that has internal interactions on its 5Ms of management such as Man, Material, Machine, Method, and Money that are sensitive to change affected by external environment which in turn affected their current projects. One of the external factors that affected WWCC in the year 2020 is the occurrence of coronavirus covid19. During the pandemic, the global construction industry including WWCC have experienced drastically altered risk environment applied to funding, labor shortages, material delays, suspension, and termination of contracts (Barriere 2020). The pandemic has affected WWCC’s 5Ms of management that ranges that eventually affected the triple constraints of projects such as scope, time, and cost. The study has determined the level of severity of the effect before and during covid19 to WWCC’s 5Ms of management that eventually affected the three interdependent constraints of projects. The data gathered before and during covid19 were compared and ultimately utilized in formulating the adaptive mechanism for WWCC in coping with the disruption of projects during crisis. The adaptive mechanism comprises of the precontemplation and contemplation phases. During pandemic, WWCC has to determine if there is a need for change in their organization. They have to adapt through precontemplation through internal and external scanning and situational analysis in order for them to comprehend and adapt to the change. WWCC upon realizing of the needed change, has to continue with the contemplation stage by utilizing the stop, start and continue (SSC) principle. To be more precise with the implementation of change, WWCC has to exercise pause, focus and identify prior to executing the SSC principle, followed by implementation, action, and maintenance.

Perbaikan Kualitas Pelayanan dengan Metode Integrasi Servqual dan Diagram Kartesius di Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum Tirta Moedal Semarang

This study aims to identify the service attributes that are important to consumers using the servqual integration method and cartesian diagrams. With the help of the SPSS tool, 120 respondents were surveyed. The results show that the quality of service provided by Tirta Moedal Water Company is good, with an average performance score of 3.5 on a scale of 1 to 5. The dimensions that need to be improved are responsiveness and empathy. These attributes include the process of handling complaints, providing information during maintenance, the speed of responding to customer complaints, the ability of employees to listen to customer complaints, and the availability of consultation and complaint services for consumers. This study is expected to help improve service quality and maintain existing attributes.

Impact Evaluation of Wastewater Treatment Based on the Anaerobic Digestion of Sewage Sludge Using the Life Cycle Assessment Method

All the inputs and outputs of a technical system can be interpreted from an environmental point of view. Using the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, some changes that are less harmful to the environment can be included in the system. This research aims to evaluate the environmental effects of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in South Tehran, and the LCA method was used in this study. Based on the data of qualitative parameters obtained from the measurement of Tehran province’s water and sewage company, the environmental emissions were calculated and analyzed using SimaPro software (9.0.0) and the standards defined under the ReCiPe 2016-midpoint method. In the ReCiPe 2016 method, the results were expressed in two intermediate levels (including three classes of influence) and final (including 18). The results showed that the treated wastewater and chlorine factors had the most adverse environmental effects. Among the 18 effect classes, the treated wastewater in the class of marine environmental toxicity with the amount of 101.1531 kg 1,4-DCB had the most environmental impacts among other classes. The power consumed by the biogas-burning combined heat and power (CHP) unit in the wastewater treatment (WWT) process reduced the environmental effects in most impact classes. The most adverse environmental effects of the WWT process are related to damage to human health and the ecosystem. According to the findings, the use of CHP systems is suggested for energy saving and also for reducing harmful effects on the environment.

The Impact of Climate Change on the Failure of Water Supply Infrastructure: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Current State of Knowledge

With ongoing climate change, new threats appear to the operation of water supply systems (WSSs), which are related to the amount of available drinking water resources, its quality, the operation of existing water supply infrastructure and changes in consumer behavior. The paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the state of knowledge on the impact of climate change on the failure of water supply infrastructure. The bibliometric analysis was performed based on the VOSviewer program. The results of the analysis indicate current research trends in this area around the world and allow the identification of strengths and weaknesses. Most research concerns the identification of factors related to the impact of climate on the failure rate of water distribution systems. A popular research topic was also the prediction of water supply network failures, taking into account the impact of climatic factors. The main research gap is determining the impact of climate change on water quality. The acquired knowledge can be used by water companies, policy-makers and other researchers to plan adaptation strategies to climate change, which pose new challenges for the operation of water supply systems. The conducted bibliometric analysis also allowed for identifying research gaps.

Quality assessment of different polyethylene-packaged groundwater in the Ilorin metropolis of Nigeria for compliance with standards

There is a notable proliferation of sachet water brands in the Ilorin Metropolis of Nigeria. However, more information regarding their safety for human consumption is required. This study aimed to determine the quality attributes of sachet water produced within the Ilorin metropolis of Nigeria to ascertain their conformity with regulatory standards. Three sachet water companies were each selected from three Local Government Areas within the study area. Physicochemical and microbial analyses were conducted on the collected water samples within 24 hours of production and monthly during 4-month storage. The results showed that temperature (25.10-30.13 ℃) and turbidity (0.37-2.84 NTU) were within permissible limits. Total hardness (36.0-136.33 mg/L) and pH (6.42-8.86) significantly (p ≤0.05) increased during storage and were above standards in some samples. There were significant (p ≤0.05) variations in chlorides (2.83-8.57 mg/L), nitrates (0.15-0.64 mg/L), sulphates (4.70-7.12 mg/L), and sodium contents (10.16-18.74 mg/L) but all were within standards. While five of the nine sachet water brands complied (2-100 CFU/mL) with the limit of 100 CFU/mL for the total viable count, all the samples failed the zero-tolerance requirement for coliform. Possible fecal contamination was concluded as the main concern with the sachet water brands produced within Ilorin Metropolis, suggesting their unfitness for human consumption. The water brands may, therefore, pose severe health hazards to consumers and threaten public health. In conclusion, the study demonstrated the likely unfitness of some sachet water brands in the Ilorin Metropolis of Nigeria for human consumption, owing to fecal coliform. This underscores the need for regulatory agencies to intensify the certification process of prospective sachet water factories. Furthermore, regular inspections of certified factories and their practices and products are recommended to ensure continued compliance with regulatory standards.

Risk‐Constrained Optimal Scheduling in Water Distribution Systems Toward Real‐Time Pricing Electricity Market

AbstractIn recent years, as a result of emerging renewable energy markets, several developed regions have already launched Real‐Time Pricing (RTP) strategies for electricity markets. Establishing optimal pump operation for water companies in RTP electricity markets presents a challenging problem. In a RTP market, both positive and negative electricity prices are possible. These negative prices create economically attractive opportunities for Water Distribution System (WDS) to dispatch their energy consumption. On the other hand, excessively high prices may put WDS at risk of supply disruptions and reduced service levels. However, the continuous development of wind power and photovoltaics results in more volatile and unpredictable fluctuations in the price of renewable energy. The risk arising from uncertainty in electricity prices can lead to a significant increase in actual costs. To address this issue, this paper develops an a posteriori random forest (AP‐RF) approach to forecast the probability density function of electricity prices for the next day and provide a risk‐constrained pump scheduling method toward RTP electricity market. The experimental results demonstrate that the developed method effectively addresses the issue of increased costs caused by inaccurate electricity price forecasting.

KAALO, OXFAM Somalia Install First Water Desalination Plant in El-dahir, Somalia

This article outlines the installation of the first water desalination plant in El-dahir, Somalia, a collaborative effort led by KAALO Aid and Development Organization, OXFAM Somalia, and the El-dahir Water Company. The project aimed to alleviate chronic water scarcity in the region, a pressing issue exacerbated by drought, conflict, and waterborne diseases. Through rigorous site-selection processes and engagement with stakeholders, Eldahir village was chosen as the project's beneficiary, emphasizing community involvement. A Public-Private Partnership (Triple-Ps Agreement) was established to ensure the sustainability of water, hygiene, and sanitation services, reflecting a strategic approach to infrastructure development. Community engagement played a pivotal role, with residents actively participating in discussions on water pricing and quality, underscoring their commitment to positive change. The project's allocated budget of $132,609, inclusive of infrastructure development and capacity-building efforts, reflects the dedication of all stakeholders involved. Lessons learned highlight the transformative impact of collaboration among humanitarian organizations, the private sector, and governmental agencies in addressing water scarcity effectively. This article aims to provide valuable insights for future projects and inspire similar partnerships for sustainable development, ultimately serving as a beacon of hope for communities worldwide.

Pengaruh Motivasi Kerja, Budaya Organisasi, dan Lingkungan Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan pada Perumda Air Minum Tirto Negoro Kabupaten Sragen

The researchers at the Tirto Negoro Drinking Water Company set out to find out what makes workers there tick, which is located in the Sragen Regency. These factors include work motivation, organizational culture, and the work environment.This study is quantitative in nature and employs many methods of data analysis, including testing of classical assumptions, testing of hypotheses, testing of the coefficient of determination, and testing of statistical models with multiple linear regressions. In this study, there were a total of one hundred employees that participated. There were 54 regular employees at the Tirto Negoro Drinking Water Company, which is located in the Sragen Regency. This constituted the sample. In this investigation, the sampling approach employed was saturation sampling.This study's findings demonstrate that three factors significantly affect organizational performance: work environment, motivation, and organizational culture. A total of 58.7% of the components contribute to the coefficient of determination; the remaining 41.3% is explained by other variables not included in the research model.

Environmental Health Risk Analysis of Exposure To Cadmium in Local Water Company Tirta Anoa Water Communities in The Mandonga District Area, Kendari City

Introduction: Local Water Company in Kendari city has 4 sources, namely the Konaweha (Pohara) river, Wanggu river, Anggoeya river, Matabondu spring. The Konaweha River is one of the rivers that has a high potential for being polluted by nickel mining activities. Based on the results of research conducted by (Hasani, 2017), the Konaweha river is in the lightly polluted category. The presence of heavy metals in the environment causes accumulation in aquatic biota.
 Method: This research uses quantitative research in the form of a descriptive survey with a cross sectional research design. Analytically, data from variable measurements is analyzed using the Environmental Health Risk Analysis formula to determine health risks due to exposure to lead in community drinking water and risk management from cadmium pollution to public health.
 Result: Description of cadmium concentration in Local Water Company Tirta Anoa water, Mandonga subdistrict, Kendari city after sampling and laboratory testing at 3 points, namely the first point in Mandonga sub-district with a cadmium concentration of 0.002 mg/L, the second point in Korumba sub-district with a cadmium concentration of 0.001 mg/L , and at the third point in Anggilowu sub-district with a cadmium concentration of 0.002 mg/L.
 Conclusion: The conclusion in this journal The respondent's risk level based on the RQ calculation value is still < 1, which means that people who receive water from Local Water Company Tirta Anoa, Kendari City in the Mandonga sub-district area have no risk of health problems now and in the next 30 years.

RANCANG BANGUN PROTOTIPE SISTEM ATS-AMF BERBASIS MIKROKONTROLER DI PERUMDA AIR MINUM TIRTA SANJIWANI UNIT PRODUKSI BLANGSINGA

The continuity of electricity supply from generators to consumers cannot always be guaranteed due to various factors such as planned outages, distribution failures, and the impacts of natural disasters. The Regional Public Water Company (Perumda) Tirta Sanjiwani has adopted generators as Backup Power Sources to ensure the availability of water supply to consumers. However, the Blangsinga Production Unit of Perumda Tirta Sanjiwani faces challenges in switching electricity supply between PLN and the generator set (genset), especially in operations requiring uninterrupted continuity. To overcome the instability of the electricity supply from PLN, the use of automatic systems such as ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) and AMF (Automatic Main Failure) is necessary. The function of ATS is to switch from PLN to the backup power source (genset) when there is a disturbance or outage in PLN. AMF is responsible for detecting failures in PLN and initiating the genset as well as transferring the load to the backup power source when there is a failure in the main power supply. The ATS-AMF system prototype is designed using voltage sensors, frequency sensors, current sensors, and relays to ensure optimal performance and responsiveness to environmental conditions and power supply conditions.

THE INFLUENCE OF CONFLICT AND STRESS ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE OF PDAM EMPLOYEES IN SERVICE AREA II OF MAKASSAR CITY

This research is a quantitative descriptive study aimed at determining and analyzing the Influence of Conflict and Stress on Employee Performance at the Regional Water Company (PDAM) in Service Area II of Makassar City. The data collection methods used in this research were observation, questionnaires, and documentation. The population and sample used in this research consisted of 52 respondents, with the data analysis method being multiple linear regression analysis processed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) Version 27. Regarding the influence of conflict and stress on the permormance at PDAM Employess in service area II of Makassar City which was discussed in the previous chapters, the author draws the important conclusion that conflict and stress have a positive and significant on the permormance.

The Influence of Job Descriptions and Job Spesifications on the Performance of Makassar City Regional Drinking Water Company Employees

This research aims to determine the effect of job descriptions and job specifications on the performance of Makassar City Drinking Water Company employees. The type of research used in this research is quantitative. The sample used in this research was 77 respondents. The data collection technique uses a questionnaire technique. The data analysis technique used to test the hypothesis is multiple linear regression and the t test (partial test) which is processed using statistical calculations via the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 26. The results of the study show that Job Descriptions have a positive and significant effect on Employee Performance at the Makassar City Regional Drinking Water Company as evidenced by the Job Description regression coefficient (X1) of 0.453 and a calculated t value of 8.993 > t table 1.665 with a significance value of 0.000 < 0.05. And Job Specifications have a positive and significant effect on the Performance of Employees of the Regional Drinking Water Company of Makassar City as evidenced by the Job Specifications regression coefficient (X2) of 0.261 and a calculated t value of 2.763 > t table 1.665 with a significance value of 0.007 <0.05.

The Effect of Providing Incentives on Employee Performance at the Makassar City Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM)

This research aims to determine the effect of providing incentives on employee performance at the Makassar City Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM). The type of data used in this research is quantitative data obtained from distributed questionnaires and is related to the problem being studied. Data collection techniques were carried out using questionnaires, observation and documentation. In this research, the data sources used in data collection include primary data and secondary data. The population in this study were 77 employees of the Regional Drinking Water Company of Makassar City. The sample used in this research was 77 respondents. The research instrument used in this research used the Likert scale (method). Based on the results of data research using statistical calculations through the Statistical for the Social Science (SPSS) version 26 application regarding the Effect of Providing Incentives on Employee Performance at the Makassar City Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM) which was discussed previously, the author draws an important conclusion, (namely) that Incentives have an effect positive and significant on Employee Performance at the Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM) of Makassar City as evidenced by the Incentive regression coefficient (X) value of 0.460 and the t count value of 8.759 > t table 1.665 with a significant value of 0.000 < 0.05.

Fate and behaviour of Microplastics (> 25µm) within the water distribution network, from water treatment works to service reservoirs and customer taps

Water treatment works have previously shown high efficiency in removing microplastics > 25 µm from raw source water. However, what is less well known is the extent to which microplastics of this size class are generated or lost within the water distribution network, particularly whether there is a greater presence in the customer tap than in the water treatment works outlet. This study focused on the presence of 21 different types of synthetic polymer particles with sizes larger than 25 µm examined through multiple rounds of sampling at outlets of water treatment works (WTW), service reservoirs (SR), and customer taps (CT) managed by seven different water companies in Britain. Nineteen different types of polymers were detected; their signature and concentration varied based on the round of sampling, the location within the water supply network, and the water company responsible for managing the supply. Among the polymers examined, polyamide (PA), polyethene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were the most commonly found. Apart from PET having its highest concentration of 0.0189 microplastic per litre (MP/L) in the SR, the concentrations of the other three most frequent polymers (PS = 0.017 MP/L, PA = 0.0752 MP/L, PP= 0.1513 MP/L) were highest in the CT. The overall prevalence of this size of microplastics in the network is low, but there was a high variability of polymer types and occurrences. These spatial and temporal variations suggested that the MP in the distribution network may exist as a series of pulses. Given the presence and polymer types, the potential for some of the microplastics to originate from materials used in the water network and domestic plumbing systems cannot be ruled out. As found before, the absolute number of microplastics in the water distribution network remained extremely low.

Analisis anggaran operasional sebagai alat pengendalian keuangan pada Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum (PDAM) Kabupaten Banggai Kepulauan

Operational budget serves as a tool for companies to achieve profit or income objectives. Financial control remains a critical concern for both profit-oriented and non-profit organizations. This research aims to analyze and comprehend the realization of operational budgets as a financial control instrument within the context of the Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM) in Banggai Kepulauan Regency. The data analysis method employed is qualitative descriptive analysis, utilizing data collection techniques including observation, interviews, and documentation. The study delves into the comparison between operational budgets and the actual operational costs realized by PDAM Banggai Kepulauan Regency from 2019 to 2021. Across this period, fluctuations are observed in the percentages of operational budgets that have been realized. In 2019, the actual cost realization reaches 110% of the budget with a 10% variance. Similarly, in 2020, the actual cost realization amounts to 116% of the budget with a 16% variance, and in 2021, the actual cost realization reaches 121% of the budget with a 21% variance. The analysis findings highlight that the most significant cost component is transmission and distribution expenses, consistently exhibiting a high percentage of realization, averaging 130% of the budget. The primary cause of this variance is attributed to the unallocated depreciation costs for transmission and distribution installations, which were absent from the operational plan. Throughout the 2019-2021 period, PDAM Banggai Kepulauan experienced incongruities between budgeted and realized costs, particularly concerning transmission and distribution expenses, resulting in adverse financial impacts.

Employee Performance Engineering Based on Organizational Culture, Compensation and Motivation

Employee performance is determined, among other things, by organizational culture, compensation and motivation. This research aims to examine the influence of organizational culture, compensation and motivation simultaneously or partially on employee performance at the regional public water company, Mojopahit Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia. The research population was 124 employees of the Mojopahit Drinking Water Regional Public Company in Mojokerto. Meanwhile, 45 people were selected as research samples. Meanwhile, the sampling technique uses simple random sampling. Data collection uses a questionnaire that is distributed directly to respondents. The analysis tool uses multiple linear regression. Hypothesis testing uses the F test to prove the simultaneous influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable and the t test to prove the partial influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable. The research results concluded that organizational culture, compensation and motivation simultaneously or partially affect employee performance, but organizational culture variables have a stronger influence on employee performance than compensation and motivation variables.

Analisis penerapan akuntansi pertanggungjawaban sebagai alat penilaian kinerja pusat biaya pada Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum (PDAM) Kabupaten Tana Toraja

Responsibility accounting is a system that is arranged in such a way according to the nature and activities of the company with the aim that each organizational unit can be accountable for the results of the activities of the unit under its supervision and can be used by the company to assess the performance of managers, especially the cost center. The application of accountability accounting can be said to be good if the conditions of its application are met. The requirements of accountability accounting are organizational structure, budget preparation, classification of controlled and uncontrolled costs, classification of account codes, and accountability reports. The purpose of this study was to determine the application of responsibility accounting in assessing the performance of the cost center at the Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM) of Tana Toraja Regency. The analysis method used in this research is descriptive method which aims to describe the data that has been collected as it is obtained from the results of interviews and data collected from the company. Based on the results of the study, it shows that the application of accountability accounting in the performance assessment of the cost center at the Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM) of Tana Toraja Regency is not good enough, because in the company's accountability report there are still costs that are combined into one account that should be classified. The company has also not implemented a clear and firm reward and punishment system.

Characteristics of hydrogeological aquifer in potential lime stone by analysis pumping test in Campurdarat District, Tulungagung Regency, Indonesia

Extraction of clean water from dug wells and drilled wells is a source of water that is obtained locally without buying, for example, clean water from the Drinking Water Company (PAM). Surface water and groundwater are generally used frequently, even though the utilization of groundwater is not optimal compared to surface water. One way to determine the potential of groundwater contained by aquifers or aquifer discharge is by pumping test wells. In this test, water is pumped to the surface through a test well dug into the designated aquifer. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of hydrogeological aquifer of limestone by the pumping test analysis approach using the Theis and Cooper - Jacob methods in Campurdarat District, Tulungagung Regency. Pumping tests have been carried out on two observation and production wells with the results of the Theis method showing a transmissivity (T) of 73,193 m2/day, storage capacity (S) of 1,080×10-3 and hydraulic conductivity (K) of 1,220 m/day while Jacob shows a transmissivity (T) value of 71,682 m2/day, storage capacity (S) of 0.4512 and hydraulic conductivity (K) of 4,667 m/day. The Theis method was chosen because it has a relative error smaller than Jacob method, namely 29.77%.