Bosch Video Surveillance And Access Control Systems Secure Erie Water Works Facilities

Cameras record video on Bosch digital video recorders at the main distribution center

End User:

Erie Water Works supplies potable water directly to the City of Erie and its surrounding municipalities in Pennsylvania. The mission of Erie Water Works is to guarantee a continuous, reasonably priced supply of quality water to its customers, which assures public health while promoting future development. It is committed to ensuring the production and distribution of high quality water using two complete water filtration plants and pumping stations connected to a complex network of distribution lines serving 52,000 customers.

Business Objective:

Following the events of September 11, the Environmental Protection Agency mandated that water companies perform vulnerability assessments for their facilities. Upon completing the assessment, Erie Water Works developed a multiyear investment plan to enhance security at its facilities. The plan aimed to upgrade access control systems and existing intrusion systems and to add video surveillance to its two primary facilities where water is stored and processed, as well as to other facilities.

Solution:

Many of Erie Water Works' main facilities are now secured by Bosch technology. Building doors remain locked at all times, and the intrusion systems are armed whenever a building is unoccupied. Erie Water Works' 130 employees carry key fobs to unlock the facilities they require access to for maintaining, operating and servicing equipment. This not only helps secure equipment and the facilities, it also gives operators insight into which buildings are occupied or unoccupied at any given time. At the main distribution center and at the organization's largest water treatment plant, cameras record video on Bosch digital video recorders. 

Three operator stations located at Erie Water Works' administrative building are manned at all hours of the day for responding to alarms from the intrusion, access control and video surveillance systems. Operators have an integrated view of all three components.

Using an integrated system, complete with maps of each facility, helps operators more quickly make informed decisions in the event of an alarm. Erie Water Works also appreciates the system's ability to expand as additional needs arise as well as its capacity to integrate management of energy controls and electrical equipment in the future.

Result:

The security system has improved employee safety for Erie Water Works. For example, in locations where hazardous chemicals are stored, employees can examine the area by video if a problem arises -- making them better prepared to address the situation. "The upgraded security system has also eliminated vandalism and inventory losses that were occurring at some facilities," said Craig Kern, special projects manager for Erie Water Works.

"These vandalism incidents could cost upwards of $50,000, and we had experienced thefts of expensive materials. The new system has helped us eradicate these losses."