AWWA IMTECH54017

Since the 1960s people have been using computer applications to assist in the operationsand maintenance of water/wastewater facilities. These applications are often developed totackle a specific issue and so are rarely designed to be integrated into an overall operationssystem. As a result, information becomes tied to particular applications that are understoodonly by particular groups or individuals. When this occurs, the information becomes, inessence, proprietary and a division forms between people who are "in the know" and thosewho are not. A way to short-circuit this inefficiency is by providing open and easy access toinformation for everyone via web integration. While web integration may take many forms,its main function lies in allowing an organization to easily share information and increaseefficiency leading to cost savings and improvements in performance.