Columbia County to upgrade water system SCADA; vendor recommended at $610,820 for cybersecurity and long‑term savings

Columbia County staff recommended approval of a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system upgrade for the county water utility, proposing Southern Flow as the vendor at a recommended expense of $610,820.

The presentation to the Public Works and Engineering Services Committee said the county issued a request for proposals, received three responses, and selected Southern Flow because the firm is within a short drive of Columbia County and can provide faster on‑site maintenance. County staff said the upgrade would add cybersecurity features such as two‑factor authentication, enable faster response times, and require rebuilding system graphics as part of the implementation.

Staff estimated the upgrade would yield about $90,000 in savings per year over the long term once initial migration and setup costs are amortized. The contract price presented in committee was $610,820; staff recommended approval.

Why it matters: SCADA systems monitor and control water utility assets across the distribution system. Upgrading to a more modern platform can reduce cybersecurity risk and reduce operational downtime, according to staff. The county said the incumbent vendor was based in Orlando and had slower on‑site response capability.

Process and next steps: Committee members moved the item to consent during the meeting. County staff said the work is intended to be an initial capital expense with recurring operational benefits and long‑term savings projected in staff estimates.

Ending: The committee approved moving the item on the consent calendar; staff will return with contract documents and implementation timelines as the project moves into procurement and deployment.