ATLANTA — The city of Atlanta has a new tool to monitor water main breaks in freezing temperatures. Channel 2 Action News got an exclusive look at a new Watershed Command Center.
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Channel 2 Action News followed the City of Atlanta Watershed employees’ stock up and head out as they repaired broken waterlines.
“This is a representation of the cases that we’re currently handling,” DWM Commissioner Al Wiggins said.
Channel 2′s investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln followed watershed crews Tuesday as they repaired lines throughout the city and got an exclusive look at the city’s new Watershed Command Center.
“We brought members of the executive leadership team together to be prepared for this week,” Wiggins told Lincoln.
A readiness water commissioner Wiggins says were born after multiple waterline breaks over the summer.
“Our strategy is to bring all the employees into the room. We can deploy all our resources more efficiently, so we can get real-time updates on where our crews are. We’re monitoring our supply levels,” he said.
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Wiggins says having seven departments in one room will drastically reduce response time. Their crews are monitoring more than 4,000 miles of pipe, 1,500 employees, and a fleet of more than a thousand vehicles.
“As freezing temperatures approach, the Command Center will maintain round-the-clock operations to support mission-critical crews that are responsible for ensuring Atlanta’s water infrastructure remains resilient and reliable,” said Wiggins. “This facility is a testament to our commitment to managing the city’s water systems. Through innovation, real-time coordination, and proactive planning, we are prepared to face any challenge to safeguard water services for all residents and visitors.”
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The Command Center uses technology and innovation, integrating data analytics, advanced monitoring tools, and collaborative workflows to ensure swift responses to service disruptions and long-term water infrastructure sustainability.
Key offerings of the Command Center include:
- Live system monitoring: Features real-time data analysis and performance metrics to track system efficiency.
- Collaborative operations: Engages engineers, analysts, and leadership in a seamless partnership to address water infrastructure challenges effectively.
- Insightful reporting tools: Assess patterns, trends, and system vulnerabilities, informing Atlanta’s strategic water management policies.
The commissioner said after this week they plan to turn that command center into a 24/7 operations center to better respond to breaks year-round.
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