WCW26

This presentation explores best practices for maintaining Industrial Control Systems (ICS) in the water and wastewater sector. We will examine lifecycle considerations for PLCs, SCADA platforms, wireless communication options, and supporting components, providing practical recommendations for sustaining these critical assets. Key topics include strategies for backups, firmware management, system health checks, and determining appropriate spare hardware levels to ensure reliability. Emphasis will be placed on cybersecurity and how proactive maintenance strengthens facility security. To ground these concepts, we will review a real-world ICS maintenance plan for a the new Town of Esterhazy Regional Water Treatment Plant, highlighting architecture and upgrade planning. Modern trends such as remote access, cloud integration, and AI driven tools will also be discussed, equipping attendees with actionable insights to improve resilience and performance in their own operations.