Uninterrupted Water Supply Secured as SAGE Future‑Proofs 54 Remote WA Sites

Opportunity

Water Corporation needed to modernise critical communications and control infrastructure across 54 remote sites in the Goldfields and Agricultural Region. 

With Telstra’s 3G network scheduled to shut down on 30 June 2024, the organisation faced a hard deadline to transition to 4G communications to maintain uninterrupted SCADA visibility of remote water assets.

Many sites also relied on ageing PLCs, legacy serial radio networks, unsupported SCADA hardware, and solar systems identified for upgrade as part of Water Corporation's ongoing asset lifecycle progam. Upgrading this equipment required careful integration with existing infrastructure and precise planning to avoid disrupting the drinking water supply.

The challenge was compounded by the remote nature of the sites, limited shutdown windows, and the need to coordinate engineering, installation, and commissioning activities across a vast geographic area, all while ensuring communities continued to receive safe, reliable water throughout the program.

Solution

As a long‑standing member of Water Corporation’s Operational Technology Panel, SAGE Automation’s Perth‑based engineering and project delivery team brought their understanding of Water Corporation standards, systems, and operational requirements to the project.

Water Corporation’s assets included bores, tanks, electricity monitoring, TPS, WWPS, WPS, and WTP facilities, requiring a coordinated, standards‑aligned delivery approach to ensure seamless integration and zero service interruption.

This involved:

• Close collaboration with Water Corporation project teams and regional stakeholders

• Detailed planning of cutovers and commissioning to maintain a continuous water supply

• Alignment with Water Corporation electrical, SCADA, and communications design standards

• Technical leadership overseeing design, engineering, and quality assurance

• Careful transition planning from serial radio networks to IP‑based radio systems.

The communications infrastructure was upgraded from legacy 900 MHz radio and PSTN systems to resilient IP-based technologies, including radio, cellular, satellite, ADSL, and NBN. Electrical switchboards, control cubicles, and telemetry cabinets were retrofitted or replaced; power systems were modernised; and instrumentation was upgraded.

The scope of work included:

• PLC and SCADA software development
• 3G to 4G communications upgrade design
• IP radio system design
• Electrical and control system design, including solar upgrades
• Comprehensive commissioning and cutover plan
• FAT, installation, site cutovers, and on‑site commissioning
• Verification of radio and 4G signal performance
• Full project management, including scheduling, procurement, subcontractor coordination, and risk management.

SAGE partnered with MEEC for electrical installation, ensuring efficient delivery across the remote regions.

Outcome

SAGE successfully upgraded 54 sites across the Goldfields and Agricultural Region to 4G communications, IP radios, and modern PLC, HMI, and instrumentation platforms in accordance with the latest Water Corporation SCADA standards.

The upgrades ensured that the shutdown of the 3G network did not impact operational monitoring of remote water assets. Equipment approaching end-of-life or becoming obsolete was replaced with modern systems aligned to current Water Corporation standards.

Most importantly, all upgrades were completed without interruption to the water supply, ensuring communities across Western Australia continued to receive safe drinking water throughout the project.

Project results:

• 54 remote assets upgraded to modern SCADA and communications standards
• No lost‑time injuries recorded
• No disruption to the water supply during any site cutover
• Verified 4G communications across all sites
• Transition from legacy serial radio networks to IP‑based systems
• Modernised PLC, SCADA, and instrumentation infrastructure
• Upgraded solar systems providing improved battery autonomy and visibility

Water Corporation now has a modern, scalable control system environment that enhances operational reliability, improves monitoring capability, and reduces long‑term maintenance risk, helping to strengthen water security for regional Western Australia.