Doug Morter with Northern Water

Doug Morter from Northern Water discussed the importance of water, which constitutes 80% of the human body, and the role of Northern Water in supplying water to 1.3 million end users in Colorado. He highlighted the use of Maintenance Connection software for asset management, which has been crucial since 2013 floods. Northern Water is building the largest dam in the U.S. in 30 years, using an asphalt core for environmental impact. Doug emphasized the need for AI and machine learning to optimize preventive maintenance schedules and the potential future migration to cloud solutions for better user experiences and security.

Action Items

• [ ] Reach out to Northern Water to get in touch with Doug Morter, who can provide more information on their use of Maintenance Connection.

Outline

Introduction and Welcome

• Scott MacKenzie introduces the Industrial Talk podcast, emphasizing its focus on industry professionals and their innovations.
• Scott welcomes listeners and highlights the importance of celebrating industry professionals who solve problems and make the world better.
• Scott mentions the current broadcast location at a crew in San Antonio, Texas, and the anticipation of a barbecue lunch.
• Scott introduces the guest, Doug Morton, from Northern Water, and the topic of discussion, maintenance connection and its use in Northern Water's business.

Doug Morton's Background and Northern Water Overview

• Doug Morton joins the conversation, and Scott thanks him for participating.
• Doug shares his background, mentioning his four and a half years at Northern Water and his transition from operations to administration for maintenance connection.
• Northern Water is described as a utility in Colorado, serving 1.3 million end users and being the fifth largest agricultural county in the US.
• Doug explains the role of Northern Water in conveying water from the western to the eastern side of the Continental Divide and the historical significance of their projects.

Technical Feats and Water Management

• Doug discusses the engineering feat of building a tunnel under Rocky Mountain National Park in the 1940s, using a mirror to ensure alignment.
• Scott expresses amazement at the technical achievement and the use of a mirror for alignment.
• Doug elaborates on Northern Water's role in delivering high-quality water from snowmelt reservoirs to municipalities and agriculture, improving communities' water quality.
• The conversation highlights the importance of water management and the challenges of delivering water to areas with limited rainfall.

Maintenance Connection and Disaster Mitigation

• Doug explains the critical role of Maintenance Connection in disaster mitigation, particularly after the 2013 floods, where they collaborated with FEMA.
• The software helped Northern Water manage disaster recovery efforts by logging driver hours and other data to ensure full reimbursement.
• Scott inquires about the asset management capabilities of Maintenance Connection, and Doug confirms its importance for managing a wide range of assets, from lawnmowers to a half-billion-dollar dam.
• Doug shares details about the largest dam built in the US in the last 30 years, which is being constructed using an asphalt core for environmental and cost-efficiency reasons.

AI and Machine Learning in Water Management

• Doug discusses the use of AI and machine learning in optimizing preventive maintenance schedules for Northern Water's assets.
• The conversation touches on the integration of AI with Power BI to allow managers to ask questions about data and get quick analytics.
• Scott and Doug explore the potential of cloud solutions for data storage and the challenges of data security and foreign data concerns.
• Doug emphasizes the importance of staying updated with technology to maintain secure, high-quality water delivery and prevent infrastructure failures.

Future of Water Utility Management

• Doug predicts the future of water utility management will involve more efficient AI-driven work order management due to potential labor crunches.
• He highlights the increasing responsibilities of water utilities, including source water protection and managing wildfire risks.
• Scott and Doug discuss the importance of using maintenance tools to ensure continuous water delivery and prevent failures.
• Doug encourages collaboration with Northern Water for those interested in Maintenance Connection and its applications.

Closing Remarks and Call to Action

• Scott wraps up the conversation, expressing his enjoyment of the discussion and the importance of showcasing technology in action.
• Scott invites listeners to reach out to Northern Water for more information and collaboration opportunities.
• The podcast concludes with Scott thanking Doug and the audience, emphasizing the passion and engagement at the event.
• Scott promotes the Industrial Talk podcast network and encourages listeners to share their stories and technologies to help others in the industry.