What is SCADA? (And How Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators Use It)

SCADA explained for wastewater operators: in this video we break down what SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) actually is and how it runs a real wastewater treatment plant. Filmed on-site at the Morro Bay Water Reclamation Facility with SCADA specialist Grant Chase, we trace the signal backwards — from the HMI screen operators watch every day, through the data Historian and PLC, all the way back to the sensor in the tank. If you’ve ever wondered how operators monitor and control an entire plant from a computer screen, this is the walkthrough. We cover the core components of a SCADA system and how they connect, using live plant data as the example. What you’ll learn: • What SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is and why plants use it • How the HMI, Historian, PLC, and field sensors connect • How operators monitor flows, levels, and process data in real time • How a signal travels from a sensor to the screen — and back • A look at a live SCADA dashboard on a working treatment plant Welcome to The Wastewater Enthusiast! I’m Shawn Powell, a California Grade V Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator and Chief Plant Operator. This channel is dedicated to helping operators understand treatment processes, prepare for certification exams, and improve real-world plant performance. 00:00 - 02:29 Intro / What Is SCADA? 02:29 - 7:14 The Human Machine Interface (HMI) 07:14 - 07:47 Tri-State Seminar Math Workshops 07:47 - 15:58 How the Data Historian Trends the Past 15:58 - 21:46 PLCs, Relays, and SCADA Hardware 21:46 - 26:33 Sensors and Their Transmitters 26:33 - 29:23 An Operator’s Perspective on SCADA Training Links: I’m teaching at Tri-State Seminar 2026 (Las Vegas, Aug 3–6): Wastewater Math 101 (Workshop 9918 August 5 7:30-11:30 AM) and Intermediate/Advanced Grades III–V (Workshop 9919 August 5 12-4 PM) at South Point Hotel. Register at TriStateSeminar.com #SCADA #watertreatment #wastewatertreatment #HMI #PLC #instrumentation