IT Department Seeks Efficiency through Technology

MNWD recently concluded our celebration of the District’s 50th anniversary, and as we have grown from serving eight customers to more than 172,000, it is clear the advancement of technology has been a key factor in our ability to reliably meet increasing local demands. A dedicated team of IT professionals harnesses the latest technology to the benefit of our customers, overseeing the District’s sophisticated network of servers and devices to ensure MNWD operates as efficiently as possible.

The District’s IT supervisor and two systems analysts support the technological needs of MNWD’s other divisions. For instance, more than 12 billion gallons of water flow through the District’s system each year, travelling though local pipelines, reservoirs and pump stations before arriving at customers’ taps. The IT Department maintains the computer system used to manage the District’s water supplies, and is currently working on an upgrade that will lower software costs and allow MNWD staff to access the system in the field with hand-held devices.

The IT staff also provides technical support to billing, customer service, purchasing and other departments where computers play a key role. The team works to build redundancy into systems to increase service reliability during emergencies, and is taking steps to expand MNWD’s use of wireless technologies to lower costs and enhance productivity in the field.

It is unclear what advances the next 50 years may bring. What’s certain is that technology will continue to evolve alongside our customers’ water needs, and MNWD’s IT Department will be there to make the most of that technology in providing a safe and reliable water supply.