• Video surveillance of remote sites is a key component of critical infrastructure security for water and wastewater treatment systems.
NORWOOD, MA, Nov. 29, 2006 -- The Longwatch Video Surveillance System was selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to participate in the EPA Drinking WaterSentinel program. The WaterSentinel program is intended to address Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9 by developing a robust, comprehensive and fully coordinated surveillance and monitoring system for timely detection and appropriate response to drinking water contamination threats and incidents. The pilot project will be deployed through the spring of 2007. Drinking water utilities of all sizes are expected to implement an effective contamination warning system.
"We are very happy and proud to be selected to participate in this very important program," said Don Simoneau, CEO of Longwatch. "Our customers have experienced the benefits of utilizing video surveillance for monitoring remote locations. Most water suppliers have numerous remote sites that require the installation of expensive new communication paths to support video. Our system allows water operators to utilize their existing SCADA communications network to transmit video.
"One of the main objectives of the WaterSentinel project is to characterize and minimize false alarm rates. The Longwatch system not only provides video surveillance, it also generates an immediate event video clip when an alarm is triggered. It is the fastest and most effective method for managing and verifying alarms."
Longwatch Corp. (www.longwatch.com) was founded by a team of industry veterans with the goal of providing video over existing SCADA communication networks. The result was the development of the Longwatch Video Surveillance System. Advanced technology incorporated in the system allows SCADA system operators the ability to utilize video to monitor and verify alarms at remote sites utilizing existing communications infrastructures. The system gives operators the ability to manage both video alarms and system alarms on the same system.
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