How WIMS Rio is empowering utilities with web-based data management

End user freedom is the name of the game for Hach and Aquatic Informatics' WIMS Rio data management software.

WIMS needs no introduction given its storied history in the marketplace of more than 30 years, and this latest version of WIMS Rio is now web-based. Bryan Sharpnack, senior technical sales manager, explained that the web-based portal makes it easier to access and faster to use than a standalone app. Utilizing the cloud, users can access analyses, trends and reporting at their desk or out in the field.

Utilities have raised concerns about the cloud in terms of security for its operations, and Sharpnack said this platform is "read-only," meaning users can see the data but cannot make remote operational changes to the system.

Utilities can set up a heirarchy for user logins so that operators making changes will require approvals from supervisors. As changes are made, the platform tracks the time, username, device used, and location of the user when the change was made to create a complete audit trail, which can also be exported if need be.

In terms of reporting, Hach and Aquatic Informatics have templates available for every state. Erik Larsen, strategic marketing manager, said in some cases the time spent gathering data, formatting it and submitting it for compliance regulations has dropped from days to a matter of hours.

"What used to take 40 hours a month goes down to four to five hours," Larsen said.

Larsen also teased that Hach and Aquatic informatics are developing predictive analytics, which are nearing release, although a date of that release was not provided at AWWA ACE25.