GIS - Geographic information system.  An organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information.

GPS - Global positioning system.  A system of satellites and receiving devices used to compute positions on the Earth.  GPS is used in navigation, and its precision supports cadastral surveying.

The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management is currently building a countywide water and sanitary sewer GIS system as a tool for updating, mapping, and analyzing the water and sewer distribution and collection network.  The Department of Watershed Management GIS is a computer-based system used for geographic data creation, maintenance, storage, analysis and mapping.  The system is being implemented by the GIS / GPS / Data Management Department.

          

The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management uses the computers and software of the GIS system to take the previously hand-drawn plans of the water and sewer mains, hydrants, valves, manholes, meters, tanks, etc. and present them in a complete package that is available to Department of Watershed Management staff and the public either on the computer or printed out in map format.  These maps are highly accurate and all data is field located and surveyed to near centimeter accuracy.  One of the main benefits of GIS is improved management of information within the Department of Watershed Management as well as a central place to bring other county resources together.

A GIS can link other DeKalb County data sets together by common data, such as addresses, which helps departments and agencies share their data.  By creating a shared database, one department can benefit from the work of another - data can be collected once and used many times.  A majority of water and wastewater utilities use GIS technology to integrate all kinds of information and applications with a geographic component into one, manageable system.  GIS lets us organize and manage the flow of water to serve homes and businesses by tracking the location and condition of water mains, sewer mains, valves, hydrants, meters and backflow devices.

The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management is currently taking advantage of some new GIS tools developed to allow our staff to maintain and change the water distribution network.  These tools are developed to allow users to enter information into the GIS using software that checks to make sure the data entered is valid by having rules and quality control checks built in.  By having the most accurate data, GIS can be used for more complex problem solving such as hydraulic modeling.

Recent EPA requirements, in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks, mandate that all water utilities in the United States perform a vulnerability assessment of their water systems.  The results of these vulnerability assessments are the beginning of a long process of securing the water supply and distribution networks.

Water system mapping and modeling will be a critical piece of water system security as well as a vital tool for the response to threats and future government regulations.