News from Mission Communications for Water and Wastewater Professionals
Each year, in lieu of holiday greeting cards, Mission makes donations to organizations that serve the community. This year’s giving was distributed to the following:

• Water.org aids communities without access to clean water receive funding, long term guidance, and partnerships. Water.org requires communities to take ownership of their projects to ensure that the people are engaged and invested.

• Paul Duke STEM High School aims to ignite and foster success and creativity in all students through a challenging STEM curriculum, which connects students to their future through technology and relevant learning experiences.

• Lakota Robotics seeks to inspire young people to pursue careers in science and technology; and equip them to become confident, responsible, productive citizens prepared to make a meaningful contribution in the world and motivated to improve the lives of those less advantaged than themselves using a unique learning experience in an environment that is fun and fosters creativity.

• Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and HUD-approved housing counseling organization dedicated to increasing sustainable homeownership, financial-literacy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity for the active-military and veteran communities.

On behalf of the entire Mission team, we wish you a wonderful holiday and happy new year!
Mission Illuminates Data for Greater Augusta
When the pump station crew leader at Greater Augusta Utility District in Augusta, Maine took a new job in Texas, someone had to take over the day-to-day operations of the utility. After temporarily filling the spot, Bill Wilkinson stepped into the role.

“Someone else with more technical knowledge took over until they could find someone. I’ve been here for almost 34 years. A couple of the guys recommended me for the position, and they gave me a shot at it.” Wilkinson now leads a crew of three to ensure that all facilities function properly.

Prior to installing the Mission remote terminal units (RTUs), Greater Augusta relied on a more traditional system that used only a flashing light to indicate any problems. This required having someone regularly on site to check the status of the grinder station. A grinder pump macerates household wastewater into a slurry. This effluent is then pumped into a central sewer system or septic tank.

“We had some issues in the past before we upgraded the grinder stations from the older system. The pumps kept failing. We had a red flashing light on top of the control panel, and it was the only notification that we ever got,” Wilkinson explains. “If somebody (a customer) had a problem, they would call us, but a lot of times the lightbulb was blown. We wouldn’t find out there was a problem until somebody called that they had a backup. We would go out to service and find out the station was dead.”

With a crew of only four people, including Wilkinson, Greater Augusta needed a reliable system to ensure consistent service to their customers.

“The largest area we have deals with five grinder stations that service probably 20-25 people. The other area on the other side of the lake monitors two grinder stations that service about three houses. One Mission RTU is connected to five grinder stations, and another is connected to two grinder stations. It’s a very small system, but it works.”

Mission provides a number of customizable reports that can be automatically disseminated. This allows Wilkinson and his crew to plan their days accordingly to streamline service needs.

Wilkinson states, “I get a report every day, and I can check the battery voltage and pump cycles to see if one pump is running more hours. We physically go and check the stations once a week. We used to do it a lot more with the old system with just a lightbulb. It’s a huge cost-saving and time-saving thing to have a system you can depend on.”

With a busy schedule, Wilkinson uses the Mission 123SCADA mobile application to access data anywhere. “I’m away from the office a lot so I can take a look and see the exact status of the system.”

In addition to data access, the mobile app allows operators to submit tickets on site and attach helpful pictures directly to the ticket. This ability can decrease any downtime by giving technical support visual information to help with troubleshooting.

With no software to install and convenient access, Mission aims to maintain consistent quality service for all customers. To learn more about the Mission system visit our website or contact sales@123mc.com.
SolarWinds Orion CyberAttack Notification
Mission is aware of and monitoring the recent supply chain attack against the IT management solution company SolarWinds. This attack inserted compromised computer code through a backdoor which could have exposed sensitive data from affected organizations. Mission Communications does not currently use any SolarWinds product, nor has it used SolarWinds Orion in the past.
Mission Marketing Team Wins Top Ad Awards in 2020
Mission Communications would like to recognize its marketing team for producing an award-winning ad campaign. The “Simply More Intelligent” design received awards from the following publications:

Water Environment Federation awarded Mission a Citation of Excellence in Advertising for Best Presentation of Information.
Water & Wastes Digest awarded Mission top advertising in the category for SCADA and Top 5 of all advertisers for their publication.

January 6
Week 1: Survey of Features

January 13
Week 2: Hardware and Instrumentation

January 27
Week 4: Web Portal II-Advanced Features, Reporting, Supergraph, Volumetric Flow

February 3
Week 1: Survey of Features

February 10
Week 2: Hardware and Instrumentation

February 24
Week 4: Web Portal II-Advanced Features, Reporting, Supergraph, Volumetric Flow

March 3
Week 1: Survey of Features

March 10
Week 2: Hardware and Instrumentation

March 17
Week 3: Web Portal I-Unit Setup Options, Notification Setup Options, Alarm Groups, Website Tools

March 24
Week 4: Web Portal II-Advanced Features, Reporting, Supergraph, Volumetric Flow

March 31
Week 5: Special Topics
With 2020 Nearly Over, Mission Looks Forward to 2021
Despite the unpredictability of the past year, Mission has had record deployments and pushed forward with a number of new projects to offer additional and enhanced options. Below is a brief overview of some of these advancements you’ll see in the coming year.
Safe Module Plus
The Safe Module Plus (SMP) is an exclusive UL certified device that speeds and simplifies the installation of a MyDro 150 or 850 remote terminal unit (RTU). It provides an intrinsically safe circuit to a float so that the state of the float can be transmitted by the MyDro RTU for alarm notifications as well as to energize a built-in-relay that may be connected to a buzzer or light for sewer lift station applications or service-pump lock-out for clear well applications. It supports four pulse counting channels that can be used with rain tipping buckets or pulse-based flow meters. Pulse accumulation persists as long as it is powered, and the last reading is stored even if it loses power. It conveniently mounts on a DIN rail for easy installation. 
FirstNet Recognition
The First Responder Network Authority was created as part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, which was signed into law on February 22, 2012. The law allocated 20 MHz bandwidth in the very desirable 700 MHz frequency band and $7 billion to establish a broadband network dedicated to the nation's first responders and gave the First Responder Network Authority the mandate to build, operate, and maintain that network. The inaugural meeting of the FirstNet Board took place on September 25, 2012. 

Launched in 2018, FirstNet is tailored to the needs of public safety. Since it functions outside of commercial cellular networks, FirstNet provides continuous connectivity during disasters and emergency events. Because water and wastewater are considered an essential industry, and after rigorous review, Mission has been granted certification by FirstNet. Pending resolution of additional technical hurdles regarding network security and availability of radio modules we will be allowed to offer access to these resources to our customers for telemetry communication. This ensures that devices remain connected and continue sending out alarm notifications even during an emergency.
RMDT1
The cellular networks continue to evolve as does Mission. Our newest cellular radio, the RMDT1 is a is a Category 1 LTE with HSPA+ (GSM) fallback based on the popular and reliable Telit LE910-NF cellular module. It features advanced SIM options and additional frequency bands that you’ll be learning more about in the coming months.
Mission Road Show RV
Over the course of 2020, Mission adjusted as needed to keep up with COVID restrictions that have caused most in person trade shows and training opportunities to be canceled. As regulations have allowed, Mission Regional Sales Managers (RSMs) have already hosted a number of webinars as well as lunch and learn sessions to bring information to people who would have otherwise attended a local or regional tradeshow. Some of these have offered continuing education credits. As a result, we have moved forward with a plan to introduce Mission Road Tours. Our RSMs will be bringing Mission to those interested in learning more about the Mission system.

“Mission is always innovating whether it's working on RTUs and technology or in regard to our marketing. In these uncertain times with conferences and shows being scaled back along with face-to-face meetings and presentations, Mission will have its own mobile RV to travel to the different territories and showcase our SCADA monitoring technology with our distributors making training available to existing customers, and the opportunity for prospects to learn more about Mission with that ‘hands on feel done safely of course,” explains Western Regional Sales Manager, David Button.

The RV will be equipped with spacious inside and outside seating and information stations. This provides more opportunities for on-site training and equipment demonstrations. The RV road tour will allow for in-person meetings – within local guidelines – where attendees can ask questions and be hands-on with our entire product line.
123SCADA.com
Mission prides itself on convenient access to monitoring information. A major factor in this is the Mission web portal. We recently removed the beta designation from 123SCADA.com. While the legacy web portal is still available, we encourage everyone to make the move to 123SCADA as we are constantly making enhancements. We welcome all feedback at techsupport@123mc.com.
Touch Two Continents at Once in This Iceland Lagoon
The crystal-clear water at the Silfra fissure in Iceland is safe enough to drink, but what’s underneath is what attracts tourists. The icy lagoon leads to a fascinating, almost otherworldly place. This bucket-list level destination inside Þingvellir (anglicized as Thingvellir) National Park sees approximately 20,000 visitors every year despite its freezing temperatures.

Beneath the water at Silfra located on the north shore of Þingvallavatn (anglicized as Thingvallavatn), the largest natural lake in Iceland, divers can experience the excitement of touching two major tectonic plates at once. The North American and Eurasian plates meet beneath the surface where long ago they helped form Iceland. One of the most geologically active places on the planet, Iceland is home to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the divergence of the North American and Eurasian plates is visible. Where tectonic plates diverge, new ocean crust forms as magma rises and solidifies. Earthquakes in 1789 caused the rift between the plates, which are now shifting farther apart each year by approximately one inch.

Tectonic plate theory is the movement of Earth’s outer crust – called the lithosphere and separated into different plates – over the asthenosphere, which is the upper mantle of the Earth’s molten core.

According to National Geographic, “The movement of the plates creates three types of tectonic boundaries: convergent, where plates move into one another; divergent, where plates move apart; and transform, where plates move sideways in relation to each other. They move at a rate of one to two inches (three to five centimeters) per year.”

In order to dive at Silfra, divers must be trained in dry diving. This style of diving requires a special type of sealed suit that keeps the diver’s skin and any undergarments dry. The dry suit varies from a typical wetsuit in a few ways. It helps keep the diver warmer, aids in buoyancy by allowing air inside the suit to be adjusted as needed, and can reduce the need for additional weights during deeper dives. While dry suits are more expensive than wetsuits, they can last substantially longer and can be used in more varied conditions than wetsuits.

If diving isn’t for you, most tour outfits offer snorkeling options. This, too, requires a dry suit, but swimmers float at the surface of the water while exploring this fascinating site. Snorkelers can still take in the wonders that appear under water.

Silfra provides five sections of exploration for both divers and snorkelers. Visitors will generally start with Big Crack and finish at Little Crack. Big Crack, Silfra Cathedral, and Silfra Hall are filled with deep canyons leading to uncharted cave systems. However, Silfra Lagoon holds the most dramatic views with visibility reaching nearly 400 feet. While fish don’t often appear in the fissure, bright green algae creates amazing colors beneath the surface of the water, making for a stunning visual experience.

Beyond Silfra, Þingvellir holds another history lesson as the site of the very first parliament, lasting from 930AD to 1789. Iceland passed legislation in 1929 designating Þingvellir as the country’s first national park. In 2004 the park was declared a United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in order to protect the diverse nature of the area.

From underwater views to walking trails and sites steeped in history, Silfra and its surrounding areas offer adventures for everyone.
“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.”
— Kahlil Gibran
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Suite 190, Norcross, GA 30071
1-877-993-1911