{"id":770800,"date":"2026-01-16T16:36:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T00:36:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/?post_type=arcwatch&p=770800"},"modified":"2026-01-16T16:36:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T00:36:19","slug":"how-spalding-county-water-authority-modernized-hydrant-inspections-with-gis","status":"publish","type":"arcwatch","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/arcwatch\/how-spalding-county-water-authority-modernized-hydrant-inspections-with-gis","title":{"rendered":"How Spalding County Water Authority Modernized Hydrant Inspections with GIS"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5342,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[57842],"tags":[465551,20422,581,420242,493330],"arcwatch_issues":[493319],"class_list":["post-770800","arcwatch","type-arcwatch","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-utilities-2","tag-arcgis-field-maps","tag-arcgis-pro","tag-digital-transformation","tag-fire-hydrants","tag-spalding-county-water-authority","arcwatch_issues-january-2026"],"acf":{"short_description":"A digital form, paired with a centralized database, streamlined workflows and improved accuracy for the Georgia-based utility.","pdf":{"host_remotely":false,"file":"","file_url":""},"flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"The Spalding County Water Authority (SCWA), a water utility based in Griffin, Georgia, conducts annual inspections of fire hydrants to check each one\u2019s condition and functionality. Ensuring the hydrants are in working order is critical for public safety and fire response. With more than 3,200 hydrants throughout the county, SCWA has dedicated teams working almost full-time all year to perform inspections.\r\n\r\nInspectors look for physical damage, leaks, or missing parts, and they test water flow and pressure to ensure each hydrant will work in an emergency. They record the inspection results and hydrant conditions for maintenance and safety tracking. This used to be done manually, with inspectors jotting down critical details on paper in the field and then transferring the data to a spreadsheet when they got back to the office.\r\n\r\nBut the process was prone to data entry errors and incomplete records, according to Chris Reagan, GIS manager for SCWA. The delay in transferring data also led to hydrants being checked multiple times within the same cycle, causing unnecessary work. To streamline the workflow and improve data accuracy, SCWA staff began using ArcGIS Field Maps in the field and created a centralized database for inspection records.\r\n

Challenges of a Paper-Based System<\/h3>\r\nThe inspection-related data recorded in the field includes items like the inspector\u2019s name; the inspection date; each hydrant\u2019s location, brand, and model; and visual details such as defects observed. Previously, each field team maintained its own Microsoft Excel spreadsheet of daily inspection data. The manual process of recording this information resulted in several significant challenges.\r\n\r\nOne frequent issue was data entry errors. Some handwritten reports were illegible or missing information, and it was difficult to monitor hydrant inspection progress, leading field teams to visit hydrants that had already been inspected.\r\n\r\n\u201cWith the old paper-based method, field teams sometimes inspected the same hydrants multiple times during a cycle, either within the same crew or across different crews, because there was no reliable way to track visits,\u201d explains Reagan.\r\n\r\nThe manual process also caused delays in accessing data for reporting or analysis. When inspectors didn\u2019t immediately transfer data they collected in the field to Excel, key stakeholders like senior managers weren\u2019t able to see the status of an inspection or how many inspections remained. If inspection data was needed immediately, an SCWA staff member had to sort through forms, which was time-consuming.\r\n

Building a GIS-Powered Inspection Solution<\/h3>\r\nWhile exploring best practices, SCWA staff discovered Esri\u2019s video series on inspection workflows<\/a>. The series provided a road map for developing a custom hydrant inspection solution using Esri technology, says Reagan. The first step in revamping the workflow was to design a new inspection form for mobile staff with input from major stakeholders, such as the SCWA general manager and the superintendent over field operations.\r\n\r\nSCWA used the smart forms capability in ArcGIS Field Maps<\/a> to create and customize the new inspection form. Customizations included required fields like the inspector\u2019s name and optional fields such as inspection-related comments. The SCWA team also added a drop-down list with prefilled choices to ensure consistent, accurate data. The smart form is linked to a hydrant inspection table.\r\n\r\n\u201cThis setup allows multiple inspections to be recorded for a single hydrant feature [and] ensures all relevant inspection data is captured efficiently,\u201d explains Reagan."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":770805,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

A Centralized Database<\/h3>\r\nSCWA previously had multiple versions of hydrant data in different systems, which created confusion among staff, according to Reagan. It was crucial to develop a centralized database that could give staff access to real-time data and improve collaboration. SCWA integrated historical inspection data using ArcGIS Pro<\/a> so that details on previous inspections would be available in the new system.\r\n\r\nThe team also used the Extract Multi Values to Point<\/a>s\u00a0tool in ArcGIS Pro to calculate theoretical pressure ranges for each hydrant. If, during an inspection, measured pressures fell outside these ranges, further investigation could be warranted, explains Reagan. This data is also accessible in the database.\r\n\r\n\u201cA centralized database gave us a true single source of truth,\u201d says Reagan. \u201cBy storing everything in one place, inspections update in near real time, so as soon as a hydrant is inspected, everyone across the organization can instantly see the latest status.\u201d\r\n

Enhancing Insights and Collaboration<\/h3>\r\nSCWA created a web map that included each hydrant\u2019s location, inspection details, and other useful data such as the locations of water mains and valves. The map also includes pop-ups that display inspection records when clicking a specific hydrant.\r\n\r\n\u201cFrom the pop-up, staff can open the inspection form, review attributes, and, because inspections are stored in a related table, view historical inspections,\u201d says Reagan. \u201cIt becomes the hub for both current and past information.\u201d\r\n\r\nSCWA also built a digital dashboard with ArcGIS Dashboards<\/a> to provide real-time visibility into inspections. The hydrant inspection dashboard includes a web map showing all hydrants color-coded by status. For example, green indicates inspected hydrants, while blue specifies ones that need inspection. The dashboard also includes key pieces of information such as the total number of inspections completed and the number of hydrants with defects.\r\n\r\nThe dashboard allows stakeholders to monitor hydrant inspection progress immediately and identify hydrants requiring follow-up. It also helps guide field crew assignments by showing which hydrants have been inspected and which haven\u2019t. A line graph displays the number of inspections completed daily by each field team to help SWCA better allocate resources."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":770802,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"\u201cThis allows us to have daily discussions about where each team should focus their efforts to stay on track with the inspection schedule,\u201d says Reagan.\r\n

Streamlining Inspections<\/h3>\r\nFollowing a brief training session, field crews quickly adapted to the new process\u2014and the benefits were immediately clear, says Reagan. He notes that each crew member saves at least one hour per day. The new process has also eliminated duplicate inspections and improved data accuracy with the digitized inspection form.\r\n\r\nThe new real-time inspection database makes inspection data accessible from anywhere. This success has paved the way for future GIS-driven initiatives at SCWA. As GIS becomes the center of operations, the team is already exploring new applications for asset management and system optimization.\r\n\r\n\u201cBy using the Esri tools we already had, SCWA significantly improved operational efficiency\u2014demonstrating the power of GIS in modern utility management,\u201d says Reagan.\r\n\r\n "}],"references":null},"yoast_head":"\nHow Spalding County Water Authority Modernized Hydrant Inspections with GIS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A digital form, paired with a centralized database, streamlined workflows and improved accuracy for the Georgia-based utility.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/arcwatch\/how-spalding-county-water-authority-modernized-hydrant-inspections-with-gis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" 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