Strengthening security oversight across critical water infrastructure

Comelit-PAC has successfully supported the ongoing development of an integrated access control system for Northumbrian Water (NWL), ensuring reliable, scalable security across its operational estates.
 
Northumbrian Water, which also operates Essex and Suffolk Water operates a diverse portfolio of sites, from offices and treatment works to critical infrastructure locations.
 
Maintaining controlled, accountable access across such a varied environment to authorised personal requires a solution that can adapt in line with operational priorities and infrastructure changes.
 
Chris Tindale, Security Systems Technician for Northumbrian Water commented: “Our estate is both extensive and varied, so it is important our access control system is reliable and straightforward to manage.
 
“Comelit-PAC has worked with us to achieve a migration to Access Central, allowing us to update the complete platform in a structured way.  Working on our timetables has enabled continued maintenance across our sites while improving oversight and day-to-day management. The ability to retain much of our existing infrastructure has also been a significant benefit.”
 
Over several years, NWL’s access control system has evolved in line with business needs and software advancements, progressing from PAC for Windows to PAC Vision and SecureNet, and now operating on Comelit-PAC”s latest Access Central platform. This phased transition has improved visibility, simplified administration and strengthened resilience, while preserving existing hardware investments.
 
The system uses a mix of PAC 500 Series controllers over TCP/IP, enabling flexible connectivity across sites. Where fixed-line infrastructure is limited, GSM/GPRS connections provide secure, consistent communication, supporting reliable performance in both urban and remote environments.
 
Using PAC access readers, the system continues to deliver effective credential management across the estate. By maintaining compatibility with existing technologies while enabling future development, Comelit-PAC has enhanced Northumbrian Water’s security framework without unnecessary disruption.
 
Steve Pilling, Enterprise Systems Support Manager of Comelit-PAC concluded: “Northumbrian Water’s approach demonstrates how access control can evolve in a measured and workable way. Moving to Access Central has allowed the organisation to strengthen system oversight while retaining trusted hardware in the field. And by combining PAC 500 Series controllers with TCP/IP and GSM connectivity, the solution delivers both flexibility and resilience across a complex estate. We look forward to continuing to support NWL as its requirements develop further.”