Going with the flow: How one Golden Grot Awards winner monitors wastewater with Grafana

In Morro Bay, California, operational technology specialist Grant Chase revolutionized the city's wastewater treatment operations by developing an award-winning Grafana dashboard, earning him the 2025 Golden Grot Award. Initially faced with outdated technology, Chase utilized Python and Modbus TCP to access raw data and InfluxDB for data storage, then employed Grafana for its visualization capabilities. As the city transitioned to a new wastewater treatment facility, Chase's dashboard evolved into a comprehensive, real-time data command center, offering insights into every process area and integrating compliance monitoring and microorganism video feeds. This innovative dashboard serves as a crucial tool for operators, engineers, and lab staff, exemplifying Grafana's open, community-driven philosophy that fosters creative problem-solving and continuous innovation.