Advantages of the DNP3 Communications Protocol in

Water and Wastewater Telemetry Systems

By Vishal Prakash
Advantages of the DNP3 communications
protocol in water and wastewater
telemetry systems

Introduction
The purpose of this white paper is to explain the key features of the DNP3 protocol and how these features
can help in a water/waste water telemetry system. This white paper is not intended to be a lesson on the
DNP3 protocol. We assume the readers have a basic understanding of the protocol. This white paper is
intended for: consulting engineers, end users, communication managers, and automation/control system
engineers.
DNP3, or Distributed Network Protocol, has been around for close to two decades now. It was developed by
Westronic (now part of GE) in 1993 primarily for the power industry. From its inception, DNP3 has been as an
open protocol, allowing end users to use a common protocol across many hardware platforms.
The DNP3 protocol has a number of features and advantages. However, the following features are particu-
larly useful for water and wastewater applications.
• Open protocol
• Classification of field data
• Report by exception
• Time-stamped data
• Support for time synchronization
• Secure authentication
• Diagnostic information for each I/O point
• Communication to multiple masters
Why are these features important? How do they enhance a water/wastewater telemetry system? What are
the benefits for the end user?
Let’s look at each of the features in detail and try to answer the questions posed above.

Open Protocol
From its inception, DNP3 has strived to be an open protocol. There are many open protocols, including
Modbus, probably the most widely used open protocol. So, why is it that being an open protocol is important?
The guardian of the DNP3 protocol is the DNP3 Users Group Technical Committee, which was formed in 1995
and is vendor independent. The committee’s charter not only includes specifying protocol enhancements and
new functionality called “DNP Subset Definitions,” but ensures there is backward compatibility and
absolutely makes sure there are no vendor specific variants of the protocol. The firm compliance requirement
ensures that hardware and software manufacturers who do support DNP3 do so within very well defined
parameters. It should be noted that a vendor need not support all DNP3 protocol functionality. The compliance
to DNP3 can be via three different levels — 1, 2 and 3. All vendors who support DNP3 must make available a
device profile document that clearly lists the DNP3 features supported by the product and thus the compli-
ance level.
But how does this help customers? What are the benefits?
DNP3, being a true open protocol, allows the end customer to use hardware and software from different ven-
dors with the complete confidence that they will be able to communicate with each other and that a common
top-end SCADA software package can be used to bring in the data from the different pieces of hardware. This
is beneficial not just technically but also commercially, as it provides the end users vendor independence,

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Advantages of the DNP3 communications
protocol in water and wastewater
telemetry systems

allowing them to add equipment from different suppliers without the need to replace the entire system every
time they want to expand and or change.

Classification of Field Data

In a water or wastewater system there are various assets that require monitoring and control. These include treat-
ment plants, pump stations, valve sites, canals, weirs, tanks, ponds, dams, reservoirs, pipelines, and much more.
At these locations, a great deal of normal day-to-day activity exists. For example, at a pump station, it is very nor-
mal for the pump to go ON or OFF when the configured conditions are true or false.
The question is — do you want every event reported to the top end? The answer is no, because this will take up
bandwidth and possibly prevent information on critical events from getting through to the DNP3 master device.
To prevent this scenario, DNP3 protocol allows users to classify their data into different groups called “Class.” The
protocol currently supports four classes of data — 0, 1, 2, and 3. Class 0 data is real-time data. Classes 1, 2 and 3
are reserved for objects that require time stamp information (event data). Each class of data is independent from
the other. A class of data also has variation parameters which allow the user to select the type of value, time, and
diagnostic information to be recorded.

Figure1: Various DNP3 DNPAI0 IOPOINT_D Class 1, 32-bit analog input (variation 1)
objects and their different AI Object, Class 1, Static Var. 1 (with flags), Event Var. 3 (with time)
classifications — 0, 1, 2 and 3 DNPAI1 IOPOINT_D Class 2, 32-bit analog input without flag (variation 3)
AI Object, Class 2, Static Var. 3 (NO flags), Event Var. 1 (NO time)
DNPAI2 IOPOINT_D Class 0, 32-bit analog input (variation 1)
DNPAO0 IOPOINT_D Class 0, 32-bit analog output status (variation 1)
Analog Output Object, Real Time Data Point (Class 0)
DNPBC0 IOPOINT_D Class 1, 32-bit binary counter (variation 1)
Binary Input Counter
DNPBI0 IOPOINT_B Class 1, Binary input with status (variation 2)
BI Object, Class 1, Static Var. 2 (diagnostic flags), Event Var. 2 (with time)
DNPBI1 IOPOINT_B Class 0, Single bit binary input (variation 1)
DNPBI2 IOPOINT_B Class 0, Single bit binary input (variation 1)
DNPBO0 IOPOINT_B Class 3, Binary output (variation 1)
BO Object, Class 3; Static Var. 1 (with flags); Event Var. 1 (NO time)
DNPFC0 IOPOINT_D Real Time Value (Class 0), Frozen Counter 1
DNPFC1 IOPOINT_D

This DNP3 protocol feature is extremely useful especially in multi-layered systems as it allows the user to cat-
egorize field data. For example, normal conditions at a pump station site, like pumps starting and stopping, may
be configured as Class 2 type events. Thus, when the pump changes state, an event will be created as a Class
2 type event and stored in memory. Since this is normal operation, an unsolicited report (or Report by Exception)
need not be initiated to a DNP3 master device. When the master device performs a routine background poll, it
can recover all Class 2 events.
But assume at the same pump station site there is a pump fault indication. This is, in most cases, a critical alarm
of which the DNP3 master needs to be aware, so that appropriate action can be taken. Thus, the pump fault
status indication can be configured as a Class 1 event, thereby triggering an unsolicited report to the DNP3
master device.
DNP3 protocol’s fundamental support for data classification allows the end user to design and operate an effi-
cient telemetry system irrespective of the type of communications media being used.
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Advantages of the DNP3 communications
protocol in water and wastewater
telemetry systems

DNP3 master

Radio

Figure 2: An example multi-layered

Telemetry System

Ethernet

PSTN modem

PSTN cloud

DNP3 outstanding devices

Fiber optic ring

Report by Exception (Unsolicited Reporting)

Report by Exception refers to a remote device’s ability to initiate communications to a top-end master.
Traditional telemetry systems are typically poll-only systems. In medium-to-large systems, a polling protocol
can lead to loss of data. To prevent the loss of data, communications bandwidth would have to be increased
constantly.
Taking the example described in the section “Classification of Data,” with DNP3 protocol’s inherent support for
unsolicited reporting, the pump fault alarm can be sent to the DNP3 master immediately upon occurrence. If
the telemetry system were a poll-only system using a different communications protocol, the alarm information
would only be seen at the top-end after the outstation has been polled by the master. And even when the mas-
ter sees the pump fault status indication, it will not have the event time stamp information.

Time-Stamped Data
Time-stamped data is also known as event-logged or event-based data. It is basically where an event such as a
pump changing its status from ON to OFF, or a change in the tank level by a certain percentage within a specified
time period, will be recorded in the device with a time and date stamp. Sounds simple… well, it is simple, because
the DNP3 protocol specification dictates how the time stamping is to be done and which parameters are to be
recorded. This standard has to be maintained by all vendors that claim to support DNP3 protocol.

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Advantages of the DNP3 communications
protocol in water and wastewater
telemetry systems

Having access to time-stamped data for an end-user is hugely valuable. There are many reasons, but explained
below are the top two.
• Many telemetry systems are poll-only systems for a number of reasons — geographical, or by virtue of design,
which means that without time stamping, if an event occurs and the device is not polled at that instant in time,
the event will be lost. Now, an event like a change of pump status can be stored as the number of times the pump
has come ON and the number of times the pump has gone to the OFF state. This is useful information, but it does
not provide the time the pumps went ON and OFF. The time information is useful for analysis such as the times
during the day the pumps start. Is there a particular time of the day that the pumps start and stop more fre-
quently? Does one pump operate more than the another? If there is a power issue, then correlation analysis can
be performed and much more!
• In the event of a communications failure, a device can continue to record the events and store in memory. Once
the communication system has recovered, a top-end master will be able to retrieve these events and graphically
display, accurately, the events that occurred during the communications failure. This feature is extremely useful
for effective maintenance and operation of a telemetry system.

25 11/17/2010 15:14:21.003 1 DNPAI1 4780 1 1 3

24 11/17/2010 15:14:20.683 1 DNPAI1 12248 1 1 3
23 11/17/2010 15:14:20.464 1 DNPAI1 8287 1 1 3
22 11/17/2010 15:14:20.353 1 DNPAI1 5003 1 1 3
21 11/17/2010 15:14:19.364 1 DNPAI0 6 1 1 2
20 11/17/2010 15:14:19.033 1 DNPAI0 3763 1 1 2
19 11/17/2010 15:14:18.815 1 DNPAI0 8603 1 1 2
18 11/17/2010 15:14:18.376 1 DNPAI0 13102 1 1 2
17 11/17/2010 15:14:18.153 1 DNPAI0 7140 1 1 2
16 11/17/2010 15:14:17.503 1 DNPAI0 210 1 1 2
15 11/17/2010 15:14:17.075 1 DNPAI0 3950 1 1 2
14 11/17/2010 15:14:16.964 11/17/2010
1 15:14:16.964
DNPAI0 8545 1 1 2
13 11/17/2010 15:14:16.853 DNPAI0 22507 1 1 2

Figure 3: DNP3 Time-stamped data

and the back filling of time-
stamped data

Time Synchronization
The DNP3 protocol supports time synchronization. A DNP3 outstation device can be configured to send a time
sync request to the master or a DNP3 master can periodically send a time sync command to DNP3 outstation
devices. Time sync is part of the DNP3 protocol specification. Key advantages of the time sync function include:
• Accurate and reliable time-based alarm information from a remote device
• Scheduling accuracy — for example, when to switch over from duty to standby pump; generate test unso-
licited messages at a particular time
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Advantages of the DNP3 communications
protocol in water and wastewater
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• Most importantly — if time in slave devices is maintained reliably, then it is much easier to implement power
saving measures. This is particularly useful in water telemetry systems where it may be less expensive to run
pumps at certain times of the day.

Secure Authentication
After 9/11, governments around the world have stated that water and wastewater systems are part of the crit-
ical infrastructure and as such, must be secured. Also, in the water and wastewater industry, there have been
a few well publicized and documented instances of SCADA security breaches that have affected the perform-
ance of the systems.
The DNP3 protocol includes IEC62351 version 2 authentication. Authentication is not the same as encryption.
Typically, point-to-point encryption is provided by the media (radio, TCP/IP). However, it is entirely possible that
at a future date encryption may be an integral part of the DNP3 protocol. DNP3 secure authentication allows a
DNP3 slave or master device to unambiguously determine if it is communicating with the correct DNP3 master
or slave.
In water and wastewater systems it is common to issue pump/valve (or similar) operate commands from the
top-end master. Without authentication, it is completely possible for someone to intercept a message and relay
with modified settings. DNP3 Secure Authentication overcomes this issue, as the DNP3 outstation challenges
the DNP3 master to see if the command to operate comes from a legitimate source. The authentication key is
updated regularly between a DNP3 master and outstation. This communication is separate and not part of stan-
dard DNP3 data transfer messages. If an outstation does not receive an updated key within a specified period
of time, or if the key is invalid, then the control commands from DNP3 Master, even if valid, will not be executed
by the outstation device.
The DNP3 protocol also uses a more basic form to ensure control commands are executed correctly. This is
called “select-before-operate”. In this case, a DNP3 Master will first send a “select” command, to which the
outstation device will respond and then, if the outstation device does not receive the “operate” command
within a specified amount of time, it will not execute the control action.

Figure 4: DNP3 Secure

Authentication using
dynamic keys that are
updated, automatically and
periodically between a
DNP3 Master and
Outstation RTU.

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Advantages of the DNP3 communications
protocol in water and wastewater
telemetry systems

Diagnostic Information for Each I/O Point

Another inherent feature of the DNP3 protocol is associating diagnostic information for each field object —
whether it’s pump status, tank level, current flow rate, etc.
The diagnostic information answers questions such as, is the point online or offline, was it locally forced, chat-
ter-detected, has it been restarted, is the value out of range, and much more? While this is good, what is the
purpose and why is it useful?
Again, in typical systems, a status indication for a pump will only show it is ON or OFF, in FAULT, or OK. But when
using DNP3 protocol, one can detect if the information regarding the status of the pump is coming from the cor-
rect location. This is useful because, remotely, one can tell if wiring is correct. Another example is if the chatter
filter bit is SET, then if a field device is going ON/OFF continuously, spurious event logs will not be created. This
is very useful when performing maintenance at a location. Individual field I/O points can be isolated, thus elim-
inating the need to take the entire site out of service.

Communication to Multiple Masters

This is a particularly useful feature, especially in water and wastewater systems. It is typical for a water or
wastewater telemetry system to be spread over large areas. This is especially true in countries like the USA,
Australia, China, and Brazil. When systems are spread over a large area, it is important for the local operators
of the telemetry system to know what is happening, as it will allow them to respond quickly. At the same time,
the same data needs to be made available at the system-wide top-end DNP3 master.
DNP3 protocol, with its built in ability to support report-by-exception to multiple masters, can achieve this
effortlessly without the need for extensive programming.

Figure 5: A DNP3 Outstation device

communicating with several DNP3
Master devices

DNP3 master DNP3 master

Ethernet

DNP3 outstation

DNP3 master

DNP3 outstation

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Advantages of the DNP3 communications
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telemetry systems

Advanced Communications Features for DNP3-Based Telemetry Systems

At the very start of this white paper it is mentioned that one of the corner stones of DNP3 protocol is that it is
an open protocol with no vendor-dependent variations. Any RTU that claims to support DNP3 protocol must
adhere strictly to this rule.
However, the more capable and advanced RTUs have managed to include additional features that do not relate
to the actual protocol features/properties or the manner in which DNP3 data in a message is transferred. These
additional features focus on the communications itself, which is, getting data from one location to another
effectively and efficiently. Some of these features are described below.
• Peer-to-peer communications. This allows for local communications between two DNP3 devices. The advan-
tage — if communications to a top-end DNP3 SCADA master is lost, then local RTU systems (like a booster
pump station and tank) can continue to operate with all data logged.
• DNP3 message pass-through. The DNP3 protocol is primarily a point to point protocol. Point to point type
communication architecture is not always feasible in a Water/Waste Water Telemetry system. As such, the
more advanced RTUs have the ability to receive a DNP3 message on one port and resend via a second port.
Implementation of this feature does not affect the DNP3 protocol compliance requirements. It does however
use the advanced communications capabilities of an RTU to provide an effective solution to a multi-layered
telemetry system.
• Data Concentration. In a multi-layered telemetry system, there are inevitably going to be sub-master RTUs.
DNP3 does not have the ability to request local and outstation data from a single RTU. As such, a sub-
master RTU would have the ability to map data received from an outstation DNP3 device to a new DNP3
object (address), while maintaining all of the original values and properties as provided by the outstation RTU.
This ensures DNP3 protocol implementation compliance, but at the same time providing users an effective
solution to reduce the complexity in implementing a multi-layered water/wastewater telemetry system.

Figure 6: Peer to Peer

communications

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Advantages of the DNP3 communications
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Conclusion
DNP3 is an exceptional protocol. It is modern, robust, intelligent, and a truly open protocol. While it has been
around for close to two decades now, and thus a truly tried and tested protocol, it is still an evolving protocol.
This is illustrated by the addition of secure authentication. This white paper has only looked at a fraction of the
DNP3 features and how they are useful, in particular, to the water and wastewater industry.
A water and wastewater telemetry system is a complex system with a number of assets and locations to mon-
itor and control. From a communications perspective, it can be a multi-layered system using a variety of
communications media such as radio, cellular, PSTN, and fiber to interconnect sites. Then, a top-end graphi-
cal SCADA system is required to display all field data in a manner that can be easily understood.
The DNP3 protocol, with its many features listed below, helps enormously in implementing such a complex sys-
tem and it does help in reducing the complexity of a system. This in turn will help reduce operational and
maintenance costs for the end-user.
• Open protocol — allows the end-user to install equipment from different vendors while maintaining a single
top end SCADA (or DNP3 master)
• Allows the user to categorize field data, thus allowing for efficient communications and data transfer
between a master and outstation
• Ability to log an event with a time and date stamp
• Secure authentication with dynamic key management between a DNP3 master and outstation
• Communication to multiple DNP3 Masters, thus making the same data available at multiple locations
www.cse-semaphore.com
References
U.S.A.
1. DNP3 Overview, Triangle MicroWorks, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
CSE Semaphore Inc.
1200 Chantry Place 2. A DNP3 Protocol Primer, DNP Users Group, P.O. Box 43075, DVPO, Calgary, Alberta T2J 7A7 Canada
Lake Mary, FL 32746
U.S.A. 3. DNP3 SPECIFICATION, Supplement to Volume 2, SECURE AUTHENTICATION, Version 2.00, 31 July, 2008,
P+1 (407) 333 3235
F +1 (407) 386 6284 4. DNP Users Group, P.O. Box 43075, DVPO, Calgary, Alberta T2J 7A7 Canada
[email protected]

Australia
CSE-Semaphore
Unit 8, 3-5 Gilda Crt
Mulgrave, Victoria 3170
Australia
P+61 (03) 8544 8544
F +61 (03) 8544 8555
[email protected]

Europe
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Waterloo Office Park — Building “M”
Dreve Richelle, 161
B-1410 Waterloo
Belgium
P+32 (2) 387 42 59
F +32 (2) 387 42 75
[email protected]

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