Water Associations, EPA Release Effective Utility Management Practices Report
May 11, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
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Six associations representing the U.S. water and wastewater sector in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released Findings and Recommendations for a Water Utility Sector Management Strategy.
Designed to advance effective utility management practices, the report culminates a 12-month effort focused on excellence in water and wastewater utility management.
The release of the report is accompanied by a statement of support and an action list from the collaborating organizations as well as a fact sheet for utility managers.
Formalized in a joint statement of intent, the Effective Utility Management Collaborating Organizations appointed a steering committee of 16 water utility leaders from across the country to develop recommendations for a joint water utility sector management strategy applicable to water, wastewater and combined water/wastewater utilities.
The organizations include:
- The American Public Works Association (APWA).
- American Water Works Association (AWWA).
- Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA).
- National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA).
- National Association of Water Companies (NAWC).
- The Water Environment Federation (WEF).
- The EPA.
With input from two focus groups, the steering committee identified common challenges facing the water sector and explored barriers that can limit utilities from making management improvements.
According to APWA Executive Director Peter B. King, the "single biggest challenge for public works professionals is sustaining infrastructure performance," adding that learning more about the challenges and barriers facing utilities "will help us more effectively promote innovative approaches to reduce costs and improve performance across utility operations."
The report's findings and recommendations include:
- The definition of 10 attributes of effectively managed utilities and keys to management success.
- Developing a management “tool box” of training and other resources for interested utilities.
- Suggested sample performance measures to improve utility management across the sector.
Recommended next steps for the group include rolling out the strategy to the water industry; preparing a brief, stand-alone primer for water sector utility managers; continuing the collaboration among the seven organizations; and employing a continual improvement approach to the strategy's implementation over time.
Findings and Recommendations for a Water Utility Sector Management Strategy can be found at www.wef.org.
Source: Water Environment Foundation (WEF).