The Water Research Foundation (WRF), an internationally recognized leader in water research that is dedicated to advancing the science of water, has released a tool to help water and wastewater utilities develop and implement ten key attributes for Effective Utility Management (EUM).
The WRF-sponsored project, Performance Benchmarking for Effectively Managed Water Utilities, has been developed to provide a practical tool to water and wastewater utilities to conduct assessments and strategically develop key organizational attributes to meet specific goals.
Introducing the new tool, which is free to download, Robert Renner, Executive Director of WRF commented:
“The Water Research Foundation recognized that water utilities were compelled to work towards more Effective Utility Management, but could benefit from detailed guidance on the implementation of more sustainable methods of operation.”
“Project resources provide utilities direction as to the important practice areas that can support Effective Utility Management and a structured process to track performance.”
The resources include an Excel-based tracking tool, user guide for the tool a and guidance document that can help utilities meet EUM goals. A free Webcast presenting the project results and resources will be held next week on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (ET).
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several North American organizations that promote the interests of water and wastewater utilities have identified Effective Utility Management (EUM) practices to support utilities on a more sustainable path.
The ten attributes of effectively managed water sector utilities used in the tool are as follows:
- Product Quality
- Customer Satisfaction
- Employee and Leadership Development
- Operational Optimization
- Financial Viability
- Infrastructure Stability
- Operational Resilience
- Community Sustainability
- Water Resource Adequacy
- Stakeholder Understanding and Support
WRF identified two major gaps that hampered utilities’ efforts when trying to implement the ten attributes ― firstly, an explicit identification of practice areas that utilities can use to support these efforts and secondly, a structured process benchmarking exercise to guide the development and implementation of the attributes. WRF funded the Performance Benchmarking Project in order to fill these gaps.
The Foundation worked with nearly 30 water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities of various size and geographies from North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia on the project. Recommendations for utilities interested in using the EUM benchmarking tool and guidance include:
1. Form a benchmarking team and develop an initial plan of action
2. Select EUM attributes to address
3. Select associated practice areas and performances measures to address
4. Revise the plan of action (if necessary)
5. Conduct self-assessment benchmarking for selected attributes, practice areas, and
performance measures
6. Evaluate results and identify methods to narrow priority gaps
7. Develop follow-up plans
Click here to download the tool (requires MS Excel 2010 or greater)
Click here to access the powerpoint user guide demonstration (requires MS PowerPoint 2010 or greater)
Click here to access the guidance document on conducting a self-assessment
Click here to register for the webcast on Thursday 6th March 2014
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