June 2016, Vol. 71 No. 6
Newsline
Water Organizations, EPA Release Effective Utility Management Report
Eight heavy-hitters in the water and utility industries collaborated with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop the Effective Utility Management (EUM) Report entitled, Taking the Next Step: Findings of the EUM Review Steering Group, which was announced at the National Water Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., April 11-13, 2016.
The EPA along with the American Public Works Association, the American Water Works Association, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the National Association of Water Companies, the Association of Clean Water Agencies (ACWA), the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators and the Water Environment Federation announced the report aiming to identify refinements to the EUM framework, which includes 10 Attributes of Effectively Managed Utilities, or building blocks, of effectively managed water sector utilities and five Keys to Management Success.
The EUM Report is positioned as an enhancement of the EUM framework, and the organization partners are the best resources for local, state and federal governments, said Grayson.
Since 2007, the EUM Collaborating Organizations have worked on the EUM framework, findings and recommendations in the released report. In 2015, the aforementioned organizations asked a steering group of utility and state leaders to review the EUM framework. In addition, the steering group held two national webinars for the members of the collaborating organizations.
The key areas of change in the water sector since 2007 that were a driving factor behind the EUM Report findings include: accelerated adoption of automated and “smart” systems and data integration; growing climate variability and extremes; enhanced customer expectations and public awareness; expanded challenges associated with employee recruitment and retention; increased focus on resource recovery; continued regulatory requirements and operating condition changes; and greater consideration of storm water and watershed management.
For more information regarding the EUM Report, visit watereum.org.
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