Award Winners
City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department
2006 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
While experiencing rapid growth associated with mergers with water and sewer systems of nearby towns, the City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department remains committed to providing quality, affordable water to customers.Capital improvement projects to address the growth include a new utility operations center and water treatment plant.Through its Gainsharing Program, employees are rewarded for ideas on reducing costs, improving methods and increasing service quality.
JEA
2006 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
At JEA, the TargetSmart program, based on Six Sigma methodology, has permeated its workforce, resulting in significant process improvements and cost savings. Production and infrastructure system investments were made to prepare for the future, and JEA is refining and streamlining its systems to ensure optimum performance in production, technology, productivity, reliability and customer service.
Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department
2006 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department has an aggressive water reclamation program that produces up to five billion gallons of reclaimed water annually for irrigation of golf courses and residential communities. A $250 million, seven-year capital improvement program is fully funded from internally generated funds and existing bonds. Returns on leadership, asset management, customer satisfaction and efficient business operations help secure the Department's competitive edge.
District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
2006 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Since its inception in 1997, District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority has implemented an internal improvement program for operational efficiencies and service enhancements. Its $2.1 billion capital improvement plan is addressing long-needed infrastructure upgrades and new regulatory mandates. WASA is also introducing technology improvements and customer service enhancements, coupled with peer review research and career development programs.
Green Bay Water Utility
2006 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Green Bay Water Utility focused on training its people at every level and improving operations through participative management. The utility implemented cross-connection inspections on all customers, established a routine testing schedule for distribution hydrants and valves, and licenses and monitors private wells – all without an increase in staff and with a single 4-1/2 percent rate increase over the last five years.
Birmingham Water Works and Sewer Board
2006 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
At the Birmingham Water Works and Sewer Board, comparative analysis using key benchmarks of performance, together with its Business Process Review Initiative, enabled the Board to improve the most important aspects of its business while restoring financial stability.Detailed departmental action plans support strategic goals, operating and business plans, and involve all staff in meeting customers' needs for safe, affordable water.
Chicago Department of Water Management
2006 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
In 2003, Chicago's Departments of Water and Sewers merged to become the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM).DWM is unifying procedures, visions and goals, including a comprehensive approach to protecting the city's water resources and incorporating performance management to focus on water quality and customer satisfaction.Utilizing people, processes and technology, DWM has developed, streamlined and reengineered its processes.
Orlando Utilities Commission
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Orlando Utilities Commission recently completed a $124 million water production modernization and expansion project that resulted in eight interconnected and fully automated water treatment facilities. OUC is working with regional partners to implement a comprehensive, integrated water resources plan.Its employees are recognized for controlling expenses, reaching project milestones, providing top-notch service quality and customer satisfaction.
Santa Rosa Utilities Department
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The Santa Rosa Utilities Department implemented a Computerized Maintenance and Management System to collect information for use by management in creating realistic goals and measuring the efficiency of its business processes. It also undertook a management and organizational change coaching process to prepare for the technological and work process changes necessary to transition to a 21st century public utility.
Aurora Water
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Aurora Water uses benchmarking, cross-training, leadership development and reorganization for improved efficiency to ensure high-quality water. Reorganization of its operations division resulted in a Design Build Award for renovation of one of its water treatment plants and a Land Stewardship Award for the other.Last year, both plants earned Partnership for Safe Water Director's Awards.
Clearwater Public Utilities
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Clearwater Public Utilities promotes excellence in its employees by rewarding their efforts and encouraging continuing education.The utility built a 3-mgd reverse osmosis water treatment plant, rehabilitated numerous groundwater production wells, continues expansion of its reclaimed water system for alternative irrigation sources, and continues replacement of undersized and old water transmission mains to improve service to its customers.
Glendale Utilities Department
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Among the achievements of the Glendale Utilities Department are expansion of current plants, an extensive water main replacement program and an aggressive meter testing and meter reading program.The Department undertakes comprehensive benchmarking, and its technological programs include an Interactive Voice Response/Interactive Web Response system for its call center and a Computerized Maintenance Management System.