Award Winners
WaterOne
2011 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
At WaterOne (Water District No. 1 of Johnson County), completion of a state-of-the-art treatment facility and laboratory in 2010 positions the utility to meet the needs of current and future customers. Attention to operational optimization and efficient use of resources is seen in innovative energy savings software and unique pipe-bursting equipment to replace water mains. The success of WaterOne’s strong concentration on training, wellness and safety results in a healthier work force and advancement of its employees. Through careful financial planning and fiscal responsibility, WaterOne enjoys support from ratepayers for new projects and has been awarded high bond ratings.
Anaheim Public Utilities
2010 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
At Anaheim Public Utilities, investments in leadership, planning and infrastructure allow it to excel in the key areas of financial viability, water resource adequacy and operational resiliency. Bond rating agencies upgraded the utility’s bonds into an elite class of only a few Southern California utilities. As the result of foresight in protecting water resources, Anaheim's population grew by 31 percent in the past 20 years, but water use decreased by three percent. The utility invests in public education, conservation programs and developing local supplies to avoid mandatory water restrictions. A Class 1 rating from California’s Insurance Services Office demonstrates the reliability of Anaheim’s water production and distribution infrastructure.
Austin Water Utility
2010 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
The Austin Water Utility uses asset management and a thorough performance measurement system to significantly cut costs while increasing efficiency. A culture of continual improvement and environmental stewardship pushes the utility to make greater use of water and energy conservation and sustainability practices to strengthen its future water resource supply and reduce environmental impact. Austin Water has implemented sound, conservative financial management practices to strategically plan for the future and attain stable bond ratings. Its stakeholders and over-sight bodies are fully engaged to work hand-in-hand to identify standards, discuss future demands and implement publicly acceptable rates.
Boca Raton Utility Services
2010 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Boca Raton Utility Services strives to sustain excellence by balancing regulatory mandate requirements, benchmarking established levels of service, achieving financial stability and ensuring employee sustainability. Through the evolution of its strategic planning program, the department has continued to adapt, enhance and transform its processes to effectively manage these elements. It continues to meet the strategic goals related to customer satisfaction, financial stability and product reliability. By advocating commitment to technology and innovation through programs, educational processes and a dynamic organizational structure that maximizes employees’ knowledge and skills, the utility is developing sustainable employee succession.
City of Bellevue Utilities Department
2010 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
To provide exceptional public service, the City of Bellevue Utilities Department uses tools including audits, surveys, benchmarking and continuous improvement programs. Performance measures are tracked to gauge effectiveness, efficiency and workload. Advanced asset management tools are in place, and asset data is used for financial planning. The Department’s renewal and replacement fund accumulates funds to maintain and replace aging infrastructure, and a high bond rating is maintained without the use of debt financing and with reasonable incremental rate increases. Commitment to sustainability and environmental protection is demonstrated with successful public education and outreach programs, which have produced significant results for water conservation and environmental health.
City of Glendale Utilities Department
2010 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
The City of Glendale Utilities Department has a record of providing exemplary water services while maintaining regulatory compliance. Major infrastructure improvements include new surface water and groundwater treatment plants, replacement and installation of water lines, improvements to existing water treatment plants and construction of state‐of‐the-art water security monitoring systems. The department also implemented robust sewer cleaning, aggressive meter testing and water production optimization programs to reduce electrical, chemical and water resources costs. Human resources initiatives improve employee skills, productivity and operational flexibility, and sound financial programs – such as benchmarking, gap analysis and strategic business plans – promote financial stability.
City of Henderson’s Department of Utility Services
2010 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
The City of Henderson’s Department of Utility Services has in place a progressive management structure that supports process improvement, operational optimization and resiliency and employee development. For the past decade, the utility has successfully supported double-digit growth in the community while responding to the worst drought in history on the Colorado River System, its primary source of drinking water. Even with the substantial effects of drought and growth on its resources and infrastructure, customer rate adjustments have been kept below the rate of inflation and customer satisfaction maintained at levels above 90 percent.
El Paso Water Utilities
2010 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
El Paso Water Utilities shares water resources with three states and two countries, which dictates a proactive water management strategy that focuses on policy, planning and technology. Guided by its strategic plan and with input from key constituents and stakeholders, the utility has aggressively implemented its strategic goals and objectives. Predictions of unsustainable groundwater pumping were mitigated by implementing total water management, and other management initiatives have reduced and deferred operating cost, improved safety and efficiency, and reduced gas and electricity costs while conserving natural resources. The average residential bill, among the lowest in the Southwest, reflects the utility’s competitive rate structure and financial stability.
Louisville Water Company
2010 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Louisville Water Company (LWC) sold $202.9 million in bonds in 2009 to fund its capital program through 2013. Standard & Poor’s upgraded the utility’s bond rating, citing its strong financial operations, its large and diverse service area and its comprehensive capital planning. According to S&P, the rating places LWC in the top eight percent of the 900 water and sewer utilities it rates. The company’s leadership team is actively involved in serving community organizations, and last year employees donated more than 4,800 hours to community service. In addition, LWC’s education programs reached students in nearly 100 schools last year.
Newport News Waterworks
2010 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Newport News Waterworks completed $400 million in capital improvements between 1990 and 2010, yet staffing levels today are lower than in 1990. Over this same period, residential bills increased less than 3 percent per year (taking into account reduced water usage). Its system reliability rating of 99.997 percent equates to only a two-hour outage every ten years on average. The utility reduced leaks in its distribution system and replaced its billing system. Water quality was improved via the addition of ozone as primary disinfectant and a follow‐up manganese removal project. Waterworks also earned the E4 environmental designation, the highest level awarded by Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality.
Palm Bay Utilities Department
2010 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Palm Bay Utilities Department’s Environmental Management System is known as GreenWay, and the Department was the first water and wastewater utility in the state of Florida to receive certification under the internationally recognized ISO 14001:2004 environmental standard. The department achieved a 31 percent reduction in energy use for its water treatment plants from the base year of 2007 through the first quarter of 2010. The utility has been recognized recently with a number of state and regional awards, including the 2010 Outstanding Membrane Plant Award, 2009 Finalist for the Sustainable Florida Best Practice Award, the 2009 Plant Operation Excellence Award and the 2008 Water Distribution System Award.
San Antonio Water System
2010 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
San Antonio Water System’s 50-year Water Management Plan identifies water supply projects to provide reliable service as the community continues to grow. Its strategy includes setting precedents in conservation, recycling, water management and water quality programs. The utility has taken significant steps to optimize operations, upgrade and maintain infrastructure, and ensure that it is prepared to continue operations after any crisis. It strives to ensure that customers are satisfied with the quality of their water and that its staff is available to quickly handle any concerns. Recognizing that stakeholder support is essential, the utility communicates with ratepayers in a wide variety of venues to facilitate cooperation and understanding.