Award Winners
San Diego County Water Authority
2010 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
San Diego County Water Authority’s key strategy to enhance water reliability is to diversify its water supply portfolio. Bay-Delta pumping restrictions, along with three years of drought, led to reduced allocations from the Authority’s largest supplier. Supply reliability highlights include finishing major construction on the All-American Canal Lining Project, commencing construction on the San Vicente Dam Raise Project and supporting the development of additional local supplies, including desalination. The Authority’s Drought Management Plan outlined actions including aggressively promoting increased conservation and implementing a model set of water use restrictions to meet mandatory water savings targets.
Western Virginia Water Authorit
2010 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The Western Virginia Water Authority is an example of the benefits of a regional entity to manage water and wastewater needs in a multi-jurisdictional area. By combining resources and gaining synergies for water supply and distribution, the Authority focuses on the management of assets, replacement or rehabilitation of failing water lines, reduction of water loss and operational expenses. Guided by a rate equalization plan that supports infrastructure maintenance and the creation of reserve funds, the Authority provides adequate funding for capital expenditures. Since it spans localities, multiple water resources can be managed in a manner that reduces the impact of droughts or other emergencies.
Charleston Water System
2009 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Charleston Water System manages the majority of regulatory requirements through an Environmental Management System and continually improves operational efficiency using industry benchmark performance indicators. Key elements used for continuous improvement include: certification under the ISO 14001 Standard for Environmental Management; Plan-Do-Check-Act methods coupled with problem solving techniques; systems for aligning employee performance goals with the strategic plan and providing associated pay incentives; a measurement and tracking system; statistical process control techniques to ensure the highest water quality; and workforce development systems for employee learning and development.
City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
2009 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
The strategic plan at the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) is based on the Balanced Scorecard approach, which is predicated on an environmental scan. The plan is long-term and comprehensive, as are other planning initiatives including its master plan, financial plan, capital improvement plan and regional plans. DWM has instilled a culture of continual improvement and accountability. Virtually all business processes and functions have been re-engineered and standard operating procedures, reports and controls have been documented for each one. Asset management programs, as well as commitment to employee and community involvement, round out the Department’s approach to industry leadership.
City of Riverside Public Utilities Department
2009 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The City of Riverside Public Utilities Department (RPU) has developed strong local partnerships that create new opportunities in water supply, conservation and watershed management while maximizing regional efficiencies. Stakeholder support keeps RPU on track to becoming “green.” Innovative projects have effectively isolated the utility from the ongoing statewide water crisis, and its recycled water project is expected to produce high quality irrigation water to meet nearly one-third of the system’s total water demand. The city has also implemented an asset management program, which significantly reduces unaccounted for water.
City of San Diego Public Utilities Department
2009 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Through programs such as Bid to Goal, the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department continually pursues initiatives that drive optimum performance and improve labor-management relationships by encouraging all employees to work together to achieve shared goals. Environmental stewardship is valued, as evidenced by innovations that both preserve and restore the environment. Product quality is assured through practices and procedures resulting in ISO 14001 certifications in all four of its operations divisions. Consolidation of the business support divisions during FY09 resulted in staff reductions saving $2.7 million, and net savings throughout the water system between 1998 and 2008 totaled $161 million.
City of Santa Rosa Utilities Department
2009 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Through the use of strategic planning and by embracing the approaches identified in Attributes of Effectively Managed Utilities, the City of Santa Rosa Utilities Department made innovative and proactive decisions to position itself to continue to economically provide high quality water and service to its customers for years to come. It implemented a Department-wide steering team to guide its strategic direction, conducted a city-wide reorganization of its engineering services to create a dedicated asset management section, invested in technology developments to integrate GID and CMMS systems, and obtained new field equipment to enhance efficiencies and productivity of its field operations.
Glendale Water and Power
2009 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Glendale Water and Power’s proactive approach to water quality allows the utility to meet all standards, minimize chemical use and safeguard employee health. The utility evaluates best practices in asset management and uses employee and plant performance measurements to focus resources. Three-year rate increases promote financial integrity, and a $50 million bond issue is funding projects including system-wide meter replacement and advanced metering infrastructure installation. Glendale is also completing a six-year effort to upgrade electrical and mechanical components and has contracted services to geo-locate and remotely operate each valve and fire hydrant in its system.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
2009 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California continues to be resilient in the face of difficult economic conditions, drought and regulatory restrictions. Achievements include: managing capital projects that provide supply and delivery reliability and ensure water quality and stewardship; reinvesting a record amount in rehabilitation and repair of existing infrastructure; making continuous improvements in all aspects of its business to operate optimally; proactively maintaining emergency response and business continuity programs; developing a high performance workforce; and implementing “green” initiatives, including energy management, waste reduction and conservation incentives totaling $223 million.
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department
2009 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Management achievements at Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department include a “Governing for Results” ordinance that codifies the general principles of strategic planning, business planning and performance measurement. The utility has also deployed an Active Strategy Enterprise performance management tool and the Sterling Performance Excellence Improvement Model to assist with continuous improvements and implemented an efficiency recognition program. Comprehensive customer satisfaction surveys were conducted, approval of an annual Consumer Price Index rate increase was achieved, and automated meter reading was implemented. The Department also reorganized to optimize operations and implemented a water use efficiency plan.
Orlando Utilities Commission
2009 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
To ensure that it continues to provide high quality water for future generations, the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) navigates issues ranging from resource conservation and the development of alternative water sources, to advanced treatment requirements and the challenge of falling revenues, rising expenses and mounting capital demands. OUC managers and support staff use integrated strategic business planning, metrics and customer feedback to guide decisions that maximize its financial resources and produce a sustainable flow of high quality, affordable water while achieving customer satisfaction. OUC water utility employees are customer-focused teams, utilizing advanced GIS mapping integrated with real-time field data.
Chesterfield County Department of Utilities
2008 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Chesterfield County Department of Utilities is one of only a handful of utilities in the country that have a AAA bond rating from each of the three major bond rating organizations. The Virginia utility has been innovative in preserving water supplies through its water reuse agreement with Dominion Virginia Power, the largest reuse project in the commonwealth. It has also earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 10-Year Director’s Award for the Partnership for Safe Water.