Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Like the Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance, the criteria for the Platinum Award for Utility Excellence are based on the Ten Attributes of Effective Utility Management and the Keys to Management Success. Applicants are expected to show progress in implementing the attributes and keys, as well as a distinctive level of management expertise and expanded utility achievement.
Three years after winning a Gold Award, member utilities are eligible to apply for the Platinum Award for Utility Excellence.
Recent Award Winners
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.
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 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.
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.
City of Norfolk Department of Utilities
2008 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
The City of Norfolk Department of Utilities enhanced product quality by changing coagulants at its largest water treatment plant, resulting in reduced turbidity, a 20 percent reduction in disinfection byproducts and elimination of a planned $50 million future capital expenditure. Through a “New Supervisor Academy,” the Virginia utility has increased capabilities of its employees and created new positions for succession planning.
Columbus Water Works
2008 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Columbus Water Works (CWW) has planning vehicles in place to manage infrastructure, financial and customer requirements. A cross-section of staff members actively participate in six strategy teams, and all employees have incentives directly linked to both individual and agency performance. CWW works closely with state, regional and regulatory agencies and is committed to environmental stewardship of Georgia’s Middle Chattahoochee River Watershed.
Contra Costa Water District
2008 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Contra Costa Water District is actively involved in water industry research and regulation development, providing leadership to strengthen the industry as a whole. Taking a leadership role in current California and federal processes to address issues in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the District has provided expertise to identify projects that must be implemented immediately, long-term strategies for sustainability and funding sources for both.
District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
2008 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority has been nationally recognized for operational and strategic excellence in information technology based on its water usage tracking and alert system that integrates its automated meter reading technology with a web-based program that lets customers track their water use and even alerts them of water usage spikes. The Authority’s customer service enhancements, coupled with its peer review research and career development programs, make it a recognized leader in the industry.