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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Long Beach Water Department
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Each year, Long Beach Water Department prepares a ten-year strategic plan detailing cost versus revenue and a five-year capital improvement program detailing projected spending on projects.Its asset management system is used for field operations and maintenance functions, water mains replacement prioritizing, capital improvement planning and budgeting.Benefits include increased productivity, improved decision-making capabilities and better records management.
Orange Water and Sewer Authority
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Orange Water and Sewer Authority conducts benchmarking for continuous improvement. Plant operators collect information with hand-held computers, field personnel access GIS information with laptop computers and engineers plan rehabilitation projects with a prioritization model integrating GIS and work order management systems.Long-range planning ensures sufficient future water supplies, and rate studies confirm that charges cover the cost of providing service.
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.
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.
Saint Paul Regional Water Services
2006 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Saint Paul Regional Water Services continually updates its capital improvement program and its strategic plan for technology and IT solutions. Water quality enhancement efforts are marked by replacement of the current filtering system with granular activated carbon and continuation of a corrosion control program.The utility reduced O&M costs by $2.4 million over five years without employee layoffs, undue increases in water rates, or a decrease in services.
Santa Clara Valley Water District
2006 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
The Santa Clara Valley Water District organizational vision includes managing for clean water and watersheds, managing environmental impacts, implementing management practices, and measuring efforts to reduce costs and resources without sacrificing quality or reliability.The District adopted the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Program Framework for improving organizational performance and has integrated a four-tier performance measurement dashboard, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and Green Business certifications.