A Water Utility Manager's Guide to Community Stewardship
The guide outlines strategies, tools and case studies for utilities looking to adopt a more active stewardship role in their communities.
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Assessment of Performance Indicators for Non-Revenue Water Target-setting and Progress Tracking
This report is part of the Water Loss Control Committee’s work to evaluate and update the non-revenue water KPIs in AWWA's M36 Water Audits and Loss Control Programs and the associated Free Water Audit Software. The WLCC used information from the report to develop the Key Performance Indicators for Non-Revenue Water Committee Report, which recommends KPIs that utilities and regulators can use to assess and improve water loss control performance.
Water Reuse Cost Allocations and Pricing Survey
Implementation of sound principles regarding the design and application of water rates and charges for water service is a critical part of the water industry. As reuse water is a relatively new source of supply, the water industry has not yet standardized a single pricing approach. Furthermore, the measurement and allocation of costs of reuse water production is naturally complex, reflecting elements of both water and wastewater functions and requiring decisions regarding the correct treatment of shared costs.
Through a survey and structured interviews, this report examines patterns in the cost allocation and pricing for reuse water service in the United States.
Developing New Framework for Affordability
AWWA, WEF and NACWA worked collaboratively to develop methodologies to (1) describe household-level affordability in a community and (2) assess a community’s financial capacity to support the cost of additional water services.
Structural Classifications of Pressure Pipe Linings: Suggested Protocol for Product Classification
AWWA M28 had previously provided qualitative guidelines defining structural classifications of lining systems used to rehabilitate potable water pipelines. This report provides an overview of industry consensus of how to transition this from a qualitative concept to a quantitative process of product selection and classification, to better serve the industry in pipe rehabilitation solutions.
Water Sector Resource Typing Guidance
AWWA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have released a new Water Sector Resource Typing Guidance. The guidance replaces the Water/Wastewater Mutual Aid and Resource Typing Mnaual issued by AWWA in 2008 to fill a gap as the sector was establishing Water/Wastewater Agency Response Networks across the country.
Key Data to Inform Government Asset Management Policies
Many state and federal agencies have policies (e.g., laws, regulations, incentives, practices, procedures, and administrative actions), or are considering policies, to address water infrastructure needs. Examples include requirements for utilities to collect information about their assets (e.g., age, condition, performance, and capital needs), use asset management best practices, and develop and implement fiscal sustainability plans.
But how will state and federal officials measure the success of such policies? And how will agencies that are considering new policies decide which ones to adopt? This 2018 project will help identify the data and information that agencies can use to better assess water infrastructure needs of utilities of all sizes within their jurisdiction as well as develop, implement, and evaluate policies intended to help meet these needs.
Source Water Protection Justification Toolkit
This toolkit provides information for systems looking to implement source water protection measures for the first time and systems that want to modify or expand existing source water protection programs. As a supplement to this toolkit, a Microsoft PowerPoint template to present the initial business case for investing in source water protection to key decision-makers such as local officials, board of directors, and investors.
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Water Utility Disinfection Survey
This 2017 project was the fifth disinfection survey conducted since 1978 to better understand current U.S. operation practices, regulatory effects, and disinfection-related challenges within the drinking water industry. The report summarizes the findings from the 2017 survey, particularly as they relate to current disinfection practices among the 375 utility respondents.
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Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems - Guidance for Water Utilities
This guidance document provides information to help water utilities understand the purpose and features of residential fire sprinkler systems (RFSS), and guide them in setting their own policies and procedures for the design, installation, and operation of water distribution systems servicing customers with RFSS.
Operator Licensing Requirements Across the United States: Levels and Effects
This report catalogues licensing requirements for water and wastewater operators across all 50 states to determine opportunities for and barriers to cross-training.
Communicating Source Water Protection Efforts in Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR)
Outreach to and education of the general public are critical components of source water protection. This targeted literature review examined how utilities of all sizes are currently using their Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) to educate customers about source water protection needs and efforts. The complementary guidance document is designed to help small- and medium-sized utilities more effectively communicate on source water protection in their CCRs.
The State of Water Loss Control
This AWWA white paper provides water utilities with background, facts and resources to help them understand and communicate the occurrence of water and revenue losses in utility operations and the means to cost-effectively control them.
AWWA Leading Business Practices in Asset Management Case Study Report
Following the 2015 survey on the level of progress in utility asset management, this report highlights some of the leading practices identified to provide more information on what leading utilities are doing. The case studies are intended to serve as a resource for other utilities to learn from their experience and to help improve asset management programs.