This operational guide provides additional information to water utilities for implementing AWWA Standard G400 Utility Management System, which sets out critical requirements for water utility management. Standard G400 was created to respond to a widespread need of utility managers to have some consistency in approach and some reliability in knowing what is generally expected of utilities in all areas of utility management. The standard was developed using the same formal, ANSI-recognized, AWWA-managed process as all other AWWA Standards.
Operational Guide to AWWA Standard G400, Utility Management System helps utility managers (1) understand the purpose and function of standard G400 and (2) implement and incorporate the standard into everyday utility operations. The guide provides examples of methods or procedures that illustrate how to incorporate and implement the various parts of AWWA Standard G400 to create a Utility Management System. Sample forms, documents, questionnaires, and checklists are also included.
The original idea for the operational guide series to accompany the utility management standards came from utility managers who participated in a two-year pilot project that was conducted and supported by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Utility Quality Programs Committee, the AWWA Accreditation Committee, and nearly 30 utility professionals from more than 10 North American utilities. The pilot project assessed the applicability and practicality of the series of AWWA utility management standards by working with two utilities—Birmingham (Ala.) Water Works and Sewer Board and Washington County (Va.) Service Authority—and a team of volunteers from utilities, consulting firms, and other organizations.
During the pilot process, the utility managers requested that AWWA develop some type of guidance or how-to documents to go along with the management standards. These guidance documents would serve two purposes: one, help utility managers understand the purpose and function of these new standards, and two, help them implement and incorporate the standards into everyday operations. From this suggestion the series of operational guides was conceived.