Effective Utility Management Program
Effective Utility Management Program
Effective Utility Management
AWWA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and nine other association partners representing the U.S. water and wastewater sector have collaborated to identify and provide tools to promote effective utility management (EUM).
The Effective Utility Management: A Primer for Water and Wastewater Utilities is the foundation of EUM. Originally released in 2008, the primer was updated in 2024. It is designed to help water and wastewater utility managers make informed decisions and practical, systematic changes to achieve excellence in utility performance in the face of everyday challenges and long-term needs for the utility and the community it serves.
The EUM Primer update follows an early 2016 report titled Taking the Next Step: Findings of the Effective Utility Management Review Steering Group to the EUM collaborating associations and the EPA.
Effective Utility Management: A Primer for Water and Wastewater Utilities (PDF)
Five Keys to Management Success
Continual Improvement Management
Knowledge Management
Leadership
Measurement
Strategic Business Planning & Management
EUM is based on the 10 attributes of effectively managed utilities
Community Sustainability
Customer Experience and Satisfaction
Enterprise Resiliency
Financial Viability
Infrastructure Strategy and Performance
Operational Optimization
Regulatory and Reliability Performance
Stakeholder Understanding and Support
Water Resource Sustainability
Workforce Development
Essential Resources
U.S. EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a number or resources in support of Effective Utility Management in conjunction with its Sustainable Water Infrastructure initiative. Chief among them are:
- Moving Toward Sustainability: Sustainable and Effective Practices for Creating Your Own Water Utility Roadmap
- Resource Guide to Effective Utility Management and Lean: Improving Performance and Addressing Key Management Priorities at Water-Sector Utilities
EPA has also collaborated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop key resources for small and rural water systems:
Water Research Foundation
Community Stewardship
A Water Utility Manager’s Guide to Community Stewardship showcases utility case studies and provides utility staff with tools to support their local communities, effectively engage underserved communities and apply a social equity lens to water service delivery.
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