21^st Century Sustainable Water Sector Utility Management: Updated Effective Utility Management Primer Holds The Keys

Nearly a decade after an historic agreement among six water trade organizations and the EPA that pledged to develop a water sector utility management strategy, an expanded ten-partner coalition has come together to update the Effective Utility Management (EUM) Framework and Primer. EUM provides water leaders with a common sense, replicable, and proactive way to meet a broad range of complex challenges facing the drinking and wastewater sectors recently.

Based around a framework of the Ten Attributes of an Effectively Managed Utility and Five Keys to Management Success, the updated Primer will help water utilities meet the challenges of aging infrastructure, rapidly evolving technology, enhanced customer expectations, rising costs and affordability, and ongoing regulatory requirements. It also comes with an expanded implementation guide that walks sector leaders through the creation of a unique improvement plan. EUM is the foundation of work across the entire water sector to protect and sustain our Nation’s water infrastructure. The Primer is something all utilities, regardless of capacity, can use to move toward sustainable operations. The collaborating Associations are proud to be working with EPA on this important initiative.

The expanded ten-organization coalition represents public and private sector utilities and state agencies that provide water and wastewater services to 90% of the population in the United States. The representatives providing leadership for the updated Primer include experts from utilities and state agencies in Oklahoma, North Carolina, Colorado, California, Georgia, New Mexico, Arizona, and Massachusetts. John Sullivan of Boston Water and Sewer Commission, winner of the 2015 AMWA Platinum Award for Utility Excellence, says “The expanded implementation of the Primer will help BWSC maintain its nationally recognized efforts, but more importantly help other facilities of all sizes jump in to make a plan that fits their individual needs.” Diane Taniguchi-Dennis of Clean Water Services adds, "EUM is an enduring foundation for utility leaders to strategically craft the pathway to deliver unparalleled value to our communities and the water environment. It will help water utilities shift from reacting to daily priorities to proactive planning for the future. We as utility leaders truly appreciate the leadership shown from EPA and the other collaborating organizations on this important initiative."

For more information, visit www.watereum.org.

The Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF)
The Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF) is a nonprofit (501c3) organization officially formed in July 2016 as the result of the merger of Water Environment Research Foundation and the WateReuse Research Foundation. The merged research foundation, with a combined research portfolio representing over $200 million, conducts research to treat and recover beneficial materials from wastewater, stormwater, and seawater including water, nutrients, energy, and biosolids.