Clean Water Advocacy - News Releases - February 6, 2004
For Immediate Release: February 6, 2004
Contact:
Lori Burkhammer, WEF (703) 684-2400
John Thibodeau, AMSA (202) 296-9836
WEF AND AMSA RELEASE UTILITY MANAGEMENT INTEGRATION GUIDE
(Alexandria, VA) – The Water Environment Federation (WEF) of Alexandria, VA and
the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) of Washington, DC
announce the release of Continual Improvement in Utility Management: A Framework
for Integration. This guide, developed under a cooperative agreement with the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), addresses the need to improve
utility performance through more effective application and integration of
management tools.
"This publication represents an important step forward and addresses a need that our members and other utility managers have identified”, said WEF Executive Director Bill Bertera. “It is unique in that it provides utility managers with information not previously available and complements other guidance covering individual management initiatives."
Development of the guide was recommended by a workgroup of utility managers and expert advisors during an initial phase of the project. Workgroup members identified integration of utility management initiatives under a continual improvement management system framework as a proven and sustainable approach. They also concluded that utility managers need clear information on the interrelationship between initiatives and a "roadmap" to help them integrate these initiatives under a common management systems framework.
AMSA Executive Director Ken Kirk noted that, "In many ways the guide’s strength lies in the fact that almost 50 professionals, the majority utility managers or senior staff, volunteered their expertise and experience to create it. We are very pleased to have jointly sponsored its development with WEF and EPA."
For more information and to obtain a copy of the guide, visit the WEF website at www.wef.org, or the AMSA site at www.amsa-cleanwater.org.
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF)
is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from
varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and
enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water
quality professionals from 79 Member Associations in over 30 countries.
The Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) is a national trade association representing hundreds of the nation's publicly owned wastewater treatment utilities. AMSA members serve the majority of the sewered population in the United States and collectively treat and reclaim over 18 billion gallons of wastewater every day. AMSA members are environmental practitioners dedicated to protecting and improving the nation's waters and public health.
1816 Jefferson Place, Washington, DC 20036-2505 • 202.833.AMSA • 202.833.4657 FAX