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Water Associations Collaborate with EPA
By Lori Burkhammer
May 3, 2006
Alexandria, VA -- Six associations representing the U.S. water and wastewater sector will collaborate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a series of activities designed to assist local water utilities that would benefit from new management practices. The collaboration was formalized in a joint Statement of Intent signed today by the executive directors of the American Public Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, American Water Works Association, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, Water Environment Federation, and the EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, Benjamin Grumbles.
"This is an historic step forward in cementing our partnership
on sustainable infrastructure," said Grumbles. "Today we begin an unprecedented
and unified effort to advance effective management of water and wastewater
utilities and to accelerate the pace of environmental protection."
“Our existing network of treatment facilities, distribution and collection
systems are significant public assets worth an estimated $1 trillion,” said Bill
Bertera, executive director of the Water Environment Federation. “Huge
additional investments and adoption of new management practices will be needed
over the next generation in order to maintain these aging assets and the gains
we have made in public health and environmental protection. Legislators,
ratepayers, and individual citizens need to know that utility managers are
acting as good stewards of these assets if they are going to support this vital
investment.”
While each association has existing programs and services related to utility
management, this is the first time that such a broad group of organizations has
formally agreed to cooperate with each other and EPA on this topic.
“Based on the shared acknowledgment that effective management can help utilities
enhance the stewardship of their infrastructure, improve performance in critical
areas, and respond to other challenges, NACWA is pleased to join with other
associations to facilitate cooperation, coordination, and effective
communication among our organizations and with EPA,” said Ken Kirk, executive
director of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.
Over the next 12 months, the water associations and EPA will identify the
attributes of effectively managed utilities, identify methods for measuring
utility progress toward goals, and develop a strategy to promote more widespread
adoption of effective management practices across the water sector.
“Many water utilities employ exemplary management practices - meeting high
levels of efficiency, cost of operation and quality of service - while
maintaining their infrastructure and ensuring future water supplies, but this
level of performance is not consistent across the industry,” said Diane VanDe
Hei, executive director of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. “This
collaboration allows us to encourage the use of best management practices at
systems throughout the nation.”
The associations will appoint a Steering Committee of water utility leaders to
guide the effort, and additional input will be solicited through focus group
meetings and meetings with the members of the individual associations. The first
meeting will be in June 2006.
“Smart and efficient management of water systems serves each customer and
protects public health,” concluded Jack W. Hoffbuhr, executive director of the
American Water Works Association. “This agreement to collaborate underscores the
importance of sound management practices today and in the future.”
A copy of the Statement signed today is available at
www.wef.org
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