2013 Water System Plan, Volume II - Seattle City Clerk's Office - City ...

Water System Management and Operator Certification
December 2011
SPU 2013 Water System Plan
Appendix B-2
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) reorganized its organizational structure since the 2007
Water System Plan. An explanation of the management structure and personnel at
SPU is provided here, followed by a description of SPU’s current operator certifications
and training programs.
Management and Organizational Structure
An organizational chart for SPU, which shows the current departmental structure, is
provided as Exhibit 1. A brief explanation of the role of the Director’s Office and each
SPU branch is provided below.
Director’s Office
The Director’s Office includes the Director of Seattle Public Utilities and the Corporate
Strategies and Communications (CS&C) Office. The Director is responsible for making
sure the utility carries out the mission adopted for SPU. The Director has
responsibilities typical of a water superintendent, such as developing budgetary
requirements, assuring effective performance of the water system, and implementing
City ordinances and utility policies regarding water service.
The CS&C Office assists the SPU Director to design and execute policy, strategy,
analyses, internal and external communications, in order to maintain, improve, and
explain service delivery, programs and projects, and to manage assets effectively and
efficiently. The Office focuses on issues, initiatives, and agreements involving multiple
disciplines, branches, departments, governments, and public constituencies. Groups
comprising the Office consist of Community Relations Development, Corporate Policy
and Performance, Asset Management and Economic Services and Communications
Services.
Utility Systems Management Branch
Utility Systems Management (USM) provides overall management of each SPU utility
system, including SPU’s drinking water, sewer, drainage, solid waste programs and
associated assets. USM also includes Watershed Services and Laboratory Services,
which primarily support the drinking water system.
The Drinking Water Division Director serves as of the main contact for drinking water
system-related issues. The Business Area Managers, who report to the Division
Director, plan for projects and programs in their business area. For Drinking Water,
these business areas are: Major Watersheds, Water Resources, Water Quality and
Treatment, Transmission and Distribution.
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