Organizational Development for Knowledge Management at Water ...

Project Study # 30
Cross—Utility Partnership for Safe Drinking Water
Project Description In 1995 the Utah’s five largest water organizations joined together to build a
strong technical pool of individuals to optimize all of the surface water treatment plants
processes within their combined jurisdictions. In 1997 representatives from Salt Lake City
Public Utilities, Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County Water
Conservancy District, Central Utah Water Conservancy District and Weber Basin Water
Conservancy District inked their voluntary commitment with EPA. Also included are two state
agencies, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Drinking Water and
Division of Laboratory Services. The Alliance has diligently moved forward in meeting the
requirements of the Partnership program, completing Phase II and Phase III.
The purpose of this Partnership is to facilitate knowledge sharing across geographically
dispersed Drinking Water Utilities in the state of Utah a specific focus was the surveying
treatment facilities, treatment processes, operations and maintenance procedures, and
management oversight practices. The objective was to identify and prioritize areas that will
enhance individual utility capabilities to prevent the entry of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and other
microbial contaminants into the treated water, and to assist the voluntary implementation of
corrective actions appropriate for the system.
Size of Utility: 381 employees
Critical Success factors:
The Partnership implementation plan consists of four phases:
1. Eligibility requirements include compliance with the Surface Water Treatment Rule
for six months and a commitment to pursue further stages of the program.
2. Collect basic plant information and plant performance data within 180 days of joining
the program.
3. Undertake a self- assessment that is based on the Composite Correction Program.
The self- assessment includes a performance assessment, major unit process
evaluation and identification and correction of performance—limiting factors.
4. Completion of a third party assessment. Upon completion of this phase and review
and approval of the completion report, the water supplier will be presented with a
Partnership for Safe Water “Administrator’s Certificate of Recognition.”
Cost: No cost identified.
Alignment: Consistent with the purpose of the Utility and embedded in all planning processes.
Benefits: Through this program water consumers are assured that their water provider is
commited to providing the best quality water possible and that each treatment facility has gone
through a rigorous effort to optimize water treatment processes.
©2011 Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.