Capacity Development: An Introduction Brandon Bowman, Capacity Development Coordinator Water Quality Division - ODEQ

A “Perfect Storm” of factors bearing down on public water supplies

•  Increasing demand

•  Much of existing infrastructure is aged beyond useful life

•  Increasingly stringent water quality standards

It Was Easier in the Good Old Days •  In the Past - easy to operate a small PWS

•  Few regulatory requirements •  Expenses were low •  Treatment, if any, was simple.

•  Current Day – Much More Difficult •  Increasing regulations, costs, •  High turnover rate •  Limited rates •  Increasing number and complexity of

threats

•  Spend more money on infrastructure! • Build new plants!

• Put in newer pipe!

Compliance w/ Primary

Drinking Water

Standards

Plan for…

Achieve…

Maintain…

Sustainable Production of Safe and

Affordable Drinking Water

Which

Leads To

" SDWA provides significant authority and resources to address challenges, particularly those faced by small systems " Established by Section 1420 of 1996 Amendments

" Among the initiatives is the Capacity Development Program

" Capacity Development is defined as: " “…the process through which water systems acquire and maintain

adequate technical, managerial, and financial capabilities to enable them to consistently provide safe drinking water.”

•  Small (fewer than 10,000 customers) public water supplies.

•  Public water supplies that apply for DWSRF funding.

•  New community public water supply systems applying for a permit.

•  Any public water supply that requests capacity development assistance

•  Files complete and timely reports

•  Follows SOPs •  Demonstrates pride of

ownership •  Conducts effective board

meetings •  Finds and corrects

problems promptly.

•  Has a computer and software

•  Attends professional meetings

•  Communicates well with others

•  Meters and bills for cost of service

•  Does not answer the phone •  Has owners who are

absent or uninvolved •  Cannot complete timely

reports •  Does not review or revise

rates •  Does not take action to

address violations.

•  Cannot provide consistent service quality

•  Experiences high water losses

•  Does not maintain expense data

•  Has crumbing infrastructure

Three basic elements of Capacity Development:

All three play an equally important role in supporting the system…

•  Source water adequacy

•  Infrastructure adequacy

•  Technical knowledge and capability of personnel.

Three Essential Factors:

•  Source Water Capacity •  Is there a reliable raw water source?

•  Is the raw water source of high quality and adequately protected?

•  Is the yield enough to meet current and future demands?

•  Is the system using the “best” source available?

•  Infrastructure adequacy •  Is the system physically capable of

producing water that meets regulatory requirements?

•  Are all portions of the water system, from source through distribution, in good condition and has not exceeded its useful life? Wooden Water Main

•  Technical knowledge and capability of personnel •  Operator certification

•  Is there an Operations and Maintenance Plan in use?

•  Is a continuing education plan in use?

•  Are there enough operators to adequately staff the plant?

Three Essential Factors:

•  Ownership Accountability

•  Staffing and Organization

•  Effective External Linkages

•  Ownership Accountability •  Is the ownership and

ultimate control / responsibility for the system clearly identified?

•  Can the owners be held accountable for the system as a whole?

•  Staffing and Organization •  Does the system have an organization chart with

clearly defined roles? •  System adequately staffed? •  Does management have adequate expertise to

supervise operations? •  Have SOPs been established and are they

followed?

•  Effective External Linkages •  Policies in place regarding

communication with customers, regulators, other water systems, other entities

•  System is aware of and takes advantage of available external resources (DWSRF, ORWA, Soonerwarn, OWRB, CRG, Rural Development, etc.)

• Revenue Sufficiency

• Credit Worthiness

• Fiscal Management and Controls

Three Essential Factors:

• Revenue Sufficiency •  Do revenues exceed

expenditures? •  Is the rate sufficient

enough to cover all costs and reserves?

•  Is an asset management plan being funded?

•  Financial Capacity

•  Credit Worthiness •  Is the system financially healthy?

•  Does the system have access to financial capital when needed?

•  Financial Capacity

•  Fiscal Management and Controls •  Is there a separation of financial duties?

•  Are appropriate budgeting, accounting, and financial planning methods being used?

•  Are revenues managed effectively?

1.  Obtain and maintain the proper certification 2.  Keep up-to-date with regulations, including monitoring and

reporting requirements. 3.  Communicate! With other staff members, managers, board

members, and the public. 4.  Help create and implement an asset management plan. 5.  Keep up-to-date on technological advances in the industry. 6.  Inspect your system regularly! Be THE expert on your system! 7.  Know where and when to get assistance. 8.  Complete reports in a timely manner.

9.  Develop and USE an effective Operations and Maintenance Plan.

10. Use an organized approach for routine preventative maintenance.

11. Know your job responsibilities – outline them with your supervisor.

12. Plan for the future! Anticipate future operating demands, emergencies, and use an asset management plan.

1.  Know your system. You can’t make good decisions for your system without being familiar with it.

2.  Maintain an understanding of regulations and their general requirements.

3.  Communicate! Communicate with your operators, with customers, and with other entities (neighboring systems, other local government agencies, regulators, etc).

4.  Develop and implement an Asset Management Plan. 5.  Charge an appropriate rate to cover expenses, fund reserves, and

fund asset management.

6.  Know where to get assistance. 7.  Know your staff and their responsibilities 8.  Know your own responsibilities and liabilities 9.  Plan for the future! Anticipate future operating demands,

emergencies, and use an asset management plan.

And how can we, as public water supply professionals, best do that?

Brandon Bowman Capacity Development Coordinator Water Quality Division - ODEQ (405) 702-8270 Brandon.Bowman@deq.ok.gov