AWWA JTMGT69620

This powerpoint presentation begins by providing a brief overview of the AWWA Research Foundation Project (91128), "Environmental Management Systems: A Tool to Help Utilities Manage More Effectively," that was commissioned for the following objectives: to identify potential benefits to drinking water utilities by implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS); and, to define steps necessary to develop a water industry-specific model from which utilities could create their own EMS. As the project was conducted, the focus shifted to the ISO 14001 model, because many have found it useful, and participating utilities saw strong benefits in elements of this approach. EMS elements are presented and include: identify activities/aspects/impacts; define improvement objectives/action plans/programs; establish/demonstrate operational control; policy; roles, responsibility and competency; audit and review; monitor performance and correct problems; develop documentation; and communicate internally and externally. Examples of two of the elements, aspects/impacts and monitoring/measurement, are presented along with work group experiences. Closing thoughts include: the study team found value for water utilities in the systematic process identified in an EMS; the ISO framework was found to be a useful way to implement an EMS for water utilities; don't reinvent the wheel, incorporate related existing processes; and, there are several ways to implement an EMS at a water utility - full throttle or in a staged manner.