About the Effective Utility Management Collaborative Effort

In 2024, the EUM Primer update was completed.  The following collaborating organizations worked to provide the update:

• the American Water Works Association (AWWA),
• the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA),
• the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA),
• the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA),
• the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA),
• the Water Environment Federation (WEF),
• the Water Research Foundation (WRF),
• and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Previous history of the project:

On May 8th, 2007, six associations, which has since grown to 10 nongovernmental organizations and U.S. EPA representing the U.S. water and wastewater sector, including

• the American Public Works Association,
• the American Water Works Association,
• the Association of Clean Water Administrators,
• the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies,
• the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators,
• the National Association of Clean Water Agencies,
• the National Association of Water Companies,
• the Water Environment Federation, and
• the Water Research Foundation
• in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

signed a historic agreement pledging to support effective utility management collectively and individually throughout the water sector and to develop a joint strategy to identify, encourage, and recognize excellence in water and wastewater utility management. The organizations also announced the release of Findings and Recommendations for a Water Utility Sector Management Strategy. Designed to advance effective utility management practices, the report culminated a 12-month effort focused on excellence in water and wastewater utility management. The Report identifies “Ten Attributes of Effectively Managed Water Sector Utilities” (Attributes) that provide a succinct indication of where effectively managed utilities focus and what they strive to achieve. The Attributes can be viewed as a continuum of, or a set of building blocks for, management improvement opportunities. The Attributes, are deliberately not listed in a particular order; since utility managers will determine their relevance and relative importance based on individual circumstances. As a complement to the Attributes, the Report also identifies five “Keys to Management Success” or approaches and systems that foster utility management success. The release of the report is accompanied by a statement of support and an action list from the collaborating organizations as well as a fact sheet for utility managers. The Primer (PDF) is the best resource for utilities interested in getting started on working with the attributes.

• Taking the Next Step: Findings of the Effective Utility Management Review Steering Group (PDF)
• Water Sector Collaboration on Effective Utility Management – Fact Sheet (PDF)
• EPA Brochure on Effective Utility Management Effort (PDF)
• Statement of Support (PDF)
• Collaborating Organization Action List (PDF)
• Findings and Recommendations for a Water Utility Sector Management Strategy – Report (PDF)
• Cover Memo from Steering Committee (PDF)
• Report Appendices (PDF)

Key Resources:

• Effective Utility Management A Primer for Water and Wastewater Utilities (PDF)
• Effective Water and Wastewater Utility Management Case Studies (PDF)

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