SD1's Innovative Continuous Sewer Assessment Program and Data Automation — Lessons Learned after Three Years of Implementation

The Northern Kentucky Sanitation District One (SD1) enhanced its internal operations and customer service performance through innovative and efficient management of its wastewater system as a result of a 2007 Consent Decree (CD) with the Environmental Protection Agency. One CD requirement that enabled SD1 to initiate improvements was formalizing their Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) Program. SD1 used the Continuous Sewer Assessment Program (CSAP) portion of CMOM to develop advanced data sharing technologies and management practices to measure and achieve multiple organizational goals. SD1 enhanced six CSAP O&M programs: Trouble Call, Preventative O&M, Sonar Inspections, Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Surveys, Manhole Inspection, and Large Diameter Sewer Assessment. Workflow and data handling decision schematics were developed and provided the road maps for integrating the six programs and implementing an automated work order system. After three years of use SD1 has found they are able to quickly track and measure key performance measures and do more with fewer resources. The paper discusses other practical lessons learned over the period.