EWSU's Roadmap to Asset Management Excellence

In 2018, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in partnership with the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) developed state requirements that required both water and wastewater utilities to implement an asset management program (AMP). IFA produced an asset management (AM) guidance manual for utilities to follow to demonstrate technical, managerial, and financial capabilities. This presentation will walk through Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) condensed roadmap and lessons learned to implement a best-in-class AMP that aligns with IDEM and IFA developed requirements. In 2018-2021, with limited resources and funds, EWSU began to implement an AMP to meet their needs and the state requirements. In 2020 EWSU conducted a SAM-GAP assessment as well as a gap assessment based on the IFA guidance manual. These results were used to develop a roadmap of tasks they would like to have completed over the next couple years. In 2022, EWSU recognized it was a critical time to meet new AM requirements and plan appropriately for a renegotiation of an affordable Integrated Overflow Control Plan (IOCP). EWSU saw the 2023 IOCP deadline approaching quickly and had to act fast. Suddenly a 5-year roadmap turned into a 2-year condensed plan. There are three focus areas in the first phase of EWSU's roadmap: Cityworks and GIS Support Modifications and enhancements to Cityworks and GIS were necessary to support the AM data needs and decision making. AM Gap Closing Closing technical gaps was a major outcome of the gap assessment performed in 2020. During this phase of the project EWSU successfully established the following: Preliminary budgets for water and wastewater (vertical and linear) based on risk. Leveraged dashboarding to visual risk which allowed EWSU to balance cost, risk, and level of service to meet the customer's needs. Developed a prioritized water and wastewater (vertical and linear) Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Performed a multi-year financial analysis to determine the CIP's impact on rates. The creation of documentation to meet IDEM's AMP requirements. Master Planning (MP) This phase of the roadmap consisted of the evaluation and documentation of the existing and future demands to determine any system deficiencies through the MP process. During this phase of the project EWSU successfully established the following: Water Distribution Model Calibration American Water Infrastructure Act and Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Review WWTP Model Review and Alternatives Evaluation Wastewater Collection System Analysis Water and wastewater (vertical and linear) MP CIP EWSU's has developed a defensible and data driven 20-year CIP includes AM, MP, and consent decree needs to provide regulators with a thorough understanding of financial requirements and vulnerabilities during the renegotiation of their IOCP. While achieving their end goal they have built a best-in-class AMP.