Performance Assessment in Us Water and Wastewater Utilities: Fid-Bau Portal

Performance Assessment in Us Water and Wastewater Utilities

Paralez, Linda L.

Performance assessment is not a new quality measurement technique, dating back to the 1930s. But it has only been in the past few years that water and wastewater utilities have used performance assessment to better plan, improve, and manage their facilities. The key to ensuring that investments in performance assessment are worthwhile is to use the data that are gathered. This article explores that notion and looks at the current state of the industry by examining information gathered from three sources: a 2001 custom survey known as the Water and Wastewater Utility Survey; a 1998 survey sponsored by the Government Accounting standards Board; and a five‐year benchmarking study by the Western Regional Water Utilities Benchmarking Group. The resulting findings provide some insight into applying performance assessment techniques to water supply and wastewater systems. Traditionally, relatively few water utilities use operational data to drive decision‐making. The findings show that some utilities are using performance assessment, but overall, the techniques can be more widely and more consistently used. All utilities can benefit from sharing lessons learned and information gathered that lead to more effective practices. These findings will encourage continued investment in better data analysis systems, management of information, and use of that information to support better decision‐making.