Management Innovation In U.S. Public Water And Wastewater Systems

by Seidenstat, Paul; Nadol, Michael; Kaplan, Dean; Hakim, Simon

• ISBN13: 9780471657446
• ISBN10: 0471657441
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-04-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

This book is the first to present a variety of managerial and operational innovations that represent the "best practices_ of municipal water and wastewater utilities. Drawing on a range of experiences from professionals at utility companies, academic researchers, government officials, and industry consultants, it examines and critiques the presented management innovations, complete with insights applicable to the real world.

Author Biography

Dr. Paul Seidenstat is associate professor of economics and research associate at the Center for Competitive Government at Temple University. Dr. Seidenstat has published several articles in leading academic and professional journals on economic and management aspects of water and wastewater systems. He has served as a government finance director and consultant to several government agencies. ([e-mail])

Michael Nadol was CFO of the Philadelphia Water Department and finance director of Philadelphia and now is a managing director of PFM, a public management consulting firm. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the Fels Institute of Government of the University of Pennsylvania. ([e-mail])

Dean Kaplan was budget director for the City of Philadelphia and deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Department and now is a management consultant to utilities nationwide for PFM. He also was a government affairs manager for Philadelphia and legislative director for a U.S. congressman. ([e-mail])

Dr. Simon Hakim is professor of economics and director of the Center for Competitive Government at Temple University. As an expert on competitive government, he has run several Mayor Summits, consulted for many government agencies, and has written extensively on the subject of government management. ([e-mail])

Table of Contents

Editors and Contributors.

Part I: Introduction and Overview.

1. Innovation Among Public Sector Water and Wastewater Systems (The Editors).

2. Current Trends in Public Utility Management and Inventive Strategies for Major Challenges (James A. Parrott and Sharma L. Young).

Part II: Setting Standards for Success.

3. Standardizing Performance Indicators for Water and Wastewater Utilities (Nora F.C. Freeman and Gregory C. Heitzman).

4. Accreditation and Quality Improvement: What’s the Financial Bottom Line? (Dean Kaplan).

Part III: Financial Strategies.

5. Debt Management Ideas: Risks and Returns of Creative Financing in an Infrastructure-Intensive Industry (Michael Nadol).

6. Wall Street Perspectives on Management that Matters (Richard P. Larkin).

Part IV: Planning and Infrastructure Issues.

7. Watershed Management Practices (Christopher S. Crockett and Brian G. Marengo).

8. Water Infrastructure Rehabilitation: The Nashville Approach (Cyrus Q. Toosi).

9. Natural Drainage Systems: Leading by Example (Darla Inglis).

Part V: Customer Involvement.

10. Incorporating the Voice of the Utility Customer: Effective Use of Utility Customer Survey Research (Linda J. McAleer).

11. Citizen Participation in Wastewater Projects (Robert R. Williams).

12. Competitive Assessment and Change Management: The Complete Solution—Technical and Political (Adam J. Kramer).

Part VI: Information Technology.

13. Getting Results from an Enterprise Geographic Information System (Susan Lior).

14. Philadelphia’s Automatic Meter Reading Program: A Retrospective Look (James Bolno).

15. Development of an Integrated Capital Program Management System for the Austin Water Utility (Chris Lippe, Charles Schoening, Daniel P. Baker, and David W. Harris).

16. The Challenge of Merging Water Companies: Combining Data and Converting to an Enterprise ArcGIS/ArcSDE System (Jos Bell and Ronald R. Butcher).

Part VII: Best Practices in Management and Leadership.

17. CitiStat: Bringing a New Level of Efficiency and Effectiveness to Baltimore City’s Water Utility (Matthew D. Gallagher).

18. Using Six Sigma to Improve Operations at the Fort Wayne Water Pollution Control Plant (Michele Hill and Cheryl Cronin).

19. From “Command and Control” to a Team-Based Organization: Challenges Associated with the Reorganization of a Large Water Utility (Randall A. Monteith).

Index.