Leading Practices for Strategic Asset Management

In response to the need identified by its utility members, the Water Environment Research Foundation has funded a research program on Strategic Asset Management (SAM) Implementation and Communication for wastewater and water utilities. 

One objective of the research program included understanding the leading practices that contribute to a strategic asset management program.  Leading practices in six key areas are documented in this report – Accounting and Costing, Strategic Asset Planning and Asset Management Plans, Maintenance, Organization and People, Secondary Data and Knowledge and Business Risk Management.  Utility examples and lessons learned are included to guide a utility that desires to establish a strategic asset management program.

An objective of the research program has been to improve economic life and realize cost savings in the provision of water and wastewater system services.  In particular, the research documented in this report has focused on identifying and documenting leading strategic asset management practices used by utilities.  Leading practices were identified, documented and validated through site visits and a leading practices research forum conducted in June 2010.  Throughout this report, reference will made to strategic asset management practices.  Strategic asset management practices focus on the inherently long life cycle of the vast majority of water and wastewater system assets.  To achieve improved economic life and realize cost savings, utility managers must think holistically onhow capital and operations and maintenance investments are made.  The intention of the research documented in this report is to assist utility managers with this process.

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