Full Description

This powerpoint presentation begins by providing a brief overview of the AWWA Research Foundation Project (91128), "Environmental Management Systems: A Tool to Help Utilities Manage More Effectively," that wascommissioned for the following objectives: to identify potential benefits todrinking water utilities byimplementing anEnvironmental ManagementSystem (EMS); and, todefine steps necessary todevelop a water industry-specificmodel from whichutilities could create their ownEMS. As the project was conducted, thefocus shifted to the ISO 14001 model, becausemany have found it useful, and participatingutilities saw strong benefits in elements of thisapproach. EMS elements are presented and include: identify activities/aspects/impacts;define improvementobjectives/action plans/programs;establish/demonstrateoperational control;policy;roles,responsibility andcompetency;audit and review;monitor performance and correct problems; develop documentation; and communicateinternally andexternally. Examples of two of the elements,aspects/impacts andmonitoring/measurement, are presented along with work group experiences. Closing thoughts include:the study team found value for water utilities inthe systematic process identified in an EMS;the ISO framework was found to be a useful wayto implement an EMS for water utilities;don't reinvent the wheel, incorporate relatedexisting processes; and,there are several ways to implement an EMS at awater utility - full throttle or in a staged manner.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 11/01/2009 Number of Pages: 53File Size: 1 file , 1.4 MB