Asset Management for Small Systems

Doing more with less.

It's the top priority for most business people today, but it's imperative for individuals charged with operating and maintaining municipal infrastructure. Declining property values, job losses and revenue sharing reductions strain a community's resources. Attendees at last week's American Water Works Association Small Systems Conference in Ionia, Michigan went looking for answers to a few of these herculean challenges. OHM's resident asset management guru, Dr. Murat Ulasir, joined EPA staffers to present concepts for creating an asset management program.

The takeways? Asset Management for community infrastructure systems serving less than 10,000 users requires a pragmatic and creative approach. Using basic data collection, a simple framework and free asset management tools, an operator can dramatically extend the useful life of the small system. There are several resources freely available for small system owners and operators, ranging from "the STEP guides" and free asset management software applications, such as EPA's CUPSS. For more information on these tools or getting started with asset management, contact Murat Ulasir at 734/522-6711.

Additional Resources
CUPPS Basic Information
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/cupss/basicinformation.html
CUPPS Software
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/cupss/software.html
Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)
http://www.rcap.org

Asset Management for Small Systems - AWWA Conference

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