Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority

Going Forward – FY2013 Goals and Objectives

  • Implement Utility Enterprise Initiative – follow through of recommendations included in the Comprehensive Assessment will provide TMUA important management tools and business processes necessary to improve performance.  Recommendations include development of service level agreements with City departments providing support services.

  • Vulnerability Assessments of the Water and Wastewater Systems – evaluate susceptibility to potential threats and identify corrective actions that can reduce or mitigate risk of serious consequences from adversarial actions or natural disasters.  In 2002 Federal law required water systems to conduct vulnerability assessments.  After 10-years, the previous reports will be reviewed and updated, evaluation of existing countermeasures, and develop a new listing of corrective actions.

Water

  • Strategic Asset Management (SAMS) – staff continues to evaluate the state of water system infrastructure, determine capital required to restore critical infrastructure and maintain the water system by utilizing preventive and predictive maintenance to ensure optimum equipment performance through its useful life, and development of the capital program.

  • Replacement of high service pumps at the A.B. Jewell WTP – two are complete, two funded, and two planned for replacement in FY2013.

  • Sustainability – Continue energy efficiency programs initiated in FY2012 at Mohawk and A.B. Jewell Water Treatment Plants.  TMUA will receive rebates from PSO to fund old inefficient equipment with new energy efficient units.

  • National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program – Water Quality Assurance section developed and is implementing testing standards that represent best practices in environmental laboratories to achieve accreditation to conduct Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Act compliance monitoring.

  • Meter Change Out Program (COP) – Water Distribution continues the meter change out program.  The meter change out program ensures accurate measurement and billing.  The goal is to replace all small and residential meters on a 10-year cycle, 10 percent or approximately 15,000 meters each year.  Medium and large meters are replaced more frequently based on volumes and testing.

  • Automated Meter Reading (AMR) – As funding allows Water Distribution continues to install AMR units based on the implementation plan developed in 2010.  Criteria for installing AMR include health and safety, hard to read meters, and costs per read (walking vs. AMR).

  • Leak Detection – Water Distribution conducts a leak detection program which searches for leaks in the water system which are not visible on the ground surface.

  • “Pay-Per-Read” – Field Customer Services is converting meter reading from salary based compensation to “pay-per-read”.  TMUA is currently evaluating this proposed change.  The “pay-per-read” program is an incentive/ disincentive based program that will provide an opportunity for employees to earn more, and also should improve accuracy in data collection.

Wastewater

  • Strategic Asset Management (SAMS) – staff continues to evaluate the state of wastewater system infrastructure, determine capital required to restore critical infrastructure and maintain the wastewater treatment plants and lift stations by utilizing preventive and predictive maintenance to ensure optimum equipment performance through its useful life, and development of the capital program.

  • Video Inspection Program – The Sewer Operations and Maintenance section (SOM) performs video inspections of 10 percent of the sewer collection system, or 200 miles each year.  Staff is conducting training and certifying employees on the Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (national standardized video inspection).

  • Sewer Line Cleaning Program – SOM will clean 800 miles of sewer lines utilizing in-house staff and equipment and contract firms.  Additionally, 220 repairs will be performed accounting for 5,500-feet of sewer line in FY2012.