EMS Tools and Guidance
On-line EMS Tutorial for Wastewater Utilities
Based on the EMS Handbook for Wastewater Utilities (2004), the EMS Tutorial for Wastewater Utilities was developed with the support of the US EPA Office of Water and in consultation with utility managers that have an EMS in place at their facilities. The tutorial is designed for wastewater utilities and guides the user through EMS implementation based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act model. It provides instructions, lessons, exercises, and learning objectives for each step of an EMS. To download a printable copy of the EMS Handbook for Wastewater Utilities, click here.
For more information about the EMS Handbook for Wastewater Utilities click here.
Energy Management Guidebook
EPA and its water and wastewater partners are learning more and doing more to confront serious challenges related to rising energy costs. A new guidance, Ensuring a Sustainable Future: An Energy Management Guidebook for Wastewater and Water Utilities, will help utilities systematically assess their current energy costs and practices, set measurable performance improvement goals, and monitor and measure their progress over time. To download the Energy Management Guidebook, click here.
Copies of this Guidebook can also be found at EPA's website on Sustainable Water Infrastructure www.epa.gov/waterinfrastructure/bettermanagement_energy.html.
Common Management Framework for Utilities
On May 8, 2007 EPA and six major water and wastewater associations signed an historic agreement to work collaboratively in order to promote more effective utility management with water and wastewater utilities throughout the country. This agreement establishes a common management framework for utilities based on a series of Attributes of Effectively Managed Utilities, Keys to Management Success, and Example Utility Performance Measures. EPA and these associations will also be pursuing a number of implementation actions based on the agreement signed on May 8th. This agreement is based in large part on a series of recommendations from a Steering Committee comprised of utility managers from around the country.
EPA Assistant Administrator Benjamin Grumbles signed the agreement for EPA and noted that "this continuing partnership will allow EPA and our industry partners to take a major step forward to recognize, measure, and reward excellence in utility management and help ensure that utility operations and infrastructure are sustainable in the future".
Several documents associated with this initiative are included:
1. The Final Report from the Utility Steering Committee
2. The Appendices to the Report, which contain the list of Example Performance Measures
3. A Fact Sheet summarizing the initiative
4. The Statement of Support signed by Ben Grumbles and the Associations
5. A list of Implementation Actions that we and the Associations plan to pursue
For more information about this initiative, please contact Jim Horne at (202) 564-0571 or horne.james@epa.gov.
 | Environmental Management Systems and Asset Management Pamphlet This pamphlet provides tools to reduce cost, manage risk, and improve performance, in addition to case studies and comprehensive information on EMS and Asset Management integration. |
 | Toolkit for Wastewater Utilities This toolkit provides a collection of innovative tools designed specifically to assist wastewater utilities from making the initial business case decision for |
 | PEER Center EMS Newsletter - May 2008 July 2007 Newsletter |
.