Anchorage Water Utility rolls out strategic planning for environmental challenges

The June 7, 2025, Worksession of the Anchorage Municipality focused on the strategic planning efforts of the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (AWWU) in collaboration with Jacobs Engineering Inc. The meeting highlighted the utility's mission to protect public health and the environment through responsible water and wastewater services.

The discussion began with an overview of AWWU's strategic planning process, initiated in 2023 through a request for proposal. The speaker emphasized the importance of developing a genuine strategic mindset, rather than merely creating a work plan for the upcoming year. The utility faces numerous challenges, including environmental regulations, funding issues, and workforce development, which necessitate a long-term strategic approach.

A significant point raised was the need for professional certification among AWWU's workforce, which consists of approximately 285 positions, over half requiring specialized training. The speaker noted that training new employees can take five to seven years, underscoring the importance of strategic planning for future workforce needs.

The meeting also introduced the Effective Utility Management (EUM) framework, developed in partnership with the EPA and endorsed by various water and wastewater organizations. This framework aims to provide a structured improvement process for utilities, covering aspects such as financial management, workforce development, and regulatory compliance. The speaker highlighted that the EUM framework allows utilities to utilize data effectively to drive strategic decisions.

The strategic planning effort, which began in 2024, faced delays due to changes in leadership within the municipality and the utility. However, a draft strategic plan is now in place, focusing on employee development and positioning AWWU as a forward-looking organization.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the scoring of the ten attributes outlined in the EUM framework, which revealed inconsistencies in perspectives among division directors. This prompted further work sessions to refine the strategic goals, ultimately leading to the identification of four key areas of focus for AWWU's strategic plan.

Overall, the Worksession underscored AWWU's commitment to enhancing its strategic planning efforts to address current challenges and improve service delivery in the Anchorage Municipality.