Utilities director outlines EPA-endorsed 'Effective Utilities Management' initiative and timeline

Sylvia Davis, Topeka’s utilities director, presented the department’s Effective Utilities Management (EUM) initiative to the governing body on March 17, outlining a multi-step, in-house program to assess and improve water, stormwater and wastewater operations.

Davis said EUM is an industry framework endorsed by the EPA and developed with organizations such as the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation. EUM uses 10 performance attributes and five keys to management success to evaluate operations, customer experience, financial viability and workforce readiness.

Davis said staff completed internal self-assessments in January with about 50 management/executive-level employees rather than hiring a consultant; the plan is to present assessment results to management in Q2, hold workshops to set 2–3 priorities, form core groups to develop improvement projects, and by the second half of the year define performance measures and launch pilot improvement projects. She said the department aims to create a public dashboard and an annual report to show progress.

Council members praised the internal work, asked how success will be defined, and Davis emphasized the initiative’s focus on continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement. She also noted upcoming rate discussions and two union negotiations as items that could influence budgeting and operations.

What’s next: Staff will email the assessment results to council, schedule workshops, and return with measurable goals and proposed projects.