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RE: Benchmarking

Fort Collins Ravi — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:05:42 GMT

Greetings!

For additional information you may wish to review the Qualserve website at:
http://www.awwa.org/Resources/utilitymanage.cfm?ItemNumber=3766&navItemNumber=1587

It has a lot of information on benchmarking that w and ww utilities can use.

Ravi

RE: Benchmarking

KW — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:02:51 GMT

Thanks for the information.

It will get me started. I would anticipate needing to look at the indicators or values measured to get a good grasp on what they all mean to us.

Kurt

RE: Benchmarking

Wiff P — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:49:40 GMT

$/MG and kwh/MG are nice general "benchmarks" but of course the challenge with these sorts of benchmarks in comparing them plant to plant is the great variety of configurations to the plants including collection system components. One good way to start into benchmarking is to find 2 or 3 wastewater plants which are similar to yours and network with them to compare how you do things, what your relative costs are for different things, how you staffing compares, how you manage your system, etc. noting unique challenges as well as commonalities you have. The place to compare is where things are common and benchmarks will suggest themselves from that process. You may find that you do some things very well and they do other things very well and all can improve from the process.

Another way to use benchmarks is based on your own goals- where you look to improve for example. If getting more energy efficient is important than you may want to set up some energy use benchmarks either per month, per MGD, or if you have metering by areas, usage per area. If a key cost component is sludge disposal you might want to benchmark sludge cake concentrations, sludge loads hauled per month, or on similar factors. Food for thought.

Wiff Peterson

RE: Benchmarking

D Shulmister — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:58:13 GMT

One of the "easy" values is $ per Mgallons. Divide the month's (or year's) expenditures by the month's (or year's) total million gallon flow. Similarly, divide the electric consumption (or bill) by the flow to get power ($) per MG (etc.) Other benchmarks might be pounds (or tons) of biosolids produced or disposed per MG.

Benchmarking

KW — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:17:04 GMT

What values/benchmarks are normally utilized/measured for a Wastewater Utility.

We operate a 7.25 MGD plant and associated Collection System. This is the first year we have been asked to start the Benchmarking process. I am familiar with the concepts and have halfway educated myself. My concern is that we identify common and useful values to benchmark with.

What values should we start with?

Any comment or assistance will be appreciated.

Kurt Williams