surviving fire, flood, and the partnership for safe water ... · surviving fire, flood, and the...

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Surviving Fire, Flood, and the Partnership for Safe Water Distribution Self-Assessment

Andrea Schweitzer, PhD Fort Collins Utilitiesin northern Colorado

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Fort Collins Utilities• northern Colorado• population of 150,000• 34,000 water accounts• smart meters - new• 162 water staff

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Fort Collins Utilities• Quality water is key for

both residential and business customers

• Breweries depend upon excellent water

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

High Park Fire of 2012• largest wildfire in

Larimer County history• creation of the

Emergency Watershed Protection Program

• good cooperation across many groups

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Flood of 2013• Disaster Declarations

– Presidential– State of Colorado

• Flood plain management was crucial

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Impact on water quality• significant Poudre River

water quality concerns• unable to use river water

– 135 days in 2012-2013– 54 days in 2013-2014

• brought out teamwork• Maintained PSW

quality standards!

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Fort Collins Utilitiesand the Partnershipfor Safe Water• Founding member 1997• 15 years Directors

Award for water quality• Time for Distribution

System Excellence!

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Herding Catsor chasing dogs in a swimming pool

photos from the annual Pooch Plunge

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Taking the PlungeOur steps in the process:• gather the team• gather everyone's input• gather data• gather consensus on

action items• then everyone review

final draft

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Our steps in the process:• Gather the team• ~30% of staff involved• every senior manager• most of the crew chiefs• better if we had more

crew members and operators

• Exec Dir and Ops Manager support crucial

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Our steps in the process:• Gather everyone’s

input• everyone is busy• smaller team meetings

worked best• banana bread helps

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Our steps in the process:• Gather the data• lots to collect and track• tracking spreadsheet

was vital• PSW materials outline

everything (SA Guide, checklists, worksheets, report template)

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Our steps in the process:• Gather consensus on

action items• more than we expected• staff interested and

were supportive of other projects

• good for utility-wide integration and planning

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Barb and Tom will bail you out when needed

• Do check in with them

• helpful to submit drafts for initial feedback

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Our steps in the process:• Review final draft of

the report• save time for review, 1m• staff offered input in

various ways• useful utility-wide and

for training• “I didn’t know that…”

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Evaluators Feedback -• Involve more field staff• More data analysis and

interpretation to make operational decisions

• Review and revise system sampling

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Field Reports from the Distribution System

Evaluators Feedback +• Tools (leak detection,

Smart Meters, CMMS, and calibrated hydraulic model)

• Strong staffing and funding support

• Semi-annual staff survey

Field Reports from the Distribution System

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Thank you very much

Field Reports from the Distribution System

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Questions?