The Office of Drinking Water promotes Asset Management as a planning process that ensures waterworks get the most value from each asset and have the financial resources to rehabilitate and replace asset when necessary. Asset Management also includes developing a plan to reduce costs while increasing the efficiency and the reliability of waterworks assets. Successful Asset Management depends on knowing the waterworks’ assets and regularly communicating with management and customers about expected level of service and future needs. The resources below will help you with the development of you asset management plan.
- Asset Management: A Handbook for Small Water Systems STEP Guide Series (PDF) (50 pp, 976K)
Learn how to inventory system assets and develop a long-term maintenance plan to save money and avoid unexpected problems.
- Asset Management: A Best Practices Guide (PDF) (4 pp, 247K)
This guide will help you understand what asset management means, the benefits of asset management, best practices in asset management and how to implement an asset management plan. It is intended for owners, managers and operators of public water systems; local officials; technical assistance providers; and state personnel.
- Asset Management for Local Officials (PDF) (2 pp, 86K)
This guide will help you understand the basics of asset management for local officials and local officials’ vital role in successfully implementing an asset management program. It is intended for local officials who are directly or indirectly involved in decisions affecting public water systems.
- Building an Asset Management Team (PDF) (2 pp, 78K)
This guide will help you understand how forming and having a team can help your system successfully implement asset management and the components of a successful asset management team. It is intended for local officials, owners and operators of public water systems, technical assistance providers, and state personnel.
- Taking Stock of Your Water System: A Simple Asset Inventory for Very Small Drinking Water Systems (PDF) (45 pp, 941K)
Additional asset management and easy-to-use planning and inventory worksheet information.
The resources listed above are also available on EPA’s Small System Management website:http://water.epa.gov/type/drink/pws/smallsystems/managementhelp.cfm
Asset Management training in Virginia is provided annually at Virginia Tech’s Management, Methods, and Money: Understanding Concepts in Capacity Development training course. This course is dedicated to asset management, operational safety, security, organizational liability, and communication with decision makers and the public. Training with EPA’s CUPSS program is also provided. All of these subjects are covered through lecture, class discussions, and hands-on computer activities. Please click the link above for additional information.
A simple ExcelTM spreadsheet is provided here for small systems to get started on tracking their assets. An Asset Management Plan Checklist of required elements for a Virginia Department of Health – Office of Drinking Water AMP is included for anyone completing an AMP under a Construction Funding or Planning Grant agreement. Please review the VDH Asset Inventory Spreadsheet VDH Asset Inventory.