Planning ~ Looking Into the Future
How does the water district
know what facilities to put where so customers receive
needed services and regulatory requirements are met?
By relying on the expertise and efforts of the Planning
Team. "Our role is to make sure we know ahead
of time what will be necessary to meet customers´ needs
and then translate that into real facilities," noted
Gene Talmadge, who leads the team. And, they do it
without a crystal ball
Pieces in the
Puzzle
Long before the engineering
designs or drawings, the Planning Team projects how
many customers will need services, where they will
be, and what infrastructure will be necessary. They
look at population projections, data on current performance
of the water and wastewater systems, upcoming regulations,
as well as city and community plans. These factors
are then "interlocked" to form a picture
of needed infrastructure and how additions will fit
into the existing system—sort of like jigsaw puzzle
pieces coming together.
Framing the picture are the
district´s Master Plans for potable water, recycled
water, and sanitation services. These lengthy and complex
documents project facility needs looking forward as
much as 20 years. The reality behind the Master Plans
is ever changing, so re-assessments are done every
5 to 8 years.
Once plans move toward reality,
the Planning Team oversees state and federal environmental
reviews. Not only do they assess District plans, but
also those of other local government agencies. To coordinate
project implementation and budgeting within the district,
the Planning Team pulls together a 5-year Capital Improvement
Plan which prioritizes and stages construction and
rehabilitation projects. As implementation starts,
Planning ensures rights-of-way are legally cleared.
Putting it
Together
When construction is completed,
Planning Team members update the maps, system plans,
tract drawings, and other records of the water and
wastewater systems. Computer technology is helping
to make these records minutely accurate and simpler
to update using geographical information systems (GIS)
(see related article).
And, it´s the Planning Team
that coordinates with customers to review their plans
for on-property services and ultimately sign up new
connections to the District systems. Team members also
provide Compliance Inspection, analyzing more than
600 commercial accounts annually for accurate fees
and billing.
"Our team is seven-people-wide
and one-person-deep, with everyone doing something
unique," notes Talmadge. "We fit the pieces
together, so District services will fit the needs of
our customers and the requirements of the communities
where they live." |
