Data Driven Decision Making

Objective 1: Use Standards & Data to Drive Decision Making

Pg.6 Plant operator monitors treatment process

Plant operator monitors treatment processes at Lake Mary Water Treatment Plant.

Relevant Standards

  • Secure community support for appropriate investment in water resources and infrastructure
  • Emphasize standards in decision making and communications
  • Use data to enhance operational performance and decision making
  • Maintain involvement in statewide water industry association

Background

The Division’s Business Values provide a framework for planning and investing appropriately in water services and the environment. Appropriate investment is defined by specific standards, or levels of service. Planning and proposed investments should be based on the confluence of these standards and accurate data, specifically related to environmental conditions and the condition of water assets.

Challenge/Opportunity

Flagstaff Water Services needs to prioritize the process of clarifying its standards, highlighting standards in communications and decision making, and enhancing the data available for decision making. With respect to data, the current challenge is to define the most relevant data and develop more automated ways to collect, store, organize, utilize, and share this data.

Timing Concerns

This is an ongoing but important effort to enhance performance and decision making.

Specific Responses  January to June 2020

Specific Responses Champion Accomplishments Next Steps
1. Increase emphasis on standards in problem solving at levels of the organization, effectively building a culture   based on the Division’s standards Water Services Director, SCDA IS Manager June 2020 Starting to establish Standards in each section:
​WW standards are actively updated,
​Reg Compliance Standards actively updated,
​Distribution and Collection Standards in progress,   
​Stormwater Section working with consultant to establish standards.
​ SCADA IS section working to establish standards over next 6 months.		 N/A
2. Preface all planning discussions and investment proposals   with the relevant standards N/A N/A N/A
3. Develop a critical information/data list for key functions, including water production, maintenance, water usage,  water quality, stormwater management, and wastewater   treatment N/A N/A N/A
4. Automate the work-order system and the Bi-Weekly Reports N/A N/A N/A
5. Use GIS, CMMS, SCADA, and other SMART technologies to   optimize and automate the collection and sharing of data, information and billing for those services SCADA IS, GIS Mnager N/A N/A
6. Maximize the use of GIS to organize data with respect to geographic location N/A Using GIS data to provide emergency notices to focus streets/ neighborhoods/areas Tie GIS paragon to customer database
7. Employ accurate, organized usage data methods for billing and planning needs N/A N/A N/A

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