Presentation Transcript

1. Pennichuck Water Engineering Division

   John Boisvert, P.E. Chief Engineer July 27, 2012 Engineering Division
2. Engineering Who we are What we do Budget & Revenues Efficiency and Effectiveness Engineering and the Strategic Plan Initiatives Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Questions Engineering Division
3. John Boisvert, P.E.Chief Engineer Experience Pennichuck Water Works 2006 – Present: Chief Engineer Weston & Sampson Engineers 2000 – 2006: Team Leader – Water Resources Layne Christensen Co. 1998 – 2000: N.E. Manager - Geosciences Division Hydro Group, Inc. 1994 – 1998: Project Manager Hoyle, Tanner, & Associates 1992 – 1994: Project Manager Civil Consultants, Inc. 1986 – 1989: Project Engineer Underwood Engineers, Inc. 1985 – 1986: Project Engineer Education BS Civil Engineering - University of NH 1985 Masters of Studies in Environmental Law – Vermont Law School 1990 MS Civil Engineering – University of NH 1992 Education non-Degree Leadership New Hampshire Class of 2010 Memberships AWWA/NEWWA Member: NEWWA Sustainability Committee NHWWA Member: NHWWA Legislative Committee NHBIA Member: NHBIA Environmental Committee Government Member - NH Legislature Water Infrastructure Sustainable Funding Commission Member - Governor Lynch’s NH Water Sustainability Commission Chairman, Stratham Public Works Commission Licenses Professional Engineer – New Hampshire and Maine Civic/Volunteer Board Member & Coach: Exeter Youth Soccer Association Coach: Stratham Youth Soccer Association Engineering Division
4. Engineering: Who We Are Engineering Division
5. Engineering: What We Do Capital Projects Plan, design, permit, and oversee construction of capital projects Technical and Administrative support to: Internal Clients Distribution & Operations  Finance Water Supply & Treatment  Administration Customer Service External Clients Customers  Developers Engineers  Government Contractors Consultant Management Engineering Division
6. Use of Consultants Where we lack expertise and experience Technical Hydrogeology, Land Surveying, Structural Engineering, Electrical Engineering Special Projects Treatment Asset Management Pipeline condition assessment Where we lack time and staff Environmental Permits & Reporting Cross connection surveys Where the activity is limited and infrequent Wetlands & Shoreland Permitting Engineering Division
7. Future Staffing Considerations GIS Specialist “Re-tooling” of existing CAD Technicians GIS, GPS, and other evolving technologies Special Projects Engineer (previously funded position) Water Supply, Treatment, and Environmental Field Inspector Engineering Division
8. Engineering: Budget and Revenues 2011 Engineering Division
9. Engineering: Efficiency and Effectiveness Engineering Division
10. Engineering: Non-Capitalized andNon-Fee Supported Expenses Net Engineering Expense (2011): $453,331 What does it support? Water Supply Distribution Customer Service Finance How? Engineering Division
11. How: Water Supply Source assessment (wells) Pump design Treatment: design & technical support Permitting Watershed Management Engineering Division
12. How: Distribution Mapping Customer response Technical support Cross connection surveys (in house and consultants) Meter sizing Fire Flows for Hydrant Coding GIS Support Engineering Division
13. How: Customer Service New customer initiation Application, sizing, inspection, fee collection & processing Cross connection review Pressure complaints Project information Engineering Division
14. How: Finance Fixed assets – Main Pipe Inventory Asset additions and retirements Fee processing Capital planning Rate Case testimony and support Invoice approval and coding Engineering Division
15. Engineeringand theStrategic Plan Engineering Division
16. Strategy #1Protect and Sustain our Water Resources Strategic Plan Engineering’s Role Maintain ownership of watershed land and well head properties Continue investment in the Company’s watershed plan Promote water conservation Educate communities regarding the location and value of watersheds. Work with communities to develop local zoning that protects our water sources Mapping Monitoring (quantity/level) Stormwater improvement and enhancement Public Education Engineering Division
17. Strategy #3Maintain Fiscally Sound Operating Practicesthat Enhance Access to Long-Term Capital Markets Strategic Plan Engineering’s Role Work with Public Utilities Commission to establish a rate making structure that allows fiscal stability through periods of regulatory lag, inclement weather and increased operating costs Continued evaluation and enhancement of fiscal operations to maximize bond ratings Identify lowest possible cost source of long-term bonding necessary to fund capital expenditures Provide technical support Ensure that the risk of aging infrastructure assessed and minimized Ensure that the long term capital plan is technically and financially feasible and documented Follow least cost planning principles Engineering Division
18. Strategy #4Maintain Customer Confidence and Support Strategic Plan Engineering’s Role Maintain 100% compliance with all New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission rules and regulations Maintain service level of less than 1% of customer complaints resolved without intervention from the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission Communicate customer service initiatives and promote customer education through our website, customer mailings and community meetings Maintain skilled analysis of customer meter reading and fees to ensure timely and accurate billings Competitive bidding and procurement Seek efficient project delivery Communicate capital initiatives to our customers Apply company policies and technical standards fairly and consistently Engineering Division
19. Strategy #6Meet Customer Expectations for Quantityand Quality of Water Strategic Plan Engineering’s Role Invest in and maintain water treatment equipment that insures 100% compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act’s primary water quality standards Invest in and maintain water treatment equipment that addresses secondary or aesthetic water quality standards Invest in and maintain water supply facilities that ensure delivery of water pressure within established State and Local guidelines Maintain in-house technical expertise Manage outside consultants Source evaluation and monitoring Design services Planning for: Efficient use of assets and resources Source redundancy and security Engineering Division
20. Strategy #7Manage the Company’s Assets to Provide Cost Effective, Uninterrupted Provision of Water Service Strategic Plan Engineering’s Role Implement an Asset Management plan to optimize the maintenance and replacement of the Company’s assets to minimize their life cycle costs Invest in information technology to efficiently allow employees to interface with operating systems in order to enhance the operation of the distribution, customer service and financial organizations Invest in sustainable (green) technologies that lower life cycle expenses Maintain unaccounted for water at less than 15% Lead Asset Management and Capital Planning Initiative Implement GIS Evaluate alternative energy opportunities to power our facilities Make efficiency a design priority Engineering Division
21. Moving Forward: Initiatives Asset Management GIS Planning for: Increased asset utilization Redundancy and security Engineering Division
22. Engineering:Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and ThreatsSTRENGTHS Staff: Experienced, knowledgeable, customer focused, cross trained and longevity Good buried asset inventory Engineering Manager that can focus on the day to day Chief Engineer that can devote time to long range planning Company/Engineering has a strong regulatory and legislative presence Well respected by our regulators, the NHDES, NHPUC and EPA Willingness to engage in public forums (Merrimack River Watershed, NH & NEWWA, Regional Planning Commissions, Local Economic Development Commissions, etc.) Engineering Division
23. Engineering:Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and ThreatsWEAKNESSES Systems to project data and information to our customers are out step with current delivery applications Data retrieval systems are not user friendly Time reporting and timesheet structure does not allow for analysis and assessment Difficult to assess goal and objective attainment Engineering map & drawing files are not consistent with Distribution Long range planning was a low priority – need to catch up Staff shortage – GIS, Water Supply (Special Projects) Engineer, Inspector Lack condition assessment tools for buried infrastructure Engineering Division
24. Engineering:Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and ThreatsOPPORTUNITIES Asset Management (to be presented at a future meeting) Initiate a transition to GIS based mapping, design and information delivery Allow for company wide access, use, and participation GPS City utility projects offer an opportunity to partner with the City on water main replacement projects Remain engaged in public activities (State and regional planning) Engineering Division
25. Engineering:Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and ThreatsTHREATS Untimely staff departure would result in a loss of institutional knowledge Aging infrastructure Downward pressure on rates Lack of task/activity variation Capital water main replacement program may not align with City utility projects reducing partnering opportunities in the future Engineering Division
26. Questions? Engineering Division