Columbus DPU's Asset Management Program Achieves Groundbreaking ROI

By Kevin V. Campanella, P.E., Assistant Director - Asset Management, Columbus Department of Public Utilities and John Fortin, Director, Asset Management and Reliability Services, CH2M HILL

The water utility industry is facing significant challenges in these uncertain times. Many of these business drivers have been around for some time but many are new or emerging and now threaten business as usual and even the viability of utilities. Many water and wastewater utilities have started asset management (AM) programs to answer these challenges.

AM best practices can include a broad range of activities, but key aspects are: Setting Service Levels, Minimizing Life Cycle Costs, and Managing Risk to drive asset related decisions. Organizations that see lasting success find a way to balance all three AM concepts by involving people throughout the organization in the development and implementation of the AM process.

This paper provides a case study, including documented benefits, on the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities’ comprehensive asset management journey and provides useful tips and guidance to other utilities that are considering asset management or have already started their journey.