Asset Management Basics: Building A Strong Foundation

By Tacoma Zach, P. Eng.

Over my career I have managed and advised many different water and wastewater operations. The most successful organizations have been the ones that established effective asset management programs. These utilities have visibility, clarity and confidence to make better asset decisions that support resilient and sustainable operations.

But utility asset management can be intimidating, with numerous factors to consider and many pieces of the puzzle to put together. The most common question we get from utilities is, “Where do we start?”

To navigate these complexities, it is essential to keep the big picture in mind and focus on four fundamental pillars: alignment across the organization, making risk-based decisions, extracting maximum value from assets, and having strong corporate leadership and support.