The "Resolving Asset Management Issues" eBook is now available. Download your free copy now! Learn what the asset management experts, Heather Himmelberger and Ross Waugh discussed in this eBook. The topics discussed are as follows: Asset Management Planning and the Importance of Valid AssumptionsLevels of ServiceAsset Management vs. Managing AssetsCreating asset management … [Read more...]
Integrating Changing Per Capita Demand Patterns in the Asset Management Plan
A webinar attendee asks for any recommendations regarding integrating changing, mostly declining, per capita demand patterns. Heather: And that is actually dynamic, the declining demand patterns on a per capita basis is something we see almost nationwide. I won’t say absolutely every community because nothing is ever absolute. But we certainly see a decline in per capita usage across the … [Read more...]
Asset Management – The Importance of Getting the Big Picture Look
In the previous post, Ross mentioned about getting that bigger picture planning going that would help in forming the shorter-term plans. Heather explains further: And that ties right back into our managing assets into asset management conversation because we’re just so focused on managing that treatment plant, we may make a huge investment in replacing something or dealing with those … [Read more...]
Asset Management Decision – Building New Assets or Operating and Maintaining Them?
Heather stressed the importance of understanding the terminology in the asset management industry so that everybody will be on the same page when terms like "asset management," "managing assets," "O & M as an investment" are mentioned. Ross then discussed the planning cycle, citing their experience in New Zealand. Ross explains: Yes, and just sort of coming back to this thought about … [Read more...]
Coping with Regulations and Standards through Asset Management Planning
An attendee asked, is it possible that there are too many federal regulations, and they steal time and financial resources and reduce asset management, for example, requiring a small village’s nutrient reduction even though they don’t contribute? Heather: It is one of those things that I think becomes part of the overall strategic asset management approach that while we have these … [Read more...]
Further Lessons on Asset Management and Managing Assets
Ross and Heather shared further lessons as they continue discussing on Asset Management versus Managing Assets. Ross: And I think a classic example of that, a few years ago, one of the larger urban municipalities in New Zealand got me to look at. They were rewriting a service delivery contract with a contractor, and I had a look at all the schedules, and they had this pump station … [Read more...]
Understanding the Value of Asset Management and Managing Assets
In the previous post, Heather started talking about the distinction between "Asset Management" and "Managing Assets." She then asked Ross for his thoughts from the perspective of New Zealand. Ross: Yes, and again, just for our attendees as well, if you put “Havelock North water incident New Zealand” into Google, you will find thousands and thousands of pages of reading. If you’re … [Read more...]
Asset Management versus Managing Assets – Knowing the Distinctions
At this stage, Heather moved on to a different topic, which is on asset management versus managing assets. Heather says: So what I wanted to talk a little bit about is the theme that’s coming up in a couple of different areas. I’m starting to hear it about companies, private companies in asset management. Then I was recently at a conference in Australia that was talking about asset … [Read more...]
Discussing Asset Management Practice for Your Infrastructure System
Talking about the Havelock North water contamination, a participant asked was a sanitary well survey conducted and are daily bacteria tests run on the system. Ross: Right, there were some, when I was referring to operational issues, that particular, it’s a long story. They had done well surveys but they haven’t done one recently. And they’d had previous problems with that well, … [Read more...]
Asset Management is About Level of Service that Protects Public Health
Ross and Heather continue to discuss the case of the Havelock North New Zealand water contamination incident. A webinar attendee's question led Ross and Heather to discuss the importance of levels of service and public health. The participant asked whether the water system at Havelock North was chlorinated, which Ross said that they wished it was. Ross explains further: There’s a … [Read more...]
The Importance of Making Valid Assumptions in Asset Management Planning
In the previous post, Ross presented the case of the Havelock North water contamination incident, explaining the lessons learned. Here, Ross cites the importance of making valid assumptions in asset management based on what happened in Havelock North. Ross explains: The other thing and this is something that we do a lot of asset management planning is we’re making a lot of … [Read more...]
Lessons from the Havelock North, NZ Water Contamination Incident
Ross Waugh and Heather Himmelberger held another "Ask the Experts - Resolving Asset Management Issues" webinar on 11 October 2017. Inframanage.com presents the webinar topics through a series of blog posts. After Heather made some words of introduction to the webinar, she invited Ross to present the case of the Havelock North water contamination incident. Ross: Thank you, Heather. And … [Read more...]