‘Fit-for-Purpose’ sustainability index: a simplified approach for U.S. water utility sustainability assessment

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ries ◽  
M. Trotz ◽  
K. Vairavamoorthy
Keyword(s):  
Asset Management ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Resource Recovery ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Sustainability Index ◽  
Widespread Adoption ◽  
Sustainable Practice

The theoretical framework presented in this paper proposes a method for determining which practices will inform a set of key indicators provide a ‘snapshot’ sustainability assessment of U.S. urban water utilities. It describes the method used to gather data via two qualitative research approaches to inform a sustainability index: semi-structured interviews with an external advisory committee of 12 U.S. urban water utility leaders, and online surveys of water professionals using the freelisting technique. The utility leader interviews revealed public education and communication as the most frequently cited sustainable practice, followed by asset management, community return on infrastructure investment, financial management, green infrastructure, and resource recovery practices. The water professionals survey revealed resource recovery as the most frequently cited sustainable practice, followed by water conservation, asset management and financial management, and energy efficiency. A consensus did not emerge about what is needed to drive more widespread adoption of sustainability indictors. The most frequently cited barriers to more widespread adoption were the absence of a definition of sustainability, lack of incentives, and resource requirements.

Counting Fish: Environmental Benefits Calculation for Avoided Costs Analysis in Urban Water Use Efficiency Planning

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Shulte Joung ◽  
Mary Ann Dickinson
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Environmental Benefit ◽  
Conservation Programs ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Urban Water Use ◽  
Use Efficiency

This report documents a project undertaken for the California Urban Water Conservation Council to create a method to calculate water utility avoided costs and assign economic value to the environmental benefits of raw water savings as a result of implementing urban water conservation programs. It is assumed that water savings associated with implementation of conservation programs can be quantified and represented as a reduction in the demand for water from a particular set of supply sources. This demand reduction may in turn result in a change to the availability of an environmental benefit provided by that source. Environmental valuation, as it is applied here, is relatively new and there are numerous complications, ambiguities, data gaps and differences of opinion in the application of the methodology. For that reason, this report should be considered a pioneering effort to put together all the required elements in a single coherent framework.

A planning-oriented sustainability assessment framework for peri-urban water management in developing countries

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (20) ◽  
pp. 7175-7183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Starkl ◽  
Norbert Brunner ◽  
Eduardo López ◽  
José Luis Martínez-Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Urban Water Management

scholarly journals Assessing tradeoffs of strategies for urban water conservation and fit for purpose water

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 100059
Author(s):  
Michael R. Neale ◽  
Sybil Sharvelle ◽  
Mazdak Arabi ◽  
Andre Dozier ◽  
Chris Goemans
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Fit For Purpose

scholarly journals Energy implications of the millennium drought on urban water cycles in Southeast Australian cities

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 214-221
Author(s):  
K. L. Lam ◽  
P. A. Lant ◽  
S. J. Kenway
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Related Energy ◽  
Millennium Drought ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Supply Systems

Abstract During the Millennium Drought in Australia, a wide range of supply-side and demand-side water management strategies were adopted in major southeast Australian cities. This study undertakes a time-series quantification (2001–2014) and comparative analysis of the energy use of the urban water supply systems and sewage systems in Melbourne and Sydney before, during and after the drought, and evaluates the energy implications of the drought and the implemented strategies. In addition, the energy implications of residential water use in Melbourne are estimated. The research highlights that large-scale adoption of water conservation strategies can have different impacts on energy use in different parts of the urban water cycle. In Melbourne, the per capita water-related energy use reduction in households related to showering and clothes-washing alone (46% reduction, 580 kWhth/p/yr) was far more substantial than that in the water supply system (32% reduction, 18 kWhth/p/yr). This historical case also demonstrates the importance of balancing supply- and demand-side strategies in managing long-term water security and related energy use. The significant energy saving in water supply systems and households from water conservation can offset the additional energy use from operating energy-intensive supply options such as inter-basin water transfers and seawater desalination during dry years.

Entwicklung eines Modells zur Bewertung der unternehmerischen Nachhaltigkeit von Bauunternehmen/Sustainability Assessment for Construction Corporation

Bauingenieur ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 94 (09) ◽  
pp. 315-325
Author(s):  
Sascha Hofmann
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Sustainability Index ◽  
Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Zusammenfassung Die Nachhaltigkeit von Bauunternehmen wird bei der Gebäudezertifizierung und bei der Vergabe von Bauleistungen derzeit nicht berücksichtigt. Ein bauspezifisches Modell zur Bewertung unternehmerischer Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte existiert bisher nicht. Forschungsansätze der Bau- und Immobilienwirtschaft sowie bestehende Modelle anderer Wirtschaftszweige, wie beispielsweise der Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), können nur sehr eingeschränkt für die Bewertung von Bauunternehmen herangezogen werden, da diese mehrheitlich auf die Evaluation kapitalmarktorientierter Großunternehmen abzielen und die Besonderheiten der Bauproduktion sowie die vergaberechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen der VOB/A zumeist unberücksichtigt bleiben. In diesem Beitrag werden die wesentlichen Ergebnisse eines am Lehrstuhl Immobilienwirtschaft und Bauorganisation der TU Dortmund durchgeführten Dissertationsvorhabens zur Entwicklung eines Modells für die Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung von Bauunternehmen dargestellt. Zunächst werden die wesentlichen bauspezifischen Anforderungen zur Bewertung der unternehmerischen Nachhaltigkeit von Bauunternehmen erläutert. Anschließend werden die Ergebnisse einer Untersuchung bestehender Forschungs- und Bewertungsansätze aus der Bau- und Immobilienwirtschaft sowie der stationären Industrie aufgezeigt. Abschließend werden die wesentlichen Bestandteile des neu entwickelten Modells zur Bewertung der Nachhaltigkeit von Bauunternehmen dargestellt. Der Fokus liegt hierbei auf der entwickelten Bewertungsmethodik und dem bauspezifischen Kriterienkatalog.

scholarly journals Fully integrated modelling for sustainability assessment of resource recovery from waste

2018 ◽  
Vol 612 ◽  
pp. 613-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Millward-Hopkins ◽  
Jonathan Busch ◽  
Phil Purnell ◽  
Oliver Zwirner ◽  
Costas A. Velis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Resource Recovery ◽  
Integrated Modelling ◽  
Fully Integrated

scholarly journals EVALUASI SISTEM PEMBINAAN, PENATAUSAHAAN, DAN PENGAWASAN PENGELOLAAN BARANG MILIK DAERAH PADA BPK-BMD DI PEMERINTAHAN KABUPATEN MINAHASA

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Claudia Sumual ◽  
David Paul Elia Saerang ◽  
I Gede Suwetja
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Asset Management ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Management Area ◽  
Administration And Supervision ◽  
Implementation Management ◽  
Descriptive Qualitative

The management of local asset is part of the regional financial management. Since the enactment of regulation of asset management area is expected to be a reference and strength of local government in managing its regional asset. To apply the system in accordance with Permendagri No.19 year 2016 supervision and coorperation required to carry out the process of recording asset at SKPD level as well as management of regional assets including BPK BMD Minahasa district. The purpose of this study is to find out how the application on the system of coaching, administration, and supervision of goods in the management of local assets in BPK BMD Minahasa whether in accordance with Permendagri No.19 year 2016. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative analysis method. The results showed that the implementation management of local asset, especially the coaching, administration, and supervision of assets in BPK BMD Minahasa accordance with Permendagri No.19 yaers 2016. Not yet supported IT equipment that has not been compatible with that asset user and the lack of human resources becomes an obstacle asset management in BPK BMD Minahasa.Keywords: asset, coaching, administration, supervision

scholarly journals EVALUASI PENERAPAN SISTEM INFORMASI MANAJEMEN DAERAH (SIMDA) PADA DINASS PENDAPATAN, PENGELOLAAN KEUANGAN DAN ASSET DAERAH KOTA KOTAMOBAGU

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veybie Komaling ◽  
Stanley Kho Walandow
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Asset Management ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Computer Applications ◽  
Application Program ◽  
Management Area

Computer Applications SIMDA program is an application program that is intended to assist local governments in the area of financial management. As for the above purpose of the research is to evaluate the application of SIMDA at the Department of Revenue, Finance and Asset Management Regional Kotamobagu. Research methods using qualitative data, that is data obtained from the object of research in the form of sentences or descriptions, sketches and drawings and quantitative data, ie data obtained from the object of research in the form of numbers or numbers that have been processed further. From this study, the researchers concluded that SIMDA Application Evaluation in the Department of Revenue, Finance and Asset Management Regional Kotamobagu not fully in accordance with the Legislation in force, because the procedure is not in accordance with the cash outlay Minister Regulation No. 13 Year 2006 on Guidelines for Financial Management area.

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