Management, Methods, and Money: Understanding Concepts in Capacity Development

Virginia Tech, under the auspices of a grant from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), is pleased to announce the addition of another short course for waterworks personnel. This course focuses on the issues associated with capacity development (CD) in the waterworks industry. CD is broad term, encompassing many areas, including the managerial, technical, regulatory, and financial aspects of operating and maintaining a waterworks. If a waterworks is not in compliance, is not able to provide the needed quantity and quality of water, and cannot respond well to emergency situations, there are serious problems with the capacity of the waterworks. The goal of this course is to help the decision-makers for a waterworks and those who influence the decision-makers establish appropriate management and financial systems for maintaining and improving their waterworks.

The specific course objectives are as follows:

1. Understanding the obligations of those involved in decision making. [Compliance: It's not just for operators.]
2. Provide financial understanding and resources to justify operational, maintenance, or expansion cost
3. Introduction to hands-on waterworks evaluation tools (CUPSS, AWWA, water loss)

The course begins with a definition of CD and the description of a case study in which CD is a problem. As the various course topics are introduced over a period of three days, the lessons learned are applied to the case study. Among the topics addressed are: Owner Responsibility/Liability, Business/Managerial Operations, Utility Operations/Asset Management, and Use of Software Tools. The course ends with final recommendations for the case study, an evaluation of the course, and a quiz. Participants will receive a manual that was expressly developed for this course.