Page 273 - Fort Worth City Budget 2019

Enterprise Funds

and external communications. The division also provides backflow prevention services, as well as industrial
pretreatment by permitting and monitoring businesses and industries that produce a high level of concentrated
waste to reduce the impact to the sewer system. The division also manages development services for the Utility.

The Management Services Division develops and monitors operating budgets and capital improvement programs,
determines rates, and coordinates all fiscal and administrative functions for the Utility. The division provides
capital improvement project accounting, capital project support, organizational development, water information
technology, occupational health and safety, security and emergency management, records management and
workforce development.

The Strategic Operations Division is responsible for master planning all water and sewer capital projects. This
division provides infrastructure and facility planning, asset management, technical support, and SCADA systems
management for the Utility. The regulatory affairs section serves as the departmental liaison on all
intergovernmental and regulatory issues related to water and sewer services. The laboratory section provides
water and sewer sampling and laboratory analysis.

The Capital Delivery Division is responsible for engineering and construction of facilities and pipeline projects
including water and sewer mains, new development infrastructure, treatment facilities, storage tanks, pump
stations and lift stations. The division provides in-house design, construction inspection services and coordination
of projects with the city’s street bond program.

The Plant Operations Division treats and distributes a safe water supply to meet customer needs and operates
five water treatment plants and various water storage and pumping facilities located throughout the city. It is
responsible for the metering of all the wholesale customer cities’ water and sewer services. The division also
provides sewer treatment through one water reclamation facility and treats biosolids for beneficial re-use through
land application. The facility re-uses biogas resulting from the treatment process within the facility to reduce its
energy demand.

The Field Operations Division is responsible for the maintenance and repair of nearly 7,000 miles of water
distribution and sewer collection systems. The division handles main break and leak repairs, line location services,
sewer overflows, inspection and cleaning of sewer lines, water and sewer taps, and fire hydrant and valve
maintenance.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Water Department has addressed several important initiatives over the last year, including:

Utility Reorganization: In FY2017 the Utility engaged a consultant to provide a comprehensive review of the
organizational structure of the Utility. The previous structure had been in place for nearly 20 years. With many
changes occurring in the intervening years due to growth and increasing complexity of the Utility, the study
assessed the current needs and demands of the Utility’s customer base to be able to respond with greater
flexibility and agility. The study was completed in late 2017, and the Utility reorganized into six divisions effective
December 2017. The new structure enables a more coordinated approach to providing customer support by
placing all customer-facing activities in one division, and improves cost efficiencies and communications by
organizing all water and wastewater treatment facilities into one division. The reorganization also facilitates a
more comprehensive strategy in the areas of safety and workforce development.

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