Association Services

News & Information Service: Association members that provide their fax and email addresses have the opportunity to receive the timeliest information affecting utility governance, management and operations. This service also affords members the opportunity to participate in legislative and rule development activities.

Monthly Newsletter: The Association publishes a newsletter eight times a year called the Connections included with the cost of membership. The focus of the newsletter is to provide Association membership with the most recent legislation and rule making developments. Utilities can also find discussions on the latest developments impacting water and wastewater operations.

Quarterly Magazine: The Association publishes a magazine four times a year called the Last Drop included with the cost of membership. In each issue the president of the Association will include a timely leadership message. Association staff also contributes articles that focus on the activities of the Association giving utilities an opportunity to learn from others experiences. Writers will also include information on the latest methods, technologies, product and services available to assist utility operations and management.

Consumer Confidence Reports: The Safe Drinking Water Act requires water systems to provide an annual publication that provides information about the utility's drinking water source and quality. The Association's talented office personnel are available to help water systems prepare and publish their annual Consumer Confidence Reports. ASUA has experience in preparing the reports for systems and tailoring them to meet specific desires and needs. Water systems that have taken advantage of this opportunity have found this fee-based service to be very competitive.

Financial Impact Analysis: The Association and its partners provide fee-based services to assist utilities to prepare financial forecasts for system management, system valuations, capital planning, economic impact analysis, cost of service & rate studies, and bond feasibility studies. In these utility assignments we seek to ensure the development of user fee structures that enable the utility to meet its current and future operating expenses. The service can include analysis of cost data patterns of usage for the entire system and for specified customer classes. The association and its partners are uniquely qualifies to assist in the creation and management of special water & wastewater taxing, and utility districts.

Professional Services: These fee-based services were developed to assist in utility management, administrations and operations. The Association has assembled a professional, knowledgeable work force with people who actually have the experience of dealing with the management, operations and maintenance of small municipal, rural and tribal utilities. Much of the Association's work force has come from rural and small system operations. They know first hand the problems that continually burden the majority of these systems throughout the state. Because of their daily contact in solving problems they are able to transfer this knowledge more efficiently by "real world" experiences and communication.

Security Evaluations: Water systems are critical to every community. Protection of public drinking water systems should be a high priority for local officials, utility owners and operators to ensure uninterrupted service, which is essential for the quality of life in the community. In 2002, congress enacted the PUBLIC HEALTH SECURITY AND BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE ACT. This Act requires community water systems serving populations greater than 3,300 and fewer than 50,000 to complete a Vulnerability Assessment no later than June 30, 2004. The Association employs competent professionals with the training and knowledge necessary to perform security assessments. This fee-based program will provide water & wastewater utilities with the information they need to complete to satisfy the federal requirement and deliver recommendations needed to improve emergency management programs that include system security.

Capacity Development Assessment: Trained and experience Association field representatives will assist boards, managers and operators in assessing a system's capacity for providing service. ASUA uses a capacity development tool that was prepared by individuals across the country and has received comment from regulatory agencies in its ability to accurately assess technical, financial and managerial capacity.

Lending Library: In the Association office, there are columns of literature that can be borrowed by membership at no cost. There are many titles to choose from. Members can access operator-training manuals prepared by the California State University. AWWA Standards to assist members in establishing specification for materials to be used in water systems. State Statutes and the Arizona Administrative Code are available. Once could even read from some of the top selling self-improvements or leadership materials that feature such individuals as Stephen R. Covey. For a more detailed list of what is available contact ASUA Office at 1-800-895-0426.

Equipment for Loan: The Association has a growing inventory of equipment that is available to members at no cost. We all face times when it is necessary to locate leaks. However, because leaks seldom occur, it is not always practical to purchase a leak detector. Take advantage of the equipment in inventory at the Association office. The inventory ranges from sonic leak detectors to video equipment. Call the office at 1-800-895-0426 to see what is available.