1 General Managers Report December 18, 2019 2 Protect Our - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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General Manager’s Report

December 18, 2019

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Protect Our Resources

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Climate Change –The New Normal

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• Climate change is here: The New Normal
• GM/CEO Carla Reid gave keynote presentation at

Chesapeake Water Environment Association

• Outlined WSSC Water’s approach: Assess, Adapt and

Alleviate

• Will impact WSSC Water: cost, operations, talent

development, training, customers

• Rob Taylor will provide detailed update on efforts

ASSESS ALLEVIATE ADAPT

Tubular Triage at Triadelphia

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• More than 30 volunteers removed thousands
• f protective tree tubes over 3 days
• Plastic tubes protect newly planted trees from deer
• Trees are large enough and plastic is breaking apart
• Multiple tree plantings occurred in 38 acres of

retired farm land between 2008 and 2010:

• WSSC Water facility maintenance
• Montgomery County Job Corps
• ICC Mitigation project
• Tree plantings are part of ongoing efforts to

protect drinking water supplies

Learning From THE Leader

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• WSSC Water hosts delegation from West Bank
• Provided overview of WSSC Water & toured

Seneca Water Resource Recovery Facility

• Learn wastewater treatment best practices
• Tour part of International

Visitor Leadership Program

• U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and

Cultural Affairs

• Designed to build mutual understanding between

U.S. and other countries

The Scoop on COOP

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• Kicked off planning to update Continuity of

Operations Plan (COOP)

• Last updated in 2014
• Building block for more resilient utility
• Identifies essential functions and plans for their

continuation during an emergency

• Multi-phase project – not a plan that sits
• Regular updates, training and exercises

WSSC Water is #WinterReady

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• Held annual winter ready prep meeting
• Included Utility Services, Police and Homeland Security,

Communications, Production, Customer Service, Fleet Services, Materials Management, Facilities Maintenance

• Enhance coordination and communication
• WSSC Water Crews busy with early cold snap
• November 2019: Repaired 285 breaks & leaks
• Proactive outreach to media: stories in November

reached over 2.5 million viewers

• Advertisement equivalent of about $300,000

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#WinterReady Coverage

Optimize Infrastructure

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Brassie Way is Done!

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Data Center Move

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• Massive effort to move WSSC

Water Data Center equipment

• Clear obstructions, separate cabling,

install fire suppression

• Nearly 60 technicians worked

around the clock to move center and troubleshoot issues

• Several internal and external-

facing applications impacted

• Close coordination to ensure

customers were aware of impacts.

Spend Customer Dollars Wisely

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AAA Rating for AAA Utility

• Once again earned AAA bond ratings from all three

financial rating agencies:

• Fitch Rating, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investor Service
• Rating reflects strong financial record
• Allows WSSC Water to borrow money at lower rates.

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Bonds… Green Bonds

• Sold $50 million in Green Bonds on Dec. 12
• Major Milestone: WSSC Water’s first Green Bonds sale
• Part of $219 million bond sale
• Green Bonds fund projects that protect the environment
• r address climate change
• WSSC Water Green Bonds projects:
• Potomac Water Filtration Plant (WFP) Consent Decree
• Potomac WFP Pre-Filter Chlorination & Air Scour Improvements
• Large-Diameter Water Pipe & Large-Valve Rehabilitation Program

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Fiscal Year 2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget Update

• Total FY’21 Preliminary Proposed Capital and Operating Budget = $1.462 billion
• Proposed Capital = $606.7 million
• Proposed Operating = $856.2 million
• Proposed rate increase = 7%
• County Councils approved Spending Affordability Guidelines with 7% rate increase limit
• Customer impact = $15.27 for family of three using 55 gallons per person / per day
• No changes on fixed fees
• Next steps
• Preliminary Proposed Budget transmitted to Counties by January 15 for public hearing

purposes.

• Public hearings set for January / February

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Enhance Customer Experience

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World Class Customer Service

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“…we want to highlight Mr. Stewart's consistent efforts on our behalf to solve problems…. . From our perspective, he is a miracle worker and WSSC's most valuable asset.”

Can the Grease

• Holiday Can the Grease outreach and proactive media
• November 25-29
• December 19-25
• Paid TV and Radio (English/Spanish)
• Comcast TV: ESPN, HGTV, CNN, USA, TNT
• iHeart Radio stations: WASH, WBIG, El-Zol, DC 101
• Proactive Earned TV and Radio
• WJLA-TV 7
• WTOP Radio News

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Can the Grease Spot

Transform Employee Engagement

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• Topics:
• Employee survey results
• Feedback
• Strategic Plan
• Innovation update
• Positive changes coming from meetings
• Two meetings remain:
• Consolidated Laboratory
• Potomac WFP

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Come in Unity Update

#H2OPeople Holiday Party!

• Great #H2OPeople turnout
• Celebration of our commitment to

deliver the essential

• Zero drinking water quality violations
• 2020 focus: Collaboration

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Questions?

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