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Water is a key element of a prosperous, healthy community. It is a symbol of our region’s bounty and a resource on which citizens depend. The South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority takes great pride in its delivery of this critical service, which provides public health protection, fire protection, support for the economy and maintenance of the overall quality of life we enjoy.

• Public health protection — In a world where an estimated three million people die or become sick every year from preventable waterborne diseases, the Authority’s water system provides high-quality water from the tap, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Consumers can rest assured that their water supply meets rigorous federal and state health and safety standards.
• Fire protection — Our well-maintained water system is critical in protecting the communities we serve from the ever-present threat of fire. A system that provides a reliable supply of water at an adequate pressure can be the difference between being able to extinguish a small fire and having the fire become a devastating inferno. The ability to suppress fires also influences new home construction, business location decisions and insurance rates for municipalities, businesses and residents.
• Support for the economy — Businesses or housing developments do not succeed without a high-quality and sustainable water supply. Tap water is critical to the day-to-day operations of business and industry, and is often a primary ingredient in the products they create.
• Maintenance of the overall quality of life we enjoy — Any measure of a successful society — low mortality rates, economic diversity, productivity and public safety — is in some way related to access to high-quality water. While many may take for granted that high-quality water is always accessible to drink, to wash our clothes, to water our gardens and for a myriad of other purposes, we’re reminded of the extraordinary value of water resources and service when water service is interrupted.

The Authority is fortunate to have an excess supply of water to meet the daily and peak demands of our customers. As a result, consumers can use as much as they need, although we continually urge that they use water wisely.

Our water system, first conceived by Eli Whitney, Jr. in 1849, is a marvel of engineering and civic gumption. Today, performed by a workforce of 270 people, the work done at the Authority encompasses a broad range of disciplines. We rely daily upon this group of outstanding employees who are responsible for producing high-quality water. From the 52 million gallons of water supplied per day to some 500,000 consumers, to the more than 27,000 acres of land we protect, we are proud of the Authority’s contributions to the communities we serve. In light of annual investments in the capital infrastructure that delivers water through more than 1,690 miles of interconnected water mains and our role as one of the larger employers in Greater New Haven, we accept our responsibilities as a leader in this community. It is a privilege and a responsibility to be one of the few organizations with the opportunity to touch so many lives on a daily basis. We are proud of our efforts to serve the region.

To guide our priorities in serving the region, in 2009 the Authority’s leadership developed a Strategic Business Plan based on the principles of the Balanced Scorecard. It contains our mission, vision and value statements for the Authority and describes specific strategies necessary for us to meet the challenges that lie ahead. Following the Balanced Scorecard management system, the priorities identified in this plan will be the organization’s road map for the years to come. The plan includes metrics that allow us to track our progress in finance, customer service, operations and organization capacity. As a result, we can continuously improve the Authority’s strategic performance and results. Our goal is to move the Authority from being a solid company to being one that is truly great.

Nearly one-third of the employees at the Authority now serve on at least one of 12 strategic plan goal teams. The goal teams have developed action plans for each goal within the four Balanced Scorecard perspectives of the strategic plan: Customers and Constituents, Employee Learning and Growth, Financial, and Internal Business Processes.

As part of the plan, the Authority has taken a number of steps to improve our operating and capital efficiency. These initiatives total an annual ongoing savings of about $3.985 million as outlined below.

• The capital improvement program was reduced from $40 million in the 2009 fiscal year to $27 million in the present fiscal year. This equates to an annual decrease in debt service of almost $800,000. Efforts are ongoing to increase the Authority’s capital efficiency to ensure that the right investments are made in the system infrastructure to maintain or improve it at the most competitive cost.
• Operating efficiencies included the permanent $2.23 million reduction in payroll and benefits associated with downsizing the workforce by 23 positions. This is in addition to approximately $975,000 of identified cost savings primarily attributed to renegotiated contracts, improved treatment and distribution operating processes, higher employee medical contributions and deductibles, and cutting inventory by $400,000. Consistent with our mission of providing high-quality water at the least cost, efforts are continuing to identify other ongoing operating efficiencies.

Other initiatives to strengthen the Authority for the long term are to link the five-year capital plan with the five-year operating plan, amend the General Bond Resolution to improve the internal generation of funds to replenish depleted reserves, reduce debt leverage and fund a portion of the capital program internally.

All of these actions and initiatives have allowed the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority to maintain credit ratings of A+ with S&P and Aa3 with Moody’s Rating Services despite the unsettled domestic and international debt markets.

These actions and initiatives also positioned the Authority to win one of the prestigious 2011 Gold Awards for Exceptional Utility Performance given by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA). The Authority was cited for a strong record of effective utility management that is a significant contribution to the drinking water industry. We were measured on our high level of performance in 10 key attributes of an effective utility, including product quality, operational optimization, financial viability, operational resiliency, infrastructure stability and water resource adequacy. The Authority also demonstrated achievement in the areas of leadership, strategic business planning, organizational approaches, measurement and a continual improvement management framework.

We take seriously the unique, life-sustaining importance of water. Not only must the water we provide be of high quality; it must also be plentiful for use by consumers and for firefighting by emergency responders. We must always succeed in our mission. The provision of high-quality water to almost 500,000 consumers is a service in which our 270 employees and 26 board members take great pride.

In our 162-year history, the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority has established a reputation for service built upon a strong foundation of quality people, operational excellence, infrastructure investments and vigilant environmental stewardship. With the Strategic Plan as our road map, guided by our STARS values, the Authority is well positioned to continue to deliver high-quality water and services to consumers in our region for years to come.

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