MEDIA RELEASES

OAK CREEK– January 20, 2016–The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is partnering with the City of Oak Creek in the CDC Water and Health Study. The study, which will take place over the next two years in Oak Creek, is part of a larger research project that will help public health scientists better understand the links between water use and health in communities across the United States. In an effort to assist in this important project, Oak Creek has volunteered to work with the CDC on this study.

 “Oak Creek is pleased to partner with the CDC in this important project to improve understanding of water use and health in communities across the U.S.” said Mike Sullivan, General Manager of the Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility.

 During the study, the CDC team will mail selected Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility customers a survey that asks them about their water use and health. The survey can either be completed on paper or online using a secure website.  Being selected for the survey does not mean that there is anything unusual about your water.

 “We are excited to work with the City of Oak Creek and believe that what we learn from this study will help us better understand how people use their water and how water use is linked to health,” said Dr. Julia Gargano, CDC’s lead epidemiologist for the Water and Health Study.

 For additional information about the CDC Water and Health Study, visit

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/study.html

OAK CREEK– February 27, 2014–The Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility today announced its 19th Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The Utility holds the longest consecutive streak of this recognition in Wisconsin for a water utility.

“This certification recognizes our financial reporting provides ratepayers with a transparent, easy-to-understand way of knowing how their fees are being spent,” said Utility General Manager Mike Sullivan. “This speaks volumes about the team of people we have in place at the Utility to ensure our internal controls and accounting methods continuously exceed industry standards.”

This annual honor is the highest awarded for public entities by the Government Finance Officers Association. State and local governments and utilities are all eligible to submit for the award. Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports are reviewed by an impartial national panel for accounting and financial reporting that demonstrate a spirit of full disclosure that clearly communicates financial information in an easily read fashion.

For 19 consecutive years, the Utility has received the Government Finance Officers Association’s highest honor for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is awarded by an impartial national panel. The panel bestows this honor on public entities with accounting and financial reporting that demonstrate a spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate their financial stories in a fashion that motivates readership.

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation. Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement. Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

“Through careful collaboration, we switched from the old to the new systems without any service interruptions to valued customers,” Sullivan said. View this link for more information on the ACEC Award. 

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation. Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement. Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

OC Water & Sewer Utility Receives 'Special Achievement Award'

OAK CREEK– September 19, 2013–The Wisconsin Water Association, a section of the American Water Works Association, today recognized the Oak Creek Water & Sewer Utility’s leadership in the EPA’s Partnership for Safe Water Program.

The “Utility Special Achievement Award” specifically highlights 15 years of leadership in the EPA’s Partnership for Safe Water Program. The Utility received the rare recognition–only 11 U.S. utilities achieved this level of treatment excellence.

For 15 years, the Utility has met the stringent goals of the Partnership program, identifying factors which may have been limiting the performance of the treatment plants and taking steps to address those factors. By aggressively pursuing the objectives of the Partnership, water plants demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in the performance of their treatment facilities to help protect the health of their customers.

In Oak Creek, water treatment guidance is provided in part by its involvement in the Partnership, a cooperative of six drinking water organizations including the AWWA and the U.S. EPA. According to the AWWA website, over 85 million people receive higher quality drinking water from utilities that participate in this program. The Oak Creek water treatment plant is one of more than 400 treatment plants in the Partnership.

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation. Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement. Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

Oak Creek Water Receives Water Fluoridation Quality Award

CDC recongnizes Utility leadership in preventing tooth decay

OAK CREEK– July 9, 2013–The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded the Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility the Water Fluoridation Quality Award. Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in the drinking water to a level that is optimal for preventing tooth decay. 

“The award recognizes those water systems that adjust fluoride concentration in drinking water and achieve a monthly average fluoride level that is in the optimal range for 12 consecutive months in a year,” said Jeffrey Chaffin, CDC’s State Dental Director.

 Community water fluoridation has been recognized by the CDC as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century. Fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health over a lifetime, for both children and adults. “In fact, every $1 invested in fluoridation saves at least $38 in costs for dental treatment,” Chaffin said.

 “We are proud to receive this award recognizing our efforts to maintain high quality water for our customers,” said Mike Sullivan, Utility General Manager. “Maintaining consistent fluoridation levels is just another example why the Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is a leader in the drinking water industry.”

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation.  Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement.  Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

Oak Creek, First-and-Only State Utility to Receive EPA Award

Partnership for Safe Water Award achieved by only 11 U.S. Utilities

OAK CREEK–June, 12 2013–The Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility today announced it became the first and only Utility in Wisconsin to receive a “15-Year Directors Award” as part of the EPA’s Partnership for Safe Water Treatment Operations Program. The Utility received the rare recognition–only 11 U.S. utilities achieved this level of treatment excellence–at the American Water Works Association national conference in Denver.  

“Participating in this program over the past 15 years assures consumers as well as local, state, and federal officials that we are on the leading edge of providing the safest, cleanest drinking water possible at reasonable rates,” said Mike Sullivan, Utility General Manager. “The award symbolizes the contributions of all Utility employees who seek more effective, efficient ways to produce high quality water.”

Utility Recognized for 15 Years of Safe Water Partnership

A Director’s Award is earned by a water treatment plant that has completed Phase III in the partnership program. Applied for annually a Utility must demonstrate it achieved the program’s stringent goals.

 The utilities must work through the arduous and difficult self-assessment process, identifying factors which may have been limiting the performance of the treatment plants and taking steps to address those factors. By aggressively pursuing the objectives of the Partnership, water plants demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in the performance of their treatment facilities to help protect the health of their customers.

 In Oak Creek, water treatment guidance is provided in part by its involvement in the Partnership, a cooperative of six drinking water organizations including the AWWA and the U.S. EPA. According to the AWWA website, over 85 million people receive higher quality drinking water from utilities that participate in this program. The Oak Creek water treatment plant is one of more than 400 treatment plants in the Partnership.

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation.  Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement.  Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

WATER & SEWER UTILITY SAVES RATEPAYERS $10 MILLION

Efficient use of technology generates more water treatment capacity   

OAK CREEK–December 7, 2011–The Oak Creek Water & Sewer Utility announced today it saved ratepayers the equivalent of $10 million in capital improvement costs.

“We achieved the best of all worlds,” says Mike Sullivan, Utility Engineer. “We achieved additional water treatment capacity while exceeding water quality standards without adding cost to ratepayers.”

Through technology investments made during the last treatment plant expansion, which expanded daily water processing capacity to 28 million gallons, the Utility now can effectively treat 35 million gallons per day without additional infrastructure build out.

“The Utility’s pioneering spirit always has focused on investment in new technology to ensure the cleanest, safest, most reliable water possible flows to its customers,” Sullivan says. “During the planning process for the treatment plant expansion completed in 2010, we ensured technology investments were made to allow us flexibility in adjusting to evolving regulatory standards.”

The foresight and investment is paying off. When the DNR announced it would limit the amount of water drawn from Lake Michigan by communities, it meant limits would be set on the current capacity of a given water treatment plant. 

With that announcement, the Utility saw the need to ensure ratepayers had access to as much water as possible before the DNR restrictions went into place. The Utility presented to the DNR a solution that would ensure ample water supply through 2040 without additional expense to ratepayers.

The Utility demonstrated technology improvements made during the treatment plant expansion in 2010 could effectively process 35 million gallons per day of high quality drinking water. This is 25 percent more processing volume than the stated daily treatment plant capacity of 28 million gallons of water per day.

The DNR required the Utility prove it could maintain required water quality levels over the course of the last year. The Utility not only met the regulations–but exceeded the DNR water quality requirements–producing water quality 10 times better than what DNR regulations require.

“By increasing the amount of water treatment capacity, we are able to meet the needs of customers through 2040 while significantly exceeding water quality regulations,” Sullivan concluded.

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation.  Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement.  Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

WATER & SEWER UTILITY CELEBRATES 50^TH ANNIVERSARY

Announcement coincides with National Drinking Water Week May 2-8   

OAK CREEK–April 29, 2010–This year marks the golden anniversary for the Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility. There's much more than meets the eye, however, when providing clean, safe, reasonably priced drinking water. 

 “The 30 dedicated Utility professionals, who day in and day out deliver the highest water quality possible to customers, drive the entire $130 million operation to meet and exceed state and federal health standards,” Utility General Manager Steven N. Yttri says.

Over the decades, the Utility’s pioneering spirit has focused on investment in new technology to ensure the cleanest, safest, most reliable water possible flows to its customers. The Utility’s technical and financial soundness are demonstrated through its continuing participation in two of the nation’s most prestigious programs.

Over the last 16 years, the Utility has achieved the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement, the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. Over the last 11 years, the Utility has earned the coveted Director’s Award through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Partnership for Safe Water, a national water treatment optimization program that has improved water quality for more than 85 million people.

The idea of forming a water and sewer utility back in 1960, however, was anything but a shared vision by Oak Creek’s several thousand residents.

Local leaders saw the need for providing clean, safe, reliable water supply to a community on the verge of consistent growth. Nevertheless, convincing residents was challenging at best—especially considering manufacturer AC Sparkplug would consume 97 percent of the water supply in those early years.

“Our approach has always been to carefully plan for community growth and subsequent water demand increases,” Yttri says. “We have always committed to providing reliable, clean, safe water that is reasonably priced for consumers and businesses. These principles served us well to this point and position Oak Creek well for the next 50 years.”   

Looking back, the vision of forming a water and sewer utility was the correct course of action. This vision has crossed generations of Utility leadership, producing one of the nation’s most respected, forward-thinking water and sewer utilities. Over five decades, the Utility has gone from several hundred customers with annual water usage near 265 million gallons to 60,000 customers who use nearly 3 billion gallons of water annually.

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation.  Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement.  Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.
 

UTILITY UPDATES COMMUNITY ON MILESTONES

Water Treatment Plant Expansion Underway, Project Nearly $6 Million Under Estimates
Final construction bids totaled $10.5 million for the Oak Creek Water Treatment Plant expansion, which is scheduled for completion in August 2010. Bids were much lower than original engineering estimates of $16.3 million for improved filtration and pumping capacity, as well as security measures.

 “At the time of our last plant expansion in 1999, our master plan accurately predicted the need for another expansion by 2010 to 28 million gallons of daily water treatment capacity,” says Mike Sullivan, Utility Engineer. “The current economic situation and the timing of the bid process for this project, however, generated extremely competitive contractor bids and, as it turns out, tremendous value for rate payers.”  

Oak Creek and Caledonia Sign 40-Year Water Supply Agreement

The Utility signed an extension of an existing agreement where Oak Creek will supply water to residents of Caledonia for the next four decades. This agreement also increased the Utility’s service area by approximately 20 square miles.

 “Our existing relationship with Caledonia made us the logical choice to continue supplying what we deliver best, which is some of the nation’s cleanest, safest drinking water,” Utility General Manager Steven N. Yttri said. “Caledonia had other water supply options, but our approach to serving the communities and ratepayers that depend on our world-class water system for their water played a significant role in Caledonia choosing us.”

Utility’s Financial Reporting Excellence Recognized for 15th Consecutive Year

For the 15th consecutive year, the Utility received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, which recognizes financial communication that provides ratepayers with a transparent, easy-to-understand way of knowing how their fees are being spent.   

 “Our Utility has the longest running streak in Wisconsin for a water utility receiving this recognition,” Yttri said. “This speaks volumes about the team of people we have in place at the Utility to ensure our accounting methods and controls continuously exceed industry standards.”

 Utility Certified Public Accountant Annette Stenzel received the Award of Financial Reporting Achievement for her involvement with its preparation.

 This annual honor is the highest awarded for public entities by the Government Finance Officers Association. Utilities that issue Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports are reviewed by an impartial national panel for accounting and financial reporting. The report must demonstrate a spirit of full disclosure that clearly communicates the financial stories in a fashion that motivates readership.

World Taste Competition Ranks Oak Creek Water Among The Best of Global Suppliers

For the third time, Claire Baie bottled water, which is produced by the Oak Creek Water Utility, received a medal at the International Water Tasting, known as the Academy Awards of water. This year’s competition in Berkley Springs, W. Va., also ranked the Utility’s tap water fourth among municipalities from around the world, which compete annually at the world’s largest water tasting competition, now in its 19th year.

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation.  Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement.  Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

WATER UTILITY UPDATES COMMUNITY ON MILESTONES

OAK CREEK–May 28, 2008–The Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility today announced milestone achievements in both the technical and financial areas of its operations.  

“Our customers have come to expect and deserve in-depth consideration of both technical and financial aspects when considering how best to equip the Utility to ensure the cleanest, safest drinking water possible flows to their homes and businesses,” said Utility General Manager Steven N. Yttri. “This approach, which has contributed to our decades of recognition for water safety and financial reporting, has served well the communities and ratepayers that depend on our world-class water system for their water.”    

Utility Recognized for Decade of Safe Water Partnership

The Utility will receive a Ten-Year Directors Award as part of the EPA’s Partnership for Safe Water Program (Partnership) in 2008. No other utility in Wisconsin, and only three other utilities in the Nation, have received a Ten-Year Award to date. A Directors Award is earned by a water treatment plant that has completed Phase III in the Partnership program. Renewed annually, a Utility must submit an application each year to maintain Phase III status.   

In Oak Creek, water treatment guidance is provided in part by its involvement in the Partnership, a cooperative of six drinking water organizations including the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the AWWA website, over 85 million people receive higher quality drinking water from utilities that participate in this program. The Oak Creek water treatment plant is one of more than 400 treatment plants in the Partnership.

Utility Receives Highest Recognition in Governmental Accounting and Financial Reporting
For 14 consecutive years, the Utility has received the Government Finance Officers Association’s highest honor for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is awarded by an impartial national panel. The panel bestows this honor on public entities with accounting and financial reporting that demonstrate a spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate their financial stories in a fashion that motivates readership.

Utility Ensures Internal Controls Meet Industry Standards
The Utility recently commissioned an internal control study by an independent audit firm to ensure its accounting practices remained aligned with industry standards. Facts noted in the study included exemplary leadership qualifications and strength of the Utility’s existing internal controls.

“Even though we have received annual recognition by an international accounting organization for the last 14 years, and have been continuously recognized for the strength of our internal controls” Yttri said, “we thought it prudent to give ourselves an additional check to ensure we were doing everything we could to provide ratepayers the utmost confidence in our financial soundness.”

Over the last 15 years, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) has headed the Utility accounting staff. This level of qualification, as the report notes, is necessary to make certain Utility employees have a better understanding of roles and responsibilities. Additional recommendations made in the study were evaluated using standard cost-benefit analyses. Recommendations where costs did not exceed the benefits to the Utility and its ratepayers have been implemented.

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation.  Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement.  Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

LANDSCAPE INVESTMENT IMPACTS SUMMER WATER SEASON

As the days grow longer and the sun begins to warm the Earth, thoughts will turn to summer rituals such as gardening and lawn mowing. Homeowners, in fact, are increasing their investments in exterior landscapes, which require significant amounts of water.  

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one-quarter of water usage irrigates landscapes of home and business owners. Lawn watering accounts for about 8 billion gallons of water a day nationwide, or the equivalent of 14 billion six packs of beer, writes engineer Amy Vickers in the AWWA Journal when describing America’s biggest drinking problem to her readers.

 Part of those landscapes, according to the article, includes about 4 million homes with water features growing to 16 million in 2003. Waterscapes also can impact the level of water used during a typical watering season. Some municipalities have implemented conservation measures, such as limiting the number of water days, restricting the area allowed for turf, and promoting natural lawns and landscapes that require only rainwater to survive.

 While Oak Creek does not rely on such methods due our plentiful supply of clean, safe drinking water, we can only benefit from conservation of water. The benefits would manifest in the form of reduced electrical costs for pumping and reduced infrastructure costs. For more information on what you can do to reduce the amount of water used and save money on your water bill, please contact the Oak Creek Water Utility at 570-8210.

 The Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility produces some of the highest quality drinking water in the nation. Always seeking new ways to improve, utility employees conduct thousands of water quality tests annually to ensure the cleanest, safest drinking water possible flows to customers. In fact, the utility test nearly three times more than the 970 quality controls required by government regulations. The utility is proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

WATER & SEWER UTILITY ACHIEVES SEVERAL MILESTONES

The Wisconsin Water Association recently recognized the Utility with the Wisconsin Special Achievement Award for its dedication to the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) Partnership for Safe Water Program over the last nine years. Wisconsin remains the only Wisconsin Utility to receive phase III designation through the program.

“Participating in this program over the past nine years assures consumers as well as local, state, and federal officials that we are on the leading edge of providing the safest, cleanest drinking water possible at reasonable rates,” said Steven N. Yttri, Utility general manager. “The award symbolizes the contributions of all Utility employees who seek more effective, efficient ways to produce high quality water.”

In 2003, the Utility was one of only 16 elite utilities nationwide awarded the “Five-Year Director’s Award” from the AWWA for commitment to continuously improving water quality beyond current regulatory requirements through Partnership for Safe Water.

The Partnership is a voluntary cooperative effort between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), AWWA and other drinking water organizations throughout the United States. The Partnership goal is to provide a new measure of safety to millions of Americans by implementing prevention programs where legislation or regulation does not exist. The preventative measures are based on optimizing treatment plant performance to increase protection against microbial contamination in America's drinking water supply.

Commissioner Gass Recognized as Steward of Safe Water
Gary Gass becomes the Utility’s fifth commissioner to be awarded the Steward of Safe Water designation from the Wisconsin Water Association. Gass was recognized for his more than 10 years of leadership and service to citizens of Oak Creek. Now, all of the Utility commissioners have more than 10 years of service and are considered Stewards of Safe Water.

Utility Receives 13th Certificate of Excellence for Financial Reporting
For 13 consecutive years, the Utility has received the Government Finance Officers Association highest honor for its comprehensive annual financial report. The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is awarded by an impartial national panel. The panel bestows this honor on public entities with accounting and financial reporting that demonstrates a spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story in a fashion that motivates readership.

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation. Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement. Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

OAK CREEK WATER AGAIN WINS INTERNATIONAL TASTE COMPETITION

OAK CREEK—March 6, 2006—The Oak Creek Water Utility’s commercially bottled, purified water again received international distinction by winning a gold medal at the largest water tasting competition in the world. The 16th Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Contest marks a return to glory for the municipal bottled water packaged under the name Claire Baie. The first gold medal came five years ago in what was then its first contest entry.

“We all take great pride in producing great tasting, clean water,” said Steve Yttri, Oak Creek Water Utility general manager. “Oak Creek water customers know the great taste of our water every day, but now so does the rest of the world.”

Claire Baie defeated silver medalist Clear Springs Natural, Vanleer, Tenn., and bronze medalist Water Boyz, Santa Fe, N.M. More than 70 waters representing a dozen countries and 22 U.S. states competed for medals in four categories in Berkley Springs, W. Va., February 25.  Read More...

OAK CREEK – February 14, 2006 – The Oak Creek Water & Sewer Utility today announced plans to add office and garage space to its existing location at 170 West Drexel Ave. Total cost of the construction, which is scheduled to begin in May, will be paid for with funds saved by the utility since 1999. 

“Tremendous growth within our service area has driven demand for utility services,” said Steven Yttri, utility general manager. “Sales, customers, service area and assets all have doubled since the existing facility was constructed 21 years ago.”  Read More...

OAK CREEK – October 26, 2004 – After conducting a five-year pilot program to study the feasibility of storing treated drinking water underground for later use during peak demand periods, Oak Creek Water and Sewer announced today it became the first Wisconsin utility to receive approval from the DNR to employ the storage method known as aquifer storage recovery (ASR) as part of their permanent system.

“This technology allows Oak Creek to pump normal treated drinking water underground into the aquifer during low-usage winter months and then recover that water during periods of high-flow summer months,” said Mike Sullivan, utility engineer. Read More...

OAK CREEK – September 30, 2003 – Oak Creek Water Treatment Plant Manager Patrick Francis was recognized as the Operator Meritorious for Wisconsin at the Wisconsin Water Association (WWA) annual meeting held in Middleton last week.

“Pat Francis received this award for his commitment and leadership to continuously providing safe drinking water,” said WWA Chairman James Chaffee. “Proof of his dedication shows in the numerous times the Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility has been recognized over the years at the national and local levels.”

A 28-year veteran of the water and sewer utility, Francis received the award for leading the utility’s involvement in the national Partnership for Safe Water Program, a program developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and American Water Works Association. Read More...

OAK CREEK – June 11, 2003 – Oak Creek Water and Sewer will be recognized by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) as one of 16 elite utilities committed to continuously improving water quality beyond current regulatory requirements. As part of the Partnership for Safe Water Program, the “Five-Year Director’s Award” will be presented at an AWWA Annual Conference ceremony in Anaheim, Calif., June 15, 2003.

“Participating in this program over the past five years assures consumers as well as local, state, and federal officials that we are on the leading edge of providing the safest, cleanest drinking water possible at reasonable rates,” said Steven N. Yttri, utility general manager. “The award symbolizes the contributions of all utility employees who seek more effective, efficient ways to produce high quality water.” Read More...

NATIONAL QUALITY TEAM ASSESSES OAK CREEK WATER UTILITY

OAK CREEK – May 1, 2003 – Clean, plentiful, safe drinking water sustains life, yet many take this resource for granted. National Drinking Water Week (May 4-10) presents an opportunity to share information about what is being done at the Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility.

The utility is proud to announce it completed the peer review portion of the American Water Works Association QualServe program today. QualServe, a national quality improvement program, provides the utility another means to ensure continuous improvements in operations and service. The quality improvement program is based on a series of “best practices” compiled from the experiences of utilities nationwide. The peer review process uses visiting teams of trained utility professionals to conduct on-site evaluations to uncover strengths and opportunities for improvement. The peer review team reviewing the Oak Creek utility included members from Iowa, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Read More...

Utility Volunteers for Government Finance Officers Association Review

Oak Creek — Rate payers served by the Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility may sleep better tonight after watching the nightly news describe the latest accounting scandal involving the next Enron or Arthur Andersen. The utility voluntarily submitted financial reports for independent review, and, for the ninth consecutive year, received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

“Financial accounting is not the most glamorous of topics,” says Steven N. Yttri, utility general manager, “but accounting becomes more interesting when the public realizes how it can affect their pocket books. Read More...