AWWA JAW63483

In response to the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) chief-executive officer's vision for a "cleaner, greener, and leaner" organization, the water utility operations division of SCVWD formed the Operations Council on Excellence (OCE). The OCE is an expanded management team that brings together supervisors and managers to better understand the district's business climate and challenges, to control operating costs and, thus, water rate increases. Since it's inception in 2004, the OCE has developed and implemented cost savings and process efficiencies, sought ways to improve workforce deployment and flexibility, and developed team identity and staff recognition programs. The success of this group has resulted in the implementation of more than $700,000 in annual cost savings. Includes tables, figure.