Introduction

In today’s economy, finding ways to “do more with less” extends to virtually every business, government and education institution. Plain and simple, the days of “business as usual” are a thing of the past as economic and social pressures mandate more efficiency, accountability and performance. The water and wastewater industry has greatly improved its own performance and the value delivered to communities by adopting lean principles – by leveraging new technology and processes to modernize the industry. This paper outlines four Lean Operation principles that water and wastewater facilities can incorporate in their daily operations to “do more with less” in the face of ever-changing regulations and tight budget constraints.

The following are actionable tips on how water and wastewater operators can leverage Lean Operations:

• Taking a holistic approach to operations
• Creating a lean culture
• Automating manual processes
• Achieving lean sustainability