Kansas AMUG
Purpose: To provide professional development to water and wastewater professionals to further the implementation of asset management concepts through networking with other systems and content experts.
Kansas Asset Management Users Group strives to provide professional development to Kansas water and wastewater professionals to further the implementation of asset management concepts through networking with other systems and content experts. Kansas AMUG fosters collaboration through our meetings and activities, contributing to improving water management across the state.
Participating in Kansas AMUG provides you with opportunities to connect with fellow Kansas water professionals, as well as access to valuable tools, technical resources, training and publications to sharpen your water utility asset management skills.
Upcoming Meeting
Asset Management: An Operator's Perspective
Join us for this fascinating KS AMUG meeting where we will dive into asset management from the operator's perspective! You will learn about real-life scenarios from different systems with varying degrees of asset management implementation. This meeting will reveal how a system with a robust asset management program can comply with state regulatory requirements, versus a system that experiences significant cost increases due to its lack of preparedness. This presentation will emphasize the importance of asset management planning, preparedness, and understanding the status and criticality of your assets.
Presenter: Sarah Miller, Water Services Technical Specialist at KMU
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 10 AM CT
Location: Virtual Meeting via Zoom (Register for personal meeting link)
Past Meetings
Kansas AMUG meets twice a year at both in-person and virtual meetings. Sign up for the AMUG Listserv if you would like invites and updates on our next meeting! If you missed one of our virtual meetings, you can watch the recording via the links below!
What's in Your Water? An Interactive Way to Teach the Public About Water
Recorded October 30, 2024
Stacie Edgett-Minson from K-State Research and Extension will give an interactive presentation to explain water contaminants and pollutants
to your customers. These demonstrations can be quick and inexpensive ways to engage
the public about their water quality. Next, join Michael Rudy from Environmental Process Equipment Company, who will discuss the relationship between municipalities and manufacturers.
Water Utility Cybersecurity Threats
Recorded June 28, 2024
Chad Caldwell from KLM Engineering covered the crucial reasons for prioritizing water tower upkeep (this portion of our meeting is not available to view via our recording). We also discussed water utility cybersecurity risks posed by electronic devices
and strategies for protecting utilities from such attacks.
GIS Tools to Enhance Water Utility Capabilities
Recorded Dec 8, 2022
This meeting features two presentations that showcased how different tools are used
to enhance the capabilities of utility systems. Greg Stumpff, Public Works Supervisor
in Newcastle, Wyoming presents on using GIS as a tool for succession planning and
effective organizational structure. Kristen Zimmerman and Sheldon Bina of Professional Engineering Consultants talk about GIS-based compliance options developed for the Lead and Copper Rule.
Asset management is a systematic approach to managing a water utility's assets and equipment, including keeping the utility in working order and deciding when to replace equipment. Asset management allows the system to accomplish its service goals while sticking to its budget. Asset management is maintaining the desired level of service for the performance you want your assets to provide and the lowest life cycle cost. The lowest life cycle cost is the most appropriate cost for rehabilitating, repairing, or replacing an asset.
Asset management is implemented through an asset management program, usually including
a written asset management plan. The plan's components include steps to determine
the optimal or best time to rehabilitate, repair, or replace aging infrastructure
and assets; deal with rising service demands; overcome opposition to interest rate
increases; mitigate resources that are running out; increase customer service expectations;
deal with increasingly stringent regulatory requirements; respond to emergencies that
resulted in asset failures; and protect facility and wastewater collection system
assets.
Asset management has many advantages. It can extend asset life, help you make decisions
on whether to rehabilitate, repair, or replace equipment through an efficient and
focused operations and maintenance program, help you meet consumer demands while focusing
on system sustainability, enable the utility to set rates based on sound operational
and financial planning; lets you budget for activities that are critical for long-term
performance; help you meet service expectations and regulatory requirements; improve
emergency response time; and improve asset security and safety.
Who Should Attend KS AMUG events?
Anyone with an interest in professional development for Kansas public utility professionals. There is no cost to participate. Water professionals and consultants from Kansas border states are welcome to attend too!
Join The Kansas AMUG Email Listserv
Did you know WSU Environmental Finance Center manages an email Listserv for Kansas water and wastewater professionals? Join the conversation, exchange questions and feedback, and discuss current water industry news with colleagues from across the state. Email Brian Bohnsack, brian.bohnsack@wichita.edu, to sign up.
Contact: Danial Botello, Program Manager, daniel.botello@wichita.edu, (316) 978-7312