The Eastern Municipal Water District implemented the Essential Suite software to help comply with regulatory requirements, address limitations in their existing system, and improve various compliance processes. The system created a central data repository, generated direct benefits that exceeded the initial costs within two years, and is projected to save $1.3 million over seven years. It helps the district efficiently manage regulatory compliance obligations.

1. EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER
Public Utility Industry
The Challenge
• Comply with pending requirement
mandating electronic data transfer
of regulatory information
• Address existing system limitations,
including lack of scalability,
reporting limitations and lack of a
central repository
The Solution
• Essential WaterTM
• Essential Compliance ManagerTM
• Essential Task ManagerTM
The Results
• Savings, efficiencies exceed initial
system cost within 2 years
• Generates direct benefits projected
at $1.3 million over 7 years
• Central repository that provides
efficient data retrieval
• Updated a variety of outdated
compliance processes
Eastern Municipal Water District’s Compliance System
Earns Payback in 2 Years, Projected Savings $1.3 Million
For more than 50 years, the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) has helped support the transformation
of a sparsely-populated agricultural area into a thriving Southern California residential community. Managers
at California’s fifth largest water district work diligently to ensure compliance with state and federal water
quality regulations. A key component of its compliance program is ESS Essential SuiteTM
software –
specifically the Essential WaterTM
, Essential Compliance ManagerTM
and Essential Task ManagerTM
modules.
EMWD’s strategic goal is to protect the health and safety of the public while delivering seven key services:
water delivery and treatment; supply development and management; wastewater collection and treatment;
recycled water sales and delivery; capital improvement and facilities development; service connections to
potable water; and billing and collections. Effective information management is imperative to EMWD’s ability
meet its compliance obligations while operating as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
EMWD initiated a project to study its existing business practices and systems related to water, wastewater
and air regulatory and management processes. A careful review of its compliance procedures showed that
EMWD’s existing processes could not address a host of data management issues including: the pending
state requirement for electronic data transfer of verified compliance activity, lack of a central data repository,
inadequate system scalability, and insufficient reporting tools to facilitate data analysis.
Among the EMIS project’s objectives are:
▪ Improved ability for staff to manage compliance
requirements, including deadline adherence;
▪ Ability to easily extract historical data;
▪ Provide alerts to notify managers about data out of limit;
▪ Ability to manage business systems (SCADA or LIMS)
▪ Enable use of handheld devices for system interface;
▪ Improved data validation, quality and security; and
▪ Ability to enforce data change control and audit changes.
After rigorous evaluation, EMWD’s team of executives,
managers, staff and outside consultants selected ESS’
Essential Suite as the “software of choice.” Benefits of the
utility’s EMIS project include:
▪ Creation of a central repository that facilitates fast and
efficient data retrieval for managers.
▪ Combined cost savings and efficiencies that covered
the initial project investment within two years
▪ Benefits totaling a projected $1.3 million over 7 years.
Essential Suite’s low total cost of ownership is enabling
EMWD to save money while driving operational
improvements and meeting its compliance challenge.
ESS ● T: 800.289.6116 or 480.346.5500 ● F: 480.346.5599 ● www.ess-home.com