This standard describes the critical elements of effective business practices for the operation and management of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water utilities (to be referred to as the water sector). It encompasses the major functions necessary to manage and sustain a successful utility.

The purpose of this standard is to establish criteria for how the water sector develops, measures the performance of, and improves the strategic planning, resource management, and support functions necessary to create and sustain a high-performing organization. This standard describes the framework that successful utilities should use in developing and improving the performance of these business practices, including the establishment of policies and performance standards, the creation of functions and practices, the development of organization capacity and technology, and integration of functions and practices with the larger organization and its strategies.

This standard can be referenced in the development and evaluation of the business practices described in Sec. 1.1. The stipulations of this standard apply when this document has been referenced and then only to the business practices described in Sec. 1.1.