Asset management is the practice of managing infrastructure capital assets to minimize the total cost of owning and operating them, while delivering the service level customers desire. This management framework has been widely adopted by the water sector as a means to pursue and achieve sustainable infrastructure.

The following tools explain the benefits of asset management and ways to implement specific asset management practices for small systems.

On this page:

• Factsheets
• Interactive Tools for Owners and Operators
• Operation and Maintenance Resources for Small Drinking Water Systems

Factsheets

• Water System Owner Roles and Responsibilities: A Best Practices Guide
• Water System Operator Roles and Responsibilities: A Best Practices Guide
• Talking to Your Decision Makers: A Best Practices Guide

Interactive Tools for Owners and Operators

Asset Management: A Handbook

Asset Management: A Handbook for Small Public Water Systems – STEP Guide Series (PDF) (EPA 816-R-03-016) This guide is designed for owners and operators of small community water systems (CWSs). CWSs include all systems (both publicly and privately owned) with at least 25 year-round residential customers or 15 year-round service connections.

CUPSS

The Check Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS)
CUPSS is a legacy software application that was developed more than 10 years ago to assist drinking water and wastewater utilities in implementing an asset management plan. CUPSS was developed to run on Windows XP. Some users have reported challenges and compatible issues while trying to work with CUPSS in Windows 7, 8, and 10 operating systems. While still available for use, the tool is no longer being updated and may not compatible with the latest computer operating systems.

Electronic Preventive Maintenance Logs

The Electronic Preventive Maintenance Logs(857 pp, 10 MB)  include interactive pdf files to help operators of small ground water systems record and plan regular maintenance duties.  This file set contains fillable pdf logs for each month, which includes common daily, weekly, and monthly tasks performed by water system operators, as well as a suggested schedule of annual tasks.  Click on the link to download the complete file set.

Download individual log files.  It is highly recommended to download the entire file package in order to access the full schedule of recommended maintenance activities and to avoid accidental loss of data.  Below are the individual files that comprise the file package.  

Knowledge Retention Tool

The Knowledge Retention Tool Spreadsheet for Small Water Systems.xlsx(18 pp, 153 K) is an Excel spreadsheet that helps operators consolidate system information into one location, enabling increased organization and coordination among operators.  Designed to assist in personnel transition, the tool encompasses a wide variety of information that a new or contract operator would need to effectively manage and operate a small water system.

Water System Inventory

Taking Stock of Your Water System: A Simple Asset Inventory for Very Small Drinking Water Systems (PDF) (EPA 816-K-03-002)
This brochure is a guide to help very small water systems, such as manufactured home communities and homeowners associations, assess their condition by preparing a simple asset inventory.

Preventive Maintenance Card File

The Preventive Maintenance Card File for Small Public Water Systems Using Ground Water (EPA 816-B-04-002) provides assistance to operators in recording and planning maintenance activities.

Operation and Maintenance Resources for Small Drinking Water Systems

Effective operations and maintenance support overall system sustainability.

The Operation and Maintenance Resources for Small Drinking Water Systems page includes:

• Information about how to identify treatment technologies that remove multiple contaminants,
• Assistance for developing schedules for maintenance tasks, and
• Checklists and logs for recording findings.