Sacramento County, California, is different from other California countiesbecause it has a large Public Works Agency (PWA). This Agency provides municipal services to a population of 750,000.The PWA has undergone major organizational changes in the past 6 years, beginning with the transformation from its historical command and control management to total quality management and the restructuring of the Agency and each of its departments. The PWA is actively changing its management and operation visions, goals, structures, and work practices to strengthen the organization and has initiated a progressive organizational strengthening program to improve business processes across the PWA Department of Water Quality. This paper describes the various components of this long-term organizational strengthening program. Includes figure.