Discriminating technical analysis and rigorous customer consultation have been
the key elements in the development of a Water Distribution System Master Plan
for the City of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. As part of an overall Underground
Infrastructure Master Plan, the City formed a strategic alliance with Stantec
Consulting Ltd. to assist with the long-term planning, management, and operations
of the water distribution, sanitary sewage collection, and storm water collection
systems. The key elements of the planning study included: the development of a
water distribution system model to assist in creating a city-wide understanding
of the distribution system; condition assessments and data collection; planning
and growth assessments; obtaining customer input to help in defining Level of
Service standards to be met or exceeded during water delivery; and systems
analysis and improvement alternative identification. Of critical importance was
the public involvement process. Through a formal process of social learning which
included the use of such tools as customer surveys, public meetings, open houses
and customer focus groups, the City of Lethbridge successfully engaged its
residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and internal customers such
that their expectations regarding levels of service were clearly defined and in
turn were used to determine which improvement alternatives were required. This
paper discusses the approaches used in guiding a focused master plan project
team, in creating an effective system analysis model, and in engaging the
customer in infrastructure issues during the development of a Water Distribution
System Master Plan. Includes table, figures.