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City of Atlanta, Georgia
Mayor Bill Campbell
Population: 401,907 City Contact:
DESCRIPTION
OF PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENT The City of Atlanta entered into a long-term 20-year Partnership with United
Water Services Atlanta (UWSA) for operation and maintenance of the City's water
supply. UWSA will operate two conventional water treatment plants with a
combined supply capacity of 192-mgd. The facilities employ advanced treatment
technology, including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection
processes. The water system, including the plants and distribution system, is
over 100 years old and still functions well. UWSA will also be responsible for a
distribution system consisting of 2,200 miles of service mains and feeder lines;
as well as customer service, including meter reading and revenue collections.
The contracting entity, UWSA, is a joint venture consisting of United Water
Systems and Williams-Russell & Johnson, a local minority architectural and
engineering firm. ESTIMATED/ACTUAL COST SAVINGS— Capital
Upgrades, Consumer Rates, and Fees
United Water pledged $9 million of added value upgrades in its proposal, and
has already invested more than $4 million in improvements, including a new
computerized customer service system, network installations, and software
upgrades. The projected savings from the Partnership are estimated to reach $400
million over the 20-year life of the project, a 45 percent savings. The value of
the overall project was estimated at $428 million. No concession fees were paid
and the City has retained rate-setting responsibilities.
LABOR
RELATIONS All public employees working at the facility were offered employment by UWSA
with equal or better pay and benefits packages. Employee training has been
enhanced with improved opportunities for career development. UWSA guaranteed no
employee layoffs for the life of the contract. Currently, 417 employees work at
the two plants and are represented by AFSCME. The signed contract between UWSA
and AFSCME represents the first agreement in Georgia between a private sector
employer and a municipal union. |
J. Thomas Cochran, Executive Director
1620 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
Telephone (202) 293-7330, FAX (202) 293-2352
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