UTILITY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

The Utility Management Institute is an outgrowth of a partnership between Kentucky Rural Water Association and Western Kentucky University.  The Center for Water Resource Studies (originally the Technical Assistance Center for Water Quality) at WKU has joined with KRWA in a program mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996.  Funded by EPA, WKU’s Center for Water Resource Studies is one of several such centers established in various regions of the United States.  Originally intended to focus on compliance assistance needs of small water systems, the program was quickly expanded to serve wastewater management training needs, as well.

The UMI offers training to managers and those interested in becoming managers of both water and wastewater utilities.  Through a set of six courses, the graduates of the program   gain practical university-based training in the field of utility management.  Completion of all six courses in this progressive management training earns the graduate the “professional designation” of UMP (Utility Management Professional).  As of today, 319 water and wastewater professionals have taken part in the Utility Management Institute, including 151 UMP graduates.

The courses in the Utility Management Institute include:

• Utility Management 101
• Utility Organization, Regulation, & Law
• Utility Finance and Administration
• Human Resource Management For Utilities
• Modern Technology and Utility Management
• Public Relations in Utility Management