WET 230 - Water/Wastewater Utility Management

Credits: 3

Investigates, in depth, the management elements of planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling as they relate to the management, supervision and administration of Water and Wastewater facilities. Presents management styles, problem recognition and problem solving techniques, budget and report preparation activities, federal and state regulatory issues, employee/employer (labor/management) relations and leadership topics.

Prerequisite(s): READING LEVEL 2 and WRITING LEVEL 2 and MATH LEVEL 3 and WET 110 and WET 112 or permission of instructor
Corequisite(s): None
Lecture Hours: 45 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: None
Pass/NoCredit: Yes

Outcomes and Objectives

Describe the five basic management elements.
1. List the five management elements and the sub-elements of each.
2. Describe the activities of planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling as management responsibilities and the management duties of a "real" management position.
Demonstrate understanding of a variety of management styles.
1. Distinguish between McGregor's "Theory X-Theory Y" manager
2. List and define the five basic (Blake/Mouton) managerial styles
Provide solutions to deal with the problems.
1. Define the steps of a basic problem solving procedure.
2. Apply the problem solving procedure to a typical management situation, determine the problem and identify problem solution alternatives.
Establish a working budget for a typical “publicly owned water or wastewater” utility.
1. Define the primary budgeting areas and the items included there in.
2. Assemble the budget into a “typical” format for submittal and presentation.
3. Be able to verbally present the budget in summary form.
Discuss the major regulatory issues surrounding the production and distribution of potable water supplies (Safe Drinking Water Act),
1. List the major Environmental (such as: SDWA, CWA, ICR, RCRA, TOSCA, GLI, IPP) laws relating the Water/Wastewater fields.
2. Discuss the major laws; their intent and impact on the regulated community and end users.
3. Draw conclusions as to the merits and benefits these laws relative to the Health Safety and Welfare of today’s society.
Discuss required practices (mandated by the Clean Water Act) related to pollution control programs.
1. List the major Environmental (such as: SDWA, CWA, ICR, RCRA, TOSCA, GLI, IPP) laws relating theWater/Wastewater fields.
2. Discuss the major laws; their intent and impact on the regulated community and end users.
3. Draw conclusions as to the merits and benefits these laws relative to the Health Safety and Welfare of today’s society.
Discuss the impacts of employee/management relations.
1. Read and interpret a “real life” job description.
2. Understand and implement the method of employee goal setting process of Management By Objective (MBO)
3. Conduct an employee “Job Performance Review”
4. Understand the roles of participants in quality improvement activities (quality circles, TQM, TQT, etc.).
5. Initiate and conduct an employee disciplinary action, from a management perspective. This role playing exercise is intended to expose the student to the most difficult relationship between employee and employer. The class will investigate the dynamics of this process and the attitudes of both parties.
6. Explain the impacts of substance abuse, tardiness, general and sexual harassment of co-workers, theft from work, falsification of documents.
Discuss the characteristics of “successful” leaders.
1. List and discuss the traits and skills of successful leaders.
2. Determine which of the successful leadership traits/skills he/she may already have.
3. Know how to acquire those “leadership” traits/skills he/she may not have.
4. Inspire and build leaders of employees who are yet to come under the influence our student/”leaders-in-training”.