Independent review praises SAWS capital performance but flags governance and communications gaps

SAWS reported that Williams Consulting Partners completed phase‑1 of a capital improvement program efficiency and effectiveness study and that the SAWS board accepted the report Sept. 1. Staff summarized the findings to council: compared with similar utilities SAWS demonstrated strong capital performance on indicators such as committing 75% of the 2025 CIP within the first year and a historical change‑order rate of about 1.3% on a large construction budget. The study nonetheless identified opportunities to strengthen governance, communication, planning and stakeholder engagement.

SAWS staff said phase‑2 has started and will include stakeholder interviews and a deeper look at processes; the board expanded its capital projects committee to include two community individuals to help oversee the effort. Councilmembers requested an executive summary and project‑level follow up on projects that required rework and asked SAWS to provide metrics and clearer communication strategies for neighborhoods affected by major projects.

"Where the study validates what SAWS is doing well, we should say so. Where it identifies opportunities to improve, we should do so," SAWS presenters said.