O&M Manuals - An Essential for Management & Compliance - Drinking Water Partners Spring Training

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Aria

O&M Manuals: An Essential for Management & Compliance outlines how operator manuals preserve water-system knowledge through clear procedures, protocols, and guidelines. It defines the purpose of an O&M manual—stating what to do, how to do it, and when—while identifying who uses it. The material lists Oregon public water system requirements, evaluation cycles, staff training expectations, and the operational benefits of efficiency, consistency, communication, risk management, accountability, and continuity. It also provides a detailed content checklist including emergency contacts, routine task schedules, monitoring forms, safety protocols, permits, equipment manuals, and reporting.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages37

Reading Time1 h 33 min

AccessFree to download

O&M manual purpose and structure

What, how, when for operators (who)

Operational benefits and governance

O&M manual requirements (OAR 333-061-0065)

Required evaluations and included procedures

Training expectations

O&M manual content checklist

Contacts, schedules, forms, monitoring, safety, and records

O&M Manuals: An Essential for Management & Compliance Drinking Water Partners Spring Training May 8, 2024 Nicole Alfafara Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services An Essential for Management & Compliance PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION Drinking Water Services 2 • O&M manual: a comprehensive, “how-to” document outlining procedures, protocols, and guidelines for operating, maintaining, and managing a water system. • Purpose: Preserve and store system knowledge into established procedures and protocols to ensure the entire system is safely, consistently, and properly operated and well-maintained. PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION Drinking Water Services 3 • O&M Manual → Customized application of Adair’s renowned ActionCentered Leadership philosophy for the dynamics of water system management. • \ It outlines WHAT needs to be done, HOW to do it and WHEN…for water system operators (the WHO ) . PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION Drinking Water Services 4 • An O&M Manual outlines WHAT needs to be done, HOW to do it, and WHEN…for water system operators (the WHO) . – Detailed Protocols/Instructions for Routine Tasks = What / How / When.↑ Operational Efficiency & Productivity ↓ Error or Accidents ↑ Clarity / ↑ Communication of Expectations ↑ Consistency / Standardization ↑ System Understanding ↑ Risk Management ↑ Assets Management / Budget Planning Insight – Reference Guide/Training Resource for Operators = Who. ↑ Accountability ↑ Continuity / ↓ Loss of System Knowledge PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION Drinking Water Services 5 O&M Manual Requirements OAR 333-061-0065(4) • All public water systems must have a water system O&M manual. • Must be evaluated every 5 years. • Must include (but not limited to) procedures for: • Source operation and maintenance • Water treatment operation and maintenance • Reservoir operation and maintenance • Distribution system operation and maintenance • Written standard operating procedures for operators • Staff must be trained in the use of O&M manual. PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION Drinking Water Services 6 Mayhem is not limited to “emergencies”; it can strike any day. PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION Drinking Water Services An Essential for Management & Compliance …BUT also protection from mayhem. PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION Drinking Water Services 9 • System Contact Information List / Emergency Notification List • Weekly Tasks: Weekly/Monthly/Quarterly/Rainy-Day • Season Start Up / Shut Down Procedures • Monitoring and Sampling Forms • Laboratory Testing Information • Record and Reporting Protocols • Safety Protocols • Best Management Practices • Inventory List (equipment, vehicles, tools, chemicals, spare parts, supplies, etc. ) • Equipment Manufacturer’s Manuals & Warranties • Maintenance Information and Schedule • Permits / Ordinances • Fact Sheets PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION Drinking Water Services 10

FAQs

What is the primary purpose of an O&M manual for a water system?

It preserves and stores system knowledge in established procedures and protocols to ensure the system is operated safely, consistently, and properly. It also supports ongoing maintenance and management.

What must public water systems include in their O&M manuals?

They must include procedures for source operation and maintenance, water treatment operation and maintenance, reservoir operation and maintenance, and distribution system operation and maintenance, along with written standard operating procedures. Staff must also be trained in using the manual.

How often does an O&M manual need to be evaluated?

The manual must be evaluated every 5 years.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Aria