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A sustainability index within water and wastewater management in Sweden : An evaluation of eight case studies

Najar, Nasik and Persson, Kenneth M. LU (2021) In Water 13(14).
Abstract

A sustainability index (SI) is a benchmark for guiding the activities of municipal water and wastewater (W and WS) utilities toward sustainability. The SI has been used in Sweden since 2014 as an internal benchmark management tool facilitating the strategic work of organizations. This study assesses how the SI was applied in practice by eight utilities (Orgs 1–8) from 2015 to 2019. The study was performed using in-depth semi-structured interviews with managers of the utilities and analyzing 32 SI reports and other documents. The utilities generally perform better in all parameters compared with the national average. Three utilities had improved results during the study period, while the other five had unchanged development. Five... (More)

A sustainability index (SI) is a benchmark for guiding the activities of municipal water and wastewater (W and WS) utilities toward sustainability. The SI has been used in Sweden since 2014 as an internal benchmark management tool facilitating the strategic work of organizations. This study assesses how the SI was applied in practice by eight utilities (Orgs 1–8) from 2015 to 2019. The study was performed using in-depth semi-structured interviews with managers of the utilities and analyzing 32 SI reports and other documents. The utilities generally perform better in all parameters compared with the national average. Three utilities had improved results during the study period, while the other five had unchanged development. Five utilities use the SI index to improve their performance, and three use the SI results to grade the organization. All utilities are concerned with sustainability and wish to improve their performance. The study found that the parameter “Status of W and WS fixed facilities” was the furthest from sustainability. The study also clarifies that the technical committee has the primary responsibility to ensure that the technical office meets the sustainability objectives.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Ensure sustainability, Fixed facilities, Parameters, Reinvestment fund, Sustainability index, Wand WS management in Sweden
in
Water
volume
13
issue
14
article number
1879
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • scopus:85111114578
ISSN
2073-4441
DOI
10.3390/w13141879
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b724d19d-92a2-4714-899b-e86d8e1e5646
date added to LUP
2022-01-13 11:39:34
date last changed
2023-03-25 01:21:52
@article{b724d19d-92a2-4714-899b-e86d8e1e5646,
  abstract     = {{<p>A sustainability index (SI) is a benchmark for guiding the activities of municipal water and wastewater (W and WS) utilities toward sustainability. The SI has been used in Sweden since 2014 as an internal benchmark management tool facilitating the strategic work of organizations. This study assesses how the SI was applied in practice by eight utilities (Orgs 1–8) from 2015 to 2019. The study was performed using in-depth semi-structured interviews with managers of the utilities and analyzing 32 SI reports and other documents. The utilities generally perform better in all parameters compared with the national average. Three utilities had improved results during the study period, while the other five had unchanged development. Five utilities use the SI index to improve their performance, and three use the SI results to grade the organization. All utilities are concerned with sustainability and wish to improve their performance. The study found that the parameter “Status of W and WS fixed facilities” was the furthest from sustainability. The study also clarifies that the technical committee has the primary responsibility to ensure that the technical office meets the sustainability objectives.</p>}},
  author       = {{Najar, Nasik and Persson, Kenneth M.}},
  issn         = {{2073-4441}},
  keywords     = {{Ensure sustainability; Fixed facilities; Parameters; Reinvestment fund; Sustainability index; Wand WS management in Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{14}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Water}},
  title        = {{A sustainability index within water and wastewater management in Sweden : An evaluation of eight case studies}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w13141879}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/w13141879}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}