UTILITY DISTRICTS

Facility Operations

Our operations and utility management staff are led by an exceptionally talented, experienced and hands on management team who keep our clients and customers as their first priority. Over our many years in the industry, we’ve built an exceptional operational capability and compliance record in facility & utility operations.

Our TCEQ licensed and certified water and wastewater operators are skilled in ground and surface water operations, plant startups and expansions. Our expertise includes:

• Surface water plants & surface water conversions
• A wide range of wastewater facilities up to 11 MGD
• Pump station and levee management
• Plant startups and expansions
• Pre-purchase walkthroughs with TCEQ

We’ve also been instrumental in implementing pilot study programs that raise the standard of first-class operations.

Utility Operations

Our operations and utility management staff are led by an exceptionally talented, experienced and hands on management team who keep our clients and customers as their first priority. Over our many years in the industry, we’ve built an exceptional operational capability and compliance record in facility & utility operations.

Our TCEQ licensed and certified water and wastewater operators are skilled in ground and surface water operations, plant startups and expansions. Our expertise includes:

• Surface water plants & surface water conversions
• A wide range of wastewater facilities up to 11 MGD
• Pump station and levee management
• Plant startups and expansions
• Pre-purchase walkthroughs with TCEQ

We’ve also been instrumental in implementing pilot study programs that raise the standard of first-class operations.

Preventative Maintenance

Our preventive maintenance programs performed by our professional staff provides the care and servicing needed to ensure that all equipment and facilities are always maintained in exceptional operating condition. We provide systematic inspection, detection and correction of failures either before they occur or before they develop into major defects. Our preventive maintenance program also includes testing, measurements, adjustments and parts replacement, performed specifically to prevent faults from occurring. The primary goal of preventive maintenance is to avoid or mitigate the consequences of failed equipment through proactive measures, and at Si Environmental we excel in these measures for our clients. Our staff has over 30 years of experience providing maintenance services including:

• Smoke Testing
• Inflow/Infiltration Studies
• Valve & Manhole Surveys, Sealing & Adjustments
• Flow Monitoring
• Lift Station Cleaning

Repairs & Maintenance

Si Environmental is one of the few organizations in our industry that performs repairs and maintenance using our own in-house teams. Our experience has shown that by utilizing in-house teams we’re able to have a single source solution for our clients, improve accountability, reduce excess costs, and provide consistently high customer satisfaction. Our in-house capabilities include:

• Concrete/Landscape Crews
• TV/Vactor Crews
• Electrical Technicians
• Chlorine Technicians
• Diesel Technicians
• Pump & Motor Crews
• Spin Doctor Crews

24-hours Service & Repair Hotline

Our Customer Care department provides fast and efficient service to your customers. We make available a number of customer service channels including telephone, email, chat and web self-service portals. In addition, we have managers and supervisors on call 24/7 to assist with any issue that may need to be escalated to a higher level so that decisions can be made in a timely manner to enhance our customer service experience. Our customer care services include a 24/7 emergency service hotline and 24/7 customer billing service line. We closely track our performance scorecard to provide your customers with exceptional support. Our most recent metrics show:

• Average speed to answer per call (Currently avg. 23 seconds)
• Average first call resolution time (Currently avg. 126 seconds)

Online Bill Review and Payments

Our full-service, in-house customer billing solution includes an in-house billing department for invoice creation and presentation with full accounting and quality controls for all billing processes. In addition to paper billing, your customers are provided online account options with paperless invoicing. We also offer many different types of payment options for your customers including:

• Credit Card / Recurring Credit Card Payments (Fee)
• eCheck / Recurring ACH Payments (Fee)
• Pay-by-Phone (IVR - Interactive Voice Response System)
• Wal-Mart, Most Super Markets and Western Union Payments
• Online Bill-Pay through Customer’s personal bank account (electronic)
• Lockbox and Drop-box for paper checks
• In-Person at our office (no cash accepted)

Meter Reading & Auditing

We maintain all the necessary fleet, equipment and staff to provide comprehensive water meter reading and auditing services to our clients throughout our Houston service areas. Our meter reading service has a 99.8% accuracy and encompasses all of the following:

• Near real-time reads captured via mobile devices with read analysis on-site
• Digital photos attached to customer accounts on exceptions
• Previous reads not visible to meter readers
• All reads audited for accuracy
• All exceptions are reviewed and re-read if deemed necessary
• Quality control reads performed by a supervisor
• Reads are tracked to ensure we maintain the highest accuracy
• View meter reads and usage online
• View billing history online
• Performed by in-house personnel for quality control and accuracy

Billing, Collections & Remittance

Our full-service, in-house customer billing solution includes:

• A Billing department for invoice creation and presentment with full accounting and quality controls for all billing processes
• Online account options with paperless invoicing
• Full delinquent activity monitoring based on district rate order
• The ability to tag and/or disconnect based on simplified or complex criteria
• The ability to configure payment plans or agreements based on daily or disaster recovery needs

Regulatory Compliance

Our regulatory and compliance department has a long-standing relationship with the TCEQ and remains on top of all regulatory changes. Our staff is highly versed in appropriate procedures and reporting that includes:

• Accurate and timely filing of required reports to all local, state, and federal levels
• Peer review inspections
• Consumer Confidence Reporting
• Safety and compliance tracking
• Continual training of operational staff on new rules and regulations
• FEMA reporting

Our experience has earned us the respect of TCEQ regulators in Austin as well as local municipalities alike.

Water & Sewer Taps

Si Environmental is one of the few organizations that has invested in dedicated staff to serve utility districts that are still in the early stages of development. The department represents a complete partnership with the building community including developers, builders, plumbers, sub-contractors and licensed irrigators. In our experience, this type of partnership has proven vital to the success of a development by protecting the interests of all parties. It also reduces damage to district utilities and back charges to builders.

Professional Inspections

Our builder services department provides a complete TCEQ plumbing Inspection service that includes:

• Pre and Post-Lot Builder Surveys
• Sanitary Sewer Inspections
• Customer Service Inspection
• Backflow Prevention Assembly Tests (BPAT)
• Swimming Pool Inspections
• Complete A/R Back Charge Program

Asset Management

Our primary objective in water operations is to ensure the longevity, reliability, and efficiency of your critical water infrastructure. This involves regular inspections, condition assessments, and maintenance activities to identify and address potential issues before they escalate. By integrating modern technologies and data-driven approaches, we can optimize asset performance, reduce water losses, and enhance the overall operational efficiency of your systems. Additionally, our asset management efforts support your long-term planning and investment decisions to allocate resources wisely and prioritize projects that improve service quality, sustainability, and resilience in the face of challenges like climate change and population growth. Our robust asset management practices play a crucial role in meeting the increasing demands for water services while ensuring the preservation of this precious and finite resource for future generations.

Water Quality Improvement Strategies

As a leading water operations company, we are committed to enhancing your water quality through a range of innovative and effective strategies. Our dedicated team of experts employs cutting-edge technologies and advanced treatment processes to remove contaminants, ensuring that the water we deliver surpasses all regulatory standards for safety and purity. Through continuous water quality monitoring and analysis, we can promptly identify any deviations and respond with appropriate corrective actions. As part of our core services, we offer tailored solutions to address specific water quality challenges faced by different communities and industries, all while promoting sustainable practices and fostering a culture of water conservation. Our unwavering commitment to water quality improvement empowers our clients to enjoy clean, reliable, and safe water, creating a positive impact on public health, the environment, and overall quality of life.