Sonoma County Water Agency News
Water Agency Receives
Global Standardization Certifications
Only one of two water utilities in the nation to receive ISO certifications
By Amy Bolten, Public Affairs
The Sonoma County Water Agency on January 10 joined the ranks of Fortune 500 companies and only one other public water utility in the nation to become certified under the rigorous standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The ISO is a global federation of national standards bodies from approximately 100 countries. Today, ISO standards are accepted worldwide as the method by which manufacturers and service providers can achieve maximum convenience and efficiency in the exchange of goods and services. The Water Agency received ISO certification under both the Quality Management System – ISO 9001 and Environmental Management System – ISO 14001.
"The Water Agency has achieved an extraordinary milestone within the public water utility and business industries by successfully receiving ISO certifications,” said Water Agency Board of Directors Chair Efren Carrillo. “The ISO certifications illustrate that the Water Agency is operating and managing our Russian River water supply system according to the most advanced business and industry standards in the world.”
In order to receive the ISO certifications, the Water Agency underwent an intensive four year examination process by independent ISO auditors to identify areas of improvement in water supply operations (ISO 9001) and environmental impacts (ISO 14001). The ISO certification process requires continual review and improvement in both areas, forcing the Water Agency out of a “business as usual” model and into a continual “raising of the bar” operations model. Through these two certifications, the Water Agency underwent a series of improvements including internal standardization, streamlining of internal processes, benchmarking of operational and environmental impacts and increased awareness of customer satisfaction.
“We congratulate the Sonoma County Water Agency's recent attainment of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications,” said Dick Herman, president of the local manufacturing organization 101MFG. “This demonstrates the organization's understanding that quality is a management philosophy that starts with the Water Agency meeting its customers' needs, and extends through constantly improving process, product and people to achieve a plentiful water supply for the future."
ISO 9001 focuses on business performance and customer satisfaction and demonstrates that the Water Agency is operating to a high degree of operational excellence, efficiency and accountability.
ISO 14001 dictates standards regarding the Water Agency's environmental impact and certification ensures that environmental impact, stewardship and awareness has been integrated into every aspect of its water supply operations.
For more information on ISO, please visit
Sonoma County Water Agency provides water supply, flood protection and sanitation services for portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. Visit us on the Web at
Labels: News and Politics: SONOMA COUNTY
