{"id":877,"date":"2021-01-13T19:20:35","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T19:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swefc.unm.edu\/iamf\/?page_id=877"},"modified":"2026-02-26T21:38:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T21:38:44","slug":"introduction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/swefc.unm.edu\/iamf\/introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Introduction<\/h2>\n

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Asset Management<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Asset management\u00a0is a framework that provides\u00a0water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities with\u00a0tools and practices that can\u00a0assist\u00a0a system in operating,\u00a0maintaining, and managing assets in a cost-effective, sustainable fashion.\u00a0Implementing\u00a0an\u00a0asset management\u00a0program\u00a0provides the information needed to make confident\u00a0technical, managerial, and financial decisions\u00a0while effectively engaging customers and generating cost savings over time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The asset management\u00a0framework\u00a0in this guide\u00a0is for water, wastewater, and stormwater systems of any size that\u00a0seek\u00a0to implement\u00a0asset management practices. The framework\u00a0contains\u00a0all the basic elements of asset management. Systems with only gray assets or systems that have both green and gray assets can use this framework. System employees at all levels,\u00a0regardless of experience with asset management, can\u00a0use this framework, including operations\u00a0and\u00a0management personnel, elected officials, and board members.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Aeration and Clarification\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Image: Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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Integrating\u00a0Green\u00a0Assets<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

The\u00a0Integrated Asset Management Framework, originally developed by\u00a0the Southwest Environmental Finance Center in partnership with Spring Pointe Partners,\u00a0integrates green assets into the existing gray asset management framework.\u00a0This\u00a0unified approach follows the five core components of traditional asset management:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

\"\" Level of\u00a0Service<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\" Current State of the\u00a0Assets<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

<\/span>\"\" Criticality<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\" Life Cycle Costing<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

\"\" Long-Term Funding<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

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In this guide, green assets are defined as\u00a0natural systems and engineered assets that replicate the functions of natural systems.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>It took many years for\u00a0water, wastewater, and stormwater sectors to accept and recognize\u00a0traditional asset management,\u00a0but now that it is standard, green infrastructure can\u00a0benefit\u00a0from fitting into the same established format.\u00a0Systems\u00a0that\u00a0already\u00a0implement\u00a0asset management\u00a0do not need to\u00a0start over.\u00a0Green assets can simply be\u00a0added\u00a0to the existing framework. Implementing\u00a0the integrated gray and green\u00a0framework will help those systems with green assets better align with the approach and strategic\u00a0objectives\u00a0applied by many systems to their gray assets.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Vegetated Swale\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Image: San Antonio River Authority<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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Using This Guide<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

The online format of\u00a0this guide\u00a0is meant to be interactive and allows\u00a0you\u00a0to navigate easily between chapters, sections,\u00a0and subsections. The\u00a0guide\u00a0is separated into six chapters:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n