We all need help.
It’s September. Soon I’ll need help getting my dock out of the water. And far too soon after that my neighbor down the road will be plowing my driveway when it snows. This morning I asked a colleague to help me rework something I wrote yesterday. I just emailed a source to see if they could get me a photo. As soon as I finish writing this, I’ll send it to another editor to review because it’s difficult to edit and proofread your own work.
Sometimes I imagine complete self-sufficiency — living remotely, depending on no one, answering to no one. It’s a good feeling to not have to depend on anyone else. On the other hand, working together is innately human and an integral part of any society or culture. Our ability to serve common goals, to progress, invent and evolve through collaboration is what really sets humans apart, far beyond opposable thumbs. Our combined strength is so much greater than the strength of individual self-sufficiency.
While we shouldn’t rely on others to take care of our every need, we all need a little help sometimes. That’s well known to the people at Inland Empire Utility Agency, which you’ll read about in next month’s issue of Municipal Sewer & Water. The IEUA is a strong utility in its own right, serving over 950,000 residents in a 242-square-mile service area in western San Bernardino County, California.
IEUA is responsible for wastewater treatment on behalf of seven local contracting agencies. These cities and water districts operate their own sewer collection systems, but rely on IEUA for treatment, discharge and regional compliance. Overlapping infrastructure and a shared interest in emergency preparedness brought about the idea of a formalized mutual aid agreement with these entities.
In 2004, the first mutual aid agreement established the basic framework: IEUA customer agencies could call one another for help during SSOs, pump station failures or other collections system emergencies. In 2022, IEUA expanded the program with live-action spill simulation training that prepares crews for the kinds of emergencies they’re most likely to face.
The program’s success, a reflection of the leadership values that guide IEUA’s broader operations, has drawn attention from beyond the Inland Empire. Other utilities have reached out for guidance on starting similar programs, and IEUA has shared templates, contact lists and training outlines. But one of the most lasting impacts of the program, leaders say, has been its effect on workplace culture and its ability to instill a sense of pride and belonging.
Working together and helping each other makes a difference. Here’s hoping it does for you.
Enjoy this month’s issue.
