Cascade Water Alliance provides a regional approach to its member entities for developing water supply necessary for current requirements as well as proactive regional water planning to meet future needs. Water conservation is a critical part of Cascade's supply management strategy. According to the Agency’s website, “Conservation helps ensure a reliable supply of drinking water keeps utility operating costs lower and allows more water to stay in streams.” As a result, Cascade provides rebates to homeowners and businesses served by Cascade member agencies to encourage conservation including a toilet replacement program, a clothes washer rebates program, a commercial kitchen program, and irrigation efficiency program.

One of the major challenges facing Cascade today is related to the rebate process, which is cumbersome and time consuming. RNR Consulting was contracted by the agency to analyze and provide recommendations for streamlining Cascade’s rebate system, through assessment of the processes and documents utilized throughout, as well an assessment of the workload of the Agency’s Water Resources Manager and other employees involved in the process.

RNR Consulting utilizes the LEAN approach to improve efficiencies and eliminate waste for Public Agency operations. RNR Consulting has successfully completed a number of projects in which we performed organization assessments, and strategic planning for all of which we developed efficiencies recommendations. The LEAN approach been used to improve customer compliance, increase effective utilization of existing staff, streamline processes, and maximize utilization of operating systems.

In order to meet the goals of this project we utilized Lean tools such as value stream mapping, walk the process, and brainstorming in developing practical solutions for rebate system management improvements.