In order to fulfill the fundamental responsibility of water utilities, which is to ensure a stable supply of safe, high-quality water, the Waterworks Bureau has been pushing ahead with drastic management reforms, focusing on measures to increase customer satisfaction and shift away from a high-cost management structure.

In the management reform plan, fiscal 2006 was the year of reform preparation by addressing the management issues stipulated in the Waterworks Bureau Management Policy. The Waterworks Bureau Council of Advisers was established in August 2006 to objectively check the progress of reform from an outsider and expert perspective, and provide advice on all aspects of business operations. The Council held three meetings to discuss the topics “Approach to Bureau management reforms, E“Improving employee morale Eand “Financial challenges, Eoffering invaluable suggestions. (The gist of the proceedings of each meeting is posted on the Waterworks Bureau’s website.)

Since we moved into the execution phase of reform in the current fiscal year, we reorganized the Council of Advisers to a panel consisting entirely of outside experts (previous council members included the Director, Director General, and Directors in charge of divisions, of the Waterworks Bureau). Under the name “Osaka Waterworks Bureau External Evaluation Committee, Ethe new organization focuses on evaluating reform progress and measures.

The Committee consists of four members (who serve a two-year term and can be reappointed), and generally holds three meetings per year. Outsiders Eevaluation and advice from a broad perspective is instrumental in promoting the Bureau’s reforms in a steady and effective manner.

• Osaka Waterworks Bureau External Evaluation Committee Members
• Osamu Ueda : Managing Director, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Yusuke Saraya : President, SARAYA Co., Ltd.
• Yukiko Shinozaki : President, City-Life Institute
• Fumitoshi Mizutani : Professor, Kobe University Graduate School of Business Administration

[Page The Osaka Waterworks Bureau External Evaluation Committee under Management Information under Guide to Waterworks on the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau Website ends here.]