Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities
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December 2011

U.S. Drought Monitor

Posted Thu, 2011/12/15 - 3:05pm by RCAP

U.S. Drought Monitor

Format: 
Report
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Planning
Security/emergency-response planning
Source water
Source: 
Other government entity
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Plant manager
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) - section on EPA website

Posted Thu, 2011/12/15 - 2:59pm by RCAP

The Consumer Confidence Rule requires public water suppliers that serve the same people year round (community water systems) to provide consumer confidence reports (CCR) to their customers. These reports are also known as annual water-quality reports or drinking water quality reports. The remaining public water systems in the U.S. are not required to provide CCRs, because they do not serve the same people on a day-to-day basis throughout the year.

Format: 
Website
Topic: 
Regulations
Customer relations/service
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Board/council member
Plant manager
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Related Resources: 
Consumer Confidence Report help

Environmental Working Group: Gas-drilling doublespeak

Posted Wed, 2011/12/14 - 5:23pm by RCAP

Landowners say companies kept them in the dark on risks

Washington D.C. (EWG) – Gas drilling companies routinely warn their investors of a litany of possible disasters – such as leaks, spills, explosions, bodily injury and even death – but regularly fail to mention these risks when persuading landowners to sign leases for drilling rights, an Environmental Working Group investigation found.

Study shows cumulative impacts of mountaintop mining on an Appalachian watershed

Posted Wed, 2011/12/14 - 5:19pm by RCAP

A study published in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show the cumulative impacts of mountaintop mining on an Appalachian watershed.

The study's abstract reads:

Consumer Confidence Report help

Posted Wed, 2011/12/14 - 4:39pm by RCAP

This section on the EPA website, titled "Tools for Systems," includes:

  • CCRWriter & CCRiWriter
  • Information to help water systems with their CCRs
  • Public service announcements
  • Drinking water customer satisfaction survey
  • Other tools

The section provides resources for drinking water system owners and operators to assist them in complying with requirements of the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) rule.

Format: 
Website
Topic: 
Regulations
Customer relations/service
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Board/council member
Plant manager

Strategic Planning: A Handbook for Small Water Systems

Posted Wed, 2011/12/14 - 4:28pm by RCAP

One of the Simple Tools for Effective Performance (STEP) Guide Series

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Planning
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

Robert's Rules of Order Online

Posted Wed, 2011/12/14 - 4:24pm by RCAP

The full text of the public-domain version of Robert's Rules of Order; indexed for easy searching

Go to the site

Format: 
Report
Topic: 
Board/council
Source: 
Other nonprofit/organization
Audience: 
Board/council member

Taking Stock of Your Water System: A Simple Asset Inventory for Very Small Drinking Water Systems

Posted Wed, 2011/12/14 - 4:20pm by RCAP

Brochure to guide very small water systems, such as manufactured home communities and homeowners’ associations, in  assessing their condition by preparing a simple asset inventory.

Download the brochure

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Asset management
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper
Plant manager
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

A Guide to Asset Management for Small Water Systems

Posted Wed, 2011/12/14 - 4:16pm by RCAP

Provides information and recommends resources to small water and wastewater system personnel who wish to implement asset-management programs and to those who may assist with this implementation.

29 pages

Download guide

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Asset management
Source: 
National Environmental Services Center
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper
Related Resources: 
Check Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS)
Asset Management: A Handbook for Small Water Systems
Taking Stock of Your Water System: A Simple Asset Inventory for Very Small Drinking Water Systems
Asset Life Expectancy Guide
Managing Your Existing Assets

Asset Management: A Handbook for Small Water Systems

Posted Wed, 2011/12/14 - 4:12pm by RCAP

One of the Simple Tools for Effective Performance (STEP) Guide Series

Designed for owners and operators of small community water systems (CWSs). CWSs include all systems (both publicly and privately owned) with at least 25 year-round residential customers or 15 year-round service connections. Typical systems that may find this guide useful include:

Format: 
Report
Topic: 
Asset management
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper
Related Resources: 
A Guide to Asset Management for Small Water Systems
Taking Stock of Your Water System: A Simple Asset Inventory for Very Small Drinking Water Systems
Check Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS)
Asset Life Expectancy Guide
Managing Your Existing Assets