Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities
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December 2011

USDA Rural Utilities Service Borrower's Guide: A How-to for Water and Wastewater Loans from USDA Rural Development

Cover of guide
Important notice that pertains to Section 2 of this guide (namely CCR registration for borrowers)

CCR is Going Away -- What to Expect (UPDATE)

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Finance
Reporting
Management
Construction
Loans/grants
Borrowing
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper

Sustainable Infrastructure for Small System Public Services: A Planning and Resource Guide

Cover of guide

Rather than presenting theories, this guidebook provides information, worksheets, examples, case studies and resources on water conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy resources for small utilities. This planning and resources guide includes a step-by-step process for utility decision makers, staff and community members wanting to operate increasingly efficient utilities. It offers a flexible approach to evaluating sustainable alternatives for utility operations.

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Management
Construction
Infrastructure
Energy use
Planning
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Plant manager
Mayor/town manager/elected official

Getting Your Project to Flow Smoothly: A Guide to Developing Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Cover of guide

A comprehensive guide on all the steps a project owner (governing body of a utility) should go through in planning, designing and constructing infrastructure. A very detailed how-to on all phases of the process. Includes many pitfalls to avoid. Discusses roles and responsibilities of the parties in a project – owner, engineer, inspector, contractor, etc. Discusses securing funding, how to stay organized, how to maintain control of a project.

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Infrastructure
Finance
Management
Construction
Loans/grants
Planning
Board/council
Borrowing
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Plant manager
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper

Formulate Great Rates: The Guide to Conducting a Rate Study for a Water System

Cover of guide

A guide to developing a fair and equitable rate structure in a small drinking water or wastewater system. Walks users step-by-step through various worksheets in a process to calculate rates. Detailed instructions (including calculations) are provided for each worksheet, which can be completed by hand with worksheets provided in the guide or on electronic versions (Excel spreadsheets) of the worksheets that are available to download below. Also provides guidance on financial management of a system related to rates as a system's income stream.

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Finance
Rates
Management
Planning
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper

Drinking water treatment animations and videos

The multimedia companions to A Drop of Knowledge: The Non-operator's Guide to Drinking Water Systems. Through a series of animated diagrams and short videos, this website shows the various in steps treating drinking water (from a surface water source) at a typical small-community plant from the source through the distribution of the water to customers' homes. This website is the perfect orientation and background for new small utility board members and small community decision makers.

Format: 
Website
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper
Mayor/town manager/elected official

Wastewater treatment animations and videos

The multimedia companions to A Drop of Knowledge: The Non-operator's Guide to Wastewater Systems. Through a series of animated diagrams and short videos, this website shows the various steps in treating wastewater at a typical small-community plant from the time the customer flushes his/her toilet through collection, treatment, and return to source. This website is the perfect orientation and background for new small utility board members and small community decision makers.

Format: 
Website
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper
Mayor/town manager/elected official

A Drop of Knowledge: The Non-operator's Guide to Wastewater Systems

Cover of guide

Explains in simple, everyday language the various components/operations of a small wastewater system from when the customer flushes his/her toilet through collection, treatment, and return to source. This guide and its companion on drinking water treatment systems are the perfect orientation and background guides for new small utility board members and small community decision makers.

Download PDF (14.9 MB)

Format: 
Printed guide
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper

A Drop of Knowledge: The Non-operator's Guide to Drinking Water Systems

Cover of guide

Explains in simple, everyday language the technical aspects of drinking water utilities from source to tap. Describes the various components and operations involved in small drinking water systems, including source, treatment and system of distribution to the customer’s home. This guide and its companion on wastewater treatment are the perfect orientation and background guides for new small utility board members and small community decision makers.

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper

ProPublica: Feds link water contamination to fracking for the first time

by Abrahm Lustgarten and Nicholas Kusnetz ProPublica, Dec. 8, 2011, 8:18 p.m.

In a first, federal environment officials today scientifically linked underground water pollution with hydraulic fracturing, concluding that contaminants found in central Wyoming were likely caused by the gas drilling process.

The findings by the Environmental Protection Agency come partway through a separate national study by the agency to determine whether fracking presents a risk to water resources.

The Basics of Financial Management for Small-Community Utilities

This how-to guide provides an overview of financial management for small-community water utilities, from developing and balancing an expense budget to estimating and collecting revenue. This primer is ideal for a board member of a drinking water or wastewater utility who needs to understand the financial aspects of a utility's operations. The guide explains in very simple, easy-to-understand terms how to read and interpret the common financial statements so more informed decisions can be made with the information that can be gained from them.

The publication enhances:

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Finance
Rates
Management
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper