Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities
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March 2012

Liquid Assets: The Story of our Water Infrastructure

Posted Wed, 2012/03/07 - 3:15pm by RCAP

"Liquid Assets" is a public media and outreach initiative that seeks to inform the nation about the critical role that our water infrastructure plays in protecting public health and promoting economic prosperity.

Combining a 90-minute documentary, produced by Penn State Public Broadcasting, with a community toolkit for facilitating local involvement, "Liquid Assets" explores the history, engineering, and political and economic challenges of our water infrastructure, and engages communities in local discussion about public water and wastewater issues.

Format: 
Website (with more resources)
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Management
Construction
Infrastructure
Planning
Public policy
Regional cooperation
Source water
Conservation
Source: 
Other nonprofit/organization
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper
State/federal decision-maker

Formulate Great Rates: A self-guided training to setting rates

Posted Wed, 2012/03/07 - 12:46pm by RCAP

This companion to Formulate Great Rates: The Guide to Conducting a Rate Study for a Water System is designed to help users of the print version of the guide better understand the concepts presented through the expertise of public-sector professionals in an easy-to-use, interactive format.

Through the use of short video clips and step-by-step instructions, many of the more challenging segments of the guidebook are further explained.

Format: 
Training materials
Topic: 
Rates
Customer relations/service
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper
Related Resources: 
Formulate Great Rates: The Guide to Conducting a Rate Study for a Water System

Protecting Water Quality by Optimizing the Operations and Maintenance of Distribution Systems

Posted Wed, 2012/03/07 - 11:26am by RCAP
Cover of guide

Provides background information on how to maintain water quality in drinking water distribution systems and treated-water storage facilities by concentrating on common problems and challenges and identifying potential improvements and solutions. The primary audience is operators of water distribution systems at utilities that serve up to 3,300 people, but operators of larger systems and other stakeholders may also find it valuable. Focuses on regulatory requirements and best practices of the drinking water community.

Format: 
Printed guide
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Operator

OnEarth magazine: For those who labor on the richest agricultural land in the nation, clean water is a luxury

Posted Tue, 2012/03/06 - 4:56pm by RCAP

OnEarth magazine, a publication of the Natural Resources Defense Council, has an article posted March 5 that features Seville, Calif. The article states that residents of one of the richest agricultural regions of the world can't drink water from the tap and asks if there a way to fix the problem.

The Ground Water Rule

Posted Tue, 2012/03/06 - 3:10pm by RCAP

Originally published January 21, 2010

Format: 
Magazine/newsletter (single article)
Topic: 
Regulations
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager

How to Take a Water Sample

Posted Tue, 2012/03/06 - 3:08pm by RCAP

The following article is presented by Midwest Assistance Program, (MAP) Inc. MAP is the midwestern affiliate of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership and serves the states of Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska,Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri.

Format: 
Magazine/newsletter (single article)
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Operator

Designing a Project

Posted Tue, 2012/03/06 - 3:06pm by RCAP

The following article is presented by Great Lakes RCAP, the Great Lakes region's affiliate of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership. Great Lakes RCAP serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Designing a Project: The Owner’s Role

Kristin Woodall, Great Lakes RCAP; based upon “Project Development - Design” coursework developed by Kurtis Strickland, Ohio RCAP

Format: 
Magazine/newsletter (single article)
Topic: 
Construction
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Project (construction) manager
Related Resources: 
Getting Your Project to Flow Smoothly: A Guide to Developing Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Building consumer confidence

Posted Tue, 2012/03/06 - 3:01pm by RCAP

It’s that time of year again – time to start working on the Consumer Confidence Reports.

The idea behind the reports, or CCRs, is to help your customers understand what you’re doing to keep their drinking water safe and available. It’s easy enough to just slap raw data onto a sheet, but is that really beneficial to you or your customers?

Format: 
Magazine/newsletter (single article)
Topic: 
Regulations
Customer relations/service
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

Portable testing kits: Good solution?

Posted Tue, 2012/03/06 - 2:59pm by RCAP

Portable testing devices and kits for potentially harmful substances: A cheap and easy solution?

In nearly every case, being a small community means having a small budget. This means funds are tight for nearly every aspect of a utility’s operation, including daily operations and contingency plans.

Format: 
Magazine/newsletter (single article)
Topic: 
Security/emergency-response planning
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Operator
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

Ground Water Rule revisited

Posted Tue, 2012/03/06 - 2:57pm by RCAP

Originally published May 26, 2010

Format: 
Magazine/newsletter (single article)
Topic: 
Regulations
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager