Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities
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April 2012

EPA's activities for Earth Day

Posted Fri, 2012/04/20 - 10:22am by RCAP

Earth Day is April 22, and EPA is excited to share many opportunities with you to celebrate and engage!

Join the conversation! We've created a place for you to talk about environmental issues and share environmental tips you use every day.

First watch the video

Then start a discussion or join an existing one

Six Words for the Planet

USDA's online Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America

Posted Fri, 2012/04/20 - 9:54am by RCAP

The atlas is an online mapping tool that captures a broad range of demographic, economic and agricultural data on rural areas across the United States. The Atlas of Rural and Small-town America, developed by USDA’s Economic Research Service, provides county-level mapping of more than 60 statistical indicators depicting conditions and trends across different types of non-metropolitan regions.

Format: 
Website (with more resources)
Topic: 
Planning
Public policy
Source: 
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
Audience: 
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
State/federal decision-maker

Mark Drinking Water Week in May

Posted Wed, 2012/04/18 - 11:14am by RCAP

Drinking Water Week is May 6 to 12. This annual event has been sponsored by the American Water Works Association, a close partner of RCAP, for more than 30 years.

Format: 
Magazine/newsletter (single article)
Topic: 
Customer relations/service
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager
Related Resources: 
A Drop of Knowledge: The Non-operator's Guide to Drinking Water Systems
A Drop of Knowledge: The Non-operator's Guide to Wastewater Systems

8 Steps for Vulnerability Assessment

Posted Tue, 2012/04/17 - 2:46pm by RCAP

A single sheet listing eight items that should be completed in order to ensure that your drinking water or wastewater utility is thoroughly assessed for vulnerability.

The attractive layout makes it ideal to use in these ways:

Format: 
Checklist/how-to
File Attachments: 
application/pdf icon8_steps_for_vuln_assess.pdf
Topic: 
Security/emergency-response planning
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager
Related Resources: 
8 Steps for Emergency Preparedness
The Big Guide for Small Systems: A Resource for Board Members

8 Steps for Emergency Preparedness

Posted Tue, 2012/04/17 - 2:23pm by RCAP

A single sheet listing eight items that should be completed in order to ensure that your drinking water or wastewater utility is prepared for an emergency.

The attractive layout makes it ideal to use in these ways:

Format: 
Checklist/how-to
File Attachments: 
application/pdf icon8_steps_for_emer_prep.pdf
Topic: 
Security/emergency-response planning
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper
Related Resources: 
8 Steps for Emergency Preparedness
The Big Guide for Small Systems: A Resource for Board Members

Website to see lists of chemicals used by participating fracking companies

Posted Tue, 2012/04/17 - 11:36am by RCAP

FracFocus is the national hydraulic fracturing chemical registry.

FracFocus is managed by the Ground Water Protection Council and Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, two organizations whose missions both revolve around conservation and environmental protection.

Format: 
Website (with more resources)
Topic: 
Source water
Source: 
Other nonprofit/organization
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager
State/federal decision-maker

EPA webinar: Innovative energy-conservation measures at wastewater treatment facilities

Posted Tue, 2012/04/17 - 11:26am by RCAP

On Thursday, May 17, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST, EPA will host a webinar on innovative energy-conservation measures at wastewater treatment facilities. Improving energy efficiency is an ongoing challenge for water-sector utilities. While energy costs often represent 25 to 30 percent of a plant's total operation and maintenance costs, they also represent the largest controllable cost of providing water and wastewater services.

Human health benchmarks for pesticides in water published

Posted Tue, 2012/04/17 - 11:24am by RCAP

EPA has published a table of human health benchmarks for approximately 350 pesticides to enable states, water systems and the public to better determine whether the detection of a pesticide in drinking water or source waters for drinking water may indicate a potential health risk. Advanced testing methods now allow pesticides to be detected in water at very low levels. These small amounts of pesticides detected in drinking water or source water for drinking water do not necessarily indicate a health risk.

Finding Direction for Your Distribution Flushing Program: Or Simply Finding a Program

Posted Tue, 2012/04/17 - 9:21am by RCAP

Distribution system flushing programs have been around for a long, long time. In a nutshell, these programs provide systems with an organized way to clean out the rust and other sediments that have settled in the water lines over the years. Whether water system crews simply crack open a few fire hydrants around town or have spent a great deal of time devising an in-depth unidirectional flushing program (UFP), it’s a sure bet that if your system hasn’t been flushed for awhile your water quality will suffer.

Format: 
Magazine/newsletter (single article)
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Operator
Plant manager
Related Resources: 
Protecting Water Quality by Optimizing the Operations and Maintenance of Distribution Systems
Water Quality in Small Community Distribution Systems: A Reference Guide for Operators

Feeling the Heat of a Boil Order

Posted Tue, 2012/04/17 - 9:18am by RCAP

You've heard it said before "a watched pot never boils."

However, anyone working in the drinking water industry can tell you that even the most closely monitored water treatment system will eventually experience the need to issue a boil water order.

According to a recent study, the nation’s 880,000 miles of active water mains experience roughly 240,000 breaks each year. If you consider that there are roughly 160,000 water systems operating in the U.S., that means each system will have to deal with at least 1.5 breaks each year.

Format: 
Magazine/newsletter (single article)
Topic: 
Customer relations/service
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager
Related Resources: 
Anatomy of a boil order
Public Notification Checklist (Boil Order)