Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities
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May 2012

Fact sheet on economic benefits of protecting healthy watersheds

Posted Wed, 2012/05/30 - 4:33pm by RCAP

EPA has produced a fact sheet as part of its Healthy Watersheds initiative describing the economic benefits of protecting healthy watersheds by highlighting examples from existing peer-reviewed literature and studies. EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Initiative is intended to protect the nation’s remaining healthy watersheds, prevent them from becoming impaired, and accelerate restoration successes.

Format: 
Fact sheet/overview
Topic: 
Watersheds
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
State/federal decision-maker

Five things you can do to save on energy in your utility

Posted Wed, 2012/05/30 - 12:13pm by RCAP

How can a drinking water or wastewater system in a rural community become more energy-efficient and, at the same time, reduce its operating budget? There are a few quick answers and easy targets in the pursuit to conserve energy. However, as with most changes to procedures, there are caveats and a few potential hazards lurking that you must take into account should you decide to address your energy usage.

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

EPA and Department of Veterans Affairs to connect veterans with jobs in water sectors

Posted Wed, 2012/05/30 - 10:56am by RCAP

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program announced today a memorandum of understanding to connect veterans with disabilities to career opportunities in the water and wastewater sectors -- such as at wastewater plants and drinking water facilities -- as part of EPA’s Water Sector Workforce Initiative.

EPA's website for Determining Energy Usage

Posted Wed, 2012/05/23 - 4:35pm by RCAP

By determining baseline energy use, water and wastewater utility managers and operators can better understand their electricity provider's rate structure and how their current operations impact energy costs within that structure. Further, energy-intensive processes such as pumping and aeration can be identified and prioritized for improvement.

Format: 
Website (with more resources)
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper

Utah's Deseret News has three-part series on impacts of the West's shrinking water supply

Posted Wed, 2012/05/23 - 11:48am by RCAP

Utah's Deseret News is running a three-part series on the impacts of the West's shrinking water supply and the costly battle to find solutions.

Read the first article in the series: "The fight for water: Here's why the West's oldest battle could hit you at the tap"

It begins:

"The West is running out of water.

EPA launches competition for college students to develop innovative approaches to stormwater management

Posted Wed, 2012/05/23 - 11:40am by RCAP

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new design competition called the Campus RainWorks Challenge to encourage student teams on college and university campuses across the country to develop innovative approaches to stormwater management. Stormwater is a major cause of water pollution in urban areas in the U.S., impacting the health of people across the country as well as tens of thousands of miles of rivers, streams, and coastal shorelines, and hundreds of thousands of acres of lakes, reservoirs, and ponds.

Southeast RCAP staff meet with Georgia Rural Development staff

Posted Wed, 2012/05/23 - 11:27am by RCAP

Staff of Southeast RCAP met with U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development staff of Georgia in Athens on May 16. Southeast RCAP staff explained their programs and funding and discussed several projects in Georgia. Future collaboration on funding in Georgia is anticipated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southeast RCAP assists in providing a better home for a Virginia family

Posted Wed, 2012/05/23 - 10:21am by RCAP

'Frozen Dawn' gets a new home thanks to many helpers

Taken from a post on The Roanoke [Va.] Times blog on Botetourt County

See photos of the project

Director of Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Community Services visits RCAP project

Posted Mon, 2012/05/21 - 12:56pm by RCAP

Joan Douglas, Regional Program Manager in Gainesville, Fla., for Southeast RCAP, reported that she had a fortuitous encounter recently with Jeannie Chaffin, Director of the Office of Community Services in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Douglas was able to show Chaffin some of RCAP’s work and take Chaffin on her first visit to a water plant.

The Office of Community Services is a long-time, major funder of RCAP’s work in assisting water and wastewater systems. It helps to fund RCAP’s annual budget.

Happy birthday, USDA!

Posted Tue, 2012/05/15 - 2:25pm by RCAP

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack celebrates USDA's 150th year of service, highlights ways the 'Every day, Every Way' department works for American people

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today marked the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and highlighted the positive impact that USDA has on the life of Americans each day.