Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities
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June 2012

Nebraska regional water system project passes important milestone

Posted Fri, 2012/06/29 - 3:02pm by RCAP

In 2006, Midwest Assistance Program (MAP), the Midwest RCAP, staffer Harold Reynolds became involved with a project that would become the WAU-COL Regional Water System.

Brochures for recruiting drinking water and wastewater operators

Posted Wed, 2012/06/27 - 10:23am by RCAP

Two brochures that can be used in the recruitment of drinking water and wastewater operators. The brochures encourage those who are entering the workforce or those looking for a career change to consider a job in drinking water/wastewater operations. The brochures talk about the benefits of jobs in the water sector, the education, training and experience that is needed for these jobs, the duties operators perform, and how drinking water/wastewater are treated.

They can be distributed at:

Format: 
Fact sheet/overview
File Attachments: 
application/pdf iconwater_operator_careers.pdf
application/pdf iconwater_operator_careers_-_printer-friendly.pdf
application/pdf iconwastewater_operator_careers.pdf
application/pdf iconwastewater_operator_careers_-_printer-friendly.pdf
Topic: 
Workforce/personnel
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Related Resources: 
Building the skills of water system operators and recruiting new operators to the workforce
The Importance of an Operator in a Community’s Water Systems
The Big Guide for Small Systems: A Resource for Board Members

EPA releases green infrastructure permitting and enforcement fact sheets

Posted Tue, 2012/06/26 - 9:30am by RCAP

EPA has released a series of six fact sheets on incorporating green infrastructure measures into National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System wet weather programs. The series builds upon existing EPA authority, guidance and agreements to describe how EPA and state permitting and enforcement professionals can work with permittees to include green infrastructure measures as part of control programs. The six fact sheets and four supplements address stormwater permits, total maximum daily loads, combined sewer overflow long-term control plans, and enforcement actions.

Video: "The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water"

Posted Thu, 2012/06/21 - 4:39pm by RCAP

Description by the video's producers:

"The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water" is a short [actually, about 20 min.], animated film [for adults - not children] made by a collaboration of creative and dedicated volunteers at the Surfrider Foundation. Several local Surfrider Foundation chapters combined their talents and funds to create the film -- and then actor Zuleikha Robinson of Lost generously agreed to narrate it.

Simultaneous Compliance Tool for Small Systems

Posted Thu, 2012/06/21 - 3:56pm by RCAP

The Simultaneous Compliance Tool can be used by small water systems to evaluate solutions to water-quality compliance challenges and understand unintended consequences emerging from treatment changes made to achieve compliance with various water-quality objectives.

Get the tool

Format: 
Software tool
Topic: 
Operations (technical)
Source: 
Other nonprofit/organization
Audience: 
Operator
Plant manager

Attention, USDA borrowers using Central Contractor Registration (CCR)

Posted Thu, 2012/06/21 - 3:28pm by RCAP

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

The announcement below was taken directly from the CCR News and Announcements section on the CCR website. You can visit that site for updates as they are given.

ARRA Registering and Reporting Guide for Water/Wastewater Systems with Loans/Grants from the USDA-Rural Utilities Service

Posted Thu, 2012/06/21 - 2:56pm by RCAP
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
Source: 
RCAP
Audience: 
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper

Video series about careers in water/wastewater operations

Posted Thu, 2012/06/21 - 11:02am by RCAP

Produced by Western Canada Water. Although they were produced in Canada, much of what the videos present applies to the United States as well. Below is the first video in the series provided here as a preview to the series.

Watch all videos

 

Format: 
Video
Topic: 
Workforce/personnel
Source: 
Other nonprofit/organization
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager

List of training programs for water and wastewater operators

Posted Thu, 2012/06/21 - 10:58am by RCAP

Fact sheets compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describing training programs, internships and mentoring programs that help new operators enter the water and wastewater industries, as well as enhance the skills and knowledge of experienced operators.

The fact sheets are intended to promote the sharing of unique ideas and best practices for industry professionals seeking to establish similar training programs. The fact sheets represent the experiences of states, utilities, educational institutions and other organizations.

Format: 
Website (with more resources)
Topic: 
Workforce/personnel
Source: 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Audience: 
Operator
Board/council member
Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)
Plant manager