In the services that RCAP provides to communities, it works to achieve these four major outcomes. Following each outcome are some indicators that show that RCAP has achieved these outcomes – ways of measuring or tracking its progress toward these goals.
Improved environmental and community health
What this outcome means: RCAP field staff work onsite with rural communities and small utilities to plan, finance, and develop new and improved community water and waste disposal facilities.
Indicators:
- Number of households and communities provided with new or improved water or wastewater disposal services (under construction or headed to construction)
- Funds committed to project communities (amount and households affected), as a direct result of RCAP activity, for new and improved water and wastewater services
- Number of violations affecting community and environmental health addressed and resolved
- Technical and process control/treatment deficiencies diagnosed and resolved
Compliance with federal and state regulations
What this outcome means: RCAP staff provide financial and onsite technical assistance to ensure that community water and waste disposal facilities are operated in compliance with state and federal health and sanitary standards and regulations.
Indicators:
- Before and after indicators (out of compliance, in compliance)
- Violations successfully addressed in project communities (as evidenced by state sanitary surveys and inspection reports)
- Project communities with consent orders or administrative orders lifted or time frames met
Sustainable water and waste disposal facilities
What this outcome means: RCAP field staff work onsite with small community water and wastewater facilities to ensure that water and waste disposal services are properly managed, self-sustaining enterprises.
Indicators:
- Change in financial position as the result of RCAP-recommended adjustments (operating ratios, coverage ratios and financial covenants, debt-service ratios)
- Financial reserves (debt service, emergency, and equipment replacement) in place and fully funded
- Adoption and implementation of written policies and procedures related to improved management, governance, and risk mitigation
- Implementation of long-range planning and emergency-management planning procedures
- Appropriate linkages established to outside consultants, technical-assistance organizations
- Access to financing at affordable rates and terms
Increased capability of local leaders to address current and future needs
What this outcome means: RCAP provides group training and onsite assistance and disseminates information designed to ensure that local officials in small communities have the necessary technical, managerial, and financial skills to effectively operate and maintain water and waste disposal services.
Indicators:
- Number of people trained and evaluation results of group training completed
- Number of people receiving publications and written materials, evaluation results of information provided and survey responses
- Exit surveys of board training sessions
- Results of tests given before and after the training that is provided
- Feedback of readership on written publications and materials that are disseminated
- Evidence that additional knowledge and skills are being put into practice at the community level (implementation of new practices, policies, procedures; enactment of new ordinances, standard operating procedures)