Drop of Knowledge

Colonias are defined as a geographic area located within 150 miles of the Texas-Mexico border that has a majority population composed of individuals and families of low and very low income (taken from https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg-colonias/colonias-history/). While Colonias in Texas may have an unfortunate negative connotation due to their residents’ poor quality of life along the border for many years, the term “colonia” is not a negative term in Mexico. It is simply the term for an area or neighborhood in which they live.

Some families living in the Texas Colonias lack safe housing and essential services such as potable water, adequate sewage systems, drainage, utilities, and paved roads. Living conditions are often compared to underdeveloped countries. Colonias present one of the most critical housing needs in Texas, because many of the houses in the colonias were constructed mainly of scarce materials. Professional builders were rarely used, and residents frequently started with makeshift structures of wood or other materials. As finances allowed, they continued to improve their homes.

Resources from local, state, and federal agencies have positively impacted colonias in areas such as Hidalgo County, Texas. Thanks to many legislative updates and progressive actions of local leaders, Hidalgo County has eliminated the lack of adequate potable water in the colonias and has begun focusing on a better quality of life, including economic and social development.

One of the many positive programs currently helping improve the quality of life in colonias is placing streetlights within the community. Section 280.003 of the Texas Transportation Code allows for the placement of streetlights along a county road in a subdivision located in an unincorporated area in any territory within 150 miles of the US-Mexico border. Hidalgo County can require this basic service via their Model Subdivision Rules. Colonia residents are benefiting from a simple but effective solution for crime deterrence.

In 2018, North Alamo Water Supply Corporation began providing first-time wastewater for colonias north of Donna, TX as part of a multi-phase project, it became the first regional wastewater plant. Geographically, colonias have usually been north of Expressway 83 as communities were first developed south of this highway. As years progressed, cities could not cover the expenses to build or bore a wastewater line under the expressway. Thanks to funding from the US Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (USDA, RD), Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), and the North American Development Bank (NADBank), North Alamo Water Supply was able to complete a $14.9-million-dollar project and provide services to 400 homes. Additionally, this project allowed Donna Independent School District to build a state-of-the-art high school, Donna North High School, in the center of all the colonias. Donna North High School has proven to greatly benefit the next generation of students, as they now have an educational resource that was once deemed impossible. The completion of this first-time wastewater collection system has allowed businesses to open in colonias, improving economic development that has been lacking for decades.

Colonia residents and its leaders would agree that there is still plenty of work. Still, much has been accomplished, and the quality of life has drastically improved. History has taught that the resiliency of colonia residents will continue to “flush-away” any issues they may continue to face.

Water is the most precious resource on the planet. Our rivers, lakes, and oceans make up seventy-one percent of the earth’s surface; no one can live without water, but clean and fresh water is becoming harder to find.

Water pollution occurs when harmful chemicals or microorganisms get into a river, lake, ocean, or aquifer, making it toxic to humans or the environment. Water is known as the universal solvent, it dissolves more substances than any other liquid, including those harmful to life.

Chemicals, waste, and other pollutants are contaminating our waterways. Some eighty percent of the world’s wastewater is dumped untreated back into the environment, diminishing our drinking water sources. Throughout the United States, potentially harmful contaminants such as arsenic, copper, and lead have been found in tap water. These substances occur naturally but are the result of manufacturing as well. By the year 2050, the demand for fresh water will be one-third greater than it is now.

Drinking water comes from groundwater and surface water. Groundwater primarily comes from precipitation that seeps down into the ground through cracks, crevices, and porous spaces down to the aquifer; an underground storage area of water. The aquifer is our least visible or thought-of resource. Nearly forty percent of Americans rely on groundwater for drinking. For some communities in rural areas, it is their only source for fresh water, but this groundwater can become contaminated by pesticides, fertilizers, and waste from landfills, septic tanks, and farmlands. Once an aquifer is polluted, it may be almost impossible to get the contaminants out, making the aquifer unusable for decades to come, or sometimes never useable again.

Surface water covers about seventy percent of the earth’s surface. Surface water from freshwater sources accounts for more than sixty percent of the water used in American homes, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, almost half of that water is unfit for swimming, fishing, or drinking. Nutrient pollution, such as nitrates and phosphates are the leading types of contamination for surface waters. Ocean water is contaminated by chemicals, nutrients, and heavy metals that are carried from farms, factories, and cities by the way of storm drains and sewers spilling out into our bays and estuaries, and then out to sea, carrying with it trash and plastic.

On the opposite side of the water spectrum, we have wastewater, which is comprised of sewage, some industrial waste, and gray water. Gray water comes from our sinks, showers, washing machines, and dishwashers; sewage comes from our toilets. More than eighty percent of the world’s wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated or reused.

In the United States wastewater treatment plants process about thirty-four billion gallons of wastewater per day. Wastewater treatment plants reduce pollutants such as pathogens, phosphorus, and nitrogen that’s in sewage and discharge the treated water back into the environment. Some is used to spray fields while some is discharged into a stream or river, and some is injected back into the aquifer. When systems fail due to aging and easily overwhelmed sewer systems, raw sewage – some eight hundred and fifty billion gallons a year – is released into the environment.

The truth of the matter is – water pollution kills. In fact, almost one and a half million people die each year, and one billion people are sickened by unsafe water. Diseases like cholera, giardia, and typhoid are spread by contaminated water. Even a water system that is safe can become contaminated by backflow of pollutants into the system.

What can we do to help prevent water pollution? We can reduce our plastic consumption and reuse or recycle when we can. We can dispose of chemicals, oils, and non-biodegradable items properly. We can avoid applying pesticides or herbicides to our lawns and not flush our old medications down the toilet but dispose of them properly.  Those are just a few ways to help prevent water pollution.

Implementation of new regulations could alleviate today’s challenges to chemicals such as microplastics, PFAS, and pharmaceuticals that wastewater treatment plants were not built to handle.

Our waterways serve every one of us. We all have the power to help protect our most natural resource by properly disposing of chemicals and being mindful of the products we use.

This article was funded under RCAP’s EPA NPA 1 2022 – 2024 grant. 

“Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association– those are big words!” laughs Tracie Johnson of the newly-formed Southern New Mexico Water Association.

Serving approximately 120 rural households, the Enchanted Forest community water system was nestled in a rugged section of Lincoln County in Southern New Mexico that had been experiencing numerous wildfires and drought over much of the past decade.

By late May 2022, the community had run out of water.

Fortunately,  Johnson had reached out to Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) just the month before, seeking advice on how to ensure a clean and reliable source of drinking water for residents of the Enchanted Forest community system. As Johnson often stated, “We need the water!”

RCAC Rural Development Specialists (RDSs) and Johnson worked quickly to obtain emergency assistance from the New Mexico Board of Finance and led efforts to reorganize the community’s imperiled water system into a Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association (MDWCA) to access public financing options. The MDWCAs were originally authorized under New Mexico’s Sanitary Projects Act of 1949 to address the waterborne illness that was prevalent throughout many parts of the state at the time. They allow small communities like Enchanted Forest to legally build and develop  safe drinking water systems with public funding assistance. RCAC then helped develop organizational documents that would be needed for the transition, such as the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. By June 2022, the community system had been officially reorganized as an MDWCA.

RCAC next continued to help the community address its water security needs by assisting the newly-formed Enchanted Forest MDWCA with implementing system improvements. RCAC helped the board procure engineering services and navigate the often-complex loan and grant funding application process, identifying the best approach for leveraging the community’s limited financial resources. Most recently, RCAC devoted additional resources to conduct a household income survey that will determine the community’s eligibility to access additional public funding opportunities.

According to RCAC’s regional field manager, Ramon Lucero, who has played a vital role in helping Enchanted Forest, “Rarely have I seen an association so engaged and motivated. It has been a great privilege working with Enchanted Forest.” Referring to Lucero and the RCAC Rural Development Specialists Karl Pennock and Indira “Indie” Aguirre who have also worked on this effort, Johnson writes, “Again and again and again, you, Karl, and now Indie have just been invaluable, and I hope for a long, long-time friendship out of this entire adventure.”

Congratulations to Enchanted Forest Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association on a job well done!

This article was funded under RCAP’s EPA NPA 1 2022 – 2024 grant. 

An island community in Washington state faced a challenge when its water system’s private investor-owners decided to sell. Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) Assistant Regional Field Manager Dessa Wells worked with local residents to obtain U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) funds to purchase and make improvements to the system.

About the Community

Burton is an unincorporated community located on Vashon Island, north of Tacoma. The island is the largest in Puget Sound, at nearly 40 square miles—accessible only by water or air. Census data reports that Vashon Island’s population is just over 10,000. Burton’s water system serves 412 connections, 400 of which are single-family homes.

The previous local water system owners wanted to sell the system, prompting a small group within the community to organize a board and purchase the water system. The community wanted to apply for USDA-RD funding to purchase the water system assets from the existing investor-owned water system and make system improvements. USDA-RD staff referred the newly formed board to RCAC to provide technical support.

About the Project

All tests show that the water quality exceeds standards, however the existing drinking water source and distribution system has an aging infrastructure network. The system includes seven pumped wells and 17 vacuum wellpoints, and the water is chlorinated before delivery. There are two storage reservoirs (one 150,000-gallon tank and one 100,000-gallon tank) to meet peak demand. The distribution system includes pipes of a variety of sizes, age, and material. The main trunk line includes 6-inch steel, 6-inch asbestos-cement, and 6-inch PVC pipe. The 6-inch steel main trunk line has been observed to have nodules, a sign of age. The asbestos-cement trunk line is approaching 60 years old. Other parts of the distribution system include galvanized iron pipe, polyethylene, and PVC. Some of the galvanized iron leaks frequently, and all pipes in the distribution system are deficient in terms of their ability to provide adequate fire protection flows.

USDA Funding

RCAC worked with the Burton system’s new board to obtain the necessary plans, reports and financial documents to submit a completed application to USDA on August 7, 2023. Project estimated costs, including acquisition, are $4,454,000.

Challenges

The board needed to obtain interim funding to be able to apply for USDA-RD funds. Rates will need to increase to cover the cost of providing service, including purchasing the system, upgrades, and a new right of way charge fee from King County. Burton has a financially diverse customer base and the board strived to be fair and equitable to maintain affordable rates.

Another challenge for this project was in estimating costs since getting contractors on and off the island might incur extra costs given that the island is only accessible by water or air.

What’s next

The proposed updates to the facility will include a significantly improved distribution piping network, such as all main trunk line pipes being replaced with 8-inch PVC. Additionally, the recommended improvements will increase the system’s fire flow capacity and also improve water quality in some parts of the system by reducing stagnation points. If the funding is approved as anticipated, construction is expected to begin in December 2024.

This project/article was funded under RCAP’s USDA Technitrain 23 – 24 grant.

In organizational governance, especially water management, the connection between boards and operational entities holds great significance. This relationship is crucial for achieving both long-term strategic objectives and day-to-day operational goals. To put it simply, trust, transparency, and open communication form the basis of this relationship. Boards are responsible for overseeing strategies, while operational entities, like water operators, are responsible for carrying out the daily activities that ensure efficient service delivery. Their aim is to align with the organization’s overall mission while fulfilling their fiduciary duties.

During meetings within smaller government organizations, it is incredibly important for water operators to fully engage. Their extensive knowledge and valuable perspectives greatly influence the decision-making process. By thoroughly assessing the existing infrastructure and mapping out future plans, these operators offer vital information to the board members, enabling them to make well-informed choices. This collaborative approach ensures that decisions are made with a comprehensive understanding of the technical, financial, and regulatory aspects involved. Furthermore, it effectively combines the board’s long-term strategic goals with the practical obstacles faced on a day-to-day basis.

Challenges often arise in these relationships due to a lack of technical knowledge or misunderstandings concerning regulatory compliance, sustainability practices, and emergency protocols. Operators can address these challenges by educating board members, which fosters informed decision-making, incorporating sustainable practices, and prioritizing long-term community benefits. Operators’ roles extend beyond the boardroom to community engagement and education, where they promote water conservation efforts and highlight the organization’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Listed below are reasons why active participation of water operators is crucial. Operators bring specialized expertise and firsthand insights into water infrastructure management, thereby enriching decision-making processes. Their in-depth understanding of the existing infrastructure, coupled with their ability to forecast future needs and challenges, empowers them to provide invaluable input to the board. Through comprehensive assessments, they identify areas for improvement, recommend cost-effective solutions, and ensure regulatory compliance. This collaborative dynamic fosters a holistic decision-making environment where technical, financial, and regulatory considerations are carefully weighed. Ultimately, it aligns the organization’s long-term strategic objectives with the practical realities encountered daily, promoting sustainable and effective water management practices.

Water operators’ engagement in meetings with smaller government organizations extends beyond technical expertise. It also fosters community trust and involvement in water management decisions. Through active participation, operators enhance public awareness of water challenges and promote transparency in decision-making processes. This engagement aligns with broader initiatives like Water 2050, fostering meaningful conversations and collaboration among stakeholders. By leveraging digital tools for civic engagement, such as those provided by Granicus (a digital communication/connection platform), water operators can further enhance their outreach efforts and connect with a wider audience. Overall, the involvement of water operators in meetings with smaller government organizations not only improves decision-making but also strengthens community relationships and advances long-term water management goals.

In conclusion, the connection between governing boards and water operators holds great importance in the effective functioning and management of water organizations. It is essential to have a strong partnership, a clear understanding of responsibilities, and a shared dedication to achieving the organization’s objectives. This alliance enables us to tackle sustainability, efficiency, and community well-being challenges directly. As the water sector progresses, nurturing these relationships becomes vital for ensuring future success. Such collaborations guarantee that strategic decisions are well-informed, forward-looking, and firmly grounded in the principles of sustainability and conservation. This bond’s significance cannot be overstated in the governance and operational achievements of water management organizations.

This article was funded under RCAP’s USDA Technitrain 23-24 grant.

It’s no secret that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been around for some time, but have taken off in recent years among the small systems world. This is a brief story on how one small town in Iowa has fully embraced GIS for their work, and how they are getting the best return on investment possible.

Malvern is a small farming town of 1,142 in southwest Iowa. MAP began assisting the community in late 2017 with funding application assistance for a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) loan for drinking water treatment improvements. After almost four years of assistance through the construction process and loan servicing items, the community was looking to take the next step in moving forward sustainably for the rest of the system. When the possibility of incorporating GIS came up, the community jumped at the chance to have their systems mapped and start an asset management plan.

MAP began the GIS phase of the project in late 2022, by researching where all of the components of the system were supposed to be located. This can be a very challenging part of the process, as assets are moved or replaced over time, and printed maps become faded as they sit in old storage areas. Even if your community is not entirely ready for GIS, you should still have an updated paper map secured somewhere that UV light, rain, and pests will not damage it. Once spring weather arrived in southern Iowa, MAP began the field collection portion of the project. It took about 2.5 weeks to fully collect all the associated points, which included pictures of every asset, along with any information that MAP could gather from fire hydrants. Once all points were collected, the GIS coordinators at MAP loaded those points into the ESRI GIS software system and started building the digital map in the program.

Once the digital map was completed in late summer of 2022, the real potential of the GIS system was shown to the community. MAP provided training assistance for the GIS software to show city staff how certain items look, how to change them, and how to add or update information about the asset. At the same time as the map was being finished, the city purchased its own GIS equipment so that it could add additional points not related to the utility systems. They also want to add new points for assets, as a new subdivision is being finished on the west side of town. The next step the city is looking into with MAP’s assistance is importing data from additional GIS mapping done by the county and state Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Years prior, the DNR had spent time GIS mapping all of the city-owned large hardwood trees, and their condition. The county also has a GIS mapping file for all property lines in town. The city would like to migrate all these layers together so that they can see which assets lie near property lines and possible water or sewage lines near very large hardwood trees.

Through the determination of the community and its elected officials, the City of Malvern has embraced the potential of what GIS can do for every aspect of the community. MAP will continue working with the city and its staff to demonstrate what products they can build with their maps.

This project/article was funded under RCAP’s USDA Technitrain 23 – 24 grant.

Under the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), Public Water Systems are required to create a lead service line inventory (LSLI) and make it accessible to customers by October 16, 2024. Under the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), new public notification and education requirements may be required to protect public health. These changes necessitate public outreach strategies for utilities that may not have previously prioritized it.

Lead is now widely known to be a toxic substance, commonly found in older plumbing materials (pipes, joints, and solder) and paint. Exposure to lead in drinking water or airborne particulates is of particular concern to children, whose developing bodies absorb more lead than adults. Lead exposure can significantly inhibit children’s learning development, emotional regulation, and motor skills. Regrettably, lead was widely used as a water distribution material in the early 1900s and was not banned by the EPA until 1986. The lingering presence of lead in drinking water infrastructure continues to pose health risks to consumers. This is perhaps best illustrated by the Flint Water Crisis, where a change in water source caused lead corrosion in water distribution piping and impacted the health of over 99,000 people. The Flint Water Crisis, among others, has played a large role in increased public scrutiny of drinking water.

Public confidence in drinking water is critical to the survival of a water utility. Trust between consumer and provider can be achieved through proactive, transparent communication efforts on the part of the utility. So, let’s look at how we can talk about lead in drinking water more effectively, and places to promote the quality of a water system’s product:

If there is lead in the system you represent, be transparent about it.

It’s unlikely that where lead is present, the current utility staff had anything to do with its installation. That said, consumers should still be empowered to protect their health and be made aware of any dangers associated with water consumption.

Post educational information that promotes public health. Water utilities have the expertise to provide best-practices information to promote safe drinking water consumption. Some helpful tips utilities can provide to consumers include:

Clean faucet screens routinely.
Install point-of-use filters or use filtered pitchers (adhering to standards from the National Science Foundation and the American National Standards Institute).
Use cold water for cooking, drinking, and preparing baby formula.
Flush pipes for 2-5 minutes after 4-6 hours of stagnation.

Proactively engage with consumers about lead-related projects. Consider providing information about lead service line replacement projects and lead service line inventory information voluntarily. A proactive utility will engage with the public before there’s a problem and can promote the good work they’re doing to address lead in drinking water. Places to post information may include:

Webpages & Social Media
Consumer Confidence Reports
Customer invoices
Local papers or bulletins
Doorhangers & flyers

Create a list of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on one of the aforementioned outlets. An FAQ is a great way to quickly communicate answers to common questions, and it can reduce the frequency of information requests from customers. Also use language and terminology your customers can understand. It may also be useful to utility employees!

Know the community: Understanding the needs of your consumers right down to how they access information is crucial to a successful outreach campaign. Luckily, materials exist to help utilities form strategies and overcome obstacles, including language barriers. Here are some resources to get the ball rolling:

Lead In Drinking Water Outreach Resources (via US EPA)
EPA’s Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead
Website Example (City of Rochester, NY)
Lead FAQs (via New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services)
EPA Communication Plan
EPA Lead in Drinking Water Infographic (Spanish)

With these tips and revisions under the LCRR, we hope utilities can continue being proactive with their consumers regarding lead levels in drinking water.

This article was funded by RCAP’s EPA NPA 1 22 – 24 grant. 

Pembroke Township Public Water System is an unincorporated Community Water System in the town of Hopkins Park, IL, in rural Kankakee County. It is a small water system that provides potable water to 287 customers outside of the village, to allow them the same benefit of safe drinking water as their village neighbors enjoy. The community is a rural residential area surrounded by small farms and ranches and is comprised of a mostly lower income minority population with many elderly residents.

In October 2023, Pembroke Township Public Water System (PWS) requested assistance from the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP)   to address the need to install a new water service line. Due to a difficult job market, personnel on hand with the necessary experience were few, and those who were there lacked experience in performing these functions, as more experienced workers had moved on, creating a void. GLCAP was happy to assist in this educational opportunity.

After evaluation of available equipment in early October 2023, a plan was developed to acquire missing equipment and consumable items required to complete the work, as well as providing further training in excavation safety and water main repair. Once plans were in place, a date was set, and GLCAP began developing training materials as  resources for current and future employees  should they need to do  this work again.

On October 24, 2023, employees, an equipment contractor, and GLCAP were on site at the location for the new water service line. A brief review covering safety and the objectives of the work were discussed before work began, including the use of   personal protective equipment (PPE) that meet OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requirements, hand signal use for the equipment operator, and safe work practices.

Activity progressed through the day and into the next and also addressed what the township employees would need to know to repair the new water main in the future. At the conclusion of the work and training, the excavation was closed by the equipment operator. GLCAP performed a verbal review of the activities with those employees being trained and provided a formal training documentation plan, training attendance, a standard operating procedure , and training materials packet to the water utility clerk/personnel manager to place on file. This engagement improved environmental and public health, operational safety of employees, and a better financial response in ensuring low water loss during the work.

The PWS Utility Township Supervisor was extremely happy with this activity and provided a USEPA/USDA Letter of Support to GLCAP to show appreciation. :

“As we have some growth, we needed training of newly hired personnel on location of water infrastructure, excavation, proper installation of new water taps, and how to handle water main breaks or leaks. GLCAP TAP Anthony Brown was scheduled to come in and assist with “Hands On” training to allow Pembroke Township Personnel to learn how to locate water infrastructure properly, excavate it, acquire the necessary tools needed to complete tasks, install a new service line tap as well as make repairs to a water main, if needed. .”

Funding for this assistance was provided by US EPA NPA 1 2022-2024.

When doing board training, I often ask the audience, “What is the most important business in your community?” The answer always varies – the local manufacturing plant, the large tech distribution center, the big box store, etc. I rarely hear the answer I believe to be true – the community’s water and/or wastewater system. The fact is the larger businesses that are often identified as the “most important” would not be in the area if there were not a public water system (PWS), and many of these businesses require publicly owned treatment works (POTW) before they consider locating in a community. Therefore, the PWS and the POTW are the most important businesses in the community because they provide safe drinking water and adequate sanitary disposal to everyone in the service area as well as those visiting or passing through the community, and they are a major factor in the economic development in small, rural communities.

For the water and wastewater systems in small communities to succeed, the council/board and the customers must understand the value of the service these utilities provide. To understand the value, people must understand the benefits of these utilities to the community and the true cost of providing these services. This means the council/board must be transparent about the challenges their utility faces on an ongoing basis. These challenges directly relate to what the utility system must charge the customer for the water and/or wastewater services. Without educating the customers on these challenges, the customers may never realize what it takes to have a well-run water and/or sewer system in their community.

Some common challenges customers do not realize directly affect their water and sewer operations include personnel, regulations, and aging infrastructure. Most certified water and sewer operators are nearing retirement, and few young people are entering this field. This makes it hard for water and wastewater systems to hire qualified people. Many utilities are re-assessing their pay scale to attract qualified individuals and to keep the operators they currently employ. Many customers do not realize that regulations require the water and wastewater operators to be certified and have no idea the cost the utility faces to get operators trained and ready to take a certification exam.

New regulations are always challenging for small water and wastewater systems, such as Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) and per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for water systems and stricter discharge limits for wastewater. Even regulations in place for years can create compliance issues as temperatures rise and rainfall increases due to climate change. It often takes improving the current treatment techniques, major treatment plant upgrades, or other infrastructure improvements to meet or remain in compliance. Changes in treatment may require additional chemicals or a change in current ones, which can increase chemical costs for the system. Capital improvement projects normally require significant financial investment and years of planning.

Long-term planning is extremely important to water and wastewater systems. The lack of planning for adequate repair and replacement of major components in the utility system has led to major issues directly connected to aging infrastructure, such as water loss, inflow= and infiltration (I&I), and catastrophic pump failure. Aging infrastructure can also contribute to non-compliance with federal and state regulations such as the Disinfectantion Byproducts Rule (DBPR) and the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR).

With so many challenges facing small water and wastewater systems, the council/board and staff must understand the need to be forthcoming about issues within the utility system to create stakeholders’ trust and support. Everyone must realize how important the water and wastewater systems are to the community and what it takes to keep the utilities running efficiently and providing safe drinking water and adequate sanitary disposal for everyone who lives in or visits the community. After all, the water and wastewater systems are the area’s most important businesses.

Funding for this assistance was provided by US EPA NPA 1 2022-2024.