Smoke Testing for Inflow & Infiltration
By: Paul Brezina, Technical Assistance Provider, Midwest Assistance Program (MAP) When your city receives downpouring rains and your wastewater operator lets you know that the lagoons are filling up at an unusual rate, it is time to ask why. As this scenario continues to worsen as months and years go by, it becomes apparent that
Becoming Compliant During the COVID-10 Crisis
By: Melissa Jones, Staff Writer, Communities Unlimited & Alfred Jackson, Community Environmental Management Technician, Communities Unlimited The small town of Autaugaville lies in the heart of Alabama. The town is located in Autauga County, which took its name from the Native American tribe that occupied the area. The county was established around 1818, and the town of Autaugaville was incorporated about 21
RCAP, Xylem and 120Water Provide More Than 100,000 Face Masks to Essential Utility Workers in Rural Communities
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) sent to frontline workers in rural communities across the United States December 3, 2020 – Washington, DC – The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) announced in July it was sourcing and donating 40,000 N95 masks to frontline water operators in partnership with Xylem Watermark and 120Water. In August, Xylem donated an
Senate Appropriations Committee Supports Economic Relief for Small Communities in Vermont
December 1, 2020 – Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations is supporting small communities by increasing funding for national technical assistance programs administered by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) within the Department of Commerce, and including report language which specifically includes funding for non-profit organizations supporting underserved communities across the United
Water Finance and Management Libraries, Blogs & Podcasts
RCAP’s A Drop of Knowledge https://www.rcap.org/drop-of-knowledge/ WaterOperator.org: Resource Library http://wateroperator.org/library Edmunds GovTech: Utility Information Pipeline https://www.edmundsgovtech.com/blog/ IB Environmental: Ripple Effects – An Environmental Blog https://www.ibenvironmental.com/blog Manny Teodoro: Blog http://mannyteodoro.com/ Southwest Environmental Finance Center: Blog https://swefc.unm.edu/home/blog/ UNC Environmental Finance Center: The Environmental Finance Blog http://efc.web.unc.edu/ Water in Real Life Podcast https://www.theh2duo.com/waterinreallife/ Words on Water Podcast
Energy Management and Conservation Resources
Sustainable Infrastructure for Small System Public Services: A Planning and Resource Guide https://www.rcap.org/resource/sustainable-infrastructure-for-small-system-public-services-a-planning-and-resource-guide/ Five Things You can do to Save on Energy in your Utility https://www.rcap.org/resource/five-things-you-can-do-to-save-on-energy-in-your-utility/ Energy Efficiency at Wastewater Treatment Facilities https://www.rcap.org/resource/energy-efficiency-at-wastewater-treatment-facilities/ National Rural Water Association: Energy Efficiency Program https://nrwa.org/energy-efficiency-program/ NC State University: Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency https://www.dsireusa.org/ EPA: Energy
Water Loss Control Resources
AWWA: Water Loss Control https://www.awwa.org/Resources-Tools/Resource-Topics/Water-Loss-Control Southwest Environmental Finance Center: Water Loss Switchboard https://swefc.unm.edu/wlswitchboard/ Southwest Environmental Finance Center: The Water Audit Handbook for Small Drinking Water Systems https://swefc.unm.edu/wlswitchboard/resource/water-audit-handbook-for-small-drinking-water-systems/ EPA: Water Audits and Water Loss Control for Public Water Systems https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-04/documents/epa816f13002.pdf
Workforce Development & Planning Resources
The Importance of an Operator in a Community’s Water Systems https://www.rcap.org/resource/importance-operator-communitys-water-systems/ Certification Calculator App https://www.rcap.org/resource/certification-calculator-app/ Brochures for Recruiting Drinking Water and Wastewater Operators https://www.rcap.org/resource/brochures-for-recruiting-drinking-water-and-wastewater-operators/ What Does It Take to Be an Operator? https://www.rcap.org/resource/what-does-it-take-to-be-an-operator/ MAP: Basic Operator Math Workshop http://www.map-inc.org/uploads/5/2/2/1/52214049/general_math_booklet_updated_9.19.18.pdf EPA: Water Sector Workforce https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/water-sector-workforce EPA: Guide for Applying Military Occupational Specialties (M.O.S.) to Civilian Drinking
Mapping Resources
ESRI: Mapping Small and Rural Water Systems https://www.esri.com/en-us/landing-page/industry/water/2019/mapping-rural-and-small-water-systems EPA: Drinking Water Mapping Application to Protect Source Waters (DWMAPS) Data Layers https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/drinking-water-mapping-application-protect-source-waters-dwmaps-data-layers
Security, Resiliency & Emergency Response Planning Resources
RCAP & AWWA’s Small Systems Risk and Resilience Assessment Worksheet RCAP & AWWA’s Small Systems Field Assessment Checklist RCAP & AWWA’s AWIA Small Systems Certificate Program https://www.awwa.org/Professional-Development/Small-Systems#10954561-awia-small-systems-certificate-program RCAP Emergency Response Planning Guide for Public Drinking Water Systems https://www.rcac.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/ERP-drinking-water.pdf RCAP Emergency Response Planning Template for Public Drinking Water Systems https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/erp_rcap.pdf Preparing Your Wastewater System for Disasters