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The Ground Water Rule {1/21/2010}
The start of December brought in a new rule that’s meant to protect the public, but it means big changes for small water systems. Some water operators have voiced concerns over the cost or time consumption involved in the monitoring required under the new rule. However, assistance is available to help small systems understand and implement the new requirements more smoothly. In this edition of eBulletin, we’ll provide the basic ins and outs of the Ground Water Rule. We’ll explain what it means for small systems, we’ll explain some of the concerns voiced by water system operators and we’ll tell you what you can do if you need help with financing and compliance.
Being safe in 2010 {1/6/2010}
The end of 2009 brought news we didn’t want to hear — another terrorism scare. Maybe your small town isn’t a target, but what if the town that supplies your water is a target? Natural disasters from violent storms to deep freezes like the one occurring this week also can put a water system in jeopardy. Do you have plans in case of emergency? How do you report potential problems? Is your emergency plan up to date? In this edition of eBulletin, we’ll give you some resources to help prepare you in case of emergency. We’ll provide tips on making sure your emergency response plan is ready, and we’ll set you up with a way to report suspicious activity or concerns.
Helping build a better budget {12/9/2009}
It’s crunch time. Number crunching, that is. Economic turbulence, new regulations, higher costs, Stimulus funding…it all makes for a heck of a budget nightmare. What will next year hold? Will you come out ahead, or will you need some help making it through? In this edition of eBulletin, we’ll provide some suggestions on how to build a better budget to keep you afloat in rough economic waters. We'll provide a worksheet to give you an idea where you stand. We’ll also let you know where to get help on boosting your budget and tightening the purse strings.
ARRA reporting: Getting it straight {11/11/2009}
As budget time arrives, some water systems find they have additional budget reporting to do this year. Some systems received funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA, better known as the Stimulus. Those systems must report on the projects undertaken using those funds. The only problem is, the reporting instructions may seem like Greek from a bad-spelling scribe. How do you interpret that? What exactly are you supposed to do to report your ARRA projects? We’ll tell you in this edition of eBulletin. We’ll provide basic instructions and tips to make the process go as smoothly as possible. We’ll also let you know where to find help when you need it.
Taking part in Water Sector Security Measures {10/21/2009}
Small and rural utilities are invited to participate in the 2009 Water Sector Security Measures process, and take advantage of a free 12-month subscription to WaterISAC Pro. The measures process will allow small and rural utilities to report on their recent progress towards implementing protective programs and “all-hazards” preparedness measures at their utility. This second annual measures process will provide an updated baseline of information regarding vital preparedness metrics for all members of the water sector – information useful in comparing practices over time and between different size utilities. The deadline is Friday, October 30.
Making Safety a Habit {9/30/2009}
Is safety an ingrained habit with you and your workers, so much so that it’s second nature? Or do you find that people tend to get hurt in your system? This article discusses the development of a safety habit, talks about encouraging safety by practice and recognition, and provides links to safety training specific to workers in water and wastewater treatment.
Help! It’s an emergency! {9/9/2009}
It’s easy to panic when things are going wrong. But it’s much more effective if you’ve planned for emergencies ahead of time and practiced your response to them. This article details the elements of an emergency response plan, and gives case studies that illustrate how effective planning and mutual aid agreements benefited two systems.
Why WARN? {8/26/2009}
Water/Wastewater Agency Response Networks (WARN) are sometimes seen as programs that benefit only major utilities. But in fact, having a WARN in place, no matter what the size of your system, is beneficial in a variety of ways. This article explains some of the benefits, lists the components of an effective WARN program, and gives helpful links for you to use in the development of your own WARN.
Conservation Catch-22 {8/12/2009}
In this edition of eBulletin, we’ll make a few suggestions on how to balance conservation with finances. We’ll give a few ideas on how to pinch pennies here and there, and we’ll provide solutions if you do hit a financial snag.
With a little help {7/1/2009}
Growing populations and a shrinking economy mean tough times for small water systems. In times like these, the best solution may be to band together. Regionalization isn’t always the most desired solution, but it can be the best solution for the sake of the customers. Pooling resources can help save both water systems time, money and resources. In this edition of eBulletin, we’ll examine the concept of regionalization, the pros and cons and a few scenarios where regionalization helped small water systems survive.
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