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Newsletter #416 for October 7, 2025 |
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Register for Our Free Webinar on October 28, 2025 |
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Community Engagement Resources for Wastewater Utilities
October 28, 2025 | 10:00 AM CDT
WaterOperator.org
This webinar will explore effective digital communication strategies, approaches for building public support around capital improvement projects, and methods for promoting transparency during rate-setting processes. Plus, participants will learn how to use our search tools at WaterOperator.org to find additional resources and training events.
This continues our webinar series covering topics relevant to wastewater operators, including funding, asset management, compliance, and water quality.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered upon request. Check with your certification body for acceptance criteria.
Previous Webinars...
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New Drop of Knowledge Article: LCRI Compliance |
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This Drop of Knowledge (DOK) article discusses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which aim to strengthen drinking water regulations by requiring public water systems to remove all lead service lines, galvanized pipes downstream of lead, and pipes of unknown materials within 10 years, regardless of current lead levels. This initiative is part of a broader effort to protect public health, simplify compliance, and increase transparency.
However, the regulation poses significant challenges for utility operators, especially given the aging workforce and limited staffing in many utilities. The estimated cost to replace the 9.2 million lead service lines nationwide is over $43 billion. To support this effort, the Biden-Harris administration launched the “Get the Lead Out (GLO) Initiative," backed by funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocates $15 billion specifically for lead pipe replacement.
This article highlights the work that the Midwest Assistance Program (MAP) is doing to help utilities comply. MAP is assisting through multiple avenues by conducting materials evaluations, developing replacement plans, securing funding, and creating public education materials. |
| Read the Full Article |
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Tap Talk |
Empowering Well Owners at the Private Well Class Help Center
This week on Tap Talk, we are beyond pleased to welcome two of our colleagues on our Water & Public Health team at the Illinois State Water Survey to the show: Sallie Dolan and Erin Huggett, who are the main forces behind running our Private Well Class Help Center and phone hotline. Launched in the spring of 2024, these services have assisted over 65,000 well owners in finding answers to their well questions or solutions for well problems. As Sallie and Erin discuss, our team looks forward to helping many more as the program grows and develops!
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Resources & Guidance for Improved Water Sector Cybersecurity |
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Explore these links to strengthen your utility’s defenses and ensure the continued safety and reliability of our water systems.
Further Resources...
Upcoming Webinars...
Cybersecurity Procurement Checklist Webinar
October 15, 2025 | 1:00PM EDT
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cybersecurity Vulnerability Scanning Webinar
October 30, 2025 | 1:00 PM EDT
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Featured Video |
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The Hidden Water Crisis in the US
waterloop
"Water challenges aren’t just global — they’re happening in under-resourced communities across the U.S. too. For Brooke Poppe the solution starts with local partnerships and pro bono engineering.
As a Program Engineer with Engineers Without Borders USA, Poppe manages the Community Engineering Corps, connecting communities with technical expertise they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. From cost estimates to preliminary designs, these services open doors to funding and make critical water and wastewater improvements possible.
But it’s about more than pipes and permits. By pairing engineers with communities, Poppe helps create solutions that are equitable, sustainable, and built to last. And she’s calling on donors, volunteers, and partners to join in closing the water access gap — one community at a time.
'All people deserve access to basic water and sanitation, not just people who can afford it,' says Poppe." |
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Featured Video |
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Getting Familiar with Disinfection Processes in Water Treatment
Rural Community Assistance Partnership - RCAP
"This video introduces board members of small rural water systems to the essential role of disinfection in municipal water treatment. Using clear, practical language, the video explains the purpose of disinfection and explores three primary disinfection methods: chlorination, chloramination, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. Each method is described with its advantages, limitations, and suitability for small systems, along with key regulatory considerations like maintaining disinfectant residuals and monitoring disinfection byproducts. Designed for non-technical decision-makers, this overview empowers board members to better understand their system’s treatment choices and support safe, sustainable water operations in their communities."
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Community-Driven Workforce Solutions for Green Infrastructure
October 16, 2025 | 12:00 PM EDT
Environmental Finance Center Network
This free webinar will explore how Green Infrastructure requires ongoing maintenance and skilled knowledge for its effective operation. To increase the implementation success of Green Infrastructure, a well-trained workforce with ties to the community is essential. This webinar will explore community-driven green infrastructure programs in New Orleans that support the professional growth of the communities they are based in. |
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Virtual Office Hours on SRF Technical Assistance: What Is This Thing Called Equivalency?
October 20, 2025 | 2:00 PM EDT
Environmental Finance Center Network
Register for EFCN's free office hours on: "What Is This Thing Called Equivalency?" Designed to expand your knowledge and enhance your ability to navigate the SRFs. Each session will open with a specific theme, providing clarity, strategies, and practical insights for preparing and managing an SRF-funded project. These office hours are tailored for state agencies, utility operators, and stakeholders who support water infrastructure projects. |
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Solving Real Water Loss with Smarter Flow Monitoring
October 23, 2025 | 11:00 AM MDT
American Water Works Association
At this free webinar, presented by Flow-Tronic, hear how water utilities across the country are under pressure to reduce non-revenue water, detect leaks faster, and improve visibility across aging distribution systems without costly shutdowns or disruptive retrofits. |
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Recent Blog Posts at WaterOperator.org |
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Get Ready for the 13th Annual SepticSmart Week!
Read Here » |
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From Waste to Resource: Biosolids Management References for POTWs
Read Here » |
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Unlocking Rural Prosperity: The Rural Funding Guide is Here
Read Here » |
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Groundwater & Well Care for Public Water Systems is a free online course from WaterOperator.org. Certificates are provided and the course is currently pre-approved for 2 hours continuing education credit in a number of states.
Click here to learn more. |
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WaterOperator.org is a free service, grant-funded to support small community water and wastewater operators with comprehensive resources and information in one easy-to-use place. We also serve the 800+ training, primacy, and technical service organizations, by helping operators get to their information. We aren't selling or advertising anything. Call us at 1-866-522-2681 for assistance. |
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Visit our other websites: |
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Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, United States |
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