Newsletter #401 for April 1, 2025
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Introduced Legislation Would Enhance Financing for Rural Water Systems |
Recently-introduced bipartisan legislation aims to modernize the USDA Rural Development's Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) by providing small and rural water systems with access to affordable financing options. The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) is has supported the reintroduction of this bill and also launched RuralWaterStrong.org as a companion advocacy tool.
NRWA CEO Matthew Holmes highlighted that these changes will help to maintain public health standards and ensure access to clean drinking water and wastewater services, especially in economically distressed communities. The legislation introduces new servicing options and authorities, which can help restructure existing debt and support the USDA in providing long-term affordable services to rural communities. Holmes emphasized the importance of these servicing tools, which often go unrecognized but are vital for the sustainability of rural water systems.
The legislation was introduced in the Senate in February and was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. While GovTrack predicts this legislation has a 0% chance of being enacted, it furthers the conversation about federal programs and their key role in infrastructure affordability. Additionally, the effort highlights the importance of storytelling about the work we all do for small and rural communities.
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Tap Talk |
A Look at Progress and Needs in the Decentralized Wastewater Industry
Episode 55 is our first episode fully dedicated to decentralized wastewater and septic systems! Steve and Jennifer welcome Dr. Sara Heger, an industry expert, researcher, and trainer from the University of Minnesota’s Onsite Sewage Treatment Program. Whether you’re a water professional or a homeowner with a septic system, listen for an introduction to the recent progress, needs, and issues in the decentralized wastewater industry.
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10 Water Sector Organizations Urge EPA to Reconsider Budget Cuts Impacting Water Infrastructure |
Last week, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) joined a group of ten water sector organizations in writing to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to express concerns on proposed cuts to EPA’s budget. These cuts could significantly impact water infrastructure funding programs like the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA).
These programs are crucial for maintaining and modernizing water infrastructure, and the proposed budget cuts could hinder their efficiency and effectiveness. The letter urges the administration to reconsider these cuts due to their potential impact on public health, national security, and economic stability. It also emphasized the importance of EPA's role in regulatory development, research, and collaboration on non-regulatory challenges such as cybersecurity and affordability. Further details on the proposed budget cuts will be revealed in the coming months as the administration releases its budget request for the 2026 fiscal year.
The letter was co-signed by the following organizations:
American Water Works Association
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
National Association of Water Companies
National Municipal Stormwater Alliance
Rural Community Assistance Partnership
U.S. Water Alliance
Water Environment Federation
Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association
WateReuse Association
For more information, you can read the full article on Water Online.
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Featured Video |
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Utah set to become first state to ban fluoride from drinking water
Good Morning America
"Utah is prohibiting local communities from adding fluoride to drinking water, making it the first state to do so." It will go into effect on May 7, 2025.
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Enter Opflow's Gimmicks & Gadgets Contest |
Operators are some of the water community’s most creative problem-solvers. Each year, Opflow magazine holds a contest to celebrate some of the best devices and techniques invented by operators. This is a chance to show off ingenuity, creativity, and outside-the-box solutions.
Cash prizes of $800 (first place), $400 (second place), and $300 (third place), plus commemorative plaques to each of the three winners will be awarded.
Entry criteria:
A novel and relatively simple mechanical device or procedure
Invented by a water operator working for a water utility or system
Helps make a routine utility task safer, simpler, or more efficient
Not commercially available
Submission Deadline: May 31, 2025
Awards will be presented at the Water Infrastructure Conference on September 14-17, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.
Need inspiration? See award winners from prior years
Got questions? Reach out to opfloweditor@awwa.org
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| Submit Your Entry!
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Free Lead Test Kits for Schools |
With over 12 million lead pipes corroding and potentially releasing lead into the water supply line, millions of Americans may be at risk of exposure. WQRF and PUR are working together to provide free resources and access to water testing kits for schools across the United States.
Schools may visit the website to apply for free water testing kits in their school district.
Additionally, PUR intends to donate up to 10,000 water filtration devices to impacted schools. Please spread the word to your local school district!
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How to Untangle a Mess
April 8, 2025 | 1:00 PM EDT
Rural Community Assistance Partnership
What do you do when a system has been neglected for years and the board has no idea how it should be run? Where do you start? What questions do you ask? When do you listen? What steps do you take to bring the system back into compliance? Join this free webinar to figure out how to answer all of these questions as they arise.
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Project Management Tools for Infrastructure Projects Workshop
April 15, 2025 | 1:00 PM EDT
Rural Community Assistance Partnership
RCAP is hosting a free workshop that provides technical assistance providers with an overview of fundamental project management tools and techniques essential for managing infrastructure projects.
Participants will learn key principles such as:
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Safe Drinking Water Act and Distribution Water Quality
April 16, 2025 | 9:00 AM EDT
RCAP Solutions, Inc.
This free webinar will provide an overview of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and discuss how utilities should manage distribution water quality.
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Recent Blog Posts at WaterOperator.org |
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Texas Water Supply Endangered by Workforce Shortage
Read Here »
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Pathways for Career Development in Wastewater Treatment
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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