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Newsletter #134 for March 2025 |
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Senate Moves Forward with Ten Bills to Enhance Tribal Water Rights |
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The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has passed ten bills aimed at addressing tribal water rights and improving infrastructure on reservations in Montana, New Mexico, and California. These bills include the Northern Montana Water Security Act, which allocates $1.3 billion for the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Settlement, and the Crow Tribe Water Settlement Amendment Act, which extends authorization for hydropower development.
Other key legislation includes the Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Rights Settlements Act, which implements fund-based settlements for Pueblos in New Mexico, and the Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act, establishing a trust fund for water claims in the Rio Chama Basin. Additionally, the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act authorizes $685 million for sustainable water management and infrastructure, while the Navajo Nation Rio San José Water Rights Settlement Act approves a water rights settlement for the Navajo Nation.
These bills received bipartisan support and mark a significant milestone in addressing long-standing water rights issues for tribal communities. By securing water settlements and improving infrastructure, these bills pave the way for a more sustainable future for tribes across the United States.
Read the full article: Senate Committee Advances Ten Bills to Strengthen Tribal Water Rights and Infrastructure | Native News Online |
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Cybersecurity in the Water Sector |
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This presentation from the 2024 Tribal EPA Region 9 Conference on October 22-24, 2024 highlights "recommended actions and free resources for water utilities to safeguard critical infrastructure against cyber threats. Water and wastewater systems that run operational technology and information technology systems are too often vulnerable to cyberattacks. This presentation will review the top cyber actions for securing water systems, as well as EPA and CISA resources and services designed to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial governments reduce cybersecurity risk across U.S. critical infrastructure."
Find more videos on Tribal EPA Region 9's YouTube channel. |
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Next month! Are you registered? |
The Tribal Drinking Water conference will take place on April 21-24, 2025, in Reno, Nevada at the Grand Sierra Resort & Hotel.
Protecting drinking water quality and ensuring a sufficient supply are complex responsibilities. Tribal utilities must have the financial stability, managerial competence and technical skills to address their immediate and projected drinking water needs and protect community health and well-being in a sustainable manner. They must make decisions on operating costs, aging infrastructure, and much more on a daily basis.
Tribal Operator Certification Exam Session(s) with ITCA will be available at the conference. Proctoring of paper-booklet exams will be offered for eligible applicants for Water Distribution and Water Treatment Operator Certification.
Registration for the exam is at the ITCA webpage: www.itcaonline.com/tws.
Join your colleagues, EPA and RCAC for this live, interactive event, to learn new skills, gain information, earn contact hours, network, and of course have a little fun!
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Tap Talk Episode 50
Solving the Challenges of a National CEU Program
Tap Talk hits 50 episodes! For this landmark episode, we welcome Matt Jones to the show. Matt is the manager of the Continuing Education Credit Program for the Water Environment Federation (WEF). Steve and Jennifer discuss with him the complexities of certifying and delivering continuing education credits to operators and engineers in all 50 states, particularly for large in-person events like WEFTEC and other WEF conferences. |
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Steps to Develop a Tribal (or Rural) Onsite Wastewater Management Program |
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This webinar recording provides "an overview of the administrative, managerial, and inspection tasks required to develop a tribal onsite wastewater program. By the conclusion of this webinar, attendees will have gained a greater understanding of the four components of a tribal onsite wastewater program and will gain skills and knowledge required to implement a program in their community."
Learning Objectives:
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Goals and characteristics of onsite wastewater management
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Factors affecting onsite system design and installation
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Effects of poorly functioning onsite systems on groundwater
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Percolation test significance and treatment effectiveness
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Contrasts between onsite and centralized treatment
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Regulations and standards for onsite systems
Find more videos on Environmental Finance Center Network's YouTube Channel. |
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Featured Events for Tribal Water Systems |
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Advancing Wastewater Treatment in Rural and Tribal Communities: A Cost-Effective Tertiary Filter Solution
March 13, 2025 | 2:00 PM CST
National Rural Water Association
During the free presentation, we will review: the challenges associated with smaller plants, why we developed AquaPyr, how these filters work and review of key process benefits, as well as the advantages of using AquaPyr solution for your new or existing plants or projects.
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Wastewater Sampling and Preservation
March 19, 2025 | Gaylord, MI
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership
This free course reviews sampling procedures (collection, handling, and preservation) along with compliance, monitoring, record keeping, etc. Details on sampling techniques are covered, including labeling, chain of custody, and regulatory requirements.
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Cybersecurity, GIS, & Asset Management for Small & Tribal Utilities
April 8, 2025 | McIntosh, SD
Midwest Assistance Partnership
The purpose of this free training is to assist small & tribal operators by providing them with the skills and knowledge required to ensure the sustainability and longevity of wastewater systems for generations to come.
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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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Visit our other websites: |
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