Current Projects

LRWA worked effectively with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LaDHH), and US Public Health officials in conducting system assessments and providing technical assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We continue assisting systems with technical assistance and preventive measures to this date.

The purpose of this project is to provide technical assistance to affected water systems recovering from Hurricane Katrina and aid these systems in the development of long range plans, that include Vulnerability Assessments (VA), Emergency Response Plan(s) (ERP) and an Operations and Maintenance (O & M) Manual for their perspective systems. Such instruments will expedite the water systems efforts in returning to normal operational status in the future. LRWA is proposing to assist systems that are recovering from the impact of Hurricane Katrina and are not eligible for most other federal programs due to being privately owned and operated. This project will employ a technician to provide on-site technical assistance to systems in establishing or redefining their a) Vulnerability Assessments, b) Emergency Response Plans, and/or c) O & M manuals. This technician will also provide technical assistance in regards to the daily operations of the system and also coordinate efforts with the local primacy agencies.

This project will aid systems in complying with the SDWA regulations through the recovery process and help prepare for future disasters. Targeted systems will be determined by the primacy agency as a system that would benefit the most from such assistance.

Start/End Dates: 06/01/07 to 05/31/08

The Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) has a proven track record with meeting and exceeding established goals, objectives and tasks. This program is leveraged by financial support from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Rural Water Association to maximize benefits provided for small public systems throughout Florida. FRWA proposes quantifiable and measurable goals to assist at least 48 small water systems during the funding 2007 cycle (4 per month) through technical assistance, training, technology transfer, capacity development, security, and distribution system operation & maintenance. FRWA’s engineering staff has extensive experience with water and wastewater utility design, permitting, construction and operational issues – which includes a broad variety of projects in water resources, pre-treatment, treatment, water chemistry, permitting, and distribution projects. FRWA’s engineers are on staff to assist water systems with comparison and evaluation of possible DBP treatment and management options to improve water quality and comply with state and federal regulations. Simultaneous compliance issues present a significant challenge for water suppliers. EPA and FDEP Microbial and Disinfection By-Product Rules address two key public health concerns: acute threats from microbial contamination and chronic threats from disinfectant residuals and byproducts of disinfection. Because each of these rules has equivalent stature in the law and requires simultaneous compliance, EPA and FDEP have not been able to set public health priorities – and so the goal of one rule cannot be undermined in favor of another. FRWA proposes to focus on resolving conflicts between some of these regulations; suggesting possible solutions; and recommending approaches to resolve these conflicts.

Start/End Dates: 06/01/07 to 05/31/08

The SE Rural Community Assistance Project is a pilot program in SC to create a detailed natural disaster response and mitigation plan for a small, isolated coastal water system vulnerable to natural disasters and other hazards. The pilot water system is Edisto Beach, Colleton County, SC which has a year round population of 641 but peak summertime population of 5,400. The project will develop a Community Vulnerability Assessment Tool (CVAT) for Edisto Beach SC Water System using parts of the Coastal Services Center (CSC) of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tools of CVAT and Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Tool (RVAT). The site specific tool will include Hazards Locator, Critical Infrastructure, Mitigation Strategy and Recommendations for Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Response for the water system. The Edisto Beach CVAT Tool will contain maps, charts, photos, etc. that support the response plan and methodology. The project results will be shared with nearby coastal community water systems of Kiawah Island SC Utilities and Seabrook Island SC utility. Southeast RCAP will also propose a strategy to generate required matching funds or loan reserves to fund improved planning and response, and develop a database of all disaster related funding available to small water systems in South Carolina, complete with EPA funding, USDA Rural Development funding, SC state SRF funding, SC Budget & Control Board Funding, county funding and any private funding.

Start/End Dates: 02/01/07 to 01/31/08

The University of North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute (NCWRRI) project will identify opportunities to enhance management capacity for small public water supplies in North Carolina through cooperative arrangements. The project will classify small systems with respect to needed management functions. Geographical clusters of systems with similar management requirements will be identified. Alternative organizational arrangements for shared management of each class of small system will be evaluated as a function of number of systems, sizes, and geographic coverage. A range of incentives that could be adopted to entice individual systems to participate in shared management will be formulated in the context of enabling legislation. The project will produce a white paper and presentation to appropriate decision makers in state and local governments, including North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Environmental Review Commission of the North Carolina General Assembly, and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.

Start/End Dates: 06/01/07 to 05/31/08

The Alabama Rural Water Association works daily with the public water utilities in the State of Alabama offering technical assistance, training, and additional services. This proposal will allow specialized training to address the needs of Emergency Preparedness. The training will focus on subjects such as Auxiliary Generator Sizing, Emergency Response Plan Updates, Electrical Hook-up Requirements, Alternate Communication Plans and other related subjects. These subject areas have been identified during previous Hurricane Relief response efforts as critical. Through local training held within a 60 mile radius of most systems, it provides an opportunity for water system personnel to receive professional training to guide them in proactively preparing for emergency situations. Each participant will be provided copies of EPA’s sample Emergency Response Plan Guidelines as well as other documents already available from EPA and the State Regulatory Agency. For those systems unable to be represented at the training locations, a hard copy and/or CD ROM of the documents will be mailed to each system. As a result of this training activity, small water systems will be able to revisit their current status of emergency preparedness and then recognize the need for a new or in some cases updated approach to emergency recovery efforts should an emergency occur. In addition, on site follow up visits to interested water utility personnel will offer one on one assistance in updating the Emergency Response Plan to include generator sizing and electrical hook up requirements. These efforts should reduce the amount of “down time” involved during their next emergency allowing continuation of a safe supply of drinking water service to their customers.

Start/End Dates: 02/01/07 to 01/31/08

The Tennessee Association of Utility Districts (TAUD) project will develop and conduct a training course to small community water system operators and managers entitled “Stage 2 DBPR Training for Small Water Systems.” The training format is a series of 12 two-day course offerings at multiple locations across the state of Tennessee, reaching approximately 180 water system operators. The course will target small community water treatment and distribution system operators and managers and will be directly applicable for use in other states which may choose to adopt this training course without significant modifications. TAUD will train small water system operators and managers: to understand the purpose and objectives of the Stage 2 DBPR and how it applies to their specific system; to identify specific compliance dates that apply to their system; to develop proper applications for VSS Waiver or 40/30 Certification, if applicable; to develop a Standard Monitoring Plan including proper selection of sampling locations and the rationale for their selection; to maintain the required records; to comply with Stage 2 reporting requirements and submittal deadlines; and to develop an Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE) report. Operators who attend this training will gain a better understanding of the purpose and objectives of Stage 2 and will have the specific tools to comply with the Stage 2 DBPR as it applies to their system.

Start/End Dates: 02/01/07 to 05/31/08

Mississippi Rural Water Association (MsRWA) will utilize GIS/GPS technology to develop a pilot project that converts a water system’s current paper maps to digital format. Upon selecting one (1) system to participate in the pilot project, MsRWA will use hand-drawn plans of the water mains, hydrants, valves, meters, tanks, etc. and incorporate the new data into a complete package that is available to water department personnel on the computer or printed out in map format. The GIS will allow management to analyze their system by individual components or comprehensively, depending on their specific needs. By having the most accurate data, GIS/GPS can even be used for more complex problem solving such as hydraulic modeling. The project will prepare a digital map of the entire water system and verify the location of all water services, valves, and water mains with survey-grade GPS equipment. These maps will be highly accurate, as all data will be surveyed to near centimeter accuracy. Handheld GPS equipment will allow operators to read maps, track maintenance records, and get real-time access to archived record maps that are being digitally preserved. The Comprehensive GIS/GPS Conversion Pilot Project will benefit environmental professionals involved in the planning, design, construction, and operation of public water system because the technology allows a water system’s geographically referenced data to be determined more precisely.

Start/End Dates: 02/01/07 to 05/31/08