Featured Webinar: Regionalization and the Power of Partnership

This hour-long webinar recording from Environmental Finance Center Network discusses various regionalization models and approaches to collaboration like: Informal information sharing, sharing personnel, leveraging shared purchasing power, how to prepare your utility for knowledge or technology transfer, and Regionalization options.

This webinar discusses the process for water systems to acquire and maintain adequate technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capacity. It provides some questions utilities can consider regarding their capability to consistently provide safe drinking water to the public and whether a partnership may be beneficial.

Technical

• Is your infrastructure inadequate or aging? 
• Do you have an asset management plan, and can you get the funding to follow through?
• Is your treatment, storage, and distribution adequate?
• Do you have a certified operator who has the technical knowledge needed to operate your utility?
• Is your source water of poor quality or quantity?

Managerial

• Do you have appropriate staffing and organization?
• Do you have a history of water rates that are too low?
• Do your decision makers have a limited understanding of financing options?
• Does your staff have a lack of expertise in long-term water system planning?

Financial

• Is your revenue sufficient to cover expenses now and into the future?
• Do you have good credit worthiness?
• Are your water rates adequate?
• What kind of fiscal management and controls are in place?

Featured Case Studies Within this Webinar

• Some examples of information sharing that can be implemented between small community systems.
• Equipment sharing ideas from Great Falls & Helena, Montana, as well as Tremonton, Utah.
• Sometimes utilities have a hard time getting needed equipment and it can be beneficial to buy consortium and work with other systems to buy chemicals and supplies in bulk like the Southern Maine Regional Water Council.
• The Salmonella Outbreak in Alamosa, Colorado which exhibits the benefits of regionalization in action through WARN Operational Plans. The clean-up effort was estimated to take 3-4 weeks but was completed in 13 days due to the sharing of resources.
• An example of interconnection between Aurora, South Dakota and Brookings, South Dakota when one utility was consistently violating MCL for nitrate, the nearby utility was able to split the cost of a transmission pipeline to interconnect the systems.
• Panora & Des Moines, Iowa systems show how operational collaboration can work between a large system and small system.

FOG in Sewer Systems vs. Septic Systems

The use of FOG (fats, oils, and grease) in the average household typically cannot be avoided. Once these substances are rinsed or flushed down the drain, they have the potential to build up and create blockages within the pipes of the home. When these clogs form they can cause a variety of problems like: raw sewage backing up into the property, basement flooding, raw sewage overflowing into public spaces like parks, streets, rivers, etc., and increased maintenance costs to clean and repair damaged pipes.

It is important to make sure that community members are educated on ways to avoid the damage that can be done when these substances are not handled properly. Here are some ways you can educate the public on FOG:

Dos and Don’ts 

• Consider providing a dos and don’ts list, pamphlet, or flyer to community members outlining best practices for handling FOG substances. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) created a poster that does this well.
• For outreach to non-community water systems, specifically restaurants, there are resources that can be provided like this FOG Toolkit from the National Restaurant Association’s Conserve Program. You can also collaborate with your local health department on educational materials to distribute.

Recycle

• If your area has a Household Hazardous Waste program that accepts used cooking oil, provide the contact information to community members or consider hosting a collection event. For an example of how to provide this resource, TCEQ has a webpage with more information. If there is no program available, contact your local Solid Waste Authority for specifics on their recycling program.

SepticSmart

• For homeowners that use septic systems, provide information about EPA’s SepticSmart program. Not only does this program include insights on how FOG impacts a septic system, but it also provides valuable information on general septic maintenance.

Videos

• Nobody forgets the first time they see a "fatberg" and it can be helpful to trigger awareness and a potential behavior change. There are plenty of videos online so choose one that best represents your system to share with utility customers.

Providing resources like the ones above will help to ensure your ratepayers understand the importance of these best practices.
 

A Case for Regionalization

Water and wastewater services are needed in every community in order to sustain it, but some communities need more assistance in order for their water utility to thrive. Many rural areas face challenges like meeting strict regulations while still providing affordable services to users. As technology becomes more sophisticated, the need to purchase new, expensive equipment becomes unavoidable for small utilities that often do not have the funding or resources needed. This is when regionalization can really benefit utilities and their customers alike.

Regionalization helps two or more water systems to leverage and combine resources, equipment, personnel, and even physical plants. According to U.S. EPA, “the main benefit of regionalization is that it pools individual resources of two or more water systems to obtain services or facilities that one or both systems may not have been capable of obtaining by themselves.”

In the Rural Community Assistance Partnership's (RCAP's) 2021 report: Affordability and Capability Issues of Small Water and Wastewaters Systems: A Case for Regionalization of Small Systems, they feature a case study that shows a successful model for regionalization from the Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) in southwest Ohio. GCWW offers the smaller water systems in the area much assistance in the form of: lab testing services, billing services, call center operation, a source of project financing, construction management services, engineering services, and emergency help when needed. 

RCAP also released a report titled: Regionalization: RCAP’s Recommendations for Water and Wastewater Policy which contained 22 recommendations that should be integrated into policy decision-making. The research featured in this report was unveiled in a webinar that also focused on the experiences of five different states: California, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas, who spoke about what they have put in place to help support the various forms of regionalization.

Further Regionalization Readings & Resources:

• Benefits of Regionalization
• How Regionalization & Consolidation of Water Utilities Creates New Projects
• Rural Matters | Issue 4: Let’s Talk Regionalization (2022)
• Learn About Water System Partnerships
• State Action on Water System Regionalization and Consolidation
• Developing Regional Economic Connectivity: Key Factors and Strategies for Urban and Rural Communities
• Funding Strategies to Promote System Regionalization

PFAS Treatment: What We Know in 2023

PFAS (formally known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are widely used, long lasting chemicals that break down very slowly over time. They break down so slowly that they end up in water, air, fish, and soil all over the world, and trace amounts have even been detected in human blood. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals, but we do not know to what extent they may affect us.

PFAS possess chemical properties that mean traditional drinking water treatment technologies are not able to remove them. Researchers have been working on a variety of treatment technologies to determine which methods work best to remove PFAS from drinking water. Some of the most successful methods include: activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange resins, and high-pressure membranes. 

Granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption: GAC has been shown to effectively remove PFAS from drinking water when it is used in a flow through filter mode after particulates have already been removed. According to EPA researcher Thomas Speth, this method can be extremely effective “depending on the type of carbon used, the depth of the bed of carbon, flow rate of the water, the specific PFAS you need to remove, temperature, and the degree and type of organic matter as well as other contaminants, or constituents, in the water.”

Ion exchange resins: Negatively charged ions of PFAS are attracted to positively charged anion resins. Anion exchange resins (AER) have proved to have a high capacity for many PFAS; but this method can be more expensive than GAC. The most promising version of this method is an AER in a single use mode, followed by incineration of the resin. This technology has no contaminant waste stream to treat or dispose due to the lack of need for resin regeneration.

High-pressure membranes: Research shows that membranes, such as nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, are typically more than 90 percent effective at removing a wide range of PFAS. However, these methods generate a large volume of high-strength waste stream which can be difficult to treat or dispose of for a water system. This technology may be better suited for a homeowner since it would generate a much smaller volume of waste.

PFAS Resources:

• Drinking Water Treatability Database
  • The Drinking Water Treatability Database (TDB) can be used to identify effective drinking water treatment processes, to plan for future treatment plant upgrades, to provide information to first responders for spills/ emergencies, and to recognize research needs.
• PFAS Analytic Tools hub
  • This page contains location-specific information related to PFAS manufacture, release, and occurrence in the environment as well as facilities potentially handling PFAS.
• CWA Analytical Methods for Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS)
  • This page contains information regarding the EPA’s development of new analytical methods to test for PFAS compounds in wastewater, as well as other environmental media.

EPA Mandates Cybersecurity Reporting for the Water Sector

Public water systems are increasingly at risk from cyberattacks that threaten public health. U.S. EPA has issued new guidance that states are required to evaluate and report on cybersecurity threats for systems that use industrial control systems or other operational technology.

“Cyberattacks against critical infrastructure facilities, including drinking water systems, are increasing, and public water systems are vulnerable," said EPA Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox. “Cyberattacks have the potential to contaminate drinking water.”

This expectation is outlined in a memo that interprets sanitary survey requirements, accompanied by a detailed guidance document aimed at state programs and technical assistance providers. It was released as part of the Biden administration's updated National Cybersecurity Strategy. 

U.S. EPA offers resources that can help water systems understand and address cyber vulnerabilities including this video on basic cybersecurity concepts that can be used by water systems as a part of an annual cybersecurity training program. Our database on WaterOperator.org also has resources on this topic, including this 56-page guide from WaterISAC on cybersecurity best practices to reduce exploitable weaknesses and attacks.

RCAP’s Free Monthly Articles for Water and Wastewater Operators

A Drop of Knowledge is a monthly digital article from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) The articles focus on topics like infrastructure, capacity building, and economic development in rural America. It contains how-to’s, tips, and guidance from more than 300 technical assistance providers (TAPs) across the country. Some recent featured articles are linked below:

• Small South Dakota City Leverages Funds to Complete Expensive Sewer System Upgrade 
• Cross Connection Control – A Holistic Approach
• Are Your Utilities Prepared for the Upcoming Winter?
• Water Utility Digital Transformation
• Ohio Site Visit Shows Wastewater Potential of Sand Bioreactors
• Understanding Onsite and Decentralized Wastewater in America

Looking for something else? Find more articles and subscribe to A Drop of Knowledge.
 

RCAP’s Free Quarterly Magazine is Focused on Rural Communities

Rural Matters is the official magazine of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP.) It features stories and insights that highlight the challenges and opportunities facing the rural communities that RCAP works with. Rural Matters is published quarterly in both print and digital formats and RCAP offers an archive of past issues on their website. Below are links to some of the most recent issues:

2022 | Issue 1: Let’s Talk Wastewater features topics like: loan management, the water access gap, mapping a septic system on tribal lands, developing an effective sewer board, and managing wastewater in U.S. territories.

2022 | Issue 2: Let’s Talk Drinking Water features topics like: boil water advisories and orders, COVID-19’s impact on water systems, violations and how the Agreed Order process works, options for additional water supply, and Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.

2022 | Issue 3: Let’s Talk Solid Waste features topics like: purchasing a solid waste collection vehicle, how a pandemic impacts solid waste management, a story of solid waste success in South Dakota, recycling program adaptation, and the unique challenges that come with solid waste management in the Grand Canyon.

2022 | Issue 4: Let’s Talk Regionalization features topics like: winterization tips, well ownership, a regionalization success story, fleet electrification, and multiple articles that emphasize the importance of community collaboration with water and wastewater systems.

If you’re interested in contributing feedback or advertising in Rural Matters you can contact submissions@rcap.org or you can simply subscribe to receive each issue.
 

The Impact of Climate Change on Massachusetts Septic Systems

Climate Change + Population Increase = Imbalance in the Waterways of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 

The old septic systems used by about 95% of the growing population of Cape Cod are contributing to rising nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the waterways which are slowly warming due to climate change. Septic systems are a great option in places where homes are too spread out to justify sewers and water treatment plants but they don’t filter out the nitrogen and phosphorus that ends up seeping into groundwater. When nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into the water, they act as a fertilizer for bacteria and algae. This combination of factors has resulted in an “explosion” of blue-green algae to take over the Cape and wreak havoc on the ecosystem.

After several lawsuits filed by environmentalists, the state of Massachusetts has proposed that local communities are required to fix the problem within 20 years. This has created some pushback from the community of Mashpee, MA that has already started installing a sewer system, the construction of which was projected to be spread out over 25 years. If the proposed rule is enforced, that would force the community to move faster and find a way to cover the huge cost of construction. This raises the issue of cost in general since sewers and water treatment plants are extremely expensive for the community and new septic systems can be a huge expense to the individual homeowners in the area, many of whom are retired and living on fixed incomes.

How this plays out in Massachusetts will be viewed by other states in the future as they seek to address similar surface water quality issues in areas with a high density of decentralized wastewater treatment. 

For more information concerning Nutrient Runoff from Septic Systems check out some of the following resources:

• Septic Systems and Surface Water
  • This interactive graphic and diagram explains how nutrients and pathogens from your septic system may impact streams, lakes, or other water bodies near your home.
• Nutrients from septic systems can impact well and surface water
  • This article goes into detail about the impact a malfunctioning septic system has on the surrounding waterways, wells, and groundwater. 
• How Nitrogen from Septic Systems Can Harm Water Quality
  • This 2-page fact sheet describes how nitrogen can affect the soil and water in the areas surrounding your septic system. 

For more information concerning Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) check out some of the following resources from WaterOperator.org:

• Addressing HABs and Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water with the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
  • This 4-page fact sheet describes DWSRF eligibilities related HABS. It provides several case studies where DWSRF funds were used for HABs related activities.
• Algae/Cyanobacteria Toxins and Public Water Systems
  • This 31-slide presentation discusses how to understand the problem, know what tools are available, and plan how to manage a cyanotoxin event.
• Algal Toxin Risk Assessment and Management Strategic Plan for Drinking Water
  • This 81-page report is a strategic plan for assessing and managing risks associated with algal toxins in drinking water provided by public water systems. This plan presents examples of recently completed and ongoing HAB-related activities and provides steps and timelines for intended future EPA activities. These ongoing and future activities outline EPA’s plan for the next few months through the next five years and beyond.

Free Program to Help Rural Entrepreneurs Thrive

In 2021 the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) launched the Open for Business program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the program is to serve entrepreneurs across the country in launching and growing their business through the help of RCAP’s extensive network. 

The Open for Business program offers free tools designed to assist entrepreneurs looking for resources to enhance their business. The program’s hub has self-guided online workshops, live webinars on relevant topics for expanding your business, and one-on-one coaching from a team of professionals with a wide range of expertise. Register for one of their live webinars below:

• January 5, 2023 - Developing an Effective Website
• January 19, 2023 - Budgeting and Bookkeeping: Part 1

The Open for Business hub also offers training resources that provide knowledge on some of the most used digital tools in business as well as financial assistance resources via a list of up-to-date government, non-profit, and private funding sources and loans for small businesses. 

For additional knowledge-building, the WaterOperator.org blog also regularly features content on running your water system like a business. Here are some examples:

• Promoting Equality and Equity: Resources for the Water Industry
• Maintaining Customer Satisfaction
• Protecting Your Customers From Utility Scams
• Social Media 101 for Public Water Systems

Septic Systems 101 Training

Through our sister program at PrivateWellClass.org, our team hosts monthly webinars. Each year the most popular training in Septic Systems 101. Below you'll find a recording of the most recent training, held in August 2022. Topics include:

• What is safe to flush down a drain?
• Do you need to put additives in your septic tank?
• How can you prolong the life of your system?