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WaterOperator.org Blog

Technology and Innovation in the Water Sector

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Innovative water treatment technologies refer to advanced and unconventional methods explored to purify and manage water resources. These solutions often leverage cutting-edge technologies and scientific advancements to address water management challenges including emerging contaminants, water scarcity, energy efficiency, resource recovery, decarbonization, etc. These technologies are often still being researched and benchmarked through laboratory or pilot-scale studies. 

We have 364 resources (and counting) on Innovative Water Technologies in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents about identifying water system leaks with the help of dogs, alternative water resources as we face degrading water quality and supplytreatment options for taste-and-odor problems, approaches to drinking water technology approval, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Innovative Water Technologies within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Innovative Water Technologies." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

Groundwater Rule Compliance

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The groundwater rule is to reduce disease incidence associated with disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water. The rule establishes a risk-based approach to target groundwater systems that are vulnerable to fecal contamination. Groundwater systems that are identified as being at risk of fecal contamination must take corrective action to reduce potential illness from exposure to microbial pathogens. The rule applies to all systems that use ground water as a source of drinking water. 

We have 488 resources (and counting) on Groundwater in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for resources on the Ground Water Rule (GWR), public water well maintenance and use, compliance monitoring for GWSseffective well maintenance and procedures, and many other useful guides that will help ensure our groundwater stays safe and clean for generations to come. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Groundwater within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Groundwater." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

Financial Management for Small Water Utilities

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Many small public water systems lack organized finances, with little to no budgeting or accounting, no long-term financial planning, and customer rates that are not adequate to cover expenses. Many small systems also need expensive repairs or upgrades that would be difficult to afford even if they had impeccable book-keeping. In recognition of this, the federal government and many national organizations provide small systems with resources to organize and improve their finances, as well as grants to help fund major projects.

We have 1712 resources (and counting) on Financial Management in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents on funding opportunities to build system resiliencybuilding a financially healthy water system, how to use the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) to mitigate the impact of drought on drinking water systems or to address DBPs in drinking water, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Financial Management within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Financial Management." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

Drinking Water Standards: Rules, Regulations, Compliance

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards that, when combined with protecting ground water and surface water, are critical to ensuring safe drinking water. U.S. EPA works with its regional offices, states, tribes and its many partners to protect public health through implementing the Safe Drinking Water Act. The standards are the levels of a particular contaminant that are allowed in drinking water and still considered safe.

We have 1482 resources (and counting) on Drinking Water Standards in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for resources like an overview of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), information on how U.S. EPA develops risk-based drinking water regulations, a comprehensive list of potential contaminants in water, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Drinking Water Standards within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Drinking Water Standards." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

Distribution System Compliance & Best Practices

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Water distribution systems are large networks of storage tanks, valves, pumps, and pipes that transport finished water to consumers’ homes and businesses. Due to their design, water distribution systems include areas of vulnerability where contamination can occur.

We have 1188 resources (and counting) on Distribution Systems in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents about corrosion and corrosion control, calculate the average annual water loss that has affected your system, how to develop and maintain a service line inventory to comply with the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), webinars on distribution system best practices, how to enhance security monitoring for water distribution system facilities that are at risk of intentional contamination, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Distribution Systems within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Distribution Systems." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

Disinfection By-Product Control

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Disinfection kills or inactivates disease-causing organisms in a water supply. Disinfection by-products (DBPs) are formed when disinfectants used in water treatment plants react with bromide and/or natural organic matter, like decaying vegetation, present in the source water to create harmful compounds. Different disinfectants produce different types or amounts of disinfection byproducts.

We have 829 resources (and counting) on Disinfection and Disinfection By-Products in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents that explain how to use the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) to address DBPs in drinking water, the basics of ultraviolet disinfection, disinfectant residual control within the distribution system, webinar recordings on ways to simulate disinfectant water chemistry and ways to assess distribution system influent water quality, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Disinfection and its potential by-products within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Disinfection and Disinfection By-Products." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

Onsite Wastewater System Basics & Maintenance

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Decentralized or onsite wastewater systems are used for collection, treatment, and dispersal/reuse of wastewater from individual homes, clusters of homes, isolated communities, industries, or institutional facilities, at or near the point of waste generation. These systems are regulated at the state level, but not federal level.

We have 553 resources (and counting) on Decentralized Wastewater Systems in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents about financing onsite wastewater treatment systems, septic system basics before you buy a property, how to build a decentralized wastewater training program, and many other useful guides that will help you to maintain your septic system to ensure safe and clean water for your family or community.

To access the wealth of knowledge on Decentralized Wastewater within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Decentralized WW Systems." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

Public Relations & Customer Satisfaction for Water Utilities

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Consumer Information is any information water operators are required to or may want to distribute to their consumers. This includes anything that is for the public that isn’t required, Consumer Confidence Reports aka annual water quality reports, voluntary communication, public awareness/education materials, fact sheets about system, treatment, etc.

We have 876 resources (and counting) on Consumer Information in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents on Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) best practiceswebinar recordings about transparency and communications with water consumers, tips and tricks to help your utility communicate the value of drinking water services to rate payers, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Consumer Information within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Consumer Information." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

Certification & Exam Prep for Water and Wastewater Operators

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Operator certification helps protect human health and the environment by establishing minimum professional standards for the operation and maintenance of public water and wastewater systems. While the specific requirements vary from state to state, the goal of all operator certification programs is to ensure that skilled professionals are operating and maintaining drinking water and wastewater plants.

We have 872 resources (and counting) on Certification & Exam Prep in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents that go over math for water operators and for wastewater operatorstraining programs for water and wastewater operators, and many other useful guides that will help you prepare for your certification exams. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Certification & Exam Prep within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Certification/Exam Prep." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.

Biosolids & Activated Sludge Treatment

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Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of sewage sludge. Often times, they are the solids removed from the bottom of a lagoon, that are applied to farm fields as fertilizer.

We have 379 resources (and counting) on Biosolids in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents that cover the types of lagoon sludge and how to calculate sludge volume and the volatile portion, what are nutrients and how they are removed, how to deal with accumulated sludge in a wastewater lagoon, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Biosolids within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Biosolids." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.