Training and Technical Assistance for Small Water Systems and Private Well Owners

National WebinarSeptember 21, 2016

PHOTO

Bill O’ConnellNRWA

Robert StewartRCAP

Glenn BarnesUNC

Our Speakers Today…

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$ 12.7 Million Grants Competition(September, 2015)

• Training/TA for: – Small drinking water systems  – Small/Decentralized wastewater facilities  – Private well owners

• “Small” =– Water systems serving 10,000 or fewer people– Wastewater systems with flows of less than 1 million gallons/day

Grants Competition, cont.

Grants Competition, cont.

• Training:  – On‐site approaches (facility visit, classroom training)

– Remote approaches (webinars, etc.)

Grants Competition, cont.

• Technical assistance:– Telephone, web‐based consultation– In‐person visits to facilities

Grants Competition, cont.• Services available in all 50 states, Tribal Lands and U.S. territories

• Consultation with primacy agencies and EPA• Grantees providing match with own resources

Grant Awards1. Training/TA for technical capacity ($8 M total):

– National Rural Water Association (NRWA) $4 M– Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) $4 M

2. Training/TA for managerial/financial capacity ($1.8 M):– UNC Environmental Finance Center 

3. Training/TA for small/decentralized wastewater systems ($1.2 M):– National Rural Water Association (NRWA)

4. Assistance for Private Well Owners ($1.7M)– Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)

EPA Grants Project Officers

• Michael Finn, PO for NRWA Small DW System grantfinn.michael@epa.gov, 202‐564‐5261

• Matthew Reed, PO for RCAP Small DW System reed.matthew@epa.gov, 202‐564‐4719

• Suzanne Kelly, PO for RCAP Private Well Owner GrantKelly.suzanne@Epa.gov, 202‐564‐3887 

• John Irizarry, PO for UNC EFC grantIrizarry.john@epa.gov, 202‐564‐2520

Bill O’Connell

• Program Manager for the National Rural Water Association. 

• 20 years experience with PWS• Initiated EPA/NRWA wellhead 

protection program in Montana• BS in Geological Engineering 

from Montana Tech

National Rural Water Association

• NRWA/EPA Training Program 1978– Over 30 years– NRWA is the nation’s largest water utility operator training organization 

• 49 State Rural Water Associations– Covering all 50 states– 500 staff throughout country

NPA #1: Training and Technical Assistance to Small Public Water Systems to Achieve and Maintain Compliance with the SDWA

• Scope of Grant – T/TA for SDWA compliance for Small PWS 

• 8,085 hours of Classroom Training and/or On‐Site Training and Technical Assistance– Minimum classroom training 2,020 hours 

(25% of total hours)

Training and Technical Assistance to Small Public Water Systems to Achieve and Maintain Compliance with the SDWA

What’s New?

Training and Technical Assistance to Small Public Water Systems to Achieve and Maintain Compliance 

with the SDWA

• Continue Collaborative Effort with Primacy Agencies to help small drinking water systems.

• Goals and Objectives Developed with Primacy Input

• Primacy Agencies Help Guide Priorities 

Collaborative Process

• State Primacy Agency Contact is Identified

• Start of a year long Collaborative Process and the continuation of a decades long collaboration 

• EPA/Primacy and Rural Water• Rural Water and Small PWS

Prioritization

– Challenges faced by small public water systems

– Training Topics• Specific rules• Other 

Communication• Other comments

– State Issues– Regional EPA 

Comments

• Suggest a date for mid‐year program review meeting

• Requests suggestions for methods of notifying TNC and NTNC systems of training available

WaterPro Online Community

• What it is:– Collaborative interactive website

– Provide free access to the WaterPro OLC for small system personnel in the U.S. Territories

Case Studies  

NEW COLLABORATION REALITY

new

Goals and Objectives• Target number of classroom and/or onsite T&TA to Achieve and Maintain Compliance with SDWA 

– 8,085 hours of T&TA – Now more than ever these programs have been critical to the success of our partnership EPA HQ (1979)

• Case Studies– Highlighting results of T/TA

• Webinars– Rules– Tribal

• WaterPro OLC

• Increased number of PWS’s meeting SDWA requirements– Informed Boards and Councils– Enhanced Technical Capacity – Source Water Protection

Contact Information

Bill O’Connell• billo@NRWA.org

• Phone: 580‐251‐9080

• Address: 2915 South 13th Street    Duncan, OK 73533

QUESTIONS?

Robert Stewart• Executive Director of RCAP since 

2006• Over 30 years’ experience in direct 

technical assistance and training for small water and wastewater utilities and management of state and national technical assistance programs

• B.A. and M.P.A., University of Texas 

RCAP‐EPA NPA 1: Training and Technical Assistance for Small Public Water Systems to Achieve and Maintain Compliance

Robert Stewart, Executive DirectorRural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)

Western RCAPRural CommunityAssistance Corporation(916) 447-2854www.rcac.org

Midwest RCAPMidwest Assistance Program(952) 758-4334www.map-inc.org

Southern RCAPCommunities Unlimited(479) 443-2700www.communitiesu.org

Northeast RCAPRCAP Solutions(800) 488-1969www.rcapsolutions.org

Great Lakes RCAPWSOS Community Action Commission(800) 775-9767www.glrcap.org

Southeast RCAPSoutheast Rural Community Assistance Project(866) 928-3731www.southeastrcap.org

RCAP National Office1701 K St. NW, Suite 700Washington, DC 20006(800) 321-7227www.rcap.org | info@rcap.org

Rural CommunityAssistance PartnershipPractical solutions for improving rural communities

• American Water Works Association• Illinois State Water Survey at University of Illinois

• Inter Tribal Council of Arizona • United South and Eastern Tribes

Partners

• Addressing the root causes of compliance failure

• Systems serving fewer than 10,000 people– CWS, NTNCWS, TNCWS– 50 states & 2 territories– Selected tribes

• Operators, managers, boards, and councils• Tribal and non‐tribal water systems

Focus 

• Compliance‐based, capacity‐building training – Face‐to‐face sessions– Webinars– Web‐based learning modules– Video demonstrations– Hands‐on activities– Web‐based resources

Approach – Training

• Compliance-focused technical assistance– On‐site– Distance Assistance– Web‐based trainings and resources

Approach – Technical Assistance

• Community projects and trainings chosen through proactive collaboration with primacy agencies and input from EPA Regions

• Assessment of compliance issues:Causes of compliance failuresPriority systemsIndividual on‐site assessments

What are training topics?Who receives T & TA?

• Technical capacity assessment of the system– Identifying technical capacity needs of operators and managers 

• A prescription for training – Topic‐specific courses to be taken, by whom, on what platform, and expected outcomes

State and Local Workplans

• A prescription for technical assistance – Including the required level of expertise of the TAP providing the assistance and expected outcomes 

• Summary and timeline of what is needed for the system to come into compliance and stay there 

What’s in a Workplan

• Basic math and chemistry for operators• Strategies to comply with specific regulations

– Monitoring and Reporting Requirements– Revised Total Coliform Rule– Ground Water Rule– Lead/Copper

• Water Quality in Storage Facilities• Operations and Maintenance Plans• Climate Adaptation

Training Topics

ProviderTraining Activity

Description Target Audience Training Method / Platform

1 RCAPFace-to-face compliance-focused trainings

Operators & Managers of CWS and NCWS

Classroom, with interactive/field exercises

2 RCAPTribal face-to-face compliance-focused trainings

Tribal operators & managers

Classroom, with interactive/field exercises

3 RCAP+AWWAFace-to-face compliance-focused trainings, full-day

Operators, managers and owners

Classroom with interactiveexercises

4 UITrainings videos on distribution system best practices

Spanish speaking operators and managers Online

5 UIAccess web-based compliance informationand training

Operators, managers and board members

Classroom at national, regional or state conferences

6 RCAPCareer opportunities in drinking water operations

High & vocational schools, workforce centers Brochure

RCAP and Partner Training Deliverables

Provider Training Activity Description Target AudienceTraining Method

/ Platform

8 USETRegulatory updates, sampling protocols, laboratory procedures and SOPs

Tribal operators in EPA Regions 1,2, 4 and 6

Classroom, with interactive exercises

8 AWWA One eLearning course: 3-hours long, covering RTCR

Operators nationwide

Asynchronous online training

9 UI

Regularly updated web-based resources, including bi-weekly newsletters, bi-monthly tribal newsletters, regular blog posts, national calendar of training events

Operators, managers, board members, trainersTA providers

Web-based info systemOn-site trainingRemote training

10 UIOperations of NCWS using groundwater; CEU approved curriculum

NCWS operatorsAsynchronous webinars (on demand)

RCAP & Partner Training Deliverables

Provider Activity DescriptionTarget

Audience Delivery Method

1 RCAPConsult with primacy agencies and EPA to determine priority compliance projects/systems

Primacy agencies, EPA Regions

Primarily face-to-face

2 RCAPConduct assessments on priority systems and provide tailored technical assistance

Operators of priority systems (non-tribal)

On-site

3 RCAP Technical assistance projects at tribal systems to resolve compliance failures

Tribal water systems identified through assessment process

On-site

RCAP Technical Assistance Deliverables

Provider Activity Description Target Audience Delivery Method

4 UIRespond to compliance‐related questions sent by phone or email

Operators Phone calls and emails

5 UICreate and distribute video interviews on operations best practices

Operators and managers Web based/YouTube

6 ITCA Tribal technical assistance projects

Tribal PWSs in EPA Regions 5-10 On-site

7 USET Tribal compliance projectsTribal Water Systems in EPA Regions 1, 2, 4, and 6

On-site

Partner Technical Assistance Deliverables

RCAP‐EPA NPA 4 Drinking Water Grant Improving Water Quality through Training and Technical Assistance to Private Well Owners

Robert Stewart, Executive DirectorRural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)

• Illinois State Water Survey at University of Illinois

• National Groundwater Association• National Environmental Health Association • Water Systems Council• Texas A&M University• Penn State University

Project Partners

• Classroom trainings for sanitarians on well assessments and outreach (RCAP and UI)

• Classroom trainings for well owners on well assessments (RCAP, TAMUPSU)

• Online trainings for environmental health professionals (NEHA)• Email based classes for well owners (10 lessons‐ UI; 5‐ NGWA)• Web based trainings for sanitarians (UI)• Web based trainings for well owners, including Spanish language 

classes (UI and NGWA)• National Stakeholder Workshop for groundwater and public health 

professionals (UI)

Project Activities

• Children’s Water Festival classroom education for children, teachers and parents (WSC)

• On‐site private water well assessments (RCAP)• Multi‐platform technical assistance, website, social media, phone (UI)

• Monthly newsletter to all stakeholders (UI)• Online decision tree and other web based informational resources, including testing and treatment options (NGWA)

• A nationwide (state, territory, and tribe) contact list of local experts and regulators;

Project Activities

• A multi‐platform approach to technical assistance queries and responses, including a phone line, email address, online chats and social media accounts that are all monitored 5 days a week (WSC)

• A dedicated website housing Private Well Class materials, webinar recordings, and additional resources for well owners (UI)

• Informational brochures and newsletters, print and online (WSC)

Project Activities

RCAP’s Resources at www.rcap.orgU/I’s Resources at www.privatewellclass.orgNGWA Resources at www.wellowner.orgWSC Resources at www.watersystemscouncil.orgTAMU Resources at http://twon.tamu.edu/PSU Resources at http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/drinking-water/wells

For More Information

Executive Director‐ Robert Stewart rstewart@rcap.orgProject Manager ‐ Dave Clark dclark@rcap.orgTraining Manager ‐ Joy Barrett jbarrett@rcap.org

202‐408‐1273

Contacts

QUESTIONS?

• Senior Project Director at EFC at UNC

• Has worked with the EFC since 2006

• Financial training, program design, business planning, tool development

• Financial assistance for drinking water, wastewater wetlands, and clean energy

Glenn Barnes

Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Financial and Managerial Capacity

Glenn BarnesSenior Project DirectorEnvironmental Finance Center atThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill919‐962‐2789glennbarnes@sog.unc.edu

Project Team

Countless partners in states and territories that help make 

our work successful+

Project Team

Heather HimmelbergerProject Co‐DirectorHeather HimmelbergerProject Co‐Director

Khris DodsonProject Managing DirectorKhris DodsonProject Managing Director

• Asset Management

• Fiscal Planning and Rate Setting

• Energy Management of Water Systems

• Water Loss Reduction

• Workforce Development

• Regionalization and Water System Partnerships

• Accessing State and Federal Funding Programs

• Financial and Managerial Leadership

• Water Conservation

• Climate Resiliency

Our Finance & Management Areas

• In-person workshops• Webinars• NEW! Peer-to-Peer and Ask-the-Expert web events

• Comprehensive technical assistance• Small group sessions on energy• Funder forums• Working with financial regulators (PUCs)

Our Services—Live Content

• Rates dashboards

• eLearning modules

• Webinar recordings

• Blog posts

• NEW! Educational videos

Our Services—On-Demand Content

Past & Upcoming Workshops

Since January 

2016

Upcoming

Current Technical Assistance Efforts

• Training events specifically for tribal audiences co-sponsored by Indian Health Service

• Tribes will be invited to all in-person workshops and all webinars

• Will work specifically with EPA tribal coordinators

Special Focus on Tribes

• We will do something in person in every state and territory– Stand alone workshop– Part of an existing training or conference

– In person technical assistance

Consultations with States, Territories, Navajo Nation, and EPA Regions

• We need your feedback on the subject area(s), who to serve, when to hold the workshop, and where

• Enhance, not duplicate, training and assistance efforts already underway

• Our goal = You get your first choice

Consultations with States, Territories, Navajo Nation, and EPA Regions

• Our quarterly update webinars will continue in the next project round

• Miss one? They are recorded and posted on our YouTube channel

Ongoing Project Updates

Best Resource: EFCNetwork.org

Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Financial and Managerial Capacity

Glenn BarnesSenior Project DirectorEnvironmental Finance Center atThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill919‐962‐2789glennbarnes@sog.unc.edu

QUESTIONS?

STATE/EPA ONLYQ&A

EPA Grants Project Officers

• Michael Finn, PO for NRWA Small DW System grantfinn.michael@epa.gov, 202‐564‐5261

• Matthew Reed, PO for RCAP Small DW System reed.matthew@epa.gov, 202‐564‐4719

• Suzanne Kelly, PO for RCAP Private Well Owner GrantKelly.suzanne@Epa.gov, 202‐564‐3887 

• John Irizarry, PO for UNC EFC grantIrizarry.john@epa.gov, 202‐564‐2520