NETCSC publishes updated training resources catalog

The National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities (NETCSC) has published its 2002–2003 Environmental Training Resources Catalog. The catalog
provides full descriptions of 127 of NETCSC’s products for use in all phases of training—from needs assessment to delivery and evaluation.

The catalog details training packages, training aids, and training-related information in the following topic areas: environmental management, drinking water
and wastewater, drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, and training/adult education.

The catalog includes a products order form as well as a coupon for 10 percent off the first order placed from the catalog.

Call NETCSC at (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191 to request a free copy of the 2002–2003 Environmental Training Resources Catalog (Item #TRBKPR11). The catalog
also is available on NETCSC’s Web site located at www.netc.wvu.edu.

NETCSC lists regulations affecting small systems online

If you want to know what water and wastewater regulations affect small communities, here is an easy way to find out. The National Environmental Training Center for
Small Communities (NETCSC) offers a list of more than 20 rules and policies that may affect small communities on its Web site.

This helpful list describes applicable
regulations; the size of communities affected; specific rules for different size communities; and current, upcoming, and future Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act regulatory dates.

Included are helpful contacts and sources, often U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Web site links that provide additional details. NETCSC also has included a glossary of acronyms and important terms.

To access this information, go to www.nesc.wvu.edu/netcsc/netcsc_regs.html.

NSFC offers educational wastewater poster

The National Small Flows Clearinghouse (NSFC) is offering an educational poster titled Onsite Wastewater Treatment for Small Communities and Rural Areas. The poster provides descriptions of alternative wastewater systems available to small and rural communities.

The foldout poster includes information about both onsite and alternative decentralized wastewater systems. It includes such systems as septic tank/soil absorption systems, aerobic treatment units, drip and spray irrigation systems, sand filters, chamber system mounds, constructed wetlands, composting toilets, low-pressure pipe systems, and graywater/blackwater systems. Schematic diagrams are included along with descriptions of how the technologies work.

The poster can serve as an educational tool for those wanting an overview of alternative wastewater treatment and disposal technologies. It will be particularly
helpful to local and state officials, managers, planners, public health officials, engineers, regulators, and individual homeowners.

Onsite Wastewater Treatment for Small Communities and Rural Areas costs $1.25 and can be ordered from the NSFC by phone at (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191, by fax at (304) 293-3161, or by e-mail at nsfc_orders@mail.nesc.wvu.edu. Please request Item #WWPSPE02.

EPA issues guidance for community drinking water systems

As deadlines approach for community water systems to submit vulnerability assessments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and prepare or revise emergency response plans as required under the “Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Act of 2002,” EPA’s Water Protection Task Force is providing information to help communities meet requirements of the new law.

The task force recently published Instructions to Assist Community Water Systems in Complying with the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. The instructions are posted on EPA’s Water Security Web site and are available in Adobe portable document format (pdf) at www.epa.gov/safewater/security/util-inst.pdf.

The instructions describe what a community water system must do to comply with the act, the deadlines based on system size, how to determine system size, how to submit
the package to EPA, and who to contact for more information. According to the Water Protection Task Force, EPA is prepared to receive and safeguard the required
certifications and vulnerability assessments as described in the instructions.

The task force also has made available the two certification forms: one for vulnerability assessments and one for emergency response plans. EPA suggests that utilities use the standardized certification forms, although the forms are provided as a guide and are not required for this purpose. If utilities decide to use their own format for certification, they should refer to the instructions for the recommended content.

Utilities can access the forms through the instructions posted on the Water Security Web site (www.epa.gov/safewater/security/community.html), or open the form file (Adobe pdf) and fill it out, then print it.
Certifications must be submitted by utilities to EPA.
The certification forms can be found at the following URLs:
• The Vulnerability Assessment Certification (Appendix 1 of the instructions):www.epa.gov/safewater/security/util-inst-app1.pdf
• The Emergency Response Plan Certification (Appendix 4 of the instructions): www.epa.gov/safewater/security/util-inst-app4.pdf

Additional information that has recently been posted on EPA’s Water Security Web
site (www.epa.gov/safewater/security) includes:
• A description of the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act requirements for
community water systems: www.epa.gov/safewater/security/community.html
• Responsibilities of EPA: www.epa.gov/safewater/security/agency.html
• A vulnerability assessment fact sheet: www.epa.gov/safewater/security/va_fact_sheet_12-19.pdf
• Protocol to secure vulnerability assessments submitted to EPA: www.epa.gov/safewater/security/info_protect_11-30-02.pdf

EPA sponsors national water infrastructure conference

Calling national attention to future investment gaps facing the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
hosted its first ever conference on “Closing the Gap: Innovative Solutions for America’s Water Infrastructure” January 31 in Washington, D.C.

To promote continued public health and water quality protection and progress in communities across the country, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman convened the
conference to provide a national stage for business, government, and other experts to exchange information and views on meeting future challenges in water infrastructure management and investment.

“A safe, affordable, and abundant supply of drinking water is something we take for granted in America,” said Whitman. “We turn on the tap, and we are confident that it
is healthy for us and our families. There’s no doubt, however, that in the years ahead America’s water infrastructure faces some critical needs.”

Assuming no growth in revenues, the total need for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure—in both capital and operations and maintenance—exceeds $540 billion
over 20 years. The size of the gap can be reduced substantially if a real growth in revenues is projected over the same period. Assuming a three percent annual real
growth in revenues, for example, the gap shrinks by nearly 85 percent.

The one-day forum focused on the growing needs for infrastructure replacement, improvement, and expansion. Innovative methods to ensure maximum efficiency in water resources and water infrastructure management and investment were also examined.

EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water, G. Tracy Mehan III, offered a multifaceted approach to solving the problem, including better management, smart water use, the watershed approach, and better utilization
of price mechanisms. “We are working to ensure clean and safe water for the 21st century,” said Mehan. “This is a concerted effort to close the gap in America’s investment in our water infrastructure.”

For more information about the conference, visit EPA’s Web site at www.epa.gov/water/gap_forum.html. For a copy of EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure
Gap Analysis, go to www.epa.gov/owm/featinfo.htm.

NDWC offers updated water system operator training CD

Water system personnel can learn about small facility operations by working through a series of challenging, colorful, and fun activities presented in the easy-to-use
Operator Basics training program CD. Up to 13.6 hours of training can be documented by working through all 11 units of the groundwater training series.

The Montana Water Center produces the Operator Basics Training Series. It is available free of charge from the National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (NDWC).
Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, the training series provides technical assistance to operators of small public drinking water systems.

State agencies are welcome to order bulk quantities of CDs for distribution to operators of small drinking water systems. Trainers may order up to 20 CDs at a time for classes or workshops.

New features in the 2003 version of the CD allow users to:
• run the program from the CD-ROM, install it on their computer, or print a hard copy version,
• run, download, or print the program from the Montana Water Center’s Web site,
• resume work where the user left off previously,
• password protect records,
• print a summary certificate and detailed record of activities/hours completed,
• practice more math problems including metric problems,
• earn continuing education credits in approved states, and
• easily find state-specific resources and regional contact information.

To order a free copy of the Operator Basics CD, call the NDWC at (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191 and request Item #DWCDTR18. Orders also may be placed via e-mail at
ndwc_orders@mail.nesc.wvu.edu. To learn more about the Operator Basics Training Series, visit the Montana Water Center’s Web site at http://water.montana.edu/training/gwb.

EPA onsite wastewater manual now available