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  • NESC NEWS - May 2008:
    < Visit our new Web site, SMART About Water, designed to help America's small communities protect their source water. Through a partnership with the RCAP and a cooperative agreement with the U.S. EPA, SMART will provide source water and wellhead protection training and outreach in small communities around the country.

    • Latest News

    Drinking Water, Wastewater, Training, Small Communities

    < View NESC News: May 2008 / WVU's National Environmental Services Center Names New Director

    EPA WATER NEWS

    Water Headlines for May 2008

    Protect Your Family, Test Your Well Water - Aimed at New England, but helpful for well owners outside of the New England area. If you have a private well, regular water quality testing is very important. Many contaminants cannot be identified by taste or odor, making it difficult for homeowners to know if the water quality of their well has changed. EPA does not regulate private wells and many states and towns do not require periodic sampling of private wells after they are initially installed. This makes it the responsibility of homeowners to periodically test their well for contamination.

    Download CUPSS Free!

    Check Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released new software to help small drinking water and wastewater systems manage their assets. CUPSS is a free, easy-to-use, asset management tool for small drinking water and wastewater utilities. CUPSS provides a simple, comprehensive approach based on EPA's highly successful Simple Tools for Effective Performance (STEP) Guide series.

    May is American Wetlands Month - EPA will once again celebrate American Wetlands Month in May with federal, state, tribal, local, non-profit, and private sector organization partners. This annual celebration is a time to recognize and highlight the wonderful ways that wetlands enrich the environment and human society. In anticipation of this year's celebration, EPA encourages individuals and groups to plan activities and events that raise awareness of the critical role wetlands play in our environment and build support for their protection and restoration. Some ideas for celebratory activities and events that could be planned in conjunction with American Wetlands Month include:

    Watershed Handbook Online - EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds released a online document this week to help communities, watershed organizations, and local, state, tribal, and federal environmental agencies develop and implement watershed plans to meet water quality standards and protect water resources. The "Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters" is designed to help anyone undertaking a watershed planning effort, but should be particularly useful to persons working with impaired or threatened waters. It contains in-depth guidance on quantifying existing pollutant loads, developing estimates of the load reductions required to meet water quality standards, developing effective management measures, and tracking progress once the plan is implemented. New materials were added to the handbook including ways to protect important elements of the landscape and aquatic habitats within a watershed. The document is available on the web at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook/

    USDA RD NEWS

    Recall Message May 2008

    Fire Hydrant Stem Replacement Kit - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Service and Clow Valve Company have asked the National Environmental Services Center to help publicize a potential problem with certain fire hydrants. Here is the announcement from Clow:

    "Medallion and F2500 fire hydrants with cast years of 2002, 2003, and 2004 may require replacement of the upper stem. To facilitate the repairs, Clow Valve Company will provide a replacement kit free of charge and a labor allowance for each upper stem returned."

    Visit the Clow Web site at www.clowvalve.com for more information.

    Funding: Household Water Well System Grant Funds Deadline is May 31, 2008

    Household Water Well System Grant Program
    The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD), a sponsor of NESC's National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (NDWC) program, has money available for communities to help local well owners.

    Who can apply?

    The USDA Rural Development will award the Household Water Well System (HWWS) grant funds to qualified private, non-profit organizations only. This grant program provides grants to qualified private non-profit organizations to establish lending programs for household water wells. The application deadline is May 31, 2008.

    I'm a homeowner and I need well assistance. What can I do?

    Homeowners or eligible individuals may borrow money from an approved organization to construct or upgrade their private well systems. Individuals can apply for loans through the non-profit organizations that USDA Rural Development has approved to receive grant funds. The loan limit is $8,000 at one percent for 20 years. Application forms will be provided by the organization.

    Approved Non-profit Organizations HWWS Summary

    Approved non-profit organizations must set up a revolving loan program and provide low-interest loans to eligible individuals who own or will own a private well system. The loans may be used to construct, refurbish, and service an individual's well system.

    The non-profit organizations applying for the grant funds must contribute at least 10 percent of the HWWS grant to capitalize the revolving loan fund. The cost-sharing funds may be contributed from the applicants' own resources or sources other than the proceeds of the HWWS grants. In-kind contributions will not be considered. (Available funds: $993,000)

    For more information visit the USDA RD HWWS Grant Program information site and guide online at:  http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/HWWSP.htm