Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - December 2, 2005
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for the FaxAlert ArchiveDecember 2, 2005
NACWA Provides Comments
to EPA on 2006 Preliminary Effluent Limitation Guidelines
NACWA submitted comments (http://www.nacwa.org/advocacy/releases.cfm#cmt) to EPA this week on the Agency’s Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan for 2006. In its comments, the Association urged EPA to focus on updating current pretreatment standards instead of creating new guidelines, as clean water facilities continue to implement and enforce the Agency’s already existing categorical pretreatment standards nationally. NACWA argued that the success of these local programs demonstrates their ability to protect water quality without the need for additional standards. The Association believes that while categorical standards played an important role at the inception of EPA’s national pretreatment programs, additional standards are not warranted in the future as the remaining quantity of pollutants to be removed will not justify the expense of implementation.The comments also reiterated NACWA’s belief that EPA needs to update its 1982 50 POTW Study so that data used to establish local limits better reflects greatly improved performance and removal efficiencies of the nation’s clean water facilities. New data and significant early input from a range of facilities will ensure accurate local limits are developed. The Association will provide members with updates as this effort progresses.
Utilities and Associations Meet to Discuss Mutual Aid
Utilities interested in providing post-hurricane assistance to fellow agencies along the gulf coast encountered many roadblocks; however, within the confusion and frustration there was a significant success story due to the efforts of Florida’s Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (FlaWARN). Because necessary mutual aid agreements were in place – and the governors of Mississippi and Florida joined in an Emergency Management Assistance Compact – FlaWARN was able to provide considerable assistance to water and wastewater utilities in Mississippi. NACWA was in attendance this week at a Water/Wastewater Utility Response Network (WURN) Workshop coordinated by FlaWARN. The agenda of the workshop focused on how to best facilitate the expanded creation of WURNs nationwide – as well as interstate coordination mechanisms. The creation of WURNs shows great potential as a means to respond to both natural and man-made disasters – and ensure that those who need help receive it, and those who provide help are reimbursed. Utilities in attendance, primarily from coastal states, widely embraced the approach and plan to work with existing networks as they move forward. NACWA, in collaboration with other national organizations in attendance, will be evaluating ways in which these efforts can be best supported. The Association’s upcoming 2006 Winter Conference will feature additional information on this concept in a featured presentation, Utilities Helping Utilities – Ensuring Service Continuity in Times of Emergency.EPA Creates Database for
Contaminates of Concern for Water/Wastewater Facilities
EPA has announced the launch of its new Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT), a secure, online database that provides current, reliable information on chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants of concern for drinking water and wastewater security. The database is designed to assist users in planning for, and responding to, drinking water contamination threats and incidents. Information on wastewater treatment and infrastructure decontamination will be added to the tool in 2006. The database consists of current, reliable, contaminant data from peer reviewed sources and research. Several NACWA members were actively involved in initial testing of the database and were impressed by its capabilities. Specific information in the database includes water contaminant data including names, availability, fate and transport, health effects and toxicity, medical information, potential water quality and environmental indicators, sampling and analysis, and response advice for utilities. Given the sensitivity of the WCIT data, access to the tool will be tightly controlled with a password-protect feature. NACWA encourages its members to visit EPA’s website (http://www.epa.gov/wcit/) to learn more about this new tool.
Registration Now Open for 2006 Winter Conference
Registration is now open for NACWA’s 2006 Winter Conference, Improving Knowledge Management in Today’s Utility in Palm Desert, California. The conference will examine the optimal ways for today’s clean water utilities to create, capture, share and leverage the knowledge they need to excel. A narrative agenda and registration information are now available at www.nacwa.org/meetings/06winter. Reserve your hotel room today by contacting the JW Marriott Palm Desert at 760.641.2211 to guarantee the special conference rate of $225 single/double. Be sure to mention that you are a participant in NACWA’s 2006 Winter Conference. The hotel reservations deadline is Friday, January 6, 2006.Deadlines for Leadership Center Applications, NACWA Index Submission Approaches
The application deadline for the Water and Wastewater Leadership Center (http://www.nacwa.org/meetings/leader/) scheduled for March 26 – April 7, 2005 at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, is Friday, December 9. Class size is limited so apply today. NACWA also urges members to submit responses for the annual NACWA Index questionnaire by Friday, December 9. NACWA encourages all members to complete the survey online using the CleanWater Central website (http://www.cleanwatercentral.org/) and refer to Member Update 05-15 (http://www.nacwa.org/private/membcomm/memupdate/mu05-15.cfm) for instructions on completing the survey.NACWA Sees Staff Transitions
The National Office would like extend its thanks and appreciation to its Managing Director of Member & Internal Services, Lisa Headley, who will be leaving the NACWA staff to pursue other opportunities. The Association made great strides during Lisa’s tenure over the past seven years due to her hard work ethic and dedication to the Association. In other staff news, NACWA would like to welcome its new Government Affairs Assistant, Kendall Gray. Kendall is currently pursuing a Masters of Environmental Science & Policy from Johns Hopkins University and will be a key asset to NACWA’s team.