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RCAP Tackles the Rural Opioid Crisis Through Water & Wastewater Utilities
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The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) has recently joined with the regulated waste disposal company Stericycle to take on the opioid crisis and the safe disposal of pharmaceuticals in small and rural communities. Without easy access to drug disposal services, families often hold on to medications for extended periods of time. These medications can be found by children or other family members increasing the potential for accidents or abuse. When pharmaceuticals are eventually disposed of, they're often flushed down the drain introducing new issues to water and wastewater utilities as well as the environment.
Medications and their activated pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can enter the wastewater treatment system through excretion or improper disposal. Most treatment systems are not designed for the removal of such compounds allowing APIs to discharge into the environment through effluent. Existing research reports that APIs have been frequently found in water bodies and drinking water sources at the low parts per billion. Research to examine the risks of these compounds to aquatic life and public health is ongoing.
The new pilot program will distribute 10,000 Stericycle Seal&Send medication disposal envelopes to its six regional partners. Water, wastewater, and solid waste disposal facilities can contact their RCAP regional partner to obtain disposal bags for their own communities. If this pilot project is successful, RCAP aims to expand the program even further.
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Phasing Out the Check-Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS)
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 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is phasing out the legacy asset management software Check-Up Program for Small Systems (CUPSS). CUPSS was developed over 10 years ago to assist utilities in meeting the technical, managerial, and financial capacity required to maintain their system at a desired level of service. Updates to the program discontinued in 2017 making the tool not fully compatible with Windows 7,8, and 10 or future operating systems.
During the transition existing users will have access to the currently available training materials, background resources, and most recent version of CUPSS (1.3.10). In the following year, the EPA will discontinue the User & Trainers Listservs and make only user related resources available.
The EPA references the Asset Management Resources for States and Small Drinking Water Systems web page to find alternative asset management tools and guides. Additional resources can be found at our document library by selecting "Asset Management" under the category filter.
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Drinking Water Tools for Small Systems
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Join the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday, February 25th, for a free webinar on tools for small drinking water systems. The webinar will highlight the EPA's Online Drinking Water Training System, a self-paced review of national primary drinking water regulatory requirements. Operators will also learn about the newly released Water Operator Hiring and Contracting Guide and the Consumer Confidence Reports iWriter (CCR iWriter) tool. Certificates will be provided for one continuing education contact hour. Please check with your primacy agency to determine if this credit can be used toward your licensing renewal.
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 The Big Guide for Small Systems: A Resource for Board Members
Rural Community Assistance Partnership
This handbook will assist both new and experienced board members in performing their duties by reviewing the basics of water and wastewater treatment, federal regulatory responsibilities, board business, and financial duties.
Optimizing Operation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation of Sanitary Sewer Collection Systems
New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission
Collection system operators can use this guidance document to develop day-to-day operational plans and long-term system goals that will improve performance and reduce long-term expenses.
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Have a different question?
You can find thousands of helpful resources in our database.
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 Optimizing Performance of Shooting Facultative Wastewater Lagoon Systems
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. CST
Hosted by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Presented by Steve Harris with H&S Environmental, LLC, the webinar will review methods, techniques, and strategies to improve BOD5 reduction, TSS removal, odor control, sludge reduction, nutrient removal, and lagoon treatment dependability.
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Want to find additional training opportunities for operators,
including events in your area?
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Posts from WaterOperator.org
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A Look at Protozoa in Wastewater Treatment Systems
To enhance monitoring efforts and inform process control, operators will learn about the various niches protozoa fill during wastewater treatment.
Developing Your Source Water Protection Program
Safeguarding drinking water sources will ensure that your community has reliable access to affordable, potable water for generations to come. Find the resources your system needs to develop a source water protection plan in this blog post.
The Best YouTube Channels for Water & Wastewater Operators
Explore our favorite YouTube channels to bolster your knowledge in water and wastewater treatment, operator math, operations and maintenance, and utility management.
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 Special Episode: Cyber Security
Talking Under Water
Under this special episode of Talking Under Water, Senior Security Analyst Randy Abrams with OpSWAT discusses the current vulnerability and preparedness of water and wastewater utilities to cyber attacks. Randy describes common risks and prevention options for utilities and small businesses.
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Featured Video: Corrosion Engineering & Zinc Anode Required for Iron Pipe Saddle - Premature Failure Case Study
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Scott Shipe with Water Advocacy shares his view points on the engineering of a heavily utilized iron pipe saddle design. Without including a zinc anode cap at the end of the steel straps, saddle life is reduced considerably creating more frequent breaks and repairs. A sacrificial anode would allow the life of the saddle to more closely match the life of the water main.
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Scott Shipe with Water Advocacy shares his view points on a heavily utilized iron pipe saddle design.
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 Approximately 1% of wastewater treatment biomass is made up of metazoa microbes.
Source.
'Share This' offers useful or interesting information that can be shared with the public and other stakeholders.
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Legislature Plans to Address Groundwater Crisis in Rural Arizona
Upcoming bills planned by Arizona State legislators aim to address groundwater over-pumping in rural and farming towns where wells are running dry.
States Receive Grants for Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care Facilities
Funding for lead testing in schools and child care facilities has been authorized through the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.
DOD Watchdog Will Review Military Use of Cancer-Linked Chemical
As part of his first day in office, Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Mark Esper initiated a task force to review military response to the spread of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Capito Reintroduces Bill Establishing Wastewater Grants for Low-Income Communities
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) reintroduced a bill Tuesday to address wastewater challenges faced by low-income and rural communities.
At Least 13% of Wastewater Treated by Southern Ontario Septic Systems Ends Up in Streams
According to research published by the University of Waterloo, at least 13% of the wastewater released in Southern Ontario, Canada is transported to streams through groundwater.
White House Releases Fiscal 2021 Budget Request
President Trump released the FY21 White House Budget Request with decreased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Groundwater & Well Care for Public Water Systems is a free online course from WaterOperator.org. Certificates are provided and the course is currently pre-approved for 2 hours continuing education credit in a number of states.
Click here to learn more.
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 WaterOperator.org is a free service, grant-funded to support small community water and wastewater operators with comprehensive resources and information in one easy-to-use place. We also serve the 800+ training, primacy, and technical service organizations, by helping operators get to their information. We aren't buying, selling, or advertising anything. You can call us at 1-866-522-2681 if you need assistance. |
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