WaterOperator.org Newsletter

Newsletter #300 for August 18, 2021

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Ready for In-Person Conferences Again? Vaccination Decreases Your Risk

In anticipation of members traveling to its WaterPro conference, the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) created a video to encourage all water professionals to get vaccinated if they have not already.

Earlier this year the Chief Medical Officer at the Water Environment Federation (WEF) also publicly encouraged everyone working in the water sector to get vaccinated in a short video.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting the vaccine is the best way to guard yourself from new strains of the virus like the Delta variant. Your vaccination also reduces the risk you will transmit the virus to someone who is not yet eligible or who may have a health condition that prevents them from receiving the shot.

We're also seeing the contagiousness of Delta variant quickly change perceptions about what precautions are necessary, as some private companies and government agencies move to require vaccination amidst assurance that there is legal standing to do so.

If you would like to know more, the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) provides updates every few days on the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is affecting water utilities.

Forward

Where Lead Pipe Replacement Will Lead

Like any major infrastructure project, the goal to remove all lead pipes across the country will come with costs and challenges. However, the benefits will far outweigh the costs in terms of health of American citizens. It will also benefit the economy by adding thousands of new jobs and billions to local economies.

According to the recently published Getting the Lead Out: Employment & Economic Impacts of Lead Service Line Replacement, there are ten million lead pipes across the country that need to be replaced. The project is expected to create over 500,000 jobs and $100 billion of total economic activity generated.

Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Memorandum

Water professionals have become increasingly concerned about cybersecurity, and rightly so. Hypothetical scenarios are becoming very real as water and wastewater systems face their IT vulnerabilities with more frequency. Earlier this year two Maine wastewater systems experienced ransomware attacks.

At the end of July, the White House released its National Security Memorandum on Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Systems which is a collaboration between the federal government and the critical infrastructure community.

Performance goals will be released sometime next month and will serve as a guide for cybersecurity best practices.

Free Resources

Flushable Wipes Litigation: Stipulation of Settlement with Kimberly-Clark

Water Environment Federation

This one-page document outlines the essential elements of the pending settlement between the Charleston Water System and wipes manufacturer Kimberly-Clark. The document talks about the litigation, Kimberly-Clark's commitment, what happens next, and what class members should do. This document was designed to ensure that all class members are aware of the case and its potential effect on them.

Download the Document

Have a different question?
You can find thousands of helpful resources in our database.

Free Webinar

Small Water Systems Operators CE

August 24, 2021, at 1:00 P.M. Central Time Zone

Moraine Park Technical College

This course will introduce the participant to basic math concepts and formulas that are common in the water works industry. The course will discuss water works mathematics used daily in the operation of water works systems. Common formulas, conversion factors, and examples of their use will be thoroughly covered during this course.

Learn More and Register

Want to find additional training opportunities for operators,
including events in your area? Search the training calendar.

Featured Video: Asplund WWTF - Virtual Tour

This is a tour of Alaska's largest wastewater treatment facility.

Posts from WaterOperator.org

Maintaining Customer Satisfaction
Establishing and continuing good customer satisfaction is essential for the long-term success of any water facility.

Defend Your Water System Against Drought
Drought is slow coming but can be all-consuming, so it is important to be prepared for the impacts it can have on your utility.

Featured Video: How Do They Replace Lead Pipes?
Learn how to properly replace lead service lines in this instructional video.

Operator Educates Millions on TikTok
A wastewater treatment plant operator is making educational videos for TikTok explaining the wastewater treatment process.

The Next Generation of Water Workers
The current generation of waterworks is set to retire within the next decade.

AWIA Section 2013 Compliance Check
Be sure to stay in compliance with Section 13 of the American Water Infrastructure Act.

Florida Security Incident Highlights Need for Cybersecurity Precautions
A water utility in Florida experienced a security breach earlier this year, shedding light on the need for increased security advacnments.

Water Operator Vaccination Update
Vaccination of our essential workers, including water sector professionals, is an important step towards fighting the pandemic.

Reading Selections

States Could Do More to Ensure Historically Underinvested in Communities Benefit from Federal Drinking Water Funding
Recent studies show that federal water infrastructure funding usually does not go to the underserved communities that need it the most.

120Water Announces New Program Funding Service to Help Water Professionals Acquire Resources to Execute Lead Programs
120Water created a Program Funding Service that water professionals can use to help secure financing for new drinking water programs.

Maui Residents Rail Against Spike in Tourism During Water Shortage: ‘Stop Coming’ to Hawaii
Local residents of Maui urge tourists to stop traveling to Hawaii after increased tourism on top of drought conditions have led to extreme water shortages on the islands.

$10 Billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Would go to PFAS Cleanup
The new infrastructure bill would include 10 billion dollars to help solve the PFAS problem in drinking water and wastewater.

A Sewage Crisis is Bubbling up in Communities of Color Across the Country
This article discusses the sewage backup problem in Mount Vernon, New York, exemplifying how communities of color are often plagued with poor and failing wastewater infrastructure.

EPA Orders Cahokia Heights Drinking Water Tested After ‘Serious Problems’ Found
After struggling with flash flooding for decades, the city of Cahokia Heights is now being required by the U.S. EPA to increase monitoring and address operations and maintenance issues within their water systems.

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