Florida Rural Water Association
2970 Wellington Circle
Tallahassee FL 32309
850.668.2746
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A delegation of volunteer Board Members/Staff from the Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) traveled to Washington DC last week to meet with your representatives.
Topics discussed during the meetings included water infrastructure funding, regulatory reform, program funding, and other issues that impact local utilities.
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Delegation during meeting with Congressman Ted Yoho. Left to right Gary Williams (FRWA Executive Director), Bonnie Pringle (FRWA Board Member), Pat Cichon (FRWA Vice President) and Tom Jackson (FRWA President).
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While in Washington the delegation from FRWA attended the National Rural Water Association Rural Water Rally which hosted over 280 rural water professionals. During the Rally, they heard from such dignataries as Senator Roy Blunt from Missouri and DJ LaVoy, Deputy Undersecretary for USDA Rural Development. The speakers praised the work of water and wastewater technicians and associations from across the nation and thanked them for the thankless work they do.
Meeting with Congressman Brian Mast. Left to right Robert Munro (FRWA National Director), Bonnie Pringle (FRWA Board Member), Congressman Mast, and Bruce Morrison (FRWA Board Member).
Bruce Morrison (FRWA Borad Member (right) and Robert Munro (FRWA National Director) also met with Congressman Darren Soto (center).
Remember, FRWA is your voice in Washington as well as Tallahassee.
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FRWA Comments on Lead and Copper
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 FRWA recently sent EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) our comments on the proposed regulatory revisions to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for lead and copper under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). FRWA shares the proposed regulatory revisions to NPDWR however, we feel that the Agency's November 13, 2019, Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) are not crafted in a manner that are sufficiently protective of the public health. To read the full commentary, please click
here.
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This week was a record breaking week for the thirty years of FRWA and the Department of Environmental Protection partnering to bring you the Focus on Change Sessions. The participation of the FDEP gives the attendee the opportunity to hear the latest information "straight from the horse's mouth". FRWA would like to thank this year's speakers that delivered interesting and informative presentations at each of the sites.
This year there were almost 1500 attendees from all over the state. Many attendees say that this is a "can't miss" training for them each year.
The topics covered year are essential to keeping up with regulatory guidelines to keep your system in compliance. If you missed the sessions this year, you can access the information on our website by clicking
here
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Again, thank you to each and everyone of you for your participation for making this year's Focus on Change a success. Make plans to attend next year as our journey continues in our partnership with the DEP.
Don't forget to join us next week for a complete review of the 2020 Focus on Change.
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Liquid Aluminum Sulfate Antitrust Litigation The National Rural Water Association is pleased to introduce you to Financial Recovery Strategies (FRS). FRS is a premier class action claims management firm that can help you recover funds from the Liquid Aluminum Sulfate Indirect Class Action Settlement.
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Recent Examples of Policy Successes (Cost Savings to Membership)
* (September 19, 2019) House-Senate Conference held on S.1790 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 with favorable Senate PFAS provisions.
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* (November 20, 2019) EPA finalized changes to the Risk Management Program (RMP) Amendments consistent with
NRWA comments.
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* (September 25, 2019) EPA Office of Inspector General Report endorses NRWA e-delivery policy for SDWA Tier 2 Public Notices.
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* (October 22, 2019) EPA final rule to repeal the 2015 "Waters of the United States" Rule consistent with
NRWA position.
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Recent Policy Actions
* (January 8, 2020) NRWA opposed House PFAS bill with AWWA, WEF, NACWA, NWRA, NAWC, & AMWA.
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* (January 7, 2020) NRWA Joins PFAS Receivers' Advocacy Group (National Association of Clean Water Agencies, The American Public Works Association, The Water Environment Federation, etc.).
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* (December 2019) Limitations on unfair-hostile encroachment for private utilities within Senate WRDA draft
(per request).
* (November 18, 2019) NRWA Watershed Trading and TMDL Compliance Comments to EPA.
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* (November 20, 2019) NRWA Comments to House Energy and Commerce Committee on PFAS bills.
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* (November 12, 2019) NRWA and AWWA Comments to EPA on PFAS Superfund listings.
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* (November 14, 2019) NRWA, AWWA, NLC, and USCOM LCR Extension Comments to EPA.
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* (September 26, 2019) NRWA Perchlorate Rule Comments to EPA.
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Expected Activities and Opportunities in the Near Future
* Comments on Senators Cardin and Wicker regarding consumer assistance legislation.
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* EPA PFAS MCL determination (EPA).
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* Florida and Wyoming Tier 2 Public Notice e-delivery requests.
* House and Senate WRDA legislation (CWA & SDWA authorizations).
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* Senator Wicker's 2% CWSRF technical assistance set-aside legislation.
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Access to Safe Driniking Water is a Fundamental Right Yet, the Trump Administration is keen on cutting back funding of lead prevention programs, putting Central Floridians at risk.
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Environment takes center stage in House infrastructure plan Environmental provisions are a major focus of House Democrats' new infrastructure plan, which includes proposals relating to water, electric vehicles and rail investments.
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A joint commitment to U.S. water infrastructure The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation recently released The State of the Infrastructure: A Joint Report by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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The cost and confusion of cleaning PFAS contamination Drinking water has long been at the center of city health and environment debates as utilities and public works departments face pressure to keep the basic necessity safe for residents.
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High Springs' Water Passes the Test The Observer The city's water testing results are right where they should be and the city is now back on the normal annual schedule for the testing of public water systems.
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Environmentalists Criticize Fla. Chief Science Officer For Praising Clean Waterways Act| WJCT Environmental advocates from around Florida are calling on the state's chief science officer to walk back his praise for a proposal making its way through the Legislature that's aimed at improving water quality. more
Constant sewage spills leading to safety concerns for many Fort Lauderdale residents | Local 10 In Fort Lauderdale's Rio Vista neighborhood, the disruption has continued for more than two months after a string of catastrophic sewer main breaks. more
Miami-Dade looks at suing makers of 4,000 'forever' chemicals | Miami Miami-Dade County is looking into suing makers of so-called "forever chemicals," a class of more than 4,000 substances linked to cancer and birth defects that may be prevalent in the water supply. more
Three water main breaks in 3 days plague Fort Lauderdale. Some call it pipeageddon. | Sun Sentinel Miami-Dade County is looking into suing makers of so-called "forever chemicals," a class of more than 4,000 substances linked to cancer and birth defects that may be prevalent in the water supply. more
You poop. You flush. Here's what Tampa Bay does with your wastewater. | Tampa Bay Times If you've ever wondered what happens after you flush the toilet or pour water down the sink, you aren't alone. more
Divers Work To Fix Broken Water Line Under Fort Lauderdale's New River | CBS The break occurred in a 16-inch water main that runs under the South Fork of the New River. more
Governor Ron DeSantis Announces State Efforts to Access More than $735 Million in Disaster Recovery Funding for Hurricane Michael-Impacted Communities Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has submitted the state's action plan for the $633 million in first-of-its-kind federal funding for disaster mitigation to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). more
Gov. DeSantis announces $84 million in infrastructure awards More than $84 million has been awarded to 21 Florida communities affected by Hurricane Irma, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday. more
Florida Senate's $92.8 billion budget boosts environmental spending The Florida Senate has unveiled its proposed $92.83 billion budget for fiscal year 2021, $1.4 billion more than Gov. Ron DeSantis' budget request and a 2 percent increase over this year's budget. more
Florida House panel OKs bill overhauling local government impact The House Ways & Means Committee in a 12-2 vote Monday advanced a bill that would block increased impact fees from being levied on pending building permits, more
Northwest Florida Water Management District director discusses local resources Northwest Florida Water Management District Executive Director Brett Cyphers said he expects the state to ask that the Supreme Court hear arguments in Florida's quest to limit the amount of water that Georgia is allowed to draw from the rivers that merge to form the Apalachicola downstream. more
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This Week in Water History
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Detroit Water Metering in 1915
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Vintage Bronze 1909 Water Meter
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February 11, 1915:Municipal Journalarticle. Metering in Detroit. Detroit, Mich. -"Superintendent Theodore A. Leisen and the water board are asking for about $561,000 to complete the installation of meters. About 21,000 are now in service and about 100,000 are needed altogether. The water officials contend that the cost and maintenance of the system fully metered would be less than at present. The inspection cost would increase, admits Mr. Leisen, and the revenue would not increase-but the pumpage would be materially decreased, affecting a saving in coal and the danger of immediate need of new sources of supply would be put off. The present consumption is 170 gallons per capita and Mr. Leisen says that 50 gallons of this is avoidable waste. A new chlorine purifying plant is to be installed."
For more articles on what went on this week in water history, click here.
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