2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN REVIEW
OUR EXHIBITORS
|
|
Click here to take a tour of the Exhibit Hall at the 2023 FRWA Annual Conference. Take a ride for a bird's eye view of our Exhibitors and the fun that was had by all. Our Exhibitors outdid themselves this year! Attendees described them as being very knowledgeable and eager to help. The Florida Rural Water Association appreciates the efforts of our Exhibitors to keep our attendees up to date on the latest innovations and services that the industry has to offer.
OUR SPONSORS
Thank you to our Sponsors for their support throughout the conference. We appreciate their vote of confidence! Please support our sponsors when you are looking for vendors.
|
|
Sunshine and Sweltering Heat. Florida, the Sunshine State, tops the list of the hottest states in the US with an average temperature of 71.5°F (21.9°C). Fort Myers is the warmest city in Florida with an average high of 74°.
The good news is that July is typically the hottest month in Florida, with an average temperature of 87-92 degrees and we are well into August! However, it looks like we have no relief in sight. According to the Farmer's Almanac cooler weather will not arrive until October, but promises an average of 82° in September. Sounds cool to me with what we have been experiencing lately!
With every one complaining about the heat, FRWA has found some information that you could share with your customers on keeping cool!
|
|
On Thursday, August 10th FRWA presented the first webinar for Water and Wastewater Utilities in Florida about a time sensitive update on the distribution of funding for the Florida LIHWAP (Low Income Household Water Assistance Program). The purpose of this webinar was to provide an important update regarding how water and wastewater utilities can sign up for the accelerated distribution of $55 million in federal LIHWAP funding still available for their customers. If you missed this webinar, you will be happy to know that we have scheduled the webinar every Thursday for the next five weeks. To register, click here.
To complete registration:
- Select the date you want to attend on the calendar on the right.
- Select the time you are available (each meeting is scheduled at 11:00 am)
- Enter your name and email
-
You will receive a confirmation in your email (search your junk folder if you do not receive it or contact julie@joinpromise.com)
- You will have to open the attachment invite.ics to add it to your calendar and access the link for the meeting.
The Webinars will cover:
- An update on Florida’s LIHWAP funding and the administrative plan to distribute the maximum amount of funds across a breadth of households in an expedited manner.
- Described the process for how Water and Wastewater Utilities can partner with Promise to expedite and process awards in a streamlined, simple approach.
- Discussed Water and Wastewater Utility enrollment, participation, and the award process of how your utility can receive up to $1,000 per eligible household account.
LIHWAP Funds are set to expire in September 2023, so please enroll at
earliest convenience for more informaiton.
|
|
Lead Service Line Inventory Suggested Guidance |
|
During our recent Annual Conference we discussed with attendees our hopes to provide helpful suggestions to Florida Water Systems related to discussions with DEP. Some of the suggestions may result in further clarification going forward but this is intended to help to start your efforts, prioritize/utilize available resources to efficiently accomplish this program by the deadline of October 16, 2024. Click here for the complete list of FRWA suggestions.
For more information, please contact FRWA at Admin@frwa.net or call FRWA at 800.872.8207.
|
|
FRWA Now Offers Legal Assistance |
|
|
|
We listen to our members. One of the things that you requested we offer as a membership benefit is legal assistance. During the Opening Session at our recent Annual Conference FRWA announced our new Legal Assistance Program. This program aligns our members with experienced rural water attorneys who can assess legal risks and identify opportunities.
This is a program intended to offer proactive and protective recommendations for Florida Rural Water Association members related to legal vulnerabilities, old governance documents and exposures. This will be a first proactive step and additional assistance may be provided related to requests.
|
|
FRWA has established a relationship with a group of attorneys with decades of experience representing rural water interests. This program offers an initial legal review of core legal issues affecting rural water utilities. If additional legal assistance is desired, the utility will be able to contract directly with the preferred attorneys.
The team is compromised of attorneys with niche experience providing counsel to the various types of water and sewer utilities commonly found throughout Florida.
- Marty Friedman - Private, For-Profits
- Matt Dooley - Non-Profits and Special Districts
- Gerald Buhr – Municipal Utilities
- Fred Aschauer – DEP / Regulatory
The attorneys will provide a comprehensive audit report. This may include suggested
deliverables in the form of edits to governance documents that the utility can adopt, modify or reject, as well as revised water purchase agreements, user agreements, and other contract documents.
- The audit will examine ways in which the utility could reduce expenditures or financial and legal exposure, and/or increase income.
- The fee for the initial review of governance documents will be capped at $1,500, and will be paid to FRWA and held until the work is complete.
- Importantly, attorneys will not provide a formal legal opinion based upon the initial review, only recommendations.
- In additional work beyond the scope of the initial audit review can be managed directly between the utility and the attorney, including but not limited to litigation, regulatory compliance, general counsel services.
For more details on what what this program includes, click here. If you have further questions, please email FRWA at admin@frwa.net or contact us by phone at 800.872.8207.
We are excited to be able to offer this new benefit for our membership.
|
|
 |
NATIONAL NEWS
Dangerous PFAS chemicals add to Mississippi water woes For years, PFAS were a staple of manufacturing consumer products because of their resilience to natural factors. In some cases, the chemicals are thought to never break down in the environment. more
Wear sunscreen, drink water and eat bananas...the Government's new 'essential ... - Daily Mail To 'stay safe' this summer, the government has issued its 'essential summer health tips', some of which won't come as a surprise - with the list including being mindful of what you're eating, drinking water, and wearing a hat and sunglasses. more
One Percent Loan Program for Distressed Communities This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. more
Flowing With Feedback: Empowering Communities With The EPA Flooded Homes Cleanup Guidance Tool Extreme weather events such as tropical storms and heavy rainfall present a variety of challenges for communities across the country. Flooding is one of the most common types of natural disasters impacting people in the United States. more
As Water Reuse Expands, Proponents Battle the 'Yuck' Factor - The Good Men Project Tampa’s showdown may be a harbinger of things to come as climate change and drought cause water shortages in many parts of the country. more
Five AGs question terms of DuPont's $1.18B PFAS deal California Attorney General Rob Bonta and four of his colleagues filed an amicus letter Monday, expressing strong concerns about a $1.18 billion sum that DuPont — and spinoffs Chemours and Corteva — said they would agree to pay affected providers. more
Support water infrastructure funding in FY 2024 Write your Members of Congress to urge them to provide robust funding for water infrastructure funding programs in the fiscal year 2024 budget! more
A Tool to Engage Water Systems and Communities in Partnerships Conversations: Part 2 - Guide to Water System Partnerships Workshop Training Toolbox August 23, 2023 | 3:00 pm ET This webinar will provide a “how to” for those interested in hosting a Water System Partnerships Workshop. Potential workshop organizers and facilitators will be introduced to materials available in the Training Toolbox, be provided guidance on their use, and participate in a live Q&A session. more
For OPERATORS: The Down and Dirty of How Small Towns Can Avoid Getting Hacked September 21, 2023 | 2:00 pm CDT Virtually no water/wastewater operators, ever, went into water because they wanted to be experts in cybersecurity. Yet, love it or hate it, there is a very urgent need to be aware of what is important and what you can and should do about it. more
What and where are PFAS chemicals? | #shorts - YouTube PFAS are man-made chemicals used in consumer products since the 1940s. The “forever chemicals” are often used in non-stick, stain resistant and water resistant materials. more
STATE NEWS
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Opposes Federal Proposal on Greenhouse ... The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has expressed strong objections to a federal proposal aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants. more
Strategies for improving water quality at home in Wakulla County Water quality is of paramount importance due to its direct impact on human health, the environment, and overall sustainability. more
Construction crews trying to keep cool under blazing sun - WPBF 'Drinking a lot of water and being in the sun with sunscreen. It’s the best thing we can do out here right now,' Christopher Walmach of MT Constructors told WPBF 25 News. more
Florida ER staff braces for additional patients during heat wave - WESH With temperatures hovering around triple digits — and actually feeling like it in some places — experts said time spent outside should be limited. more
Gov. DeSantis reappoints 3 to South Florida Water Management District | Florida Politics Three board members of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) whose terms ended in March will stay on for another four years after Gov. Ron DeSantis reappointed them. more
|
|
|
|
This Week in Water History |
|
The photo on the left was taken of the Denver Union Water Company in 1896.
August 6, 2018: 100-Year Anniversary of Denver Water. “Long before Denver was born, the South Platte River and Cherry Creek were oases for people who traveled the dry Great Plains. These early pioneers could make do without many things. Water was not one of them. That’s why they camped along the banks of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, drinking water straight from the source.
Eventually, several private water companies started offering water service to the settlers, competing with each other for business before collapsing or merging with other companies. Then, on Aug. 6, 1918, voters decided to buy the Denver Union Water Company and form the municipal agency now known as Denver Water for a sum of $14 million. In 2018 dollars, that’s roughly just shy of $250 million…In doing so, Denver residents voted to create an entity that would operate independently from city government, keeping water service separate from local politics.
That progressive move by early Denverites paved the way for 100 years of stable water service. The last 100 years hold a storied history of transformational, iconic moments, including construction of the world’s longest underground tunnel, the world’s tallest dam, and even a project kicked off with a blast from President Calvin Coolidge. With the help of these engineering feats, we’ve built a complex, intricate system that delivers safe, clean water to 1.4 million people.”
|
|
2970 Wellington Circle | Tallahassee FL 32309 | 850.668.2746 | Contact Us
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
