Ben Lewis (left), Deputy Executive Director of FRWA spoke at the Northwest Florida Utility Managers Council this week about FRWA activities. Please contact us at frwa@frwa.net if you would like FRWA to visit your system, speak about the efforts of FRWA, our programs, or the state of the industry.

Remember, FRWA is here for you. If you have any needs at any time, please email us at frwa@frwa.net or give us a call at 850.668.2746.

FRWA has partnered with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to present Focus on Change for over thirty years. This partnership requires a lot of time and effort on each side. We would like to recognize the following speakers who provided their time and attention at Focus on Change in Haines City.

Maurice Barker is the Biosolids Coordinator for the Wastewater Management Program at FDEP in Tallahassee. Mr. Barker updated the attendees on new regulations in 2025 for wastewater systems in Florida.

Sydney Cummings is an Environmental Consultant with FDEP. Sydney shared guidelines for doing a Comprehensive System Water Assessment to assess the condition of their infrastructure. 

Chad Hardy serves as the Environmental Administrator for the Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Program at FDEP. Chad was on hand to inform operators of any changes to their reporting requirements.

Our attendees were impressed by FDEP's presence as indicated by some of the comments we received on our questionnaires, such as "Really enjoyed FDEP's presence and speaking." and "Good exchange of information and chance to meet regulatory personnel."



We still have four sites to go so don't miss your chance to catch up on what's going on at DEP! Be sure to register soon to take advantage of early bird pricing!

To register online, click on the location below. To complete a registration form and register by mail, click here. For complete information, click here.

See you there!

The Florida Forests and Water Forum brings together partners from across the state to discuss the connection between healthy, managed forests and clean, reliable drinking water. You can join forest landowners, utilities, conservation groups, state agencies, and others as they plan for a safe, secure future for all Floridians.

At the forum you will learn about some of the history of the forest, its purpose, and some of the ongoing projects taking place on site. Topics will include forest genetics, prescribed fire regimes, forest carbon and water dynamics, forest hydrology, forest products, and more.

For information on this year's Forum and to register to attend, click here.

The deadline of March 31st is fast approaching for submitting your application for this year's Curtis E. Lloyd Scholarship.

Time is running out to submit your application for the Curtis E. Lloyd scholarship. You don't want to miss your chance for assistance as you further your education.

The Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) has been awarding scholarships to outstanding high school and college students since 2008 in memory of Curtis E. Lloyd, a long time FRWA Circuit Rider. FRWA has awarded over $80,000 in scholarships helping deserving students to realize their potential in tomorrow's water and wastewater industry. For more detailed information and to complete an application click here. If you need further assistance, please email Amanda.Read@frwa.net.

Remember, the deadline for applying is March 31st so get your application in today!

NATIONAL NEWS

Webinar: Learn About EPA’s Free Cybersecurity Assessments for Drinking Water and Wastewater |March 26, 2025 | 2 pm - 3 pm The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a webinar to highlight the free cybersecurity assessments EPA provides to water and wastewater systems to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities and develop a plan to strengthen their cyber defenses. more

Women in Rural Water Webinar-Thursday March 20, 2025 11AM-12PM EST-Click here to register more

Water Sector Cyber Resilience Briefing-Wednesday March 26, 2025 2PM-3PM EST-Click here to register more

New Bipartisan Bill Aims to Enhance Financing for Rural Water Systems-The National Rural Water Association (NRWA), a non-profit organization representing the interests of more than 31,000 water and wastewater utilities nationwide, enthusiastically supports the reintroduction of the Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2025. more

EPA backtracks on Trump comment about cutting staff by 65% but says major spending cuts are coming-Despite a comment by President Donald Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency does not plan to reduce its staff by 65%, the White House and the agency said Thursday, though major budget cuts are likely. more

STATE NEWS

DeSantis expects federal health regulators to follow Florida push to ban fluoride in drinking water-Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday praised efforts by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo to push localities to remove fluoride to drinking water, saying he expects HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to soon follow suit. more

ECUA spending $5.8M to fix miles of old sewer-A broken pipe off Scenic Highway spilled about 45,000 gallons of sewage last week. more

Polk Regional Water Cooperative breaks ground on Southeast Water Production Facility-The Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) has officially begun construction on the Southeast Water Production Facility in Lake Wales, Florida, according to a press release published by Carollo. more

Florida could allow oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay once again-State wildlife officials are devising plans to allow some commercial oyster harvesting next year in Northwest Florida’s Apalachicola Bay, despite no major improvements in the bay after a halt during the past four years. more

National Hurricane Center lays out changes coming for 2025 season. See what to expect-The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will be here before you know it, and the National Hurricane Center has announced a few changes will be coming. more

March 4, 1875 British Public Health Act consolidates authority to deal with housing, water pollution, occupational disease, and other problems. On this date, an article appeared in The Nation that described the appalling conditions of drinking water in London: “It is no exaggeration to say that … there is hardly an unpolluted river in the whole of England. Between the sewage of towns and the offscourings of manufactories, distilleries, breweries, and the like, every stream and river in the country is poisoned and rendered unfit for domestic use. Sparkling brooks that not many years ago were frequented by speckled trout and silvery salmon are now transformed into gigantic cesspools, which a clean-living toad would be ashamed to haunt. No wise man or woman will touch a drop of London water until it has been boiled and filtered, and even then they will use as little of it as they can. The manufacturing interest will no doubt be roused if any attempt be made to interfere with their prerogative of public poisoning. But the good sense, not to say the newly- awakened terror, of the country will support the Government if their measure be wisely considered, and be calculated to promote the end it has in view. [The Nation. Mar. 4, 1875, p.11, “The Coming Measures.”]

FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION http://www.frwa.net

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