Our Annual Conference has come and gone, and this year's was a BIG success! In fact, it was the largest conference we've had yet, with over 800 attendees and the most exhibitor booths ever. From all the classes and help sessions to each of the activities, this conference will always be one to remember. This year we also added something new - a walkthrough of the Exhibit Hall on Monday that offered extra CEU's as well as some wonderful interaction with our amazing exhibitors. We are so thankful for everyone who came and made this conference so memorable, and especially for the Daytona Beach Hilton for such an incredible atmosphere. We also want to thank Daytona Grande Oceanfront Hotel for helping us with extra rooms to allow so many of you to come. We're still compiling everything from the conference, so be sure to check back for more details, photos, and recap!

We are deeply saddened to announce that Carol Hinton sadly passed on July 30, 2024. Carol was a beloved member of our FRWA family, and she provided invaluable help and knowledge to us and our members. Before she retired in 2021, Carol served as the Director of the University of Florida TREEO Center. One of her passions was working with FlaWARN to provide essential aid for water systems around our state during disasters and crisis, and that passion carried on after her retirement when she joined with us to continue working with FlaWARN. Carol will always be remembered for her selfless service and strength, and we will continue to keep her family in our prayers.

To see the memoriam for Carol on FlaWARN, click the link below:

In Memoriam: Carol Hinton – A Legacy of Leadership and Dedication

This week, once again FRWA Emergency Response was called into action as Debby crossed the panhandle as a category 1 hurricane and headed north. Debby made landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida early Monday as a Category 1 hurricane. It since has weakened to a tropical storm and is moving slowly. So far we've been able to provide critical help to many systems in the wake of Debby, offering things like generators and bypass pumps. If your system has been affected, please reach out to us for any assistance.

All community and non-transient noncommunity public water systems, regardless of the size of the system, are required to complete the EPA mandated Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) by October 16, 2024, under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (40 CFR 141.84). The water system is required to have documented evidence to prove whether or not every service line on both the utility side and the customer's side of the meter potentially contains lead.

This Inventory requires substantial computer and field work and FRWA is recommending that water systems begin working on it immediately if they haven’t already begun. For the Inventory spreadsheet that must be completed and submitted to FDEP, go to https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-08/Inventory%20Template_FINAL_0.xlsx 

FRWA has been providing funding for completing the inventory on a first come, first served basis. There is still a very limited amount of funding for government and Not for Profit utilities who use third-party Workers to complete the Lead Service Line Inventory.

To ensure systems funded by the FRWA Lead Service Line Inventory program can complete the Inventory in time, FRWA is beginning to phase down the size of water systems that can be funded. Here are the phases:

August 5: Only systems with 1000 connections or less

August 19: Only systems with 500 connections or less

September 15: No longer registering systems for the funding

If your system does not meet these FRWA funding criteria, you can apply for Lead Service Line Inventory SRF funding through DEP. The DEP SRF funding provides 49% principal forgiveness (grant) and 51% low interest loan for governmental entities or non-profits.

We want to help you in any way we can to meet this very challenging regulation. We are available to help you with any questions about the Lead Service Line Inventory requirements or the DEP SRF funding. You can reach out to us through our email: LSLI@FRWA.net or calling our office: (850) 668-2746.

NATIONAL NEWS

Texas Tech Researcher Finds Lithium Ion Batteries A Growing Source Of Pollution The use of certain substances in the batteries is polluting air and water, according to a peer-reviewed study. more

New Study Ranks Cleanest And Dirtiest Lakes In America Utah Lake is the dirtiest lake in the United States. more

Targeted Home Systems To Remove PFAS More Cost-Effective Than System-Wide Solutions PFAS, the potentially cancer-causing chemicals known as ‘forever chemicals’, have become an increasing concern in home drinking water. more

Plucking Water From The Air A new solar-powered system efficiently extracts moisture from the air, offering a sustainable solution for irrigation. more

University Approved For $1M Project To Track Harmful Water Contaminants The project is expanding technology used during the COVID-19 pandemic. more

Texas Professor Leads Groundbreaking PFAS Study - Dallas Express A multi-million-dollar study into PFAS is being conducted at Texas State University. more

Navigating the New Renewable Energy Siting Legislation: Insights for Local Governments In November 2023, the Michigan legislature passed the Clean Energy Future Package and the Clean Energy and Jobs Act more

Public Perceptions of Tap Water' Survey: Consumers Trust Water Utilities, Scientists Most For Information Consumers place the most trust in water utilities and scientists to provide them with information about their tap water compared to other entities more

AWWA Releases Updated National PFAS Cost Estimate In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new monitoring data for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule more

EPA Releases Fifth Round of Data from the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5) EPA has released the fifth round of of data from the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). more

EPA Announces More Than $325M In Environmental And Climate Justice Community Change Grants EPA announces initial selections from $2B Inflation Reduction Act program – the largest single environmental justice investment in history – delivered by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda more

News Briefs: Michigan Enacts Law to Curb 'Flushable' Wipes Bathroom wipes, notorious for clogging sewer systems, can no longer be labeled as "flushable" in Michigan unless they meet specific requirements under a new state law. more

Apple Releases Security Updates for Multiple Products Apple released security updates to address vulnerabilities in Safari, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. more

STATE NEWS

Mexico Beach officials warn against fishing due to water contamination | WJHG Mexico Beach Officials are warning visitors and locals not to fish due to a sewage spill. more

Hurricane forecast changes as we enter peak season Colorado State University reduced the number of named storms it is predicting this hurricane season following a weekslong lull between Tropical Storm Chris and Hurricane Debby. more

A Salute to Carol Hinton In Memoriam: Carol Hinton – A Legacy of Leadership and Dedication more

New Method To Degrade PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Found Effective In The Lab Scientists at UNSW Sydney are developing catalysts able to break down PFAS chemicals that contaminate water. more

What is the first line of defense in a natural disaster? Nature. | Florida Weekly Southwest Florida’s mangrove forests are a vibrant refuge for creatures of all shapes and sizes. more

‘The sooner it’s up, the better:’ City leaders say Lasalle Street pump station is on schedule | Action News Jax Business owners in San Marco managed to prevent stormwater from entering their buildings on Mon., Aug. 5. more

Village of Marshall to remove fluoride from drinking water | Government - hngnews.com The Village of Marshall will halt using fluoride as an additive in its drinking water following a unanimous 7-0 vote to do so at the village board’s Tuesday, July 7 meeting. more 

Necessary steps to take for owners of private drinking water wells impacted by flooding Floodwater from the recent heavy rains, runoff, and even snowmelt may potentially carry multiple pollutants with it. more

Public safety, infrastructure upgrades are top issues for Sanford candidates | Orlando Sentinel The District 4 seat is open with the departure of a longtime commissioner more

Lake O in good shape as potential storm approaches | Okeechobee News Lake Okeechobee is in good shape to handle what Mother Nature may send, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Hydraulic Engineer Savannah Lacy more

Miami-Dade warns of door hangers alerting residents of bad water quality - NBC 6 South Florida The water solicitation notices prompted Miami-Dade’s Water and Sewer Department to issue an alert more

Florida's infrastructure is aging, which has some worried about the future | WUWF A new report from GHD, a global engineering firm, shows young Floridians have a gloomy outlook on the future of Florida’s infrastructure. more

Hillsborough County Raises a Glass to Water Quality Month with - Hoodline In Hillsborough County, August marks the commitment to drinkable, swimmable, and fishable water with Water Quality Month, and the local Water Resources department is diving in head-first. more

Florida springs guide: 5 stops, a dozen Panhandle, Big Bend springs - Axios Tampa Bay Florida is home to more than 1,000 freshwater springs. They're one of our greatest, most beautiful natural resources. more

Tampa could make watering restrictions permanent - YouTube Tampa city leaders, including Mayor Jane Castor, are pushing to make the current temporary water restrictions permanent, following a press conference in the Seminole Heights area of Tampa on Monday. more

Potential Indiantown sewage plant promises jobs and revenue | WPEC A sewage plant could soon come to a residential area of Indiantown. more

Sens. Collins, Shaheen introduce legislation to provide health guidance on PFAS 

U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Susan Collins of Maine introduced legislation Thursday that would solicit experts to issue periodic health guidance and clinical recommendations on PFAS, a class of harmful, man-made chemicals. more

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.”

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

2970 Wellington Circle | Tallahassee FL 32309

850.668.2746 | Contact Us