NOTICE TO SYSTEMS UNDER 3300 POPULATION

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.

If your system has less than 3300 population and more than 15 connections, FRWA can assist with funding for completing the inventory. Our services will be on a first come, first served basis as long as resources are available.

If you would like to see if you qualify for assistance, please click below and complete the required information for review.

For more information, click on the links below or contact us at LSLI@frwa.net or at 850.668.2746.

Calls for change in Port Richey were heard at City Hall after neighbors, who felt ignored, contacted the I-Team, worried about sewage spilling into the streets, backing up into their bathtubs, and flowing into the nearby Cotee River.

By: Kylie McGivern

Posted at 10:40 AM, Nov 19, 2021 and last updated 5:46 PM, Nov 19, 2021

PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Calls for change in Port Richey were heard at City Hall after neighbors, who felt ignored, contacted the I-Team, worried about sewage spilling into the streets, backing up into their bathtubs, and flowing into the nearby Cotee River. 

Since the I-Team’s report, Port Richey, with the help of the Florida Rural Water Association, has conducted smoke testing in the sewer system. 

“What they’re actually doing is putting a non-toxic smoke into the sewer system and then looking for smoke to come out of the ground, come out of broken pipes,” City Manager John Dudte said. “So once we find those leaks, then we have the ability to make a map and figure out a plan to go back and repair what we’ve found.” 

Dudte, who took over as City Manager in January, said he doesn’t know that the city has ever done this kind of testing. 

“I’ve asked staff that have been here a long time, they can’t recall ever doing this in the past,” he said. 

In a situation where the city was flying blind, the results, showing what’s going on underground, are eye-opening. 

“They’re finding quite a few issues that we need to deal with,” Dudte told the I-Team. more

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) on November 30, 2023. 

As part of EPA’s initiative to strengthen the Lead and Copper Rule, the proposed LCRI, which is expected to be finalized in the fall of 2024, aims to replace all lead pipes in 10 years. 

“NRWA applauds EPA’s effort to protect public health by removing lead from our nation’s drinking water. We provide technical assistance, training, and education to small, rural water systems everyday as we work to meet the LCRI ambitious goals,” said NRWA CEO Matt Holmes. “As an inaugural member of the Get the Lead Out Partnership, NRWA and our State Affiliates have been committed to this initiative from day one and look forward to reviewing the details of the LCRI and working with EPA to ensure our members are prepared to meet the challenges.”   more

Public water suppliers must act quickly

Public water suppliers face upcoming deadlines regarding the historic PFAS Settlements with 3M, Dupont, Chemours, and Corteva.

The deadline to opt out of the Dupont, Chemours, and Corteva settlement is December 4, 2023, and the deadline to opt out of the 3M Settlement is December 11, 2023.

While NRWA does not recommend opting out of the settlements, these decisions must be made individually by our member water systems in consultation with legal counsel. Opting out preserves the right to sue these companies in the future but does not allow systems to participate in the current historic settlements.

NRWA believes that participating in the current settlements is the best option for most of our members. Since navigating the legal requirements of filing a claim is complicated, NRWA has retained Napoli to help systems act promptly and ensure the best possible outcomes for their communities.

Benefits of registering include:

• Quick Funding Access: estimated funds will begin to be distributed in mid-2024

• An award is based on PFAS levels and flow rates, including capital and O&M costs

• Resubmission of claim if increased detection of contamination (funding currently calculated through 2030)

• No financial risk associated with litigation

For more information, please visit https://www.pfaswatersettlement.com/ to learn more.

FEATURING

• Rural Water Rewind: WaterPro 2023

• Water Utility Tours

• The Ins and Outs of Taking Effective Board Meeting Minutes

• GIS Streamlines Service Line Inventory at Greater Johnstown Water Authority

• Jumping Hurdles for Water

• Haste Makes Waste

NATIONAL NEWS

How Can We Evaluate The Quality Of Global Water Models? IIASA researchers contributed to a new international study that tested the extent to which global water models agree with each other and with observational data. more

Study: Wetlands Offer Greater Cumulative Benefit For Flood Control Adding multiple smaller wetlands to the landscape can make large reservoirs more effective at flood control, according to a new study from Tulane University published in Environmental Research Letters. more

EPA Finalizes Rule Removing De Minimis Exemptions, Subjecting Companies to Enhanced PFAS Reporting and Notification Requirements We reported earlier this year that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule would require... more

EPA Finalizes Regulations on PFAS Reporting, Including Reporting of Imported Articles that Contain PFAS Since 2011 The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) recently finalized its regulations for reporting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). more

Polyethylene Pipe Grades Discussed In New Technical Document The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) today announced the publication of a new document that provides the technical basis for comparing PE 100-RC to PE4710 pressure pipe. more

PFAS News Roundup: Wastewater is key contributor of ‘forever chemicals’ pollution, according to report Keep up with PFAS-related developments in the Great Lakes area with Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup. more

Pentagon Claims PFAS Use Necessary for National Security Officials say the attempt to restrict “forever chemicals” would impact the production of weapons, uniforms, and other defense items. more

Request for Candidate Nominations to EFAB EPA invites nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Environmental Financial Advisory Board. more

Innovative New NSF Std 61 Certified Water-based Coatings for Potable Water Storage Tanks

This webinar will present two new innovative water-based protective coatings more

MOST AMERICANS UNAWARE OF ‘FOREVER CHEMICALS’ AND THEIR RISKS "Research has come out in the last year showing that many Americans are exposed to PFAS, including through drinking water supplies, whether they know it or not," says Audrey McCrary. more

EPA Celebrates Two Years Of Progress Under President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) marks the second year of progress in implementing President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law... more

ASDWA JOINS AWWA AND AMWA IN SUPPORTING NEW PFAS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ACT On November 17, ASDWA, the American Water Works Association, and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies submitted comments to EPA in response to the Agency’s proposed revisions to the Air Emissions Reporting Requirements. more

EPA Launches Environmental Justice Grant Program The agency says the program is designed to be more accessible to smaller and underresourced communities. more

PFAS–The Great Reopener: USEPA Warns It May Reopen Closed Sites for PFAS Contamination Typically, final remediation documents (no-further-action letters, response action outcomes, and the like) signal the end of remediation at a contaminated site. more

STATE NEWS

Water shortage order limits irrigation -- parts of Cape Coral and other Lee Co. areas affected

The South Florida Water Management District on Tuesday issued a declared a water shortage and issued mandatory irrigation restrictions for parts of Lee County. more

SFWMD Issues Water Shortage Order for Northeastern Portion of Cape Coral In order to protect groundwater in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has declared a water shortage... more

‘It’s not fun for any of us’: Utility rate increase coming to High Springs  A 5.7% increase in utilities will soon rack up bill amounts for business owners and residents. more

Seriousness of the water shortage in Cape Coral Concerns over the water levels in Southwest Florida are growing to some, but others are shrugging the information off. more

Wastewater from Busch Gardens sinkhole could end up in Tampa Bay, but experts aren't worried When it comes to large community impacts, experts say it's highly unlikely. more

Wildwood turns to industry veteran as growth spurs urgency for sewage expansion Wildwood commissioners Monday night designated Garney Construction as construction manager at risk to build the city’s new wastewater treatment plant. more

Lawmaker budget requests start to pile up Florida lawmakers are championing hundreds of projects and seeking billions of dollars as they prepare for the start of the 2024 legislative session in January. more

Sinkhole opens under Busch Gardens wastewater pond, dumps 2.5 million gallons below Theme park employees discovered the spill and sinkhole in the early morning hours on Nov. 18. Now, a professional geologist is monitoring the situation. more

Teamsters allege Florida water delivery company illegally threatened workers during union campaign The Teamsters lost the election in a tie that left the union just one vote shy of a victory, after ReadyRefresh held 'captive audience meetings' more

20-Year Consumptive Use Permit Extension (Video) See how the City of Port Orange was awarded an extraordinary 20-year extension on its consumptive use permit in part due to its commitment to water conservation and what it means for the City's future drinking water supply. more

Georgia winning the water wars Though a long way from the Dust Bowl Droughts of 1924-1927, and again from 1930-1935, which contributed to national food scarcity and further complicated the Great Depression... more

Heavy rainfall keeps Lake O above 16 feet Lake Okeechobee rose slightly last week due to heavy rainfall, while on the west coast, water managers warned of water shortages. more

How much water 'should' reservoir hold? C-44 reservoir was built to protect the estuary, not maximize water storage. more

Fort Lauderdale residents experience rainiest year ever recorded, dry Wednesday Wednesday will be dry in South Florida; risk of rain increases on Thursday and Friday. more

Operations of Sewage Plants

November 19, 1914: Operation of Sewage Disposal Plants. By Francis E. Daniels. "A man in charge of a sewage disposal plant should know what each unit of his works is doing every day. A skilled observer may detect faults and short-comings with some degree of certainty by mere inspection; and if the output is bad and a heavy pollution is occurring or a local nuisance is resulting, it is not at all difficult to recognize the trouble. If the break-down has been sudden and due to a wash-out, a broken bed or wall or some other equally obvious cause, an expert is not needed to diagnose the case. But suppose the output of a plant or of some of its units is gradually falling below the requirements. In that case the gradual decline cannot be detected by observation and in order that one may know what is actually happening, tests are made....Careful attention paid to tank effluents will delay for years the expenditure of thousands of dollars for the removal, washing and replacing of the stone in contact beds. Poor effluents discharged upon sand beds cause clogging quickly, which results in undue expense for frequent cleaning and often the sand filter effluent is seriously impaired.  

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

2970 Wellington Circle | Tallahassee FL 32309

850.668.2746 | Contact Us