March 11, 2021
Rural Water First Quarter 2021 Magazine
The First Quarter 2021 issue of Rural Water magazine is now available!
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Check out some of this issue's highlight features:
NATIONAL NEWS

Tools for AWIA Compliance Water utilities today face unprecedented threats to the security and resilience of their systems. In every state, drinking water utilities may be susceptible to a wide array of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and winter storms that can damage treatment and distribution systems, disrupt power supplies, and potentially contaminate source waters. more

Resilience In The Face Of Emerging Contaminants Resilience is a strong emerging theme within the water sector. more

Water Quotes From Women As many of my followers know, I have been writing about the connection between women and water for a long time. more

Water Is Life — And American Infrastructure Must Be Modern What the recent water- and wastewater-related disasters in the U.S. should teach us. more

EPA to Request Additional Input on the Lead and Copper Rule This important step would ensure that EPA consults with stakeholders on protections from lead in drinking water. more

Maine lawsuit links wastewater solids, PFAS levels Fairfield man files class-action lawsuit against Sappi paper mill over ‘forever chemicals’ more

Jackson, Miss., water crisis enters 4th week Water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi highlights ‘dire state’ of city’s infrastructure. more

Apprenticeship Program has placed hundreds of water and wastewater system apprentices in to the rural water workforce - and that's just the beginning! Jobs in the water sector provide stable employment, meaningful careers, technical training, and important technical skills (including using innovative technologies), and a chance to make a real difference in our communities across the nation. more

Quick Sheet: Microsoft Exchange Vulnerabilities A quick reference to check out the vulnerabilities that may be in your system. more

CISA CA: Microsoft Releases Alternative Mitigations for Exchange Server Vulnerabilities (TLP:WHITE) Microsoft has released alternative mitigation techniques for Exchange Server customers who are not able to immediately apply updates that address vulnerabilities disclosed on March 2, 2021. more

CISA CA: Microsoft IOC Detection Tool for Exchange Server Vulnerabilities (TLP:WHITE) Microsoft has released an updated script that scans Exchange log files for indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with the vulnerabilities disclosed on March 2, 2021. more

USDA on Twitter to Announce Emergency Funding  Is your rural water system damaged due to the freeze? Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant program can help with repairs. more

EPA Releases Regulatory Determinations for Contaminants on the Fourth Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL4) The Agency will regulate two contaminants (PFOS and PFOA) under the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA now has 24 months to propose a regulation and an additional 18 months to finalize it (EPA).  more

President Hosts Republicans and Democrats at the White House to Talk Infrastructure on Thursday Battle Lines Drawn on Bipartisan Path for Infrastructure Package. more

STATE NEWS

WUD at work is in Pahokee upgrading meter infrastructure for more efficient service to our residents in The Glades region of Palm Beach County.  more

FWC issues warning for invasive pipe-clogging zebra mussels | NBC-2 Zebra mussels are considered the “Poster Child” for invasive species, and for a good reason. more

Here's how much customers could pay to move Fort Pierce wastewater treatment plant | TCPalm Moving the wastewater treatment plant from Hutchinson Island to Glades Cut-Off Road could take six years, cost $156 million, create nearly 600 jobs and increase customers' bills by over $2 a month, according to a plan unveiled Monday. more

Local governments want PACE to cover septic-to-sewer | Florida Politics Bills would allow consumers to pay for septic-to-sewer conversions with PACE financing. more

Florida toilet-to-tap water bill could be a viable solution, officials say The Florida Bill for toilet-to-tap water is gaining traction after it passed through the Environmental, Agriculture and Flooding Subcommittee 17-0. more

Opinion: Ignoring Infrastructure is dangerous | Citrus County Chronicle Crumbling roads, unstable bridges, broken water mains — this isn’t how we generally think about America. more

FWC announces next steps for the Lake Okeechobee Management Plan | Okeechobee News The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites the public to attend a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, March 16 at 6 p.m. that will provide an update on the Lake Okeechobee Management Plan currently in development. more

Sean Shaw: Office of Public Council — holding utilities accountable, protecting consumers | Florida Politics Now more than ever, we must keep utility rates consumer-friendly, transparent and affordable. more

Florida congressional delegation asks Biden for $725 million for Everglades restoration | TCPalm Florida's congressional delegation Thursday urged President Biden to include $725 million for Everglades restoration in his upcoming budget request, a "commonsense" ask to help complete a number of water projects in the thirsty ecosystem. more
This Week in Water History
Miami Water Tainted by Waste
March 9, 1973: New York Times headline--Drinking Water Is Tainted By Waste in Miami Beach. “Miami Beach's supply of drinking water is contaminated with organisms from human waste, Dr. Milton Saslaw, Dade County health director, told the County Commission today. He said that residents should boil all water used for drinking, making ice and brushing teeth. Dr. Saslaw said that the problem, apparently confined to Miami Beach, was not related the recent outbreak of typhoid in the town of Homestead, 25 miles south of here. He said that the unsanitary conditions would last for several days until the chlorine level of the water supply could be raised to combat the organisms. Hotels in this resort town immediately began boiling water before serving it to guests.”

Commentary: The contamination problem was linked to a drop in the chlorine residual. Chlorine equipment was flown to Miami Beach from Alabama to alleviate the problem. Wait a minute. There was typhoid fever in Homestead, FL? Look at the year—1973. That sure sounds like a story worth telling.

For more articles on what went on this week in water history, click here.
FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION | http://www.frwa.net
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