June 25, 2021
Highlights from this Year's Alabama/Florida
2021 Alabama/Florida Review
With over 560 attendees, the 2021 Alabama/Florida Conference that was held on June 1-3 was a huge success. Click on the slideshow on the left to see the fun, food, and training that was enjoyed by all!

2022 Florida/Alabama
We will return to the Edgewater in Panama City on May 16-18, 2022 when Florida will be hosting. Make plans now to attend. You can book your hotel reservations now by calling 800.874.8686 and give them the booking code 1179q6.
2021 FRWA Annual Conference
August 9-11, 2021
Hilton Daytona Beach
100 N Atlantic Ave
Daytona Beach FL 32118
Registration (386) 254-8200
Group Code: FRWA21

This year's Florida Rural Water Association’s Annual Technical and Training Conference is the anticipated event of the year! The Conference will be held at the beautiful Hilton Daytona Beach/Ocean Walk Village in exciting Daytona Beach, Florida with the room rates starting at $115.00 (this rate does not include $9.00 self parking rate) plus tax. For reservations, please call 386.254.8200 or click here to reserve your room online. You will want to bring the entire family to take advantage of all the amenities that Daytona Beach has to offer. For those wishing to drive in for the day, there will be a reduced self parking fee of $6.00. Don't forget to pick up your pass in the Registration Area.
 
Things will kick off with the Paul Brayton Golf Tournament at the LPGA Golf Course! You will not want to forget to bring your water sample to the Registration booth before 2:00 pm on Tuesday to participate in this year’s Best Tasting Water Contest. The winner will be announced at the Exhibitor Social in the Exhibit Hall on Tuesday evening and have a chance to participate in the “Great American Taste Test” in Washington DC in February.
 
Don't miss your chance to be in the Exhibit Hall when your name is picked for the door prizes that are given away! These and other activities will keep you informed, inspired, and motivated so that we can help you to make sure the future of the water and wastewater industry in Florida is bright.
 
 
Make your plans now! We had troubles a plenty in 2020, let's have some fun in 2021!
NATIONAL NEWS

Here's What's Included In The Infrastructure Deal That Biden Struck With Senators | WLRN After weeks of negotiations, President Biden and a bipartisan group of senators have announced a deal on infrastructure spending. more

Journey of PFAS in wastewater facilities highlights regulation challenges - Science Daily Researchers have conducted two of the first studies in New England to collectively show that toxic human-made chemicals called PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances), found in everything from rugs to product packaging, end up in the environment differently after being processed through wastewater treatment facilities -- making it more challenging to set acceptable screening levels. more

Preparing Students for Today’s Jobs Requires Close Collaboration Between Higher Education Institutions, Employers, and Industry Our nation was experiencing critical workforce shortages before COVID-19, and large numbers of workers in low-wage jobs were struggling to improve their financial outcomes. more

Chlorine Supply Headlines in Google News The chlorine shortage is affecting more than water systems. more

EPA Responds to Chlorine Supply Shortage EPA has a variety of tools and guidance to support drinking water and wastewater utility preparedness and response. Our resources can help you become a more resilient utility. more

House Subcommittee Passes SDWA Bills Pallone Remarks at Markup of Drinking water and PFAs bill. more

President Biden Tells President Putin Not to Allow Cyberattacks U.S. Water Supplies  Biden tells Putin certain cyberattacks should be 'off-limits'. more

Town of Pierson, Florida Raises Rates for First Time Since the System Was Installed 30 Years Ago It’s been more than 30 years since the Town of Pierson changed its water billing rates, but starting July 1, 2021, residents' water bills will see a jump. more

EPA Moving Forward on Expanding DBPs Rules EPA is continuing to explore meaningful opportunities for further improving public health protection from waterborne pathogens (microbial contaminants) and disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in public water systems (PWSs). more

Survey shows many water utilities struggle with cybersecurity -- GCN The water industry, like most critical infrastructure sectors, shows a range of cybersecurity preparedness levels, even as threats grow. more

A hacker gained access to a Bay Area drinking water facility | SF Gate Someone surreptitiously gained access to a Bay Area community's water supply and deleted programs that treat drinking water, NBC News reported. more

President Joe Biden Nominates Torres Small for USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development NRWA applauds the Biden Administration for nominating former Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small for Undersecretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. more

You are invited to a ZoomGov Meeting Re Lead and Copper in Schools OGWDW is strongly encouraging attendance of schools, child care facilities, states, territories, tribal communities, and technical assistance providers that are planning or implementing a program to test for lead levels in drinking water. more

STATE NEWS

Environmentalists file federal lawsuit in Piney Point disaster | Tampa Bay Times As promised, a consortium of environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against public officials and a private owner they blame for the Piney Point disaster that saw 215 million gallons of polluted water pumped into Tampa Bay. more

ECUA gives initial OK for 2.5% sewer rate increase and 9.5% increase in sanitation fee | Pensacola News Journal Emerald Coast Utilities Authority customers could see a rate increase for their sewer and garbage collection service in October. more

With heavy rain falling, Lake Jackson begins to return — but will it stick? | Tallahassee Democrat Thanks to days of summer rain and Tropical Storm Claudette, Lake Jackson is looking like a lake again. more

Fast-growing Crestview could finance up to $20 million for capital projects | Northwest Florida Daily News A financial advisory firm will help guide the city on the tax-exempt financing of $15 million to $20 million worth of capital upgrades, which officials say should be achieved during the next few years to service Crestview's rampant growth. more

Septic to sewer to septic? Hillsborough commissioner seeks to discourage sprawl | Tampa Bay Times Commissioner Pat Kemp says the county’s own water and sewer rules drive residential growth in southern Hillsborough. more

Opinion: Toilet-to-tap: Should Florida use treated wastewater to boost drinking water supplies? | Sun Sentinel Would you want to drink water that was once flushed down the toilet? more

Wakulla Springs' Waters Are Clear For Now | WJCT Wakulla Springs is now clear enough to see more than 80 feet deep. more

Opinion: Floridians need to understand work of water management districts | Gainesville Sun Florida depends on water. Just like anywhere else, water is essential for life. more

2,000 homes to go from septic tank usage to sewer line | WESH Some Orange County homeowners now have a new bill that's several thousand dollars, and they're OK with it. more

New Approach To Jacksonville Septic Tanks Could Phase Out More Neighborhoods Sooner | WJCT Jacksonville has always known that removing septic tanks from neighborhoods would be a massive undertaking in time and money, making it the public works equivalent of doing root canal surgery in dozens of communities. more

Titusville fined $200,000 for sewage spill | Florida Today Florida environmental regulators this week ordered Titusville to pay $200,000 in penalties for a pipe break six months ago at Sand Point Park that just days before Christmas leaked 7.2 million gallons of raw sewage into ponds that flow to the Indian River Lagoon. more

Water customers in The Villages will see 1 percent rate increase | Villages News Many water customers in The Villages will be seeing a 1 percent rate increase each year through 2031. more
This Week in Water History
 FILTER INVENTIONS
June 21, 1881: “Patrick Clark, of Rahway, NJ, received a patent for a ‘Process of Cleaning Filter-Beds;’ “…the novelty of the process consists in the employment of jets of water for the purpose of agitating a bed of sand or other suitable granular material which forms the upper part of the filter bed. By this means the silt and other impurities are separated from the sand, and, being of inferior specific gravity, rise above the filter bed, and are removed preferably by a natural current of water in which, when practicable, the apparatus will be immersed”; assigned to Newark Filtering Company (incorporated by Clark, John W. Hyatt, Albert Westervelt in December 1880); origin of modern rapid filter; June 21, 1881 – John W. Hyatt also received a patent for a “Filter”; could be cleaned mechanically; assigned to Newark Filtering Company; prototype for rapid filtration concept.”

To enjoy more opportunities to take a look at the past in water history, go to this link.
FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION | http://www.frwa.net
2970 Wellington Circle | Tallahassee FL 32309 | 850.668.8023 | Contact Us