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April 8, 2021
EPA Vulnerability Assessment Due Soon!
The America Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) passed in 2018 requires drinking water systems to complete a Vulnerability Assessment within specified time frames. In an effort to assist Florida’s utilities to continue compliance for the Americas Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA), the Florida Rural Water Association has worked with over 200 water utilities throughout the State to complete their assessments. This week we have been reaching out to systems to determine if they have completed their required Vulnerability Assessment Report. We realize that some utilities may have completed these reports through other sources, however we are concerned that some small systems may be out of compliance on June 30th. We estimate that approximately 150 systems may not have not completed their reports. FRWA is willing and able to help but we must hear from you soon in order to assist your utility meet the deadline.
 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported on February 17th that large community water systems that serve more than 100,000 have completed their certifications for more than 99% of the systems in America. EPA also reported that the medium-sized community water systems that serve 50,000 to 100,000 have completed more than 96% of the systems in America. We certainly hope to achieve a similar success for the small community water systems throughout Florida. However, with only three months left to complete the report for over 150 systems some may be out of compliance on June 30th.
 
Please contact Jim McClaugherty at Jim.McClaugherty@frwa.net or call 850.668.2746 to avoid the rush.
2021 Florida/Alabama Joint Conference
June 1-3, 2021

Perdido Beach Resort
27200 Perdido Beach Blvd.
Orange Beach, AL 36561
Phone (251) 981-9811/(800) 634-7263
Group Code: 17379
The ARWA and FRWA are proud to announce that the 2021 Alabama-Florida Joint Technical Training Conference is scheduled! The event will be held at the Perdido Beach Resort in Perdido Beach, Alabama on June 1-3, 2021.

This year's event will be hosted by the Alabama Rural Water Association, for updated information, please refer to their website at https://www.alruralwater.com/WEB/conference/alfl-1.php or contact them by phone at 334.396.5511. 

You may register for a booth at https://www.alruralwater.com/WEB/conference/joint-alfl-2021/alfl-exhibitors.php. This event usually sells out early so don't miss out!

The Perdido Beach Resort is sold out, but Alabama Rural Water is working on getting an overflow hotel. The information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

We look forward to seeing you all at the Beach for some Fun, Seafood, and CEU's! Book early! It has been way too long with the COVID pandemic!
NATIONAL NEWS

$500 Million Now Available For Pre-Disaster Mitigation Projects Climate change and the need for mitigation efforts for disaster control have resulted in more federal funding available for public entities throughout the U.S. more

EPA's Regan: Water infrastructure a federal priority Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan on Monday discussed water infrastructure-related provisions in the White House’s $2 trillion infrastructure package while participating in a virtual roundtable. more

Highlights Of President Biden's $111B Plan For Water Infrastructure The US Water Alliance has advocated for increased investment in water infrastructure since 2015 through our Value of Water Campaign. more

Biden Administration Proposes To Replace 100% Of Lead Drinking Water Infrastructure The Biden administration wants to take a huge swing at the problem of lead water pipes, proposing to replace 100% of the nation’s lead pipes and service lines. more

Those Behind The Water: Protecting The People Who Make The Process Possible Nothing may be more universal than the power of water. more

President Announces Infrastructure Initiative to “Ensure Clean, Safe Drinking Water is a Right in All Communities" While the American Rescue Plan is changing the course of the pandemic and delivering relief for working families, this is no time to build back to the way things were. more

Kansas Man Indicted for Hacking, Tampering with a Public Water System A Kansas man has been indicted on a federal charge accusing him of tampering with a public water system, Acting U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard said Wednesday. more

Supreme Court Rules Against Florida In Water War Against Georgia | WUSF Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote in Thursday’s ruling that Florida did not prove Georgia’s water use had caused damage in the bay and the Apalachicola River. more

America's Water Infrastructure Act Section 2013 Compliance Data The data below list the community drinking water systems (CWSs) impacted by the risk and resilience assessment and emergency response plan certification requirements under Section 2013 of AWIA. more

Governors urge Biden to invest in water infrastructure Four Great Lakes governors call on White House to aid in water infrastructure upgrades. more

EPA overhauling 2 scientific advisory panels In a move he said would help restore “scientific integrity,” the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency is removing dozens of scientists and other experts from key advisory boards named under President Donald Trump, saying they were overly friendly to industry. more

Water Act Introduced in Congress A comprehensive water justice bill was introduced in both chambers of Congress to address water access, safety and affordability in the country on Feb. 25. more

Public Clean Water Sector Applauds Clean Water State Revolving Fund Authorization Package Wednesday morning, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously passed the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure ACT (DWWIA) of 2021. more


STATE NEWS

DEP reports wastewater release in Haines City on March 20 | The Ledger A pump station failure caused the release of 2,000 gallons of untreated wastewater in Haines City on March 20. more

Senate approves plan to expedite reservoir construction north of Lake Okeechobee | Florida Politics The Senate gave its unanimous approval Wednesday to a measure further implementing the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project (LOWRP) north of Lake Okeechobee. more

Drinking water for Manatee County residents will not be affected by the issues at Piney Point | ABC Action News People who live around Piney Point in Manatee County are concerned their drinking water is in danger from the Piney Point water leak. more

A $4,150 sewer connection for free? Not everyone is this part of Sebastian is jumping at the chance | TCPalm Indian River County is offering about 200 Roseland Road homeowners free connection to its sewer system, saving them about $4,150 each. more

Florida Infrastructure | ASCE's 2021 Infrastructure Report Card While the nation’s infrastructure earned a C- in the 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, Florida faces infrastructure challenges of its own. more

PBCWUD is looking to fill several #JobOpenings across #PalmBeachCounty! Check out all of the listing at pbcgov.com/jobs #NowHiring #PBCWUD #STEMJobs #EssentialWorker #Engineer #Maintenance #Operator pic.twitter.com/YYVVypmjJ3

April is water conservation month, here's how you can do your part | ABC Action News Pinellas county officials say seasonal reclaimed water restrictions start today, April 1 and runs through Wednesday, June 30. more

Hurricane forecast by AccuWeather calls for another busy season for 2021 Another busy hurricane season appears likely, although it won’t be as bad as last year, according to a prediction released Wednesday by AccuWeather, a private weather forecasting service. more
This Week in Water History
Three Sue City of Milwaukee for Typhoid Deaths
April 6, 1916: Municipal Journal articles.

“Three Sue City for Typhoid Deaths. Milwaukee, Wis.-Three suits brought against the city of Milwaukee as a result of the recent typhoid epidemic, have been filed in circuit court, by two men for the deaths of their sons, and by a woman for the death of her husband. They are for $10,000 each. The complainants claim that the victims contracted the disease from the use of lake water, alleged to be unfit to drink because of the sewage which is being constantly emptied into the lake. The suits charge negligence in allowing the water to become polluted and at the same time supplying it to drink. It is claimed that at various times during the last ten years the city officials have been notified of the condition of the water, but that no attention has been paid to the warnings.”

“City Wins Reservoir Damage Suit. Fort Worth, Tex.-The second court of civil appeals has reversed and remanded the reservoir damage case against the city of Fort Worth, in which a jury in the sixty-seventh district court had awarded the plaintiff $39,867.88 for damage to her land flooded by the backwaters of Lake Worth and alleged damage to adjoining uplands. This is the first of four big reservoir damage suits that have gone against the city under the present administration to be submitted to the higher court. It was appealed on the grounds that the court erred in admitting certain testimony and of misconduct of the jury in considering matter that was not in evidence. The jury awarded $75 an acre for 361 acres of lowlands and $9 an acre for 839 acres of uplands. City witnesses appraised the lowlands at from $35 to $50 an acre and testified the uplands were not damaged. By the reversal the city also saves the interest on $39,867.88 from April 28, 1915.”

Reference: Municipal Journal. 1916. 40:14(April 6, 1916): 489.

Commentary: The typhoid fever epidemic in Milwaukee was caused by a city employee turning off the chlorine disinfection system for about 10 hours. The epidemic resulted in 513 cases and 59 deaths from typhoid fever. As filtration and chlorination became more widely installed to protect water supplies, it became harder for cities to claim that contaminated water supplies were not responsible for typhoid fever deaths. The combination of engineers wanting to do the right thing and lawsuits resulted in an accelerated introduction of the new technologies.