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Season's Greetings
from the
Board and Staff
of the
Florida Rural Water Assn.
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The FRWA office in Tallahassee will be closed for the Holidays on December 23rd, 24th, and 31st.
In case of emergency, please call the office and leave a message.
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Wow, what a year we all have had! Coronavirus, hurricanes, staff shortages, supply issues, losing staff, the list goes on and on. Will 2022 be any better? Well, we at Florida Rural Water Association hope so and as always, we were here with you during these times, and we will be here and ready to assist you with any of your needs in the future. This year has taught us all that we have to adapt and become even stronger to make sure that our customer service stays at the highest level possible to keep them safe and provide for their needs.
FRWA has over thirty-eight employees with a vast number of years and experience who are here to help you with everything under the sun. You can find all the services we offer on our website. Just click on "About FRWA" and you will find every service that we offer. I always say before you pay someone to do something, look, call, email frwa@frwa.nett, or ask us. We will most likely take care of it or at least help to guide you in the right direction, so you have no or very minimal cost.
FRWA strives everyday to find new and improved technologies and tools to help water and wastewater systems meet the ever-demanding regulations being placed on them. We help systems stay in compliance so that your customers stay safe and healthy. We have seen a lot of challenges this past year with COVID. But as always as an industry that cannot fail, we have risen to the challenge to overcome them, and we believe that we will continue together to learn and grow in the years to come.
So remember, the Florida Rural Water Association is here for you. We consider you family and will stand beside you during the difficult times as well has the good times. We strive to make sure that you have what you need to meet your needs and goals. We are always looking for new and improved ways to help. If you have any ideas on how we can better assist you, please pass your ideas along to us. Finally, be sure to ask our staff for help before paying for anything.
FRWA wishes you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
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FRWA Apprenticeship Program |
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Our Apprenticeship Program is a golden opportunity to prepare you and your employees for a career in the water and wastewater industry. Check out the video below for more information on how you can benefit from the Program. If you have further questions, please contact Mark Shelton our Apprenticeship Coordinator at Mark.Shelton@frwa.net.
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EPA Keeps Previous Administration’s Lead and Copper Rule After Review |
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EPA Keeps Previous Administration’s Lead and Copper Rule After Review: On Thursday, EPA released the pre-publication notice outlining the Agency’s decision regarding the next steps for the LCRR (EPA). EPA is allowing the previous Administration’s rule to go into effect to support near-term actions, and the Agency will immediately begin developing a new proposed rulemaking to strengthen the elements identified within the notice. This new proposal, named the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), will focus on four areas identified by the Agency:
- Replacing 100% of all lead service lines as quickly as possible;
- Strengthening compliance tap sampling;
- Exploring options to reduce the complexity and confusion associated with the action and trigger levels, as well as evaluating whether the trigger level is still necessary; and
- Prioritizing historically underserved communities, particularly regarding the prioritization of lead service line replacement.
EPA plans to finalize the LCRI before October 16, 2024, the initial compliance date in the LCRR.
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San Francisco (CNN Business) Biden's big infrastructure plan, which was passed last month, promises to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, many of which won't require a college degree. But it's going to be an uphill battle trying to fill those roles.
The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $550 billion in new funding for roads, bridges, water and climate change mitigation.
Such a swell in opportunity is coming at a critical time: overall employment remains below pre-pandemic levels; skilled trades sectors, like construction, are struggling with labor shortages and aging workforces; and a slew of workers cast aside during the pandemic are looking to reenter the labor force.
But there's a big kink in this grand plan, labor experts and economists say: There's simply not enough money to educate and develop the hearty stream of skilled workers needed for all those critical roles.
"We have $550 billion of new spending coming down the pike for all of these new types of jobs, and we don't have any money for training," said Nicole Smith, research professor and chief economist at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. more
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FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION
2970 Wellington Circle
Tallahassee FL 32309
850.668.2746
01.11-14.22
01.19-20.22
01.25.22
01.27.22
02.23.22
02.24.22
04.12-.15.22
05.03-04.22
05.16-18.22
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NATIONAL NEWS
NRWA's Disaster Response Unit headed to Storm Ravaged Western Kentucky! The hand-off has been made! Louisiana Rural Water Association Circuit Rider Todd Abshire (right) handed over the keys to NRWA’s Disaster Response Unit to KRWA Executive Director Gary Larimore (left). The unit will be staged at Dawson Springs in the coming days to aid in utility restoration efforts. more
Joint Cybersecurity Advisory Water ISAC and EPA, in cooperation with water sector associations, developed the advisory to present important information to the water sector on two recent cybersecurity advisories by the United States Government. more
EPA Announces $14.1 Million for Environmental Justice Grants EPA has announced $14.1 million funding for 133 grants through the Environmental Justice Small Grants (EJSG) and Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement (EJCPS) programs. more
White House Releases New Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan as EPA Announces Next Steps for LCRR Today (12/16), the White House released its Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan. The Plan cuts across 10 Federal agencies with more than 15 actions focusing primarily on lead service line replacement and prioritizing communities disproportionately impacted by lead. more
NRWA Nominates Three Rural Water Leaders to Represent You on EPA’s Newly Formed Panel to Negotiate New Disinfection Byproduct Regulations Last week, NRWA supported the nominations of Jana Littlewood (Alaska and NRWA Rural Water Associations’ Board of Directors), John Choate (Tri-County Regional Water Distribution District and Arkansas Rural Water Association Board of Directors), and Gary Williams (Executive Director, Florida Rural Water Association). more
EPA’s 2022 State Revolving Fund Estimated Allotments by States for the: (1) DWSRF, (2) Lead Service Line Replacement, (3) CWSRF Emerging Contaminants, (4) CWSRF, and (5) CWSRF Emerging Contaminants more
EPA Considering Treatment Technique Versus MCLS for PFAS Acknowledging that technical or economic feasibility constraints could preclude the establishment of a possible numeric limit, EPA told their Science Advisory Board last week that they are “examining” whether a treatment technique is more appropriate for PFOA and PFOS regulation. EPA plans to propose a national primary drinking water regulation for the two PFAS in the fall of 2022, with a final rule expected in the fall of 2023. Experts outside of EPA have suggested the Agency’s proposed MCLGs could be below what most laboratories can detect, which could require a treatment technique regulatory response.
New Study Finds PFAS in Water Results in PFAS in the Air PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ constantly cycle through ground, air and water, study finds. more
New Jersey Town’s Drinking Water Exceeds State PFOS Level by 2 Parts Per Billion The Willingboro MUA said a compound, PFOS, was detected at 15 parts per trillion based on a running annual average. The state allowable maximum is 13 ppt. more
Texas County Uses Federal Covid Relief Funding to Purchase Water Systems’ Generators The Anderson County Commissioners Court is using American Rescue Plan Act Funds to help four county water supplies and an emergency shelter facility be prepared for power outages. more
CISA (DHS) Releases Recommended Actions to Prepare for and Mitigate Potential Cyber Threats In the lead up to the holidays and in light of persistent and ongoing cyber threats, CISA urges critical infrastructure owners and operators to take immediate steps to strengthen their computer network defenses against potential malicious cyber attacks. more
STATE NEWS
High Springs wastewater treatment facility receives FDEP grant | WCJB The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has given nearly seven million dollars in grant money to the High Springs Waste Water Plant. more
Florida Jury Finds Contractor Responsible for Massive Water Main Break that Left Nearly a Quarter-Million People Without Water for Days A jury found a private contractor responsible for leaving nearly a quarter-million people across seven Florida cities without water for days in 2019. more
State grants aimed at enhancing water quality in Alachua and Marion counties | Gainesville Sun Money for several projects in Alachua and Marion counties to protect springs and the aquifer has been allocated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. more
West Palm Beach creates dashboard to update customers on water quality tests | Palm Beach Daily News Residents who are interested in keeping tabs on the town's water quality can access test results through a new webpage created by the City of West Palm Beach. more
USDA invests $8.39 million in Okeechobee septic-to-sewer project | Okeechobee News On Dec. 17, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and Acting State Director for Rural Development Jason Brower for Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands announced that USDA is investing $14,371,400 to build and improve critical rural infrastructure in Florida. more
Thousands of gallons of raw sewage leaked in Titusville, Palm Bay | Florida Today Thousands of gallons of raw sewage were spilled Thursday in separate incidents in Titusville and Palm Bay, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. more
$12 million coming to rural communities affected by Hurricane Michael | WJHG Governor Ron DeSantis went to Washington and Holmes counties to announce millions of dollars in Hurricane Michael relief on Thursday. more
Omicron quickly becomes dominant variant in Florida county’s wastewater samples | WETM Even though there have been no cases of clinical infection, the new omicron variant is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the Florida county that is home to the nation’s largest theme park resorts. more
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This Week in Water History |
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December 24, 1896: Engineering News article–A Large Direct-Driven Centrifugal Pump. “We illustrate herewith a centrifugal sewage pump designed and built for the city of Norfolk, Va., by the Morris Machine Works, Baldwinsville, N. Y. The pump has 20-in. suction and 18-in. discharge, the latter connected to a 20-ln. piping. The actual head worked against Is 26 ft., but when the pump is driven to Its maximum capacity, discharging about 9,000 gallons of water per minute and forcing It through the discharge pipe, which is 1,600 ft. long, the total head pumped against Is equivalent to about 5 ft….
The sewage and drainage from the city flows into a well from which the pump takes its supply, discharging it in the river. The side and sectional views, Fig. 2, show the construction of the pump. The runner is made completely of bronze, so as to withstand the corroding action of sewage and the gases contained therein.”
Commentary: Great pump. Unfortunately, they used it to pump raw sewage into the river, which was a common occurrence in the 1890s. Sewage treatment plants were rare during this period. It would take several decades before sewage treatment was the rule instead of the exception.
Reference: “A Large Direct-Driven Centrifugal Pump.” Engineering News. 36:26(December 24, 1896): 421.
To enjoy more opportunities to take a look at the past in water history, go to this link.
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2970 Wellington Circle | Tallahassee FL 32309 | 850.668.8023 | Contact Us
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