Please sign up to provide EPA input on Lead and Copper Rule! We will also forward possible talking points, comments, and concerns in about a week or so for help! Those interested in speaking can sign up for a 3-minute slot on EPA's website at: www.epa.gov/safewater
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WASHINGTON (March 31, 2021) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced upcoming public listening sessions and roundtables to ensure that communities and stakeholders have the opportunity to provide their perspectives to the agency on protections from lead in drinking water. The impact of lead exposure, including through drinking water, is a public health issue of paramount importance and its adverse effects on children and public health are serious and well known. The goal of public engagement is to obtain further input on EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), including from individuals and communities that are most at-risk of exposure to lead in drinking water.
“Lower income communities and communities of color are often disproportionately exposed to lead, which can cause life-long negative effects,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today, we are inviting these communities and other stakeholders to share their perspectives so that EPA can ensure that its review of the revised Lead and Copper Rule is grounded in their lived experience.”
Virtual public listening sessions will be held on April 28, 2021, and May 5, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., eastern daylight time. Those interested in speaking can sign up for a 3-minute speaking slot on EPA’s website at: www.epa.gov/safewater.
During this event, registered members of the public will be provided the opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns about the impact of lead in their community as it relates to the LCRR with EPA senior officials and managers.
EPA will then host community-focused virtual roundtables, starting in May of 2021. The roundtables will facilitate discussion of their unique perspectives on LCRR-related topics among EPA and local organizations including but not limited to, local government entities, public water utilities, community-organized groups, environmental groups and elected officials.
Starting in June of 2021, EPA will also host virtual roundtables with other important stakeholder groups, including drinking water utilities, intergovernmental associations, environmental organizations, environmental justice organizations, public health organizations, and consumer associations. These stakeholder roundtables will allow representatives of national organizations to discuss LCRR-related topics and provide their national perspective to the Agency. Finally, EPA also intends to host a national co-regulator meeting with primacy agencies (e.g., states, tribes, and territories) in July 2021 to discuss the feedback received from communities and stakeholders.
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EPA requests that communities or organizations that would like to be considered for a community-focused or stakeholder roundtable submit a nomination letter to the Agency not later than April 23, 2021.
Members of the public that are unable to attend any of the events will be able to submit comments via the docket at: http://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0255 until June 30, 2021.
For details on what should be included in the nomination letters, meeting materials, and for additional event details visit: www.epa.gov/safewater.
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HHS Announces April Meetings on New Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program - ASDWA |
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The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Community Services (OCS) has announced two virtual meetings in April to discuss the new Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The LIHWAP was established by Congress in December 2020 as part of the COVID relief package (see Sec. 533 excerpt) and provided more funding in the March 2021 American Rescue Plan Act for a total of $1.138 billion in state and tribal grants. These grants will provide funds for owners or operators of public water systems or treatment works to reduce arrearages and rates charged to low-income households. LIHWAP grants are only available to states, territories and tribes that received FY 2021 Low Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) awards. Please also see the February 22 State Action Transmittal that asks each Governor to designate a person who will provide assurances and state certifications for the program, which may be within the state Department of Community, Health, Human, and/or Social Services where the state LIHEAP program resides.
OCS is hosting two April virtual information and feedback sessions on LIHWAP, one for states and territories, and one specifically for tribes.
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Tuesday, April 20, 2021, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm (eastern time): All state, territory, and tribal LIHWAP grantees, federal partners, and other critical stakeholders are encouraged to attend this meeting that will include an interactive presentation, opportunities to submit questions during the session, and a survey afterward to all participating organizations. Register here.
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Thursday, April 22, 2021 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm (eastern time): This meeting is intended for tribal LIHEAP grantees only and will include the same elements of the first session as well as a discussion to better understand and design the program to serve tribal needs. Register here.
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2021 Florida/Alabama Joint Conference |
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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
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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.
Attendees that live in the state of Florida may click here to register. Your registration will cover the meals and social events at the Conference, class attendance, and CEU fees. Member and Nonmember attendees pay one low price of $100. There is an additional charge of $30 for extra meals for those not attending the Conference. Florida attendees please click here to register.
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!
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FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION
2970 Wellington Circle
Tallahassee FL 32309
850.668.2746
04.20.21
04.20-23.21
05.17.21
07.20.21
10.12-.15.21
10.18-.21.21
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NATIONAL NEWS
PFAS: The Real Cost Of Inaction The story of PFAS is a fascinating one that begins innocently enough in the early 1900’s with the invention of freon™. more
Wastewater Has the Best Green Jobs Workers Don’t Know About Wastewater offers high-tech jobs at the leading edge of sustainability and public health. But aging workers are leaving, creating a shortage of skilled workers. more
EPA Seeking Speakers for LCRR Public Listening Sessions - ASDWA On Wednesday, March 31, EPA announced two virtual public listening sessions to ensure that communities and stakeholders have the opportunity to provide their perspectives to the agency on protections from lead in drinking water. more
CSIA Hurricane Critical Infrastructure Hurricane Response During a Pandemic Webinar The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) invites you to participate in a webinar discussion on its role and resources in annual hurricane preparedness. more
EPA Requirement for Completion of Risk and Resilience Assessments and Emergency Response Plans Is Only for Community Water Systems Serving More Than 3,300 People On April 1, EPA, NRWA, FRWA, SCRWA and UT Rural Water sponsored a webinar to help small communities comply with the June 30, deadline for completing their risk and resilience assessment. more
President Biden’s First Budget The Administration looks forward to presenting its Budget to you and the American people in the months ahead. more
No, America’s Infrastructure Is Not ‘Crumbling’ The United States covers 3.8 million square miles, with 95,471 miles of shoreline and about 12,000 miles of commercially navigable inland waterways; it soars from 282 feet below sea level in Death Valley to 20,310 feet above sea level at Mount Denali. more
Federal Regulation of PFAS Is Not the Answer for Water Regulation, civil enforcement and joint and several liability under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Superfund law (CERCLA) are not the appropriate federal remedies for addressing local governments (and non-profit utilities). more
Small Kansas water utility system hacking highlights risks | Associated Press A former Kansas utility worker has been charged with remotely tampering with a public water system’s cleaning procedures, highlighting the difficulty smaller utilities face in protecting against hackers. more
EPA Chief Says Biden Infrastructure Bill Will Help The U.S. Face Climate Change | WJCT President Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan isn't just about roads, bridges and affordable housing but also about dealing with climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency's new leader says. more
STATE NEWS
DeFuniak Springs officials are preparing for major growth within the next 5 years | My Panhandle The city is preparing to welcome more businesses and residents within the next few years. more
RIVER project applications will be due April 15, 2021 The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) has developed a cost-share program to assist county governments, municipalities, water supply authorities, and other interested units of local government with a cost-share program for projects that enhance or address the District’s core mission of managing water supply, water quality, flood protection, and natural systems. more
Boil Water Notice Lifted For Walnut Hill; It Was Issued After Lightning Strike Destroyed Water Main | North Escambia A precautionary boil water notice that was in effect for much of the Walnut Hill area was lifted Monday after tests showed the water is safe to drink. more
State water managers oppose legislation to expand basin boundary | Naples Daily News State legislators are sponsoring bills to expand the authority overseeing water control structures in Collier County, but the state agency overseeing the governing board thinks it’s a bad idea. more
Toilet-to-tap water bill ready for full House vote | Florida Politics Under the bill used water, including sewage, would be cleaned and turned into drinking water. more
Somebody is flushing mop heads down the toilet in Crystal | Star Tribune As superintendent of Crystal's Public Works Department, Patrick Sele has seen lots of items flushed down the toilet over the years: diapers, dental floss, hygiene products. more
Lightning strike takes out water main in Village of Tamarind Grove | Villages News Rich and Barbara Horvat were at home at 2370 Evander Ave. at about 11 a.m. when the water main was struck. more
Storms Leave Thousands Without Power In Escambia County; Some In Walnut Hill, Near Century Lose Water | North Escambia Thousands of people in Escambia County were left without power by storms that moved through the area Saturday morning. more
Federal money to be key issue in budget talks | Florida Politics How will the state use the $10 billion it gets from the American Rescue Plan? more
City of Gulf Breeze taking steps to prepare ahead of hurricane season | Gulf Breeze News It happens every year: hurricane season opens June 1, just as the community is waving good-bye to the weather change-ability of spring and moving into the sustained warmth of summer. more
Comments on recent Supreme Court ruling favoring Georgia | Lakeside News Supreme Court justices’ quick work ending a seven-year legal case over water in the river system that contains Lake Lanier solicited victory proclamations from Georgia officials and utterances of disappointment downstream in Florida. more
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This Week in Water History |
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Champaign Urbana Water Works |
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April 14, 1909: Municipal Journal and Engineer article. Champaign Urbana Water Works. “Underground Supply-Wells Pumped by Steam, Electric and Belt-Driven Pumps-Iron Removal by Aeration-Most Services Metered. The Champaign and Urbana Water Company, of which Mr. F. C. Amsbury is superintendent, supplies two Illinois cities from which it gets its name. These have a total combined population of 23,000 or 24,000, and form practically one community. An underground source of supply is tapped by twelve eight-inch wells about 16o feet deep. Each of these wells has its own separate direct-acting pumping head. Both Downey and Luitwieler pumps are used, with long rods extending to valves at the bottom of the wells. A few of the pumps are single-acting, but most are double-acting.
Four of the wells are located along one side of the main pumping station. The pumps in these are connected by belts, running in tunnels underneath the ground, to a main shaft, also in a tunnel, and this in turn is driven from the main engine. Three of the pumps are run by steam heads, the steam pipes being carried in tunnels and thoroughly jacketed. The other five pumps are operated by electric motors which receive their current from a generator in the main station.
Water from all the wells is delivered to a 250,000-gallon reservoir. As all underground water in this section contains more or less iron, which it is quite desirable to remove, aeration is resorted to. From the reservoir mentioned above the water flows over a weir and down a sloping concrete slab which exposes it to the air in a thin sheet. From this it passes to a second reservoir of 750,000 gallons. This method of aeration is fairly effective, but does not accomplish all that could be desired, and it is proposed to provide other arrangements before long.”
Reference: “Champaign Urbana Water Works.” 1909. Municipal Journal and Engineer. 26:15(April 14, 1909): 625.
Commentary: I am not surprised that the method of aeration was only “fairly effective.” The author was probably being kind. It would take a few more decades before efficient aeration devices were created to oxidize ferrous iron in groundwaters. Note the "security" fence around the reservoir
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2970 Wellington Circle | Tallahassee FL 32309 | 850.668.8023 | Contact Us
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