FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Missouri Captures Third Place at National Water Taste Test!
Ashland, Missouri – February 10, 2012 – The City of Puxico in Stoddard County, Missouri, captured the attention of judges at the National Rural Water Association’s annual Great American Water Taste Test!
Judging took stage Wednesday, February 8th, in Washington, D.C., where samples from across the nation competed for the top spot. News broke that morning that Puxico’s water sample earned a place among the five finalists. It went on to take third place honors, winning the bronze trophy.
"Puxico is a two time winner in our Missouri competition and now has taken a third place at the national level. Assuming they can win again, is the ‘third time the charm’ in D.C. competition?" asks Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) Executive Director John Hoagland. The MRWA is an affiliate of the National Rural Water Association.
Whether it’s Puxico or another community, it’s evident that Missouri water is starting to attract the attention of national judges.
This is the highest recognition that Missouri has received so far. Last year saw Lowry City’s water, from St. Clair County, place among the top five finalists.
“We’ve always had good water around here,” states Puxico Chief Water Operator David Hawthorne in a non-boastful, matter-of-fact tone. “In the days when water conservation wasn’t such a big topic, we had an outside spigot at the well house; and people would come by and get a good, cool drink of water.”
The City of Puxico took the top spot in the state for 2006 and again for 2011. Last year’s taste test finals were determined during the annual MRWA Open House and Fish Fry in April. The MRWA hosts a statewide taste test each year.
State judges consist of a representative from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Public Drinking Water Branch, the U. S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, and the local government.
As with the national taste test, samples are narrowed to the five best contenders before determining the final winner. Qualities that make water a potential winner are a crystal clear appearance, a pleasant bouquet or fragrance, and a delectable taste.
These qualities present themselves naturally in Puxico’s water where no treatment or chemical additive is provided. This town, with a current customer base of 450, has provided a pristine source of water to its customers since 1935. It now boasts two deep wells for sustained service that will last into the indefinite future.
One might assume that water is water, and there isn’t much difference from one town to another. That isn’t the case, according to Hoagland’s observation at the national taste test. "The judges commented that much to their surprise, there was a distinctive difference in flavor and quality between the five semi-finalists."
The Missouri taste test honors these differences and salutes the tireless efforts of those who bring this product into our homes and businesses.
Water operators work hard to safeguard our water sources and delivery systems. That’s a 24/7 commitment; yet there are no ticker tape parades to honor them. While water is vital to our lives, customers rarely give much thought to it. Underground pipes are unseen and unnoticed by the lay person, and water seems to pour from the spout with no effort.
After all, access to water is natural, right?
On the contrary, the attention water delivery requires is anything but natural: pumps that pull water out of the ground require regular maintenance to perform at peak capacities; heavy machinery digs trenches in the earth as access points to repair busted pipe; and mechanically operated hydrants, valves and meters require skilled repairs.
Additionally, many waters across the state require disinfection from disease-causing organisms and treatment for corrosive tendencies or other problems.
The water taste test fosters a healthy spirit of competition among operators. It’s a chance for the operator to come out into the light of day and get noticed.
It’s the genuine opinion of the MRWA that Missouri water has a superior quality. The water operator plays a key role in guaranteeing this consistency.
The MRWA specializes in assisting drinking water and wastewater utilities throughout Missouri. Learn more about the organization at its website: www.moruralwater.org.
[Pictures from this week’s taste test in Washington, D.C., are available upon request.]
Contact:
Missouri Water Taste Test Coordinator Tom Hyatt
Operator Certification Circuit Rider
Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive
Ashland, MO 65010
573-783-1745 (cell)
thyatt@moruralwater.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Top Utility Workers Honored During Missouri Fall Conferences!
Ashland, Missouri – November 1, 2011 – The 2011 Office Professional of the Year, the Drinking Water Operator of the Year, and the Wastewater Operator of the Year were honored at two conferences held at Lake of the Ozarks during the week of October 24th.
Approximately 155 office professionals attended the Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) 19th annual Office Professional Seminar October 25 and 26. This represents more than a 15 percent increase from the previous year’s attendance.
Topics included recordkeeping, internal controls, rates, collections, easements, business writing, and many other subjects that call upon the knowledge and skills of these professionals on a regular basis.
Administrative, billing and clerical workers applauded Vienna City Clerk Sherry James, announced the 2011 Office Professional of the Year during the October 25th awards banquet.
James has been credited with tremendous organizational skills at the utility. She demonstrates mastery of her diverse duties and the ability to accomplish new assignments with ease and efficiency.
Most notable among these new assignments has been the quarterly financial reporting required for the loan and grant that the city received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
October 26th was devoted to mid-week transitions. Office professionals concluded their sessions that morning. Meanwhile, water and wastewater operators began arriving for some of the planned recreation: fishing, golf and trap shoot tournaments; social gathering; and the grand opening of the exhibit hall.
With almost 100 exhibitors displaying their equipment and brochures, attendees had a lot of information to gather. There are services that some are unaware exist, there are new technologies for improving results or replacing manual operations, and there are abundant resources for every need.
With 460 pre-registered operators and additional last-minute registrations, the MRWA 21st annual Fall Operations and Maintenance Symposium swelled with participants. Sessions began October 27th with such topics as hydrant restoration, backup power generator selection, and wastewater roundtable in which everyone has a chance to voice questions or concerns.
During that evening’s awards banquet, MRWA Awards Chairman Mike Hollis announced the names of the recipients for the 2011 Drinking Water Operator of the Year and the Wastewater Operator of the Year. The City of Clarksville’s Kathy Weiss and the City of Shelbina’s Rob Trivitte captured the titles for their respective categories.
Weiss is a relatively new drinking water operator, with only about six years of experience. Nonetheless, she competently manages both the drinking water and the wastewater systems in the City of Clarksville.
She keeps aging infrastructure successfully functioning. Meanwhile, she maintains an eye for the future. Having overcome failures resulting from burst pipes and other limitations at the community’s new water plant, she’s acquired an education in short order. With this gained knowledge, she has helped shape the planning for major water and wastewater upgrades that are currently in the works.
Rob Trivitte has spent his entire adult life working for the City of Shelbina. This includes 34 years of full-time employment, and part-time work while still in high school. His responsibilities officially include the city’s drinking water, wastewater, and streets, although Trivitte is not known to shy away from any responsibility that presents itself.
He has overseen relocation of water and sewer lines because of a highway project, installation of a booster station and a master meter as an inter-connection with a wholesale water provider, and significant upgrades to the city’s underground utilities.
The City of Shelbina was in the path of two F1 tornadoes during the spring of 2011, which hit the community simultaneously. They damaged the town’s electrical substation, putting the entire town out of power. Trivitte’s quick action and leadership were instrumental in restoring power to the city’s water and wastewater treatment facilities.
All award recipients received a plaque and an MRWA monogrammed jacket.
The MRWA is a non-profit organization providing training and technical assistance to water and wastewater utilities in Missouri. Its many services include, but are not limited to, source water protection guidance, smoke testing and camera inspection of sewer lines, leak detection and valve locates in water systems, management and board training, certification of office professionals, and utility-related legislative oversight.
More information about the MRWA can be found on its website at www.moruralwater.org.
[Pictures of Award Recipients Sherry James and Kathy Weiss are available upon request. Rob Trivitte was not present during the awards ceremony.]
Contact:
Tom Hyatt, Missouri Rural Water Association
573-783-1745 (cell) or thyatt@moruralwater.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 29 Drug Take-Back Event Declared a Success!
Ashland, Missouri – November 1, 2011 – “I’m really pleased about this,” beams Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) Special Projects Circuit Rider Brad Rayburn. “Communities are responding to the message.”
The October 29 Drug Take-Back effort was the second time that the MRWA played an active role in recruiting participation. Its promotion generated 19 additional sponsoring sites to the statewide pharmaceutical collection drive.
Preliminary results from the first 11 of these systems indicated a net total of 479.5 pounds of drugs collected in the forms of pills, capsules, liquids and inhalants. The single highest collection site in that initial report was the City of Memphis, Missouri, with 130 pounds contributed by local citizens.
To put those numbers in perspective, one pill weighs no more than one gram, and many weigh less than one gram. At one gram each, it would take 454 pills to weigh one pound. The tally already reported represents approximately 218 thousand pills.
The reason for the MRWA involvement was to spread a simple message. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs that are thrown away or flushed down toilets, pose a hazard to the environment. Of particular concern is the impact these drugs have on drinking water sources.
The MRWA plays an active role in Missouri in educating water and wastewater system personnel about protecting drinking water from potential contaminants. Most of these threats are obvious: chemical spills, contaminant entry into distribution systems, and microorganisms that must be inactivated or removed before water is considered safe to drink.
The threat from pharmaceuticals is more subtle. “There’s a disconnect when it comes to throwing something in the trash or flushing it down a stool,” Rayburn explains. “We don’t associate this act with something that jeopardizes our drinking water.”
Research shows that trace amounts of pharmaceuticals make their way from landfills and septic tanks into aquifers that serve as underground water sources. Medicines that are flushed into a centralized wastewater treatment system don’t receive adequate treatment. This leaves pharmaceutical residues in tact as the return water from these facilities makes its way back into rivers and lakes.
Medical science has found widespread problems with fish and aquatic life exposed to these drugs, including genetic defects, blindness, and diseases. The question remains as to what extent these trace elements adversely affect human health and development.
The MRWA is not waiting for all of the research to be completed. “The time to act is now,” Rayburn says with an evident determination in his voice.
Rayburn was happy to report that most of the communities that the MRWA coordinated this effort with were pleased with their involvement and are planning to make this event an annual one.
All drugs that are collected are turned over by local law enforcement officials to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The DEA ensures proper disposal by incineration of these unwanted medications.
The MRWA sponsored drop-off points were as follows: Callaway County Public Water Supply District (PWSD) 2; City of Fulton; City of Lexington Police Department; City of Memphis; City of Oak Grove; City of Richland; City of Truesdale; City of Unionville; City of Vienna; City of Warrenton; City of Willard; Daviess County PWSD 3; Fort Leonard Wood; Greene County PWSD 5; Macon County PWSD 1; PWSD 2 of Lafyette, Johnson, and Saline Counties; Schuyler County Health Department; Tarkio Board of Public Works; and Village of Collins.
The MRWA is a non-profit organization that provides training and technical assistance to water and wastewater utilities in Missouri. By helping to instill a new habit for drug disposal among state citizens, the MRWA hopes to lessen the costs of water and wastewater treatment, safeguard Missouri water sources, and increase the awareness of drinking water as our most vital resource.
For additional information about the MRWA, see its website at www.moruralwater.org.
Contact:
Tom Hyatt
Operator Certification Circuit RiderMissouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive
Ashland, MO 65010
http://www.moruralwater.org
573-657-5533 (office)
573-657-0533 (fax)
573-783-1745 (cell)
thyatt@moruralwater.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Puxico Honored for Best Tasting Drinking Water!
Ashland, Missouri – May 23, 2011 – Puxico City officials accepted awards May 23, 2011, at Puxico City Hall for the community’s great tasting water.
A sample of Puxico’s drinking water earned a spot as one of five finalists at the Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) Technical Conference in March. It went on to take first-place honors during the final judging last month in Ashland as the “Best Tasting Water in Missouri” for 2011.
“This is one of the greatest honors we’ve had,” says Puxico Mayor Doyle Mitchell, “but we’ve known for years our water tastes great!”
This was the second time that the City of Puxico’s water claimed the top spot, besting all other entries during 2006.
Back in the winner’s circle this year, Mayor Mitchell, Water Department Supervisor David Hawthorne and Water Operator Jason Isaac accepted a Missouri House Resolution from District 159 Representative Billy Pat Wright May 23rd. Representative Wright was present to deliver the document personally.
Missouri Senator Robert Mayer of District 25 mailed a Senate Resolution earlier in the month, proclaiming the merits of the City of Puxico’s drinking water.
Additionally, the MRWA awarded the City of Puxico a plaque recognizing its superior tasting water and provided a pizza party for city officials.
Mayor Mitchell gives credit to the highest of all authorities for the community’s exceptional water quality. “God put it there for us. He has watched over us through the storms.”
The celebration took place just after the last main highway leading to Puxico was again passable. Massive flooding brought 22 inches or more of rainfall to southeast Missouri recently. Isaac reported that, fewer than three days earlier, a portion of Highway 51 north of town had been under a couple of inches of water.
As an added treat for the day’s festivities, Dave DeVaughn of Midwest Meter Incorporated provided a cake for the celebration. Besides representing the meter company, DeVaughn has served as the community’s judge for 16 years.
Puxico’s next leg of the journey will find it competing against water samples from other states for the title of “Best Tasting Water in the Nation”. That annual taste test is hosted by the National Rural Water Association, of which the MRWA is an affiliate.
That taste test won’t occur until February 2012; so Puxico will have a long time to bask in its statewide glory before going to nationals.
Puxico’s two groundwater sources serve a community of approximately 1,145 people. The wells require no treatment or disinfection and yet comply with strict federal and state drinking water regulations.
“I’ve lived here all my life,” Mayor Mitchell says. “I’ve visited other places but have always come back; raised my children here. It’s the best place I’ve ever been.”
The statewide taste test is conducted each year to recognize the excellent quality of Missouri drinking water and the conscientious performance of water operators who deliver this pristine resource directly to our taps.
The MRWA is a non-profit organization that serves the needs of water and wastewater systems in Missouri. It provides technical assistance; training; hosts several professional conferences each year; offers guidance to decision-makers and managers; and helps with specialized services, too, such as water leak detection, wastewater inflow and infiltration prevention, utility mapping, and source water protection.
[Picture 1 caption – Missouri Representative Billy Pat Wright, center, hands House Resolution to Mayor Doyle Mitchell, right, with Water Operator Jason Isaac, left, and Water Department Supervisor David Hawthorne.]
[Picture 2 caption – Water Operator Jason Isaac, left, and Water Department Supervisor David Hawthorne hold “Best Tasting Water” plaque.]
Contact:
Tom Hyatt
Operator Certification Circuit Rider
Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive
Ashland, MO 65010
573-783-1745 (cell)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tina-Avalon School Accepts $1,000 Check for Winning Video Contest!
Ashland, Missouri – May 9, 2011 – Tina-Avalon School Superintendent David Garber accepted a check for the sum of $1,000 May 4, 2011, from the Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA).
The school competed in a statewide video contest in March, pitting its creativity and film-making skills against other schools from around Missouri.
The annual event is part of the Missouri Rural Water Association’s outreach to the next generation. It challenges schools from around the State to let their students’ imaginations run wild and produce a one-minute video about the importance of drinking water.
Producers of the winning video came from the freshman class. They are Dylan Rucker, Lacey Rucker, and Kelsey Garber. The sponsoring teacher is Ms. Sheila Hesler.
The winning video played before the cheering crowd of approximately 75 people. Assembled were the entire student body and two of the members of the MRWA Board of Directors: Dennis Knipmeyer of Region 3 and Roger Barker of Region 1.
Afterwards, Deputy Executive Director Randy Norden awarded the $1,000 first-prize award. “It’s very inspiring,” Norden said, “to see these students use their creativity to create something out of nothing.” He explained that schools much larger and with more resources at their disposal were unable to outshine Tina-Avalon.
Co-sponsoring the participation of the Tina-Avalon School were Carroll County Public Water Supply District (PWSD) #1 and Livingston County PWSD #3, jointly.
The money will be used to send the 13 students in the freshman class to Worlds of Fun Amusement Park, north of Kansas City. The MRWA places no restrictions upon the use of the winning funds; so the school may use the money however it wants.
Those entries judged to be among the five best are displayed in a continuously running loop during the MRWA Annual Technical Conference held in the spring. This year’s event took place in Branson.
Conference participants view these videos during breaks, lunch, or between training seminars. They cast their ballots for their favorite. Votes are tallied, and the winner announced during closing ceremonies.
The MRWA allows these water utility professionals the chance to select their favorite, since they are the true experts regarding drinking water. This allows everyone the chance to get involved.
“The video contest encourages students to demonstrate their understanding of drinking water,” explains Norden. “The MRWA also encourages water systems to promote the contest in order to help drinking water systems connect with schools, with their customers.”
The Missouri Rural Water Association is a non-profit organization providing direct assistance to water and wastewater utilities in Missouri. Services include but are not limited to training, technical assistance, water line leak detection, wastewater line camera inspection, management resources, source water protection guidance, and utility mapping.
Indirect services of the MRWA include outreach to future water and wastewater operators, decision makers, and involved citizens in an attempt to educate them about the importance of water in our lives and of the vital work performed by these utilities.
Contact:
Tom Hyatt
Operator Certification Circuit Rider
Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive
Ashland, MO 65010
573-657-5533 (office)
573-657-0533 (fax)
573-783-1745 (cell)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Drug Take-Back Proves Successful!
Ashland, Missouri – May 9, 2011 – Almost 500 pounds of drugs were collected April 30th at eight sites where the Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) helped coordinate the Drug Take-Back event. The sites covered the three counties of Pulaski, Phelps and Texas.
The MRWA joined forces with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Fort Leonard Wood Army Hospital and Military Police, 25th Judicial Circuit Court Juvenile Division, and law enforcement officers and pharmacists within each community.
Locations included the Fort Leonard Wood Army Base and the cities of Crocker, Houston, Rolla, St. Robert and Waynesville.
MRWA Source Water Protection Specialists Jim Patton and Brad Rayburn helped coordinate this event; and the MRWA promoted participation through distribution of flyers to water and wastewater systems, electronic news transmissions, and word-of-mouth communications by its field staff.
The event was part of a larger effort staged throughout Missouri and other states to collect and properly dispose of outdated or unused medications. The total weight of drugs collected statewide exceeded 12,000 pounds.
At least five other states from this region participated in the collection of prescription medications: Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. The combined effort netted a total of 27,398 pounds.
The drugs were transported to an EPA-approved incinerator in Illinois for proper disposal.
Part of the intent of this program is to eliminate the chances that these drugs get into the hands of someone who might abuse them. They could prove an easy temptation to children and young adults, among others.
The primary interest of the MRWA is the impact these pharmaceuticals could have upon drinking water. Proper disposal ensures that these drugs, as Rayburn puts it, “will not be flushed down the toilet, thrown in the garbage, or poured down the sink; so that, in itself, will keep the meds out of our water ways and, most importantly, out of the drinking water”.
Studies indicate adverse effects upon fish and other aquatic life from antibiotics, anti-depressants, hormone supplements, anti-convulsants, and other medications found in the nation’s waterways. Concern arises about the potential for human health effects as well.
It would seem the problem has an easy solution: don’t throw unused drugs into waterways that could be used as drinking water sources. The connection, however, is not so obvious.
Pharmaceuticals thrown into trashcans will end up at landfills, where these drugs can eventually leach into the soil and end up in underground water sources.
Drugs that are flushed down sinks or toilets usually travel to a centralized treatment facility, but wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove such small concentrations. This means that these drug residues eventually make their way back into receiving waters where treated wastewater is discharged: lakes, rivers and other streams.
Many water treatment facilities have their intakes downstream from these points, potentially allowing untreated medications to get into drinking water systems.
All of those pills wind up on our medicine cupboard shelves in increasing numbers today. Rayburn cites a report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which indicates that almost half of all U.S. citizens use prescription drugs on a regular basis; and about one-third of these consumers use two or more drugs at a time.
With 121 tons of pills reportedly collected nationwide during the first-ever Drug Take-Back event in 2010, the threat to our drinking water sources is real.
“Fortunately, something can be done to keep pharmaceuticals from entering the drinking water and that is by participating in a Pharmaceutical Drug Take-Back Event,” says Rayburn.
Patton and Rayburn plan to participate in other Drug Take-Back events in the coming months, and it’s expected that the DEA could sponsor another nationwide collection this September.
“The Missouri Rural Water Association understands the importance of keeping these pharmaceuticals out of the waterways and the drinking water supplies,” Rayburn says. “It is important for all of us to take action on this matter.”
The MRWA provides diverse services to water and wastewater utilities in Missouri, including training, technical assistance, and specialized services such as source water protection guidance.
[Pictures of the April 30th event from some of the eight locations are available upon request.]
- more -
Contact:
Jim Patton or Brad Rayburn
Source Water Protection Specialist Source Water Protection Specialist
Missouri Rural Water Association Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive 573-300-8664 (cell)
573-657-5533 (office)
573-657-0533 (fax)
573-337-0053 (cell)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Puxico Named Best Tasting Water in Missouri!
Ashland, Missouri – April 26, 2011 – The City of Puxico in Stoddard County was determined to have the best tasting water in Missouri! Final judging occurred April 20, 2011, at the Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) Office in Ashland.
“The limestone rock has given the water of the City of Puxico a taste and water quality that many other cities wish they had,” explains Puxico Water Department Supervisor David Hawthorne.
The City of Puxico has two wells that serve its 450 customers. The older well has been serving the community since 1935. It is 550 feet deep. The second well came on line in 1981 with a depth of 905 feet. Extension of the newer well in 2003 brought this well’s depth to 1,405 feet. Both wells are drilled through limestone.
Puxico’s water sample competed against samples from the Village of Wardsville, Boone County Public Water Supply District (PWSD) Consolidated One, Jackson County PWSD Two, and Lowry City.
These were the finalists selected in March by the MRWA Board of Directors during the Association’s Annual Technical Conference and Trade Show in Branson.
Finalists submitted fresh water samples April 20th to determine the State winner.
The winning system was one of two finalists that had won top honors in the past. Puxico won the taste test in 2006, and Lowry City was last year’s winner.
The water taste test was held in conjunction with the MRWA Annual Open House. This event attracts water system personnel from around the State and members of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development.
Conducting the final judging of the taste test were the Honorable Mayor Mike Jackson of the City of Ashland, Steven Sturgess of the Missouri DNR Public Drinking Water Branch, and Tim Rickabaugh of the USDA Rural Development.
The blind taste test uses three criteria to determine a winner: clarity, bouquet and taste. Provided that there is no noticeable particulate matter or cloudiness and no objectionable odor in any of the samples, the ultimate determination is based upon taste. Judges use a 10-point scoring system to rank samples within each of these categories.
The winning system received a plaque in recognition of the honor and introduction on the Missouri Senate floor at the Capitol April 21st. Missouri Senator Robert Mayer introduced Hawthorne before his esteemed peers.
One representative from each water system in the finals was offered one night’s complimentary stay at a local hotel in preparation for the 22nd Annual Jefferson City Day April 21st. The MRWA gathers interested water system members at the State Capitol every year to inform them of pending legislation that could affect water or wastewater utilities and to invite them to meet and discuss the issues with their legislators.
The MRWA has requested Senate and House Resolutions to help make winning the taste test even more festive.
Other rewards for capturing the title of “Best Tasting Water in Missouri” include a free luncheon for water system members and elected officials of Puxico, courtesy of the MRWA; and selection of its water to represent the State of Missouri in the national taste test February 2012. That event is sponsored every year by the National Rural Water Association, of which the MRWA is an affiliate.
Puxico city officials take well deserved pride in how the drinking water system is maintained and in the fact that the water requires absolutely no treatment.
The MRWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving water and wastewater utilities through training and technical assistance. The Association also provides legislative oversight by employing a lobbyist at the State Capitol to help safeguard interests of these utilities. It provides specialized services, too, such as leak detection in water pipes, camera inspection of sewer lines, source water protection guidance, management and clerical assistance, and a wealth of resources.
[Picture captions: Taste Test Judging – from left to right, Steven Sturgess, Chief of the Public Drinking Water Branch, Missouri Department of Natural Resources; Honorable Mayor Mike Jackson, City of Ashland, Missouri; Tim Rickabaugh, Rural Development Specialist, USDA Rural Development; Best Tasting Water Plaque Award – in foreground from left to right, Puxico Water Department Supervisor David Hawthorne receives plaque from Missouri Rural Water Association Board of Directors President David Waller.]
Contact:
Tom Hyatt
Water Taste Test Coordinator
Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive
Ashland, MO 65010
573-783-1745 (cell)
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HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL APRIL 20, 2011
Prescription Drug Take-Back Event Ensures Environmentally Safe Disposal
Ashland, Missouri – March 29, 2011 – The Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) is helping coordinate a Prescription Drug Take-Back event at several locations from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2011.
Locations include Waynesville Price Cutters parking lot; St. Roberts Wal-mart parking lot and St. Roberts Community Center; Fort Leonard Wood Commissary and Post Exchange; Rolla Wal-mart parking lot; Houston Wal-mart parking lot; and Crocker Police Department.
Residents of these communities and the surrounding areas are encouraged to drop off expired medications, both prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
The MRWA is coordinating the event with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the 25th Judicial Circuit Court Juvenile Division, Fort Leonard Wood Military Police, and local law enforcement.
“Although medications are received from the pharmacies, the law prevents them from accepting an unused medication back after it has been issued to the patient,” says Bruce Russell, Chemical Surety SPC and Administrative Officer of the Preventive Medicine Division of General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital.
Increasing national awareness during the last several years has cast a spotlight upon the environmental impact from improper disposal of pharmaceuticals in landfills or by flushing them down the toilet.
The MRWA, which provides services to water and wastewater utilities in Missouri, has a vested interest in the issue. With two full-time employees dedicated to source water protection, the MRWA helps water systems establish methods for preventing contaminant entry into drinking water sources.
“When we work with a water system,” says MRWA Source Water Protection Specialist Jim Patton, “we help the system identify local sources of possible contamination, such as leaky chemical containers, agricultural runoff and transportation corridors.”
Pharmaceuticals cause a unique problem because of how they get into drinking water.
When prescription drugs are thrown away in trash receptacles, they find their way into a landfill. They can then leach into the ground and cause environmental problems as well as threaten groundwater sources used for drinking water.
Drugs that are flushed down sinks or toilets are often delivered through the wastewater system to a central treatment point. While treatment of sewage removes most contaminants, the concentration of pharmaceuticals is so small that it travels through the treatment process and enters lakes, streams and rivers.
Occurrence data indicate the detection of antibiotics, anti-depressants, veterinary drugs, birth control hormones and other drugs in waterways across the United States.
Research suggests that hormones found in pharmaceuticals may cause abnormalities in the reproductive cycles of fish. Antibiotics in the environment may also contribute to the development of drug resistant germs.
MRWA Source Water Protection Specialist Brad Rayburn summarizes his work with drinking water utilities. “The source water protection program is a voluntary state program and is a way for water supplies to aid in the protection of their most valuable resource, their water source.”
Rayburn adds to the list of potential contaminant sources of a public water supply: “underground petroleum tanks, private wells, and manufacturers’ products”.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency is researching the extent to which pharmaceuticals in our Nation’s waterways pose a threat to human health and the environment.
Meanwhile, the MRWA is taking no chances. Contaminants of any type are undesirable in drinking water.
“It is evident that these drugs are getting into our drinking water,” asserts Rayburn. “It is also evident that the only way to keep these harmful drugs out of our drinking water is to dispose of them properly.”
The Prescription Drug Take-Back is the second of its kind in the area. Last September’s drug take-back netted 15,000 pounds of unused medications in the Pulaski County area.
When it comes to prescription drugs, Rayburn states emphatically, “we know what could potentially contaminate our water source, and we also know how to prevent this type of contamination from occurring. Please, join us on April 30 to help in the protection of one of our most precious resources, the water we drink.”
The MRWA provides technical assistance, training, resources and specialized services, such as source water protection guidance, to water and wastewater utilities throughout Missouri.
- more -
Contact:
Jim Patton or Brad Rayburn
Source Water Protection Specialist Source Water Protection Specialist
Missouri Rural Water Association Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive 573-300-8664 (cell)
573-657-5533 (office)
573-657-0533 (fax)
573-337-0053 (cell)
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Best Tasting Drinking Water in Missouri Will be Determined Soon!
Ashland, Missouri – April 4, 2011 – The Great American Water Taste Test finals will be conducted April 20th at the Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) Office, 901 Richardson Drive, Ashland, Missouri 65010.
Final judging of the best tasting water in the State will be held in conjunction with the MRWA Annual Open House and Fish Fry from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Finalists were selected from samples representing diverse geographic areas in Missouri, from the Kansas City Metropolitan Area to the Boot Heel.
Those drinking water systems that will participate in the final judging are the Village of Wardsville in Cole County, Boone County Consolidated Public Water Supply District (PWSD) 1 officed in Columbia, Jackson County PWSD 2 out of Raytown, Lowry City in St. Clair County, and the City of Puxico in Stoddard County.
Puxico and Lowry City were statewide winners in 2006 and 2010 respectively.
The field of entries was narrowed to the five best water samples during preliminary judging March 23rd. The MRWA Board of Directors selected the finalists during a blind judging as part of the MRWA Technical Conference.
The MRWA Open House is usually attended by members of the USDA Rural Development, the agency that provides significant funding to water and wastewater systems each year for capital improvements and expansions; the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the agency that regulates these public utilities and also provides funding for major projects; and interested parties from water and wastewater utilities.
Also invited to this year’s event are the State Senator and the State Representative from each finalist’s district.
Besides bragging rights for the year, the winner receives member introductions on the Senate and the House floors of the State Capitol during the MRWA Jefferson City Day April 21st, a plaque recognizing the system as having the Best Tasting Water in Missouri for 2011, a complimentary luncheon courtesy of the MRWA, and selection as the Missouri representative system to submit a water sample to Washington, D.C., for the national level of the Great American Water Taste Test next February.
Lowry City landed a spot among the five finalists February 2011 in the National Rural Water Association taste test, competing against other states for the spotlight as the best tasting water in the nation.
The MRWA is hopeful that one of our state winners will be recognized nationwide as having the best water. Maybe it will be this year’s winner!
The annual taste test is one of the tools that the MRWA uses to reach beyond utility boundaries in order to broadcast its message to the general public. This type of competition reminds us all about the importance of drinking water in our lives and about the important role the water operator serves in safeguarding this resource for our use.
The MRWA is a non-profit, member-based organization. It provides technical services and training to water and wastewater systems in Missouri. To learn more about its many services, see the MRWA website at www.moruralwater.org.
Contact:
Tom Hyatt
Operator Certification Circuit Rider
Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive
Ashland, MO 65010
573-657-5533 (office)
573-657-0533 (fax)
573-783-1745 (cell)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Conference Awards go to Water and Wastewater Systems!
Ashland, Missouri – March 28, 2011 – Hundreds of representatives from Missouri water and wastewater utilities applauded colleagues for exemplary performance during an Awards Luncheon March 22, 2011.
The event was part of the Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) 45th Annual Technical Conference and Trade Show, conducted in Branson March 22 through March 24.
Awards for the previous calendar year were presented in several categories: Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Source Water Protection.
Also named were Associate Member of the Year, Cornell Scholarship recipient, State Video Contest winner, and finalists of the Great American Water Taste Test.
Accepting honors as the best Drinking Water System of 2010 was DeKalb County Public Water Supply District (PWSD) #1. The District’s office is located in Clarksdale, but its service area extends over six counties and includes five towns, with a total customer base exceeding 2,000. The system is currently upgrading its facilities to include improved water lines and the addition of a 250,000-gallon storage tank.
Nominees for the award this year included Callaway County PWSD #2 and Jasper County PWSD #1.
The City of Canton in northeast Missouri took top honors as Wastewater System of the Year. This year’s slate included lagoon-operated systems. While the tide seems to be turning toward mechanical plants in place of lagoons in many communities, Canton was recognized for its exceptional operation of its lagoon system and its environmental compliance.
The communities of Shelbyville and Wardsville also received nominations for this award.
Recognized for its work in Source Water Protection was the City of Willard in southwest Missouri. It protects its drinking water source from potential contaminants by educating its customers through a multi-media approach, using newspapers, radio and television announcements, and its own website. With the help of a grant, Willard plugged abandoned wells. It also maintains a monitoring well near a local school, which it uses as an educational tool for children.
Howell County PWSD #3 was the other nominee for this year’s award.
Mike Betts from the City of Lake Lafayette received the Cornell Scholarship, which provides the costs of full registration to the MRWA Annual Technical Conference and up to three nights’ lodging.
The Scholarship is awarded to an individual who expresses interest in improving knowledge and skills in the water or wastewater industry. Candidates come from small systems that might lack the financial resources to send someone to the conference.
Also considered for the Cornell Scholarship this year was Andy Bowman of Ellsinore.
Heath Hogan accepted the Associate Member of the Year Award for his company, Hogan’s, Incorporated, located in Van Buren. Hogan’s is a gold member of MRWA, participates in every conference held by the Association, and helps guarantee the success of such events.
Conferences blend training and fun under one roof. This year’s conference, held at the Branson Hilton Convention Center, offered more floor space than ever for exhibitors. Participants enjoyed nationally acclaimed speakers, good food, the opportunity to discuss particular needs with product and service providers, the chance to win prizes and raffle items, and even the privilege to vote for their favorite water-related video.
The second annual video contest invited high schools to compete for a $1,000 purse and a free pizza party for the winning class. High school students from across the State, representing regions as geographically distant as northwest Missouri and the Boot Heel, pooled talent within each school to produce one-minute videos about the importance of drinking water.
Prior to the conference, submissions were narrowed to the five videos that were judged the best. These five were aired repeatedly during the conference so that all attendees had the opportunity to vote for their favorite.
Tina-Avalon School, sponsored by Carroll County PWSD #1, was selected as having the best overall video.
The Great American Water Taste Test semi-finals were also conducted during the conference. All seven members of the MRWA Board of Directors conducted a blind taste test to determine the finalists.
The five finalists are the Village of Wardsville in Cole County, Boone County Consolidated PWSD #1, Jackson County PWSD #2, Lowry City in St. Clair County, and the City of Puxico in Stoddard County. Lowry City and Puxico were among four entries from previous winners of the taste test.
Final judging to determine a statewide winner will occur April 20, 2011, at the MRWA Office in Ashland during its annual Open House and Fish Fry.
The State winner receives a plaque, a free luncheon, floor introductions of water system members in the Senate and House of Representatives at the State Capitol, and selection to represent Missouri by sending its water sample to the National Rural Water Association’s nationwide taste test the following February.
The video contest and the water taste test help broaden recognition among the general public for the work performed by water utilities.
All awards are intended to foster deserving praise to utilities for their superior performance, to strengthen respect for those choosing careers in these professions, and to increase awareness about drinking water and wastewater services that sustain our nation’s high standard of living.
The MRWA is a non-profit organization providing onsite technical assistance; training; regulatory information; financial help; utility mapping; source water protection guidance; resources for decision makers and field staff; and legislative representation for public drinking water and wastewater systems.
Contact:
Tom Hyatt
Operator Certification Circuit Rider
Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive
Ashland, MO 65010
573-657-5533 (office)
573-657-0533 (fax)
573-783-1745 (cell)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Missouri Water and Wastewater Systems Nominated for Possible Awards!
Ashland, Missouri – March 2, 2011 – Drinking water and wastewater utilities provide essential services that help sustain our way of life, but they are rarely given any thought unless services are disrupted.
One organization does take notice. Every year, the Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) awards top performers among these utilities the recognition they deserve.
"Drinking water and wastewater systems carry the utmost responsibility for public health,” explains MRWA Deputy Executive Director Randy Norden. “Recognizing a job well done is important to foster better public awareness."
The Association has identified a list of nominees for Best System of the Year Awards for 2010 for drinking water and wastewater.
Nominees include Callaway County Public Water Supply District (PWSD) 2, DeKalb County PWSD 1 and Jasper County PWSD 1 for Water System of the Year. On the wastewater side, the nominees are the cities of Canton, Shelbyville and Wardsville.
There is also an award bestowed for Best Source Water Protection System of the Year. Candidates for this award include Howell County PWSD 3 and the City of Willard.
Finally, a scholarship is awarded a representative of a small utility. It provides up to three nights’ hotel accommodations and full registration for attending the MRWA Annual Technical Conference and Trade Show where award recipients are named. Cornell Scholarship nominees this year are Andy Bowman from Ellsinore and Mike Betts of Lake Lafayette.
Criteria for Water System of the Year include overall operations, financial responsibility, managerial effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and participation within the industry.
Each year, the award alternates between districts and municipalities.
The Wastewater System of the Year Award alternates between lagoon-operated systems and mechanical plants. This year’s nominees include systems that operate lagoons. Utilities nominated for the award demonstrate exceptional operations of their facilities and environmental compliance.
Protection of drinking water sources is important if we are to ensure bountiful supplies of water in the future. Measures to protect waterways and restrict land use in a well head area help prevent contaminant entry and lessen the need for expensive treatment processes. Systems that use community support to manage their water sources are potential candidates for this award.
Nominations are identified by the Association’s staff as well as water and wastewater utilities throughout the State. MRWA employees visit each nominated system to review an extensive list of performance criteria in order to determine the final recipient in each category.
Recipients will be announced during the MRWA 45th Annual Technical Conference and Trade Show at the Branson Convention Center during the Awards Luncheon March 22, 2011.
Norden describes this year’s extravaganza. “This year shall be a banner year with more to offer in the exhibit hall for attendees including additional vendors as well as more fun and prizes. This is our first year to offer a series of nationally acclaimed speakers who are experts in their fields. Not only drinking water and wastewater, but special sessions for boards and councils, managers, and those involved with emergency response.”
The three-day conference will culminate March 24th with the award of additional honors. The winner of the MRWA annual video contest and the five finalists of the annual Great American Water Taste Test will be named.
The video contest challenges high schools in Missouri to compete for a $1,000 winning prize by creating a brief video about drinking water. A specific theme is determined each year. Water and wastewater industry professionals attending the conference vote for their favorite video in a field that has been narrowed to the five best entries.
Water system representatives are urged to bring a sample of their drinking water and submit it when they arrive at the conference. Entries will vie for a spot among the top five semi-finalists. These systems will then submit another sample April 20th for final judging during the MRWA annual Open House at its Ashland office. This winner will boast “best tasting water in Missouri” for 2011.
The MRWA is a non-profit organization providing onsite technical assistance; training; regulatory information; financial help; utility mapping; source water protection guidance; resources for decision makers and field staff; and legislative representation for public drinking water and wastewater systems.
Contact:
Tom Hyatt
Operator Certification Circuit Rider
Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive
Ashland, MO 65010
573-657-5533 (office)
573-783-1745 (cell)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Lowry City’s Drinking Water Ranks Within Top Five in the Nation!
Ashland, Missouri – February 10, 2011 – Lowry City, Missouri, captured judges’ attention in nationwide water taste test semi-finals Tuesday, February 8, 2011, by landing the prestigious spot as one of the five finalists.
The Great American Water Taste Test, sponsored by the National Rural Water Association (NRWA), is held every year as part of the Association’s Rural Water Rally in Washington, D.C.
LowryCity was selected to compete against entries from across the Country by virtue of its selection as the best tasting water in Missouri during 2010. Judges awarded LowryCity top honors last March at the Annual Technical Conference and Trade Show conducted by Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA), an affiliate of the NRWA.
“It’s the first time Missouri has ever made it to the finals!” brags MRWA Executive Director John Hoagland. He was quick to communicate news home from the Nation’s Capitol after Tuesday’s semi-finals.
A lot has happened since March 2010 to cast a spotlight on the drinking water from LowryCity.
The town was recognized for its superior water through Missouri House and Senate Resolutions April of that year. Community officials received a plaque and complimentary luncheon, courtesy of the MRWA.
On July 15, 2010, the water became available to consumers outside the town’s limits with the birth of a new business, MO H2O. Owner Rebekah Frost made the decision to bottle the community’s untreated drinking water after its win of the statewide taste test.
"It was an honor to be selected the best tasting water in the State of Missouri; so to be in the top five in the Nation is incredible,” says Lowry City Mayor John Neuenschwander. “I would like to thank Missouri Rural Water Association for their assistance in making this come about."
The winners of the national taste test during the finals Wednesday, February 9, 2011, were Central Iowa Water Association, taking the Gold Medal Award; the City of Pocomoke, Maryland, accepted the Silver Medal; and the McNulty Water Public Utility District in Oregon received the Bronze Medal. Water from Stanley, Virginia, represented the other semi-finalist.
The MRWA conducts its water taste test each spring. This year’s five semi-finalists will be chosen at the Annual Technical Conference in Branson March 22-24 and announced during the closing session.
The State winner will be determined April 20th at the MRWA Annual Open House and Fish Fry at the Association’s Ashland Office. Semi-finalists will submit a second water sample for the finals, where judges from various agencies will select the best of the best.
Judges usually represent the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, The United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
State Representatives and Senators for the finalists will be invited to witness the final judging.
The winner will be provided one free hotel room and registration for the next day’s annual Jefferson City Day. The plan is to introduce officials from the winning system on both floors of Congress at the State Capitol.
As a provider of technical assistance and training for drinking water systems across the State, the MRWA takes this opportunity to showcase the excellent water quality that is found in Missouri.
The intent of such an event is twofold: to raise awareness of the vital resource that drinking water is in sustaining our lives and supporting this Nation’s high standard of living; and to promote appreciation for drinking water operators who work tirelessly to ensure the quality of our water.
The MRWA is a non-profit organization that provides diverse services to drinking water and wastewater systems in Missouri. For more information about the Association or its services, visit www.moruralwater.org.
Contact:
Tom Hyatt
State Water Taste Test Coordinator
Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive
Ashland, MO65010
573-783-1745 (cell)
thyatt@moruralwater.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
State Water Taste Test Changes for 2011!
Ashland, Missouri – January 7, 2011 – The Great American Water Taste Test, sponsored by the Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA), will change a little this year.
Competing drinking water systems from across the State of Missouri will still be invited to submit their entries at the MRWA Annual Technical Conference and Trade Show in March. The difference will be where and when the final winner is determined.
The Conference will provide the staging for the semi-finals of the water taste test, which will narrow the field to five finalists. These finalists will be announced during the closing session of the conference.
Each finalist will be asked to submit a second drinking water sample April 20, 2011, at the MRWA Open House and Fish Fry, when final judging will decree a winner as the best tasting water in the State.
State Representatives and Senators for each finalist will be invited to the Open House to witness the taste test judging.
One representative from each of the five water systems in the finals will receive a free night’s stay at the Double Tree Hotel in Jefferson City during the night of the Open House, courtesy of the MRWA. The MRWA will also provide a free registration to each finalist for the annual MRWA Jefferson City Day April 21, 2011.
Some of the many benefits of winning the taste test occur immediately, and others take place over time.
The MRWA offers special recognition of the winning system before a crowd of water industry colleagues during the Jefferson City Day breakfast, held at the Double Tree Hotel.
The State Representative and the Senator for that system are urged to participate, with a request that they provide official introductions of members from the winning system on their respective floors. This, too, occurs during Jefferson City Day.
Afterward, a plaque will be presented to the winner declaring it the “Best Tasting Water in Missouri for 2011”, presented at a luncheon at the MRWA expense.
The winning system is encouraged to spread news of its achievement through local media sources, its own newsletter or bill insert, and other methods to promote appreciation for its water quality and the services of its drinking water operators.
Finally, the winning system will submit a water sample to Washington, D.C., during the following February for judging at the Great American Water Taste Test, sponsored by the National Rural Water Association, of which the MRWA is an affiliate.
The services of the Missouri Rural Water Association, dedicated to water and wastewater utilities throughout Missouri, are varied.
These services include, among other things, technical and regulatory assistance; training; managerial and source water protection guidance; legislative representation; and specialty services, such as utility mapping, water line leak detection, wastewater system smoke testing and camera inspection, and energy conservation help.
The Annual Technical Conference March 22nd through March 24th is an example of the Association’s commitment to training. This year’s event will be held at the HiltonBransonConvention Center.
The event will combine nationally acclaimed speakers, with tracks dedicated to water, wastewater, management and emergency preparedness; a spacious exhibit hall with live demonstrations of water industry equipment; and even Nascar simulators to further capture the enthusiasm of participants.
Such events typically involve lots of fun activities, such as a scavenger hunt and prizes galore, in conjunction with formal training. “Participants seem to appreciate a balance between the light-hearted atmosphere and the serious topics,” says MRWA Executive Director John Hoagland.
The annual MRWA Jefferson City Day, held April 21st this year, provides the opportunity for the MRWA to makes its presence known at the State Capitol in a highly visible manner.
Interested participants from water and wastewater utilities gather for a breakfast briefing prior to descending upon the Capitol. This is when they hear the latest details about House and Senate bills being proposed as legislation; learn of revisions in the written language; discover how such bills could affect their utilities; and find out the Association’s stance on each.
To help interpret the language and keep apprised of proposed laws affecting the water or wastewater industries, the MRWA employs a lobbyist. It also has an active Legislative Committee that provides valuable insight and guidance.
Utility members then visit the offices of their Representatives and Senators to voice their support or opposition to these bills.
The MRWA’s diligence in the democratic process helps ensure that final legislation is favorable or, at least not detrimental, to these utilities’ best interests.
Additional information and resources can be found at the Missouri Rural Water Association’s Website at www.moruralwater.org.
Contact:
Tom Hyatt
Operator Certification Circuit Rider
Missouri Rural Water Association
901 Richardson Drive
Ashland, MO65010
573-783-1745 (cell)
thyatt@moruralwater.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Missouri Rural Water Association Receives National Awards!
The MRWA also received a merit plaque for excellence for its electronic newsletter.
The printed newsletter receiving national accolades is the “Water Lines Extension”, a quarterly update of events in Missouri, regulatory guidelines, legislative news affecting water and wastewater utilities, and training and other activities sponsored by the State Association.
The electronic newsletter (E.update) comes to subscribers across the State to remind them of timely milestones and upcoming opportunities.
The NRWA offers a variety of awards at its annual event. The Missouri Association took three awards last year: for excellence with its Website and its printed and electronic newsletters.
The NRWA boasts more members across the nation than any other organization of its kind, with nearly 27,000 utilities in its fold. Among other services, the NRWA takes an active role in providing information to federal agencies regarding the impact to small water and wastewater systems from proposed regulations.
In Missouri, the MRWA offers similar service by providing a lobbyist at the State Capitol to oversee proposed legislation that could have adverse effects to these utilities.
The MRWA offers many more services, including training, technical assistance, utility mapping, source water protection guidance, board and council education, hands-on help toward more efficient operations or regulatory compliance, several in-state conferences, and office professional certification.
Member systems are typically municipalities and water or sewer districts. However, schools, home owners’ associations, mobile home parks, nursing homes, commercial establishments and other entities find value in membership in the State’s leading resource for water and wastewater utilities.
Contact:
Tom Hyatt
Missouri Rural Water Association
573-783-1745 (cell) or thyatt@moruralwater.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Required Skills and Assistance for Water and Wastewater Operations
With the 1996 revisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency has placed increasing emphasis upon capacity development, which is composed of three areas of concern that ultimately affect the entire water system operation: technical, managerial and financial.
Much of what has already been listed falls within technical capacity. It means the sustained ability to deliver drinking water to customers from an operational vantage. In other words, operators are to practice proactive (preventive) maintenance to ensure that the system obtains the maximum service life from all of its components. Another issue that falls within this category is emergency or disaster preparedness. If an operator fails to prepare for the consequences of possible emergency situations, the water system could become disabled during such an event. This would result in a lack of water capacity to meet the needs of its customers, a circumstance that in itself would constitute an emergency.
Managerial capacity refers to an effective chain-of-command within the organization, proper record keeping and timely submission of required reports.
It is closely tied to financial capacity. Water systems are ideally supposed to establish rates that recover the full costs of operation. This full-cost accountability isn’t limited to operations and maintenance: wages, benefits, professional services, insurance, vehicles, fuel, utilities, spare parts, tools, etc. It is meant to include separate, set-aside accounts, too: an emergency fund for unexpected breakdowns; a repair and replacement fund for anticipated maintenance or retirement of aging equipment; and a capital improvement fund for future development (new treatment facility, extension of water lines, etc.). Additionally, lenders usually require a debt reserve for any outstanding balances.
These expectations add to the list of skills that an operator must possess in order to capably run a water utility.
Depending upon the size and complexity of the utility, managerial and financial duties can be shared by the clerk in charge, sometimes a city clerk or billing specialist. This person lends assistance in analyzing the water rates to determine if they are adequate for meeting the system’s needs. Admittedly, neither the operator in charge nor the clerk is usually a professed financial expert and has limited experience with this process, at best.
Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) is a member-based, non-profit service organization within the water and wastewater industry, which serves the needs of “rural” Missouri, including municipalities, counties, districts, schools and privately owned water and wastewater supplies. These systems typically serve fewer than 10,000 people, although MRWA has capabilities for serving larger systems as well.
The Association is about to launch a management circuit rider program dedicated to the specific needs of locally elected officials at these utilities: water district boards and city council members. The focus of this program is to educate these decision makers about the many regulations that affect water and wastewater systems and how these details directly relate to their respective systems; and provide information regarding the state’s Sunshine Law, also known as the “Open Meetings Law”.
Another new service from MRWA stems from the recognition that not all of the state is equal. Far from the central hub of Missouri, in Columbia and Jefferson City, are the water and wastewater systems located in the far southeast portion of the state. These entities can easily be overlooked when planning training events and conferences, but their certified operators require continuing education credits just the same as their counterparts in the rest of the state. Unfortunately, many of them aren’t authorized to attend such events in central Missouri. Today, with current fuel costs, this would place an even bigger burden on such systems. To address this issue, MRWA will sponsor its first, annual “Boot Heel Expo” August 19 and 20, 2008, located in Sikeston, Missouri.
A readily accessible method for providing valuable resources to these systems is the MRWA Web site: www.moruralwater.org Significant improvements now provide additional features: capabilities for credit/debit card purchases of fee-based services; a Web page development service for systems or individuals; easy navigation for locating topics of interest; and an expanded list of resources for every need imaginable.
Existing services that MRWA offers are one-day training classes and multi-day certification courses for both water and wastewater; leak detection; valve locates; pressure surveys; static, dynamic and drawdown level determinations for wells; GIS mapping of underground utilities; smoke testing of wastewater lines; technical assistance and troubleshooting for water and wastewater systems; and regulatory compliance and source water protection assistance.
Yes, the skills necessary to operate, manage and finance water or wastewater utilities are many; but achieving this level of expertise is easy when a system partners with Missouri Rural Water Association.
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