NDWAC Small Systems Group - April 10, 2000
National Drinking Water Advisory Council Small System
Implementation Working Group
April 10, 2000
I. Welcome
John Scheltens welcomed everyone and started the call by explaining that he
would be filling in for Peter Shanaghan (EPA Headquarters) as the facilitator.
John then took a roll call and stated that the goals for the call were to
review and take comments on the structure, format, and substance of the draft
Report of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council Small Systems
Implementation Working Group.
II. Structure and Format
There was a general consensus that the structure and the format of the paper
accurately displayed the deliberations and conclusions of the Working Group.
Many members found the tables at the end of the report very useful.
Bridget O'Grady (ASDWA) requested that the Working Group consider
delineating those recommendations that pertain to the drinking water primacy
program from those that pertain to the State government. The Working Group
generally agreed with Ms. O'Grady's comments but explained that the
recommendations generally were not targeted toward a specific State Agency
because the regulatory process and division of responsibility among agencies
differ across States. Given this, the Working Group felt the recommendations
should be presented in such a way that implementation responsibility and
process are left up to the States. The Working Group agreed to make this point
explicitly in the Report.
III. Substance
John Scheltens led the Working Group through a review of the findings,
conclusions, and recommendations for each strategic option.
1. Water System Capacity Development
The Working Group adopted by consensus the content of the Water System
Capacity Development section of the draft Report.
2. Public Awareness and Education
One member commented that in Conclusion 2A, language should be added
reflecting the need to involve the public in the design of public awareness
campaigns. The Working Group agreed to this change by consensus. The Working
Group also agreed to delete the word "tripartite."
With the addition of the changes noted above, the Working Group adopted by
consensus the content of the Public Awareness and Education section of the
draft Report.
3. Water System Governance
Bridget O'Grady suggested removing penalty forgiveness as an incentive for
participation in board-member training (Recommendation 3.9) because she felt
the concept runs counter to the direction currently being taken in several
States. She offered a revision: "States should consider providing incentives
for participation in board-member training. Examples include financial
assistance and opportunities to improve performance and compliance rates
through training and education." The Working Group agreed by consensus to
change the language of Recommendation 3.9 based on Ms. O'Grady's suggestion.
Further revisions may be made to the language.
With the addition of the changes noted above, the Working Group adopted by
consensus the content of the Water System Governance section of the draft
Report.
4. Water System Organization
The Working Group adopted by consensus the content of the Water System
Organization section of the draft Report.
5. Water Service Costs and Affordability
The Working Group discussed several potential changes to the text of
Recommendation 5.9 to reflect a broader need for a dedicated fund. The Working
Group agreed by consensus to revise Recommendation 5.9 by deleting the phrase
"and targeted to the unique needs of small systems." The Working Group agreed
that this concept was better addressed in the section concerning Unsustainable
Water Systems.
With the addition of the changes noted above, the Working Group adopted by
consensus the content of the Water Service Costs and Affordability section of
the draft Report.
Conference Call Participants
- Kevin Brown - Director of the Division of Drinking Water, Utah Dept. of
Environmental Quality. (ASDWA)
- Jim Dunlap - Owner, John Deere Dealership. National Rural Water Association
(NWRA)
- Andrea Griese - Drinking Water Program, South Dakota Department of
Environment and Natural Resources. (ASDWA)
- J.W. Hellums, Jr. - Operations/Management Specialist, Community Resource
Group. (RCAP)
- Leon Jacobs, Jr. - Commissioner, Florida Public Service Commission.
(NARUC)
- Kirk Leifheit - Ohio EPA, Division of Drinking & Ground Waters.
(ASDWA)
- John Scheltens - City Engineer, City of Hot Springs, South Dakota.
(NDWAC)
- David R. Siburg - Manager, Public Utilities District (PUD) #1 of Kitsap
County, Washington. American Water Works Association. (AWWA)
- Michael Walsh - President, Shorelands Water. (NAWC)
- Bob Wendelgass - Pennsylvania State Director, Clean Water Action.
(CWA)
- Joshua Joseph - EPA Headquarters
- Mark Mazzola - EPA Headquarters
- Deborah McCray - EPA Headquarters
- Janice Beecher - The Cadmus Group
- Ian Kline - The Cadmus Group
- Suzanne Moore -The Cadmus Group
- Bridget O'Grady -Association of State Drinking Water Administrators
(ASDWA)
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