Free Information Available about Drinking Water Products
The National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (NDWC) has released its new catalog of free resources for those with an interest in drinking water issues. The "NDWC Products Catalog" includes educational materials of all types from universities, regulators, and nonprofit groups. Materials are expected to interest everyone from water system operators, small community leaders, and the general public. Copies of the catalog are available by calling (800) 624-8301, (304) 293-4191, or writing to P.O. Box 6064, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6064. Order online at ndwc_orders@mail.nesc.wvu.edu.
Free Technical Assistance Available for Public Wastewater Facilities in North Carolina
The Municipal Compliance Initiative (MCI) offers communities the chance to stay in compliance with water quality permits before action is taken against wastewater facilities. The MCI review includes a facility analysis, infiltration/inflow report, O&M review, budget and user charge analysis, and a written evaluation of areas that are slipping out of compliance. In selected communities, local officials work with a team of engineers and operations experts to review public wastewater treatment facilities. By participating in the MCI evaluation and implementing its recommendations, local officials should be able to resolve operational problems so their wastewater facilities remain compliant. Any facility that goes through an evaluation but later needs an upgrade or expansion may receive additional priority points in the competition for loans from the State Revolving Fund. If construction is needed, the community will be expected to retain consulting engineers for a more detailed evaluation of facilities. MCI is a free service of the Construction Grants and Loans Section of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Visit the Municipal Compliance Initiative's Web site to find out if the program is right for your community.
Guide to Safe Drinking Water Regulations for Small Systems
The Environmental Protection Agency has released the Small Systems Guide to Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations, a resource on drinking water regulations for small community systems. The booklet reviews why compliance is important, how current and upcoming rules affect water supply systems, and includes a short list of technical and financial resources. This resource is particularly suited for board members or local elected officials who are responsible for managing public water systems. To download the guide, and others targeted to small community utility systems, go to the Office of Water's Small Systems Information and Guidance page and look for "Information about Small Systems." Printed copies can be obtained by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. (Reference Document Number EPA 816-R-03-017).
Local Government Environmental Assistance Network
LGEAN is a "first-stop shop" providing environmental management, planning, and regulatory information for local government officials, managers, and staff. Its Web site includes interactive tools, information on topical issues, funding and grant opportunities, publications, and legislative
and regulatory information.
National Association of Counties
NACo serves as an advocate for county governments and provides legislative, research, and technical services. National Association of Development Organizations
NADO is an advocate for regional development organizations in small metropolitan and rural America.
National Association of Regional Councils
NARC is a nonprofit membership organization serving the interests of regional councils and metropolitan planning organizations. National Association of Towns and Townships
NATaT advocates for flexible and alternative approaches to federal policies to ensure that small communities can meet federal requirements.
National Center for Small Communities
NCSC is a national nonprofit organization serving the leaders of America's smaller communities. The site includes information about NCSC guidebooks on small-town issues and concerns.
National Environmental Services Center
NESC at West Virginia University is a clearinghouse for information about drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste management and environmental training in communities serving fewer than 10,000 individuals. The four NESC centers (listed below) provide training materials, resource guides, research assistance, and periodicals at no or low cost.
National Rural Water Association
The association is a nonprofit federation of state rural water associations offering training programs and on-site assistance in areas of operation, maintenance, finance, and governance. It is continuing to ask for federal dollars to help small communities deal with drinking water security issues.
Online WaterWatch
The U.S Geological Survey's WaterWatch Web site tracks the stream flow of the nation's rivers in real time. Users can track high flood-flows and low drought-flows on more than 3,000 streams, and find current and historical information about the water quality and condition of their hometown streams.
Self-Evaluation Toolkit for Small Water Systems
A self-evaluation toolkit for small water system operators is now available from the Maryland Center for Environmental Training. The toolkit is designed to provide the administrators of small local governments and the managers of small public drinking water systems with the tools necessary to learn about the water systems for which they are responsible and, in turn, be able to respond more effectively to the challenges they face. Components include:
- "Drinking Water and Wastewater Handbook for Local Officials";
- "Water System Self-Evaluation: A Tool For Getting to Know Your Water System"; and
- A video entitled "Staying Ahead of the Curve: How well do you know your water system?"
To download toolkit documents or receive copies in the mail, go to:
www.mcet.org
Rural Community Assistance Program
RCAP is a national network of rural development professionals providing on-site and technical assistance services and training related to rural drinking water and wastewater treatment, housing, economic development, comprehensive community assessment and planning, and compliance with environmental regulations.
Free Septic System Outreach Materials, Customized for Local Use
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering free public education materials on septic system management that can be customized for use by local communities. The materials include a "Homeowners Guide to Septic Systems," a checklist for septic system users, and other pamphlets, posters, and bill stuffers that can help address local wastewater issues. A CD kit can be used to create customized versions of the materials, which contain space for communities to add local information. To view samples, and to find out how to order the CD or copies of the materials, go to the EPA's Web site.
Free software to analyze the financial health of municipal water and sewer systems
Though Show-Me Ratemaker was created by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, local governments anywhere can use the software to look at the effects of rate changes, support grant and loan applications, and illustrate complex financial conditions with easy-to-understand tables and charts.
For more information, see www.lgean.org or
download the software from the Missouri state site. Stream Corridor Protection Strategies
The Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of Virginia has released a manual of tools and strategies for protecting stream corridors. Though it would be useful to citizens, planners, engineers, and local government officials everywhere, the guide is targeted to communities in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, which covers much of Appalachian New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. For more information, or to download the guide in PDF format, go to the University of Virginia's Web site.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help conserve, maintain, and improve natural resources and the environment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA details the agency's extensive brownfields redevelopment efforts.
State Environmental Agencies
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