1. Effectively Managing Your Water/Wastewater System Rural Community Assistance Partnership Practical solutions for improving rural communities © 2013 All rights reserved. Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc. This presentation may not be used in any for-profit venture without permission from RCAP, Inc.

2. Western RCAP Rural Community Assistance Corporation (916) 447-2854 www.rcac.org Midwest RCAP Midwest Assistance Program (952) 758-4334 www.map-inc.org Southern RCAP Community Resource Group (479) 443-2700 www.crg.org Northeast RCAP RCAP Solutions (800) 488-1969 www.rcapsolutions.org Great Lakes RCAP WSOS Community Action Commission (800) 775-9767 www.glrcap.org Southeast RCAP Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (866) 928-3731 www.southeastrcap.org Rural RCAP National Office 1701 K St. NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20006 (800) 321-7227 www.rcap.org | info@rcap.org Community Assistance Practical solutions for improving rural communities Partnership This training was created by

3. What are effective management practices?  Also known as best management practices (BMP)  Methods or techniques widely understood to be the most effective and practical means in achieving an objective (such as treating water or wastewater) while making the optimum use of the resources of a system  Doing your best with what you have

4.  Written operation & maintenance (O&M) manuals –Standard operating procedures (SOPs)  Benchmarking programs  Plans for operator training, retention, and recruitment  Tools to assure financial sustainability, including asset management, viable rates, and integrated planning and budgeting Effective management practices include:

5.  Written O&M manuals  Benchmarking program  Employ trained operators  Assure financial sustainability Effective management practices

6.  Operational O&M manuals describe how to run the system normally and in times of emergency.  System O&M manuals describe how to run the business side of the water or wastewater system. Two types of O&M manuals

7.  System identification page –System’s name –Owner’s name(s) –Address(es) –Physical location –Phone number(s) –Design flow capacity –Type of treatment –Water source Operational O&M manual

8.  Source water  Description of type of treatment  Principal design criteria  Flow diagram  Analysis of hydraulic capacity  Pumping stations  Storage tanks  Distribution system map  Public Water System Identification Database (PWSID) information Water system design elements

9.  Collections system maps  Description of treatment  Principal design criteria  Flow diagrams  Hydraulic analysis  Pumping station locations  Where water is returned to the environment  Sludge removal, processing and disposal Wastewater system design elements

10.  Written standard operating procedures (SOPs)  Vulnerability assessment (VA)  Written emergency operating procedures (EOPs) and emergency response plans (ERPs) –personnel assignments –chain of command –emergency equipment inventory –emergency phone numbers –copies of WARNs and EMACs Common to water and wastewater systems

11.  Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) voluntary agreements are meant for systems within a state’s boundaries.  Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) voluntary agreements are meant for systems that offer help across state boundaries.  WARN and EMAC are discussed later in this presentation. Common to water and wastewater systems

12.  Check water meter readings, and record water production  Inspect chemical feed pumps  Check chemical solution tanks, and record amount of chemical used  Record water level in storage tanks  Record chlorine residual at application point and in distribution system  Record turbidity (if applicable)  Inspect booster pump stations (if applicable) Water system SOPs: Daily

13.  Record fluoride concentration in distribution system (if applicable)  Record well pump running times and cycle starts (if applicable)  Check instrumentation for proper signal input and output  Investigate customer complaints  Complete a daily security check  Inspect heater operation during winter months  Inspect well pumps, motors and controls (if applicable) Water system SOPs: Daily (cont’d)

14.  Inspect chlorine and fluoride testing equipment (if applicable)  Clean buildings and grounds and make sure fire hydrants are accessible  Record pumping rate for each well or source water pump  Conduct security check Water system SOPs: Weekly

15.  Read and record electric meter values  Take appropriate monthly water-quality samples  Check and record static and pumping levels of each well (if applicable)  Read all customer meters and compare with total water produced  Inspect well heads (if applicable)  Lubricate locks  Compare on-site readings with lab results  Confirm submission of monthly reports Water system SOPs: Monthly

16.  Sampling locations, time, and methods  Collection procedures  Preservation requirements  Safety precautions  How to interpret laboratory results and use the results to improve the process  What should be in laboratory supply and chemicals inventory Laboratory information

17.  Recommended laboratory equipment, supplies, chemicals and a list of laboratory references  Instructions for completing worksheets (include examples and sample worksheets)  For tests to be performed by certified laboratories –name of the laboratory –contact person –telephone number –shipping procedures –method of requesting sample pick-up or schedule for sample pickups Laboratory information (cont’d)

18.  Operational O&M manuals tell how to run the _______ normally and in _______.  True or false? Design basis of the system should be included in an operational O&M manual.  What is the difference between a WARN and an EMAC? Let’s review: Operational O&M manuals

19.  Why is a written chain of command important?  Why should example sampling sheets be included in your operational O&M manual?  How does your system’s operational O&M manual compare normal operation with emergency operation? Let’s review: Operational O&M manuals

20.  Asset-management plan  Preventive-maintenance plan  Vulnerability assessment (VA)  Emergency-response plan (ERP) System O&M manual

21.  Effectively manage land, structures, equipment, software, and other assets of the system in order to use your limited finances on them wisely  Incorporates –Expected lifetime of asset –Planned savings for repair/replacement/upgrade –Scheduled maintenance –Performance measurements Asset-management plan

22.  Call 800/426-4791 and request EPA 816-R-03-016  Go to www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsys/ssinfo.htm EPA STEP Guide for Asset Management

23. Asset-Management Tool for Small Utilities  Free, CD-based, stand-alone AM tool  For utilities serving fewer than 3,300 population  Based on successful STEP Guides  www.epa.gov/cupss CUPSS: Check-Up Program for Small Systems

24.  A plan of regularly scheduled repair and replacement of equipment parts that wear out in order to avoid emergency repairs or failure of service.  Includes –Scheduling inspections –Detecting necessity of repair/replacement –Performing repair/replacement Preventive Maintenance Plan

25.  Discover which emergencies are most likely to affect your system  Discover which assets are the most important to providing service  Discover which assets are the most vulnerable to damage or disruption during an emergency Vulnerability assessment

26.  Rank the annual likelihood of emergency from 1 to 10 (10 is the most likely) for RISK  Rank the damage to the equipment from 1 to 10 (10 is complete loss) for DAMAGE  Rank the importance of equipment or treatment from 1 to 10 (10 is most important) for CRITICALITY  RISK x DAMAGE x CRITICALITY = RANKING  Highest ranking = most vulnerable Vulnerability Assessment (cont’d)

27. Setting priorities with a risk matrix

28.  Once VA is completed for every piece of equipment, plan to mitigate damage from emergencies  Use ranking to prioritize which equipment is addressed first  Use ranking to budget for mitigation  Review VA annually at a minimum Vulnerability assessment (cont’d)

29. Basic elements –Know the information about your system –Establish roles and responsibilities –Establish and use communications procedures –Make sure your personnel are as safe as possible –Identify alternative water sources –Plan for replacement equipment and chemical supplies –Protect your system’s property –Perform water sampling and monitoring Emergency-response plan

30.  Join a WARN (Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network) for assistance within state boundaries  Establish an EMAC (Emergency Management Assistance Compact) for assistance across state boundaries  Evaluate the plan at least annually by using a simulated emergency on at least a tabletop scale  If there are problems with the plan, fix it and test it again Emergency-response plan (cont’d)

31.  Asset management includes recording the asset’s expected _____, planned savings for _____, preventive _____, and _____ measurements.  Why is preventive maintenance important?  Ranking the most vulnerable piece of equipment or portion of your system helps you _____ damage and _____ for budgeting. Let’s review: System O&M manual

32.  ERP is the abbreviation for _____.  (Any) Four of the eight elements of an ERP are _____, _____, _____, and _____.  What is the purpose of reviewing an ERP annually? Let’s review: System O&M manual

33.  Written O&M manuals  Benchmarking program  Employ trained operator(s)  Assure financial sustainability Effective management practices

34.  A benchmarking program is the process of determining who is the very best, who sets the standard, and what that standard is.  Benchmarking allows you to compare your system with others, to identify comparative strengths and weaknesses, and learn how to improve.  Benchmarking is a way of finding and adopting the most effective practices. Benchmarking program

35.  Written O&M manuals  Benchmarking program  Employ trained operators  Assure financial sustainability Effective management practices

36.  Requirements for training and certification  Should have training for other parts of their jobs  Support your current operator(s) but have a succession plan in place Employ trained operator(s)

37.  Written O&M manuals  Benchmarking program  Employ trained operators  Assure financial sustainability Effective management practices

38. Major components of financial management  Budget  Budget reports and monitoring  Rate setting  Asset management  Strategic planning

39. 39 Budget requirements  Annual operating expenses  Annual reserves  Annual revenue  Revenues should cover expenses (including reserves)  Use the past to predict the future

40. Creating a budget 1.Estimate annual operating expenses. 2.Include setting aside reserves. 3.Estimate revenues. 4.Balance the budget.

41.  Visit the RCAP website at www.rcap.org –Library of resources –Links to other helpful tools and organizations –Publications (magazine and email newsletter)  [Trainer’s name and contact info here] More assistance for small communities