IN_NewsLeaks_Winter2024_issuu

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P.O. Box 127 Brownsburg, IN 46112 Office: 866-213-2796 Fax: 866-215-5966

2024-2025 Board of Trustees

CHAIR Cathy Lance 574-850-4561 cathy.lance@peerlessmidwest.com

CHAIR ELECT Neal McKee 765-648-6420 ext. 4402 nmckee@cityofanderson.com

VICE CHAIR Chris Johnsen 219-221-3916 cjohnsen@mcwaterdept.com

PAST CHAIR Jaimie Foreman 317-571-4144 jforeman@carmel.in.gov

DIRECTOR Ed Nugent 317-501-0956 ednugent@utilitysupply.com

SECRETARY-TREASURER Larry McIntosh 812-358-3654 manager@jacksoncountywater.com

ASSISTANT SECRETARY-TREASURER Josh Castor 765-617-6721 jcastor@cityofanderson.com

TRUSTEE – SMALL SYSTEM NORTH Justin Shaffer 260-692-6909 jshaffer@townofmonroe.com

TRUSTEE – NORTHWEST DISTRICT Cara Lance-Emerick (Acting) 800-255-1521 caral@mesimpson.com

TRUSTEE – NORTHEAST DISTRICT Chad Plummer 574-274-1736 chad.plummer@peerlessmidwest.com

TRUSTEE – CENTRAL DISTRICT Amanda Canida 248-895-1740 canidaa@bv.com

TRUSTEE – SMALL SYSTEM SOUTH Bill Jones 812-350-3560 bjones@edinburgh.in.us

TRUSTEE – SOUTHWEST DISTRICT Jon Craig 812-296-0103 jcraig@midwesterneng.com

TRUSTEE – SOUTHEAST DISTRICT Donna Ennis (Acting) 502-612-2939 donna@dcdevelopco.com

Message from the Chair

Looking Forward to 2025 and Beyond

As we wrapped up 2024 with the Water Institute & Equipment Expo, it was a pleasure to connect with so many of our peers across the state for a few days of collaboration and conversation. This event reminded me of the vital role we all play in sustaining Indiana’s water and wastewater systems. Whether we’re part of utility boards, utility operations, service providers, or other key stakeholders, we are united in our efforts to share ideas, exchange information, and tell the stories of our communities. I’m honored to be one of the voices in this important water community, and I want to thank everyone who contributes to our shared cause. Together, We Are The Voice For Indiana Water!

A special thank you to the sponsors and exhibitors who support the Indiana Section, AWWA. We had 69 booths and four expo vendors this year, and I want to recognize the MAC (Manufacturers

Associates Committee) for their critical role in making the Exhibit Hall such a success. It was a great place to gather, network, and catch up with friends in the industry. With 580 attendees, it was an informative and engaging conference!

Exciting news: the INAWWA website is being revamped, and we aim to complete it by the end of February. We look forward to receiving feedback from members and committees to refine and improve it after launch. Please feel free to share any ideas to help keep it fresh and useful for all.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the INAWWA Annual Conference, which will take place April 21-24 in downtown Indianapolis. Scott Dompke, our Technical Program Committee Chair, is already working hard to gather abstracts for the presentations. The MAC is busy with logistics and exhibit booth sales, and the staff is preparing the website for online registrations, along with many other exciting features!

Congratulations to this year’s Operator of the Year awardees:

• Chad Colby of Rossville –Small Systems, Water

• Tim Crawford of Charlestown –Small Systems, Wastewater

• Joe Werner –Large Systems, Wastewater It was truly a pleasure to congratulate these outstanding professionals for their dedication to the water industry!

Operator of the Year – Chad Colby
Operator of the Year – Joe Werner
Operator of the Year – Tim Crawford

Message from the Chair

We also want to celebrate the recipients of the Gamble Endowment Fund Awards:

• Elijah Banta – Bargersville

• Andrew Boden – Bloomington

• Bryce Brosmer – Jasper

• Brad Elkins – Bloomington

• Kevin Housel – Bloomington

• Robert Brian Krebbs –Indiana University

• Chris Whitaker – Edinburgh

Finally, big congratulations to the winners of the Meter Challenge and Hydrant Hysteria! Tom Wolf from Evansville took home the Meter Challenge honors, while the Glitter Kittens from Fort Wayne, coached by Veronica Hoy, won the Hydrant Hysteria. The team included Pete Hoy and Ross Gillespie – great job all around!

Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and made this conference a success. I look forward to continuing our work together in 2025 and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and made this conference a success.

Gambold Education Fund Awardee – Brad Elkins
Gambold Education Fund Awardees Group

Represent Our Hoosier Values!

Iwanted to give a quick thank you to all who attended the Water Institute Conference in French Lick this past December. It was a very well-attended show with some interesting topics being discussed.

The American Water Works Association is constantly working for its members either with EPA over lead and copper legislation and PFAS designations or with State Agencies to help inform and guide them in their decision-making processes.

The AWWA Standards Committee is always working and evaluating new products for specification approval and recommendations. This particular group is very active in keeping the AWWA standard and specifications up to date and relevant. They do a tremendous job and welcome any input you might have in that process.

The Annual Conference, ACE, will be held in Denver from June 8-11. It promises to keep you up to date with whatever issue or challenge you might be facing in the water industry. New products, high-level presentations, and discussions, a giant exhibition hall for products and services. If you have not attended an Annual Conference, you should consider Denver in June!

The Washington DC fly-in is scheduled for April 2025. This event allows our members to get involved and help guide the direction legislation and policies are formed and implemented. It is your opportunity to let the policymakers and their staff members understand your day-to-day struggles and challenges. Guess what? If they do not hear from you, who do you think they are hearing from? Go to

Represent Indiana and

our

Hoosier values! Believe me, our Hoosier values are vastly different than those of either coast. But they need to be heard, and heard directly from you!

Washington DC, meet with our representatives and their staff, and become part of the process. Represent Indiana and our Hoosier values! Believe me, our Hoosier values are vastly different than those of either coast. But they need to be heard, and heard directly from you!

AWWA has its Winter Board of Directors Meeting in South Carolina this year in January. I will be there representing Indiana and our members. Please let me know if there are any topics or concerns that I can bring in front of this group.

Thank you and try to stay warm and dry this winter!

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Committee Reports

Workforce Development Committee

The Workforce Development Committee had a busy year in 2024! We have been able to speak at the Water Institute, AIM, IWEA, and the AlRW conferences. Our first step was shedding light on a topic affecting multiple utilities and companies of various sizes all over the state. Many times, we spoke with elected officials, appointed board members, and utility leaders who provided the feedback that they were glad someone was addressing the challenges that we are facing in the water industry. A common theme was “Where do we start planning the future now?” It is a good question and there is no one magic solution. There are steps that we can take to address our future needs.

The first step is to break the existing barriers to reaching our talent pipeline. There are many ways to find talent, and the first of these is in our public school systems. Often students are confronted with the idea that if they do not go to college, they may not have a successful career. As one who did not want to go on in academics after high school, I can tell you now that there are many pathways to success. Communities should allow the students to see academics not as a challenge because of imposed standards, but as a pathway to find their passion. We as water professionals need to help develop this pathway for the newer generation. This is only one of many areas that we will need to shore up, and in future articles, we will go over several more places to find your next hires.

The next step in breaking this barrier is to eliminate outdated mindsets. Look to a diverse group of students and overlook none. Our trades are primarily male-dominated and it is especially important now to invest in looking at the next female leaders of our industry. When speaking with students at job fairs, science days, or during agriculture events, we must be ready to speak to all the potential that exists in these spaces. Show our industry as having the paths for any candidate to pursue their career and let them know that there is opportunity as far as they wish to go in the profession.

The Workforce Development Committee is one point on the wheel of reaching out to that untapped pool of talent out there. We welcome Indiana Section Members from all utilities to join us in bringing our trades out into the open where the public can see the hard work and dedication shown by our teams. We must be our own cheerleaders, as there is no one else to do it for us. The local, state, and federal legislature needs us to interact with them on these ideas to push policy forward to ensure we have safe drinking water and safe water bodies for decades to come. We have some large challenges in the next few years, but I also see them as opportunities to grow, improve, and make our service to protect public health and safety better known and appreciated for generations to come.

We will be presenting more information on breaking down barriers at the conferences in 2025. We will be submitting

presentations to INAWWA Annual Conference, and others throughout the year. We welcome your feedback and would like to know more about the challenges you face in the field of workforce development. The Workforce Development Committee needs our dedicated professionals to help to shape the succession planning process for Indiana, if you are interested or just have ideas for us to include, please reach out to cgill@greenfieldin.org

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Committee Reports

Safety Committee

The Safety Committee is accepting applications for the 2025 Wendell R. Ladue Safety Award. This prestigious Association level award will be awarded to one winner in each of four classes (under 10 employees, 10-100 employees, 100-500 employees, and over 500 employees). The Indiana Section has been privileged to have had winners for this award in the past. Applications were due to Monique Riggs by January 26, 2025 for review by the Annual Conference in April. A link to the 2025 award application will be available under the Safety Committee page. Some of the information needed will be from the 2020-2024 OSHA 300 log. Indiana Section AWWA nominees will be announced at the Indiana Section Annual Conference in April 2025.

As we get into the heart of the winter months, please remember to drive safely and give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination during inclement weather. Inclement weather can affect more than just the driving, please watch for pedestrians crossing the road as they may fall in the path of your vehicle due to slippery conditions. Watch for plow/salt

trucks and give them the room they need to get their job completed. If possible, try to wait until the roads have been treated before venturing out. Pay attention to the changing road conditions, reduce your speed appropriately, and give the vehicle in front of you plenty of space.

Young Professionals Committee

Carroll, Chair

We want to thank all the Young Professionals (YPs) who attended and volunteered at the 2024 INAWWA Water Institute & Equipment Expo Conference. Their efforts were greatly appreciated and were a tremendous help to keep the daily agendas rolling.

The YP Committee has continued to work to increase our involvement over the last quarter by way of social events, virtual learning sessions, monthly committee meetings, and the newly implemented YP Newsletters, and other committee members sharing committee updates with their colleagues.

For the past holiday season, the INAWWA Young Professionals Committee partnered with the IWEA Young Professionals Committee to sponsor a family with the Adopt-AFamily program through Anna’s House again this year.

This year we had the Rosales family, with four kids ranging from one to 12 years. We had several ways of giving support this year by purchasing items directly through an Amazon wish list, providing toiletries, cleaning supplies, and non-perishable food

We are excited to have a new game to play. Please stop by the safety room at the Annual Conference and play Plinko for Safety

Hope to see you all at the Annual Conference (April 21-24) this year! Until then, stay safe and healthy.

items, and giving monetary donations. The YPs also volunteered to assist in gift wrapping for Anna’s House this holiday season. We were very excited to get together for the holiday season for a good cause that helped a family in need.

Lastly, if you are interested in joining or learning more about the Young Professionals Committee and are under 35 years old or have been in the industry for 10 years or less, please reach out to indianaawwaiweayp@gmail.com for more information.

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Committee Reports

Competitions Committee

We held our annual Indiana Section Meter Challenge and Hydrant Hysteria competitions at the Water Institute & Equipment Expo this past December 2024. Congratulations to all of our competitors! This year, our State’s Champion and representative in the Meter Challenge at ACE25 will be Tom Wolf (City of Evansville). Tom completed his meter in 47.90, to get his seat at the table in the Meter Challenge Championships next June.

The Glitter Kittens (City of Fort Wayne), (Pete Hoy, Ross Gillespie, and Coach Veronica Hoy), will be representing the Section in the 2025 Hydrant Hysteria Championship competition. The Glitter Kittens were the returning competitors from ACE24. They put down a time of 1:48.75 to gain their place in the battle square, at this year’s ACE25 in the Hydrant Hysteria competition. ACE25 will be held in Denver, Colorado in June 2025. I would like to wish you all good luck!

Congratulations to all of our competitors and good luck to our Champions at ACE25!!

The Glitter Kittens were the returning competitors from ACE24. They put down a time of 1:48.75 to gain their place in the battle square, at this year’s ACE25 in the Hydrant Hysteria competition.

As a big reminder to all of our Hydrant Hysteria teams wishing to compete in 2025, we will be holding our preliminary hydrant competitions at the Annual Operator Bootcamp. Mark your calendars now, this event will take place late summer on August 6 at the Miami County Fairgrounds in Peru, IN. This does not mean that we will do this every year, however, we are going to try this and see how it goes. The winner will go to the Water Institute (French Lick) in December to compete against the returning Section Champions.

Please keep in mind that this is a rain-or-shine event. If the weather allows, we will hold the competitions outside and if it does not, we will be indoors.

We encourage anyone who would like to put a team together to do so. Each team will be given a complimentary registration for the day at Operator Boot Camp and the top team will receive a full conference registration and hotel accommodations for one night, at the 2025 Water Institute & Equipment Expo taking place December 2-4. If you like a good challenge and competitions spark your interest, then these competitions are for you! I encourage you to reach out to either myself, your District officers, or the Section staff, and we will get you what you need to be ready to compete. We always need timers – please inquire about volunteering during the event.

Hydrant Hysteria Competition Winners – Team Glitter Kittens (Valparaiso, IN)
Meter Challenge Competition Winner –Tom Wolf (City of Evansville)

Committee Reports

Water Utility Council

By now, the policy discussions being made at the local, State and national level with respect to water supply, water quality and what should be regulated are well known. Water supply questions range from whether counties should restrict water transfer outside of their borders to whether reviews and permits should be required for large withdrawals. Discussion is ongoing regarding PFAS and fluoride. What will come of all of these issues is yet to be determined. However, what is certain is that factual information from knowledgeable individuals about water utilities is needed to combat inaccuracies and misinformation.

During the upcoming legislative session, the Water Utility Council will be working to secure protections for water

Water utilities did nothing to cause the presence of PFAS in the supply, but utilities are being charged with the responsibility to remove it.

utilities and their customers from claims related to the presence of PFAS in water provided by utilities. For those of you with PFAS in the source of supply, you know this issue well. Water utilities did nothing to cause the presence of PFAS in the supply, but utilities are being charged with the responsibility to remove it.

The treatment required to remove PFAS comes with significant capital investment and operational expenses that will impact the rates customers pay. This issue is becoming more of a burden on utilities and their customers, and lawsuits have been filed in multiple states against utilities for the presence of PFAS in water. The Water Utility Council has been working with legislators and representatives of various legal interests to get protections from lawsuits under environmental statutes, tort law and product liability. It is important that utilities let their representatives and senators in the Indiana Statehouse know that protections for utilities are needed. A simple call or email to a legislative office, or a conversation at a local meeting with legislators will all go a long way to ensuring that utilities and their customers have their voices heard.

There will be opportunities for members of the Indiana Section of AWWA to officially participate in the policy discussions led by the Water Utility Council. Plans are underway for the Water Utility Council to host a reception for legislators early in the legislative session. Additionally, the annual AWWA Fly-In to Washington DC will take place on April 8 and 9. Indiana generally has five representatives attend the event. If you are interested in attending, please let me justin.schneider@amwater.com We are always looking for someone new to get involved in policy discussions on

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WWater Leaders Tackle Replacement Issues at

ith two of history’s most challenging US drinking water regulations recently finalized, more than 120 water utility leaders, consultants, and legal experts gathered in Chicago last December to share stories of success and adversity in addressing lead and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their communities.

The AWWA Roundtable, sponsored by CDM Smith, was titled “From Rules to Solutions: LCRI, PFAS & Community Impact.”

“The water community wants to get the lead out – the full lead service line –regardless of the regulation,” AWWA CEO David LaFrance said in a talk during the second day of the event.

To that end, utilities are trying to answer questions of “how” and “how long.” The new Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) rule mandates that lead lines be removed in a 10-year timeframe. In a first-day panel on lead service line (LSL) replacement programs, leaders from four water systems described tremendous progress and exacting impediments in replacing LSLs over the past few years.

While many lines are being identified and replaced, utilities often encounter resistance from private property owners who do not wish to address the issue, even if the water system offers to pay.

The question of who controls lead service lines on private property looms large in the LCRI, with the new rule asserting that “Where a water system has

“ The water community wants to get the lead out – the full lead service line – regardless of the regulation.”
– David LaFrance

access (e.g., legal access, physical access) to conduct full-service line replacement, the service line is under its control, and the water system must replace the service line.” In AWWA’s comments on the proposed LCRI, the Association stressed that “control is based on ownership.”

Milwaukee Water Works Superintendent Pat Pauly said his utility is on the long road to replacing approximately 65,000 remaining LSLs, building on seven years of progress since the city’s Common Council passed an ordinance mandating full LSL replacement under certain circumstances. The program initially included a property owner cost-share of 1/3 the private side cost (approximately $1,600) and the water system paying the public side costs.

From left, presenters Randy Conner, Jamie Rott, Kareem Adeem, Pat Pauly and Sandra Kutzing

Lead Line at Roundtable

With help from funds available through the US Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA), Milwaukee grew the program considerably in 2024 and made replacement free to owners of 1-4 unit residential properties that qualified for the replacement program, replacing 2,600 lines. The goal for 2025 is 3,500 lines, but that figure will rise to more than 5,000 annually to meet the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) 10-year timeframe, he explained.

The IIJA funding, which totaled $15 billion over five years, is due to expire after 2026, leaving many utilities scraping for funding to get the job done.

Pauly said the IIJA funding was critical in Milwaukee. “You can get going or accelerate with what’s available,” Pauly said.

Newark, New Jersey, Commissioner Kareem Adeem explained his city had to work around a state ordinance that prohibited improvements on private property with public money. He also described the difficulty of getting buy-in from property owners and tenants who do not trust government. Partnerships with community organizations and trusted community figures were critical.

“Sometimes those community organizations we are at odds with, they’re your friends,” he said.

Chicago Department of Water Management Commissioner Randy Conner stressed the importance of meaningful support from public officials for LSL replacement, adding that he is constantly looking for ways to stretch funding. He noted the importance of having the right

staff talking to property owners on behalf of the utility. “If a person is good at coring apples, you don’t hire them to peel an orange,” he said.

A CDM Smith study estimates that LSL replacement will cost at least $12,000 per line nationwide, suggesting the nationwide bill may surpass $100 billion. That figure seemed aligned to projections

from panelists. City of Rockford, Illinois, Water Superintendent Jamie Rott estimated the “unit cost” for replacing an LSL in her system to be between $12,000 and $14,000.

The roundtable also featured panels on PFAS remediation, building trust, and managing risk, social/community/ environmental considerations, legal issues, and funding mechanisms.

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Agency Updates

Boil Water Advisory-Still an Important Communication Tool!

With several impending new drinking water rules poised to go into effect in the next few months and years, water utility operators are increasingly in the spotlight! Not only are they responsible for the health and safety of their customers’ drinking water, but they must also become rule experts. The business of making good safe drinking water rests in the hands of the thousands of dedicated water operators and their colleagues in the water industry to make sure that the water we depend on each day is not only there in the morning as we make our coffee, but it also must meet everincreasing new regulatory requirements. It is with this in mind that I want to bring up some old business!

We must not forget the basics and principal practices of the day-to-day process of communicating with the customer when addressing the immediate emergency of a water leak or line break by issuing a Boil Water Advisory (BWA). It is easy to get caught up in the emergency of the situation and begin to figure out what is needed to stop the leak from getting any worse. While there are many things to consider concerning digging up the area to get to the pipe, a considerable amount of planning and preparation must not be ignored. Important things like calling before digging (811), knowing ahead of time where the lines are located, identifying valves, knowing what area is to be isolated and losing pressure, having all the needed tools and supplies available, and equally important is communication with the affected area customers.

Issuing a BWA ahead of any line work is crucial to a successful repair or replacement of water lines. I believe that customers are fundamentally understanding that water distribution system work is inevitable and are supportive of any upgrades or maintenance. However, I also think

that adequate communication and engagement from the utility is very important to foster, develop, and continue a long-considered tenuous relationship. Issuing BWA signals to the customer that not only there will be work performed in their street or neighborhood, but also that the utility cares for their well-being enough to keep them informed of the activities around their home. It gives direction, and it makes the event manageable within a specific timeframe at which the customer can prepare for and work around if needed. BWAs address the potential of contamination to the customer’s water supply. This must be managed carefully and given the importance that it deserves.

Utilities must not be afraid to talk to their customers and the majority of operators that I talk to are very open to listening to their customers’ concerns and will go to great lengths to address any issues they may have. Unfortunately, I have also come across situations where communication was not an important component. We generally will receive more calls and complaints from water systems that do not actively engage with their customer base and when inspectors investigate, it is often true that the customer just wants to know what is going on, that their voice is heard, and that the water at their home is safe for their families.

In the last couple of years, IDEM has received an increased number of

Agency Updates

When inspectors investigate, it is often true that the customer just wants to know what is going on, that their voice is heard, and that the water at their home is safe for their families.

calls from customers regarding their water quality. IDEM Field Inspectors must investigate each complaint to address the issue. Once we have a good understanding of the customer’s issue, our first call is to the water operator. We need to get both sides to determine if it is an isolated issue or otherwise. Operators will work with the field inspector, and follow their procedures, and guidelines as well as any requests or suggestions from the field inspector. Then IDEM will contact the complainant to relay any progress, resolution, or findings. There are

times when the situation is not this simple and more must be done; however, IDEM will encourage customers to continue to work directly with their utility to notify them of where issues are appearing in the distribution system.

IDEM is happy to announce a new resource for customers and operators! Over several years IDEM has developed various guidance documents for BWAs, pressure loss/water main repairs, and discolored water events. We have now consolidated this information on our website. You can access it at our

Drinking Water site (www.IN.gov/ IDEM/cleanwater/drinking-water). It is called “Boil Water Advisories (BWA) & Discolored Water Events” (www. in.gov/idem/cleanwater/drinking-water/ boil-water-advisories-bwa-anddiscolored-water-events). This website gives customers and operators general information on BWA and various links to the guidance documents relating to BWA, Discolored Water Events, and other support documentation. You can access the Drinking Water Branch staff listing, and Inspector Map, and file an environmental complaint.

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I also want to introduce to you the “Boil Water Advisory Questionnaire”. This questionnaire is designed to provide IDEM with the specifics of your BWA event and standardize the data gathering relative to BWAs. It does not replace the actual notification given to the customer but will give IDEM the specifics about the event which are not generally included in the notification. It will also provide some guidance for those utilities that already have a robust BWA notification process. The USEPA recently (May 2024) released their report on BWAs. The 21-page document is called “National Occurrence and Causes of BWA in the United States Report to Congress.” It provides a brief description of water systems, and the numbers of people served by groundwater or surface water, categorizes the types of BWAs they reviewed, and describes their method of acquiring information. While it is no surprise that the bulk of the BWAs in the report are due to water main breaks/leaks, repairs, and loss of pressure, I was surprised to learn that there is no national standard in gathering this information and the

Agency Updates

authors of the report resorted to googling “BWA” in various States to see what information they could get. Very few states are gathering this information and fewer still have a way that the public can access it. Only 20 States provided information to this report and Indiana was one of the 20. Indiana has requirements in which a water system must notify customers and IDEM of any “situation which carries significant potential to have serious adverse effects on human health as a result of short-term exposure”, this is to say that if any portion of the distribution system loses pressure and affects customers, there is an increased potential of contamination and a BWA must be issued to those customers warning them of this risk. The development and use of the BWA questionnaire will allow IDEM to gather better information and begin the process of addressing this data gap. IDEM will continue to work with water systems on their immediate BWA events and provide any technical assistance that is needed. We will be able to then better report these numbers to USEPA, to the governor, and have it available to all Hoosiers.

While the need to issue a BWA is primarily driven by the significant

potential of adverse health effects to the customers by the introduction of bacteria and other contaminants into the water system; customers generally complain about discolored water. The term “discolored” means “changed in color in a way that is less attractive” (Oxford Languages, Google Dictionary). This is particularly true when the water at a customer’s home is red, brown, black, pink, or green. There are many reasons why the color is what it is, but IDEM has received hundreds of red/ brown/black watercolor complaints in the last year. The issue is not a mystery because Indiana’s groundwater is abundant in naturally occurring minerals like iron and manganese. These minerals when introduced to disinfection drop out of solution and deposit out in the distribution system waiting for a chance to be stirred up and move further down the line. Customers who are unfortunate enough to draw from this water will experience a discolored water event. Calls and complaints will soon follow. IDEM’s new website seeks to educate customers on these issues and hopefully are more understanding of the struggles water operators must endure.

It is also true that iron and manganese have secondary limits and are not regulated contaminants. Iron has a secondary standard of 300 micrograms per liter (ug/L), and manganese has a secondary standard of 50 ug/L. The USEPA has also set a lifetime health advisory for manganese at 300 ug/L. These secondary standards are non-enforceable; however, they are in place to guide water systems to minimize problems with taste, odor, and color. Nobody wants or deserves discolored water, especially as an ongoing problem and IDEM can compel and will work with the water system to address the immediate concern while working toward a long-term solution. Ultimately, it is the utility’s responsibility to provide a safe, clean, and continuous water supply. IDEM encourages continued engagement with water customers and the annual review of your Emergency Response Plans (ERP) to ensure that information is being shared appropriately and that situations and scenarios are covered thoroughly. As always do not hesitate to contact me at lternied@idem.in.gov or 317-234-7461 with any questions.

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¨ Conference Sessions Recogni�on - Company logo to appear on Power Point slides between conference presenta�ons in all session rooms at both of INAWWA’s conferences

¨ ONE (1) addi�onal complimentary registra�on (TWO total) at each of INAWWA’s two conferences

¨ Recogni�on in INAWWA’s digital communica�ons to water industry professionals (at least 12 per year) with hot link to your company website. Sent to over 8,000 individuals in our water industry.

¨ Exclusive communica�on to all INAWWA members regarding your company to be sent out prior to both of INAWWA’s conferences. You provide the messaging and INAWWA will send it digitally to our members.

* At the Annual Partner Source Water Sponsor level, any conference sponsor items purchased receive a 10% discount.

Includes Storage and Meter Partner Packages and also ...

¨ Company logo on pop-up banners to be displayed at all events and conferences

¨ Inclusion in a “Thank You” lis�ng in each issue of NewsLeaks (4 per year)

¨ Exhibit Hall Directory - Company logo included on the Exhibit Hall Directory to be distributed at both of INAWWA’s Conferences - Company’s exhibit hall presenta�on (if doing) will be highlighted on the Directory

¨ ONE (1) complimentary registra�on at each of INAWWA’s two Conferences

Includes Meter Partner Package and also ...

¨ Lis�ng on INAWWA website with your name/logo and a HOT LINK to your website

¨ Break Sta�on Sponsorship at both of INAWWA’s conferences and company recogni�on on signage

¨ 1/2 page company lis�ng in our “Thank You” book which is distributed at every workshop - both in-person and virtual

¨ Lis�ng on INAWWA website with your name/logo

¨ Priority considera�on for speaking opportuni�es at workshops and conferences

www.inawwa.org

MaryJane.Peters@inawwa.org MAIL: PO Box 127 Brownsburg, IN 46112













2025 117TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

April 21-24, 2025 - Indpls, IN - Due January 22nd

2025 WATER INSTITUTE & EQUIPMENT EXPO

December 1-4, 2025 - French Lick, IN - Due August 15th

Call for abstracts:

Abstracts should be 100 to 200 words and define the main purpose and learning objectives of the session. For best results to be selected for the program, create a title that accurately describes the topic and what will be learned from attending the session. Include why it is relevant to specific attendees and identify specific learning objectives. Include length, 30 or 60 minutes. For selection consideration, submitted abstracts must include biographies and complete contact information for all speakers.

Questions?

Technical Program Committe Chair: Scott Dompke 812-972-0665 scott.dompke@mesimpson.com

The Technical Program Committee reviews the submissions, prepares the program and notifies the speakers.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get in front of hundreds of utility decision makers at the Marriott Downtown Indy or the French Lick Conference Center..

SUBJECT MATTER TO INCLUDE:

·FINANCE AND RATE SETTING

·LEAD SERVICE LINE PROGRAMS

·DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

·SOURCE OF SUPPLY STORIES

·TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY

·WATER LOSS

·EMERGING CONTAMINANTS

·INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE

·AUTOMATED METERING

·AUTOMATED MAPPING AND WORK ORDERS

·LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Upcoming Events & Activities

Please visit our website – www.inawwa.org – for details and registration information. Water and Wastewater Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to be approved by IDEM. Well Driller and Pump Installer hours to be approved by IDNR, as applicable. Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for engineers are available, as applicable. Other workshops are being planned, so please check our website regularly, or call our office at 866-213-2796 for updates.

DATE EVENT

March 12 RCAP Workshop – Utility Supply Company – Peru

April 10 Southwest District Spring Meeting – Crane Naval Base

April 21-24 Annual Conference – Downtown Indianapolis

June 5 Operator Symposium North – Culy Contracting – Winchester

June 26 Operator Symposium South – Utility Supply Company – Huntingburg

July 30 Annual Golf Outing Benefiting Water for People & Operator Scholarships – Eagle Creek Golf Course – Indianapolis

August 6 Annual Operator Boot Camp – Miami County Fairgrounds – Peru

August 23 ‘Run for World Water’ – Water For People 5k – Downtown Indianapolis

September 18 Water For People Concert – Victory Theatre – Evansville

October (Date Pending)

Joint Utility Management Seminar – IN AWWA & IWEA – Indianapolis

December 2-4 Annual Water Institute & Equipment Expo – French Lick

Together, We are the Voice for Indiana Water.

Please contact Monique Riggs at 317-372-9864/monique.riggs@inawwa.org OR Megan Fleming 317-446-4237/megan.fleming@inawwa.org to host an event or suggest a topic for a workshop.

P.O. Box 127, Brownsburg, IN 46112 Office: 866-213-2796 (toll free) Fax: 866-215-5966 (toll free) www.inawwa.org

LEAKSNews

To reach water quality professionals through News Leaks magazine and its targeted readership, contact Dave at your earliest convenience to discuss your company’s promotional plan.

Dave Gill, Marketing Manager Toll Free: 866-985-9791, david@kelman.ca

Updated January 9, 2025

Advertiser Product & Service Center

NewsLeaks is made possible by the companies below who convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of INAWWA and its publication and encourage you to contact them when making your purchasing decisions. To make it easier to contact these companies, we have included the page number of their advertisement, their phone number, and, where applicable, their website. You can also go to the electronic version of NewsLeaks at www.inawwa.org and access direct links to any of these companies.

AMERICAN Ductile Iron Pipe

American Structurepoint, Inc. 17 317-547-5580 www.structurepoint.com

AUMA Actuators, Inc.

Baxter & Woodman, Inc.

Brenntag Mid-South

Inc.

Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc.

815-459-1260 www.baxterwoodman.com

Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd. 28 419-473-9611 www.jheng.com

Kokosing Industrial, Inc. 24 317-891-1136 www.kokosingindustrial.com

Lewis Municipal Sales 34 317-606-0554 www.lewissales.com

M.E. Simpson Co., Inc.

812-723-2108 www.national-water.com

Ortman Drilling & Water Services 30 765-459-4125 www.ortmandrilling.com

Peerless-Midwest, Inc. 36 574-254-9050 www.peerlessmidwest.com

Pittsburg Tank & Tower Group Inc. 32 270-826-9000 www.pttg.com

S & K Equipment Company, Inc. 3 812-886-0245 www.skequipment.com

Strand Associates, Inc. 28 812-372-9911 www.strand.com

Triad Associates, Inc. 34 317-377-5230 www.triadassoc.net

United Consulting 28 317-895-2585 www.ucindy.com

VEGA Americas, Inc. 4 800-FOR-LEVEL www.vega.com

Waller's, Inc. 23 888-485-7018 www.wallersmeterinc.com

Water Solutions Unlimited, Inc. 24 800-359-3570 www.getwsu.com

Wessler Engineering 19 317-788-4551 www.wesslerengineering.com

lewissales.com

Celebrating 50 Years of Better Water

Peerless Midwest was founded in 1973 in a small shop in the then small community of Granger Indiana. We opened the doors with just 11 employees, a few pieces of equipment, and a belief that a commitment to utilizing the latest technologies would best serve our customers, and us, in the long run.

Fifty years later, we’re employeeowned (since 2021), and find ourselves employing over 100 water supply and repair professionals working out of 6 offices in 4 states. We’ll be forever appreciative of our success, and thankful to the special relationships we’ve enjoyed with our customers and employees that helped make it possible.

Water Supply Services

• Well Drilling

• Well & Pump Repair and Rehabilitation

• Water Treatment

• SCADA and Controls

• Hydrogeological Services

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