Water/Wastewater Workforce Challenges
Also Inside: Inside: Q&A with Representative Lyle Larson and former Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown TRWA Presents its Water/Wastewater Risk Assessment and Planning Tool 2020 — Issue 6 www.trwa.org
TRWA Today Established in 1969, the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) is a statewide nonprofit trade association with an active membership consisting of over 750 nonprofit water supply corporations, water districts, small-town water departments and investor-owned utilities. In addition, more than 200 water industry suppliers participate in TRWA activities as associate members. TRWA members provide water and wastewater service to 3 million customers throughout Texas. TRWA is dedicated to helping directors, managers, operators and office professionals provide efficient service and clean, safe drinking water to their customers. Through on-site technical assistance, education and information exchange, TRWA helps its members better meet their needs as well as the needs of their customers.
Board of Directors
TRWA Staff
Officers
President Chris Boyd Denton (District 3) Vice-President Bruce Alexander Medina (District 2) Secretary Kevin Spence Franklin (District 11) Treasurer Robert Nettles Walker (District 13) Immediate Past President Brian Macmanus Cameron (District 6)
District Directors Mark Gardenhire Shackelford (District 1) Steve Adams Brown (District 4) Dave McMurry Bastrop (District 5) Johnny Rudisill Collin (District 7) Charles Beseda Hill (District 8) Pat Allen Guadalupe (District 9) Kent Watson Brazos (District 10) Shirley Thompson Kaufman (District 12) Bill Baird Rusk (District 14)
Leadership Team Lara Zent Allison Kaminsky Larry Bell Nichol Howell Tom Shephard, CPA Trent Hightower Jason Knobloch
Executive Director & General Counsel Deputy Executive Director Technical Assistance Director Professional Development & Training Director Finance Director Assistant General Counsel Environmental Services Director
ext. 101 ext. 107 cell: 512-964-8133 ext. 134 ext. 102 ext. 106 ext. 137
Amanda Ashcraft Melody Bennett Ross Brookbank Pam Cantrell Vacant Lisa Gallo Angela Harris Miles Hartman Brittney Melancon Emily Young Ariane Walker
Office Manager Project Support Specialist Membership and Outreach Manager Accounting Support Specialist Communications Specialist Meeting and Event Planner Project Support Specialist Course Develoment Specialist Paralegal Assistant Environmental Services Director Training Support Specialist
ext. 100 ext. 130 ext. 108 ext. 139 ext. 155 ext. 105 ext. 131 est. 135 ext. 110 ext. 132 ext. 111
Thomas Acker, Jr. Michael Beadnell Nathan Cantrell Alex Eaves Paul King Deborah McMullan Charles Perkins Bruce Pearson James Smith Quentin Turner William White Scott Willeford Gilbert Ybarbo
Instructor Instructor/Circuit Rider Wastewater Technician Wastewater Technician Circuit Rider Source Water Protection Specialist Circuit Rider Instructor Circuit Rider FMT Specialist Assistant Technical Assistance Director FMT Specialist FMT Specialist
cell: (512) 751-6337 cell: (512) 924-4552 cell: (512) 924-7158 cell: (512) 964-7203 cell: (512) 913-9753 cell: (512) 923-5842 cell: (512) 964-2108 cell: (512) 922-4942 cell: (512) 964-9234 cell: (512) 517-9889 cell: (512) 924-4233 cell: (512) 657-8813 cell: (512) 317-2003
Office Staff
Field Staff
Contact the Editor
Editorial and advertising inquiries may be directed to the Communications Department at editor@trwa.org. Join the conversation at: www.facebook.com/TexasRuralWaterAssn 2
Quench — 2020 - Issue 6
Find us at @TexasRuralWater for industry and legislative news relevant to you!
Features:
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In Every Issue: Letter from the Executive Director
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Ask Larry
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Keep it Legal
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Answers to your technical questions Answers to your legal questions
Classified Ads Advertiser Index Plan Ahead
TRWA’s Calendar of Events
By Ross Brookbank, Texas Rural Water Association Membership renewal statements have been sent out to all current TRWA members, and we are excited to work with you again in 2021!
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Letter from the President
The TRWA Membership Drive is Now Underway
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Q&A with Representative Lyle Larson and former Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown
Our Lobbyist sat down one-on-one with the Representative and talked about the upcoming Legislative Session and what it means for our members.
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Staying Safe When Working Near Other Utilities
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TRWA Presents its Water/Wastewater Risk Assessment and Planning Tool
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Water/Wastewater Workforce Challenges
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Water Tank Leaks
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From the Hole: Tales from the Road
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TRWA Briefs
By Cristi Bruns, Mueller Water Products Utility lines for electricity, phone, cable TV and many others are increasingly buried underground, making repairs to water pipelines more and more complicated.
TRWA created this tool to help member water and wastewater utilities comply with the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018.
By Nichol Howell, Texas Rural Water Association The number of qualified applicants entering water/ wastewater skilled trades is declining. Read on for why and what we can do to counter these challenges. By Erin Schmitt, Pittsburg Tank & Tower Group Water tank leaks can cause everything from water loss to tank loss, so repairing a leak quickly and efficiently is By Michael Beadnell, Texas Rural Water Association Tales from the road from TRWA's Instructor turned Circuit Rider, Michael Beadnell. Give a Gift to Rural Water; East Cedar Creek FWSD General Manager Retires; Nominate Someone Today for a TRWA Award of Excellence; Now Accepting Applicants for TRWF Student Scholarships
On the Cover: Campfire Sunset, by Christina Hughes, 2020 PH 2OTOSTREAM Category Finalist Quench — 2020 Issue 6 3
President’s Message Holiday Greetings Rural Water, We’re about ready to say goodbye to one of the most challenging years most all of us can remember, to which I say good riddance! Now that there’s a vaccine out and several more on the way, we can all hope that some old normalcy returns during 2021.
“Our TRWA staff is busy at work preparing for a new year of great programs, training and legislative advocacy for our membership.”
Our TRWA staff is busy at work preparing for a new year of great programs, training and legislative advocacy for our membership. The upcoming legislative session in Austin is going to present some unique challenges, as we’re still unsure of the details of how it’s going to work. In any case, our staff and lobbyist team will be watching closely for any potential unsavory bills. I sincerely hope each and every one of you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or however you celebrate this season, and for goodness sakes I hope we all have a Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing you all soon! My regards,
Chris Boyd President Texas Rural Water Association
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Letter from the Executive Director Dear TRWA Members, As 2020 comes to a close, it’s easy to think back on the hard times of the past year with the pandemic affecting the way we conduct our businesses and our lives. That being said, I have been thinking about the things that were good about this year. On a personal note, I appreciate the quality time with my family due to more time spent at home. I also appreciate how well our Texas Rural Water Association team adapted and everything we accomplished. We have a lot to be proud of. For example, we successfully pivoted from in-person events to hold our conferences and training classes virtually so we could continue to bring education to our members. We hosted five virtual conferences, 10 virtual instructor-led operator classes, created an online Information Security Awareness Training and added additional self-paced online courses. We also graduated a class of Emerging Leaders, produced a new set of Salary and Rate Survey reports, represented Rural Water at the Texas Tribune’s Future of Rural symposium, and developed software to help member systems comply with America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. Learn more about this new free service for members on page 17. These are just a few examples of what TRWA has achieved this year — it has been a busy year, and next year promises to be even busier.
“As we gear up for the new year, I want to thank you for your support in 2020!”
In January, the 87th Texas Legislature will convene and the TRWA legislative team will work to ensure Rural Water is well represented at the Capitol. Since the Legislature will not allow big groups this session, instead of holding our Rural Water Day in March, we have planned a Rural Water Week before the session kicks off for targeted members to visit with legislators and their staff. On January 21-22, TRWA is partnering with the Texas Water Conservation Association to host an online Water Law Seminar. We have a stellar lineup of lawmakers and other expert speakers for this event! Registration is now online at www.trwa.org/Waterlaw. In March, we plan to host our first in-person conference in over a year! RuralWaterCon 2021 will be held in Austin on March 25-26; but will also include a virtual track. Registration materials will be sent out soon, so please keep an eye on the mail and your email inbox for details in early January. As we gear up for the new year, I want to thank you for your support in 2020! Thank you for your membership, for your donations to our special funds, including our Foundation’s Scholarship Program and our PAC; and for your participation in TRWA’s programs and virtual events. Membership renewal notices have been mailed out, and we look forward to serving you in 2021. Thank you also for being the lifeblood of your communities this year by providing critical water services during the pandemic. I know it was challenging! I wish you and your families a happy, healthy and safe holiday season! Best regards,
Lara Zent Executive Director and General Counsel Texas Rural Water Association
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The TRWA Membership Drive is Now Underway
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By Ross Brookbank, Membership and Outreach Manager, Texas Rural Water Association
s 2020 comes to a close, I want to personally thank you for your support and for being a member of TRWA during these ever-changing and unprecedented times. I have had the opportunity to engage with a lot of you throughout this year and look forward to making more valuable connections in 2021 and beyond. Your continued commitment to TRWA enables us to be a valuable resource to water and wastewater utility providers across Texas. In 2021, we will continue to work hard to be the preeminent water and wastewater association in Texas by providing our members with the assistance and guidance they need to meet the challenges facing our industry. We want to continue to be your one stop shop for everything water related. Membership dues will continue to be based on your number of water connections and the cost will not increase for 2021. All members that renew by January 15, 2021 will enjoy a 20 percent discount on a conference registration in 2021. Remember, as a member you receive numerous benefits that include, but are not limited to, the following: AWIA Compliance Tool In 2020, TRWA developed the Water/Wastewater Risk Assessment and Planning Tool (WRAPT), a members-only cloud-based software to help utilities comply with the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. WRAPT is free for members will help you build your Risk and Resilience Asessment and Emergency Response Plan, generate your finished reports so you can easily review your information and also includes certification documents and instructions on how to self-submit certification to the EPA. For more information on WRAPT, visit www.trwa.org/wrapt. Salary and Rate Reports TRWA conducts a biennial Salary and Rate Survey to collect member data that we analyze to produce two members-only publications — the Salary Survey Report includes summaries of salary ranges and averages for key personnel positions, as well as benefits and demographic information; and the Rate Study Report summarizes water rate ranges and averages based on utility type, location, size and water source. We published our updated reports in 6
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October 2020, and these reports are free for those who participated in the survey or are available for purchase for those who did not. Technical Assistance The TRWA field staff provide training and onsite technical assistance on issues such as water audits, rate studies, leak detection, preventative maintenance, budgeting, personnel policies, and management. We can also provide Energy Efficiency Audits. TRWA also maintains emergency generators that we can deploy to member systems impacted by a natural disaster or other local emergency situation. Education and Training Member systems and their employees receive discounts on all training classes and conferences. TRWA continues to provide 25 classroom training courses and multiple online and virtual training opportunities as well. Our new online instructorled courses and self-paced virtual classes have become a valuable resource this year. These courses are approved for TCEQ operator license credit. Additionally, our conferences offer networking opportunities and great educational programming. Our 2021 conferences will include the Water Law Seminar, RuralWaterCon (Annual Convention), Office Professionals, Technical and Training, Water Districts and Fall Management Conferences. Except for the Water Law Seminar, we expect all events to be inperson events in 2021. Advocacy TRWA will remain passionately engaged in representing our members interests at state and federal regulatory agencies and legislative offices. We continue to meet with agency staff and lawmakers, attend stakeholder meetings and provide comments on rule packages and will keep you abreast of regulatory updates and changes that may affect rural water providers. When the 87th Texas Legislature commences in January, TRWA will ensure rural water’s voice is heard during session. Legal Consultation and Services TRWA members also have access to our fulltime attorney and paralegal who are just an email or
phone call away. They will respond to your utility’s legal questions and offer advice as part of your membership. They also provide additional legal services, including filing required eminent domain reports with the Comptroller and applications for sales tax exemption for WSCs and IOUs. Members receive a discounted rate on these services. TRWA also maintains a legal defense fund to assist members with representation regarding issues with a statewide impact. District Meetings New in 2020, we launched an initiative to bring regional district meetings to our members so you can engage with local leaders, TRWA board and staff, and fellow water professionals in your area. Additionally, you can earn free water/wastewater training credits by attending. Due to COVID-19, the majority of these meetings were held virtually in 2020, but we plan to move these back to an inperson format in 2021! You will be sent an email to inform you when your district’s meeting is scheduled. Additional Resources TRWA offers many resources to keep members informed, including manuals and training materials, legal resources such as sample personnel policies, service policies, board policies, and a sample tariff.
Members also enjoy access to online resources, including sample templates and forms, operations and maintenance manuals, monitoring plans, WSC election procedures, rate study worksheets, vulnerability assessments, emergency response plans, SUD conversion manuals and more. Publications Don’t forget, your TRWA membership includes five subscriptions to Quench! You can have those subscriptions sent to whoever you want, including board, staff or simply to your system. New in 2021, we will also offer a subscription-based digital consumer magazine exclusive for members for a nominal charge. You may send this by email or post it online to educate your customers about our industry. You also have access to our online membership directory free of charge, and print ones may be purchased. Thank you for the dedication and hard work you provide every day serving the rural communities of Texas. We are honored to continue to serve you. If you have any questions about your membership or need any further assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me by email at Ross.Brookbank@trwa.org or on my cell at (512) 954-1360.
ONLINE TRAINING AVAILABLE Earn training credit hours through self-paced courses.
Learn More: www.trwa.org/59 training@trwa.org (512) 428-5754
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Q&A with Representative Lyle Larson and former Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown Representative Lyle Larson represents Texas House District 122 1. As the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, he is the state’s leader on water policy issues in the Texas House. Former Senator J.E. “Buster” Brown posed these questions to Chairman Larson, and what follows is a very interesting conversation. Brown: First of all, tell us about yourself — where you live, what you do for a living and about your prior public service.
forward the discussion on setting Desired Future Conditions, groundwater-surface water interaction, and other issues as well.
Larson: I was born and raised on a farm in San Antonio, and currently live in northern Bexar County just outside the city limits. Directly after graduating from Texas A&M University, I worked first for Nalco Chemical Company and subsequently for Johnson & Johnson, distributing surgical equipment. For the last 30 years, I've owned and operated a small business that sells identification card manufacturing equipment, and owned and operated a business that puts on farming, ranching, and hunting expos. At age 30 I was elected to San Antonio City Council, where I served two terms and got my feet wet in water policy during the Edwards Aquifer wars of the 1990s. I then served as a Bexar County Commissioner for 12 years, before being elected to the Texas House in 2010
Brown: Rural areas of Texas continue to provide food and fiber for Texas and, in some cases, the world. How does Texas’ future water supply guarantee that continued production?
Brown: In general, what do you see as the major water issues for the upcoming Session? Larson: If drought conditions persist into March, there could be real interest in advancing legislation to ensure the availability of water supplies. Based on the proceedings at the Public Utility Commission (PUC) over the past 24 months and deliberations within the water industry, reforming the process by which wholesale water rates are challenged and undermined at the PUC merits additional direction by the Legislature. Understanding there are diverse opinions on this issue, we need to make sure that contracts are not invalidated by state agencies where large water projects and the state's credit rating are at stake. We also look forward to moving Footnote:
1.Texas House District 122 is located in Bexar County. 8
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Larson: It's critical that we continue to grow food and fiber as close as possible to the population centers as we can. The balancing of water needs in the rural areas with the growing demand in urban areas is critical for the growth and sustainability of Texas and the country as a whole. Bottom line: we can’t cannibalize all the water for the urban areas at the expense of the rural areas because it would be counter to the entire state's interests and the global food supply. Brown: Do you see any “new” water sources on the horizon for Texas? Larson: There are several ways to add "new" water to the state's inventory: through enhanced science and regulatory reform that puts more of the state's existing groundwater and surface water resources on the table for development, through technological advancements that allow for the reuse of previously unusable water, or through importing water from outside the state's boundaries from the Gulf of Mexico or a neighboring state. With the growth projection for the state, the development of "new" non-traditional water sources like seawater desal, oilfield water, and interstate water sales are inevitable and simply a matter of time. As with any project, this will be based on demand, the cost of the developed water relative to the next cheapest source, leadership by a local
entity to have the willingness to sponsor a project, and state leadership to support local efforts. Some examples of creating new water through regulatory reform include putting additional brackish groundwater supplies on the table for development (84R HB 30 and 86R HB 722) and more surface water supplies on the table for development if the water will be used for an aquifer storage and recovery or aquifer recharge project (86R HB 720). We've seen a lot of interest from public and private entities on the Gulf Coast for seawater development, and eventually they will reconcile the cost of treatment and the environmental issues. The extreme drop in the price of oil has underscored the extreme variability in the availability of produced water from the oilfield, and therefore the challenge with relying on it as a long-term water supply. However, as the industry recovers and we see greater production in the future, there will be merit in looking at how to treat and reuse this supply of water where it makes the most sense: first back into the oil production process and then, once health, safety and environmental concerns are satisfied, for other ag, industrial, instream flows, and other uses. Unfortunately, a Friday night football mentality has gotten in the way of water deals with the states of Oklahoma and Louisiana. Having spoken with legislators and other stakeholders in both states, I can say that we're much closer with Louisiana at this point. There's been renewed interest recently by folks in Texas and Louisiana to cut a deal on a Toledo Bend water sale and pipe the water west to the I-35 corridor and serve the entities in between. Brown: What do you see as the greatest challenges for Texas rural water utilities? Larson: The greatest challenge for rural water utilities, as with many rural institutions, is the nature of the business model as the state continues to grow.
In many ways, the challenges rural water utilities face as the state's urban areas continue to grow are part of a larger conversation about managing and adapting to an urbanizing world. In the water world, the rubber meets the road with TRWA members. Rural water utilities have the opportunity and obligation to plan for and provide water service to large swaths of land with a customer base that is more spread out. This requires greater capital costs relative to their rate bases compared with many of their municipal utility counterparts, and being prepared for future development without always knowing when and how water will be needed. It creates challenges when cities that are also trying to grow encroach on rural service areas and want to serve those customers. Having worked for multiple sessions on CCN issues, one positive aspect I've seen is a greater willingness to for rural utilities and developers to both do a better job of communicating with one another about water planning and development plans, respectively, to preempt some of these conflicts. Brown: In particular, what do you see as the most important issue for customers of rural water utilities? Larson: Existing customers want access to safe, affordable water. Water is a basic need, which was further underscored during the pandemic. Customers need to be able to access supplies without pressure issues contamination, or boil water notices as a matter of basic health. Developers, who bring future customers, want the cheapest, and often closest water supply. Former Senator J.E. “Buster� Brown served in the Texas Senate for two decades, Chaired the Senate Natural Resources Committee and authored SB1 and SB2.
Having lived nearly my entire life in the San Antonio area, and having served in local government for much of my adult life, I experienced many of these challenges firsthand - navigating everything from land use to water service to annexation issues as the city grew to encapsulate what was once rural land. The property I grew up on, which was once on the outskirts of the city, is now in a central part of town. There's a Little Caesar's right where our family's roping arena used to reside.
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Staying Safe When Working Near Other Utilities By Cristi Bruns, HYMAX Training and Technical Field Support Manager for Mueller Water Products
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tility lines for electricity, phone, cable TV and many others are increasingly being buried underground, making repairs to water pipelines more and more complicated. While putting lines in the ground helps protect utilities from storms and for aesthetic reasons, it means that there is a lot to avoid while utilities and contractors do their jobs. Statistics show that on average there are more than 300,000 incidents each year related to utilities being struck during repairs and installation of new services in the water and wastewater industry. These incidents cause millions of dollars in terms of costs incurred by lost time, damages, loss of service, and loss of fire suppression services. Not long ago, workers building a new section of I-4 in Orlando, Florida struck a natural gas line. The ensuing excavation and repair closed this busy East-West corridor for over 12 hours, causing serious delays and closures of local businesses. As you could imagine, there was a lot of anger from the travelling public and businesses seeking damages. Here’s a list of things to do to ensure that you stay safe and minimize the chances of causing damage during excavation.
requests usually completed within two to three days, and a locate lasting 30 days. This process can also be done online – simply google 811 with your state and the appropriate website will most likely be at the top of the search.
This is a legend of color codes that you will find on the ground indicating the location of utilities.
Make sure that you wait for the locate to be completed before you dig – it’s the law. Almost all utilities are a member of 811 and will be willing to come to your dig to help ensure that their lines don’t get hit. In case of an emergency repair, it is also critical to call 811 before you start. The staff can quickly provide info and provide service around the clock. If you uncover an issue or hit a utility line during a dig, 811 staff have the contact information to reach the right people at any time to help find someone who can make the repair. You might have to pay the repair costs depending on many factors but regardless, the repair must be made and can’t be ignored.
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Take Notes and Pictures
Call 811 811 is nationwide service that will give you all the information you need to make a request to locate pipes and other underground infrastructure. When you call 811, you can find out if it’s safe to dig with
Color Codes for Markings
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As a safety precaution, it pays to develop relationships with the other utility companies in your area to discuss issues, and ongoing or future projects.
Red: Electric power lines, cables, conduit and lighting cables Orange: Telecommunication, alarm or signal lines, cables or conduit Yellow: Natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum or other gaseous or flammable material Green: Sewers and drain lines Blue: Drinking water
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Make sure that you take plenty of pictures before, during and after the excavation is done. Note the locate marks and flags prior to digging, but keep in mind that occasionally the actual location of the utility and the marks are very different. Take pictures of where lines are actually located. Is the natural gas line underneath the water line or next to it?
Gas lines have a minimum bury depth of 24 inches, while water has a 36-inches minimum bury depth, however, it’s not uncommon to find some strange things in the trench such as lines that cross over top of yours at intersections or T’s. Take lots of notes and use them to update your utility maps, and share this information with other workers and management to foster safety in the field. Use the Right Tools How are you going to excavate the area around the repair? Be sure to choose the right tools for your excavation. Vacuum (or vac) trucks or trailers are the go-to tools for both identifying other utility lines and safely excavating the area that you need to work in. Some companies now make vac units specifically for excavation. There will be exceptions, mostly for new construction when you could use backhoes and mini-excavators. In every other case, however, the ground has been previously disturbed so a vac unit will be the best, safest and most economical way to go. Using a probe while looking for other utilities during your dig is necessary but be careful. Use your experience and common sense when probing for utilities to avoid lines being struck. Before you start to dig, be sure to call 811 to get all the information you need to make a request to locate pipes and other underground infrastructure.
Using products that are easy to install will help make repairs quickly to minimize time in the ditch and help minimize risks. Communicate with Other Utilities With so many utility lines now in the ground, the issue of other utilities attempting to make their repairs at the same time happens more frequently and has resulted in many changes, including the need to schedule repairs, new businesses being formed to located utilities, and 811 laws. Consider having a representative of a specific utility on site to assist your dig. If you’re the utility that is required to be on-site, this will be time well spent to protect your assets. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and a little precaution before a crisis is better than a huge repair afterwards. Get to know the other utility companies in your area and consider having monthly or quarterly meetings to discuss issues, and ongoing or future projects. Use the photos and notes from your previous repairs to point out issues and problems to other utilities. If you build friendships with these other folks, you will more likely be able to reach them after normal business hours since this is when most of our emergencies take place. Working near utilities is complicated business and the lack of space underground will become further complicated as utilities get replaced. If you take the steps above, you will be in a much better position to excavate more effectively, avoid striking other utility lines, and save time and money. Cristi Bruns has more than 25 years’ experience in operations, sales and training with hands-on experience in daily water system operations. At HYMAX, she provides field and installation support to customers, offers educational training, and leads lunch and learn training sessions for engineers and operators.
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Ask Larry A Q&A column with TRWA Technical Assistance Director Larry Bell
Q:
Our tariff allows us to charge customers a “groundwater district production fee.” Can you explain what this fee is and how it works? A: This fee should only be in your tariff if you obtain water from a groundwater conservation district (GCD). In most cases, when a utility obtains their water from a GCD, the GCD will charge the utility a fee associated with producing that water from the aquifer. The utility may then pass this fee along to its customers in the form of a “groundwater district production fee,” as you see in your tariff. This fee is usually passed through in total to the ratepayers on a monthly or quarterly basis based on how much water each customer uses. This is the fair way to distribute the costs of obtaining groundwater to those customers who ultimately use it. For calculation purposes, most water systems’ billing programs have a feature that takes the number of gallons of water used by each customer and multiplies those gallons used by the cost per unit of the groundwater production fee, which may change from month to month or quarter to quarter. For example, if the average monthly groundwater production fee charged by the GCD to your utility is $2,893.02, then that total fee is divided by the number of gallons of water sold that month. Each ratepayer would then pay that amount for each gallon of water they used. Note that ratepayers with zero usage in a given month should not be assessed any portion of the groundwater production fee, as they did not use any of the water produced. You should check with your billing software company to see if their software can accept the monthly fee amount and complete the internal calculations for each customer based on their meter readings. Finally, it is important to note that the groundwater production fee is only supposed to allow the utility to recover the amount it is being charged by the GCD. The system should not make any kind of profit from passing it through to their ratepayers. 12
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Q: What should we consider to be best prepared if a situation arises that leaves our water system without electrical power? A: In November, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held Infrastructure Security Month to promote the vital role of critical infrastructure and the importance of strengthening the security and resilience of that infrastructure. As part of that initiative, the EPA put out a 49-page guide covering topics that utilities and their staff should consider when planning for power outage events. The guide can be found at https://bit.ly/376StJqm, and addresses eight areas in which water sector utilities can increase their power and resilience: 1. Communication – Establish capability to communicate with electric providers, local agencies and the public to help your utility respond more quickly and efficiently to a power loss. 2. Power Assessments – Conduct a power assessment to understand your essential equipment energy needs. 3. Emergency/Standby Generators – Learn how to select, maintain and register requirements for a fixed or portable emergency generator for your utility. 4. Fuel – Develop plans to ensure you have enough fuel for your generator during a power outage emergency. 5. Energy Efficiency – Increase your energy efficiency to allow you to operate on backup power longer during emergencies and to reduce your electricity bills during normal operations. 6. On-site Power – Consider options for generating your own power. 7. Black Sky Planning – Prepare for longduration, widespread power outages. 8. Funding – Learn about possible funding sources for resilience measures. Q: We recently had a customer ask why we don’t provide fire flow service despite the
presence of fire hydrants at various locations within our system. How should we explain the use of hydrants for other purposes, such as flushing? A: One way to explain the presence of hydrants without accompanying fire flow is to educate your customers on flushing as a primary function of hydrants within a distribution system. Most folks automatically consider the purpose of a hydrant is to allow fire departments to access water to use in fire suppression operations, but many hydrants have never actually been used for this purpose. Rather, the day-to-day main reason for installing in-line hydrants is to assist in maintaining potable water throughout the distribution system on a year-round basis. While most water systems work in partnership with their local volunteer fire departments by allowing them to fill their tanks at the system’s fire hydrants, often at no cost, many folks would probably be surprised that the vast majority of hydrants have never been used for fire suppression activities. This is because there are several potential problems that can occur when using rural fire hydrants for traditional fire suppression. First, when tanker trucks are filled up in rural areas, this is typically accomplished by drafting from the hydrant at its given pressure. Water lines in rural areas typically aren’t big enough to accommodate the pressure created when a truck hooks up to a hydrant and pulls water at a vacuum. I know of at least one system who ended up with roughly a mile of busted line after a fire department tried to pull as much water as quickly as possible by hooking up to one of their rural hydrants in this way. Another issue is that some systems are not hydraulically adequate to open a large hydrant all the way. When fully opened, these hydrants can pull water from residents in higher elevations or even create a vacuum effect from residential services. If a resident has improper plumbing, which is very likely in the rural areas where plumbing permits aren’t required, it can cause issues with water heaters and even create contamination from cross-connections. Most of the time your water operator is aware of the pressure issues in the surrounding areas and knows what rate they can flush at that site, but volunteer fire departments typically do not know of this issue. Lastly, water hammer is an issue. Operators are trained to turn on and off valves at a slow, steady rate, but the excitement of many firemen during an emergency situation often causes them to forget
about that. When a valve is turned off quickly, all the water that was flowing that direction abruptly stops and often creates line leaks and breaks. This water hammer can also carry through to residential meters and cause the same issues. Because of these issues, many people don’t realize that the most common use of distribution hydrants is to flush water after leak repairs, to maintain disinfection residuals, and during a free chlorine conversion (burnout) to remove bio-film from the water mains. Flushing is more necessary when there happens to be fewer active customers along a stretch of the distribution system. In a subdivision that has looped lines, it is also necessary to do unidirectional flushing to make sure the water is not becoming stagnant in some areas where water is being fed from two or more interconnections. Many times, there is a point or two in a subdivision where there is equal pressure from both ends of a cross street and only when a fire or other flushing operations occur, the water in the middle of that cross street tends to be stored for several more days than other areas of the water pipelines. Flushing programs are complex for field crews to coordinate. They require complex sequential coordination among crews. They work across the entire network with process disruptions and need timely cooperation from multiple crews. Water mains need to be flushed to extend their useful life – whether by conventional or unidirectional flushing methods. Proper flushing helps a distribution system stay compliant, reduces consumer complaints, improves water quality, removes bacterial growth, sediments, and biofilms, restores flows and pressures, and identifies missing/broken valves/ hydrants. In addition to flushing and fire suppression, hydrants can also be used for bulk water sales. Water systems will often have a designated hydrant to allow for the quick fill up of tank trucks for that purpose, though they should ensure that they have the proper backflow prevention in place before connecting to those types of tanks. The presence of hydrants has also been known to lower homeowners’ insurance rates within city limits, regardless of whether they are actually used for fire suppression, so sometimes cities will request that systems install hydrants in those areas. If you have a technical question you would like answered, please e-mail larry.bell@trwa.org. Quench — 2020 Issue 6 13
Keep It Legal Answers to Members’ Questions by TRWA Assistant General Counsel Trent Hightower
Q:
Can employers require their employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available?
A: The answer appears to be yes, but employers need to be aware of a couple notable exceptions and other things to consider. Since employment in Texas is generally at-will, employers can terminate employees for almost any reason, including refusal to obtain the vaccine. However, if an employee has a medical condition or sincerely-held religious belief that prevents them from taking it, employers must provide a reasonable accommodation for their situation, if doing so doesn’t pose an undue burden on the employer. Reasonable accommodations include things many water systems are probably already doing to some extent, such as allowing employees to work from home, requiring them to wear a mask or providing them with a separate workspace away from other people. If an employee claims a medical condition or sincerely-held religious belief that prevents them from taking the vaccine, TRWA advises our members to take them at their word since the cost of proving otherwise could be greater than the burden of simply making an accommodation. Another thing to consider is potential legal liability for employers who make taking the vaccine a condition of employment. If an employee is required to take the vaccine and has a bad medical outcome from doing so, such as an allergic reaction, the employer could be the subject of a Workers’ Compensation claim. We have seen some articles that stress that this could be a slightly greater concern for these vaccines due to the compressed timeframe of their creation and distribution relative to previous vaccines. All of these factors together indicate that the best course of action is to strongly recommend that employees obtain the vaccine on a voluntary basis. Systems might also consider a more targeted approach by requiring the vaccine for front-line workers such as operators (subject to the exceptions discussed above) while recommending it for other personnel. 14
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Q: Our practice is to obtain and record easements from new owners every time a property changes hands, even if we already have a recorded easement from the previous owner. Is this the best practice? We were recently told that doing this “clogs up the deed records.” Also, will a subsequent easement nullify any previous easements we may have? A: As a general practice, I would rather have too many easements than too few. Further, I am not sure how getting a new easement from a subsequent purchaser would "clog" the deed records or what the negative ramifications of that could be. County clerks are more than capable of maintaining the additional documentation in their deed records, and with more and more of them switching to electronic filing systems, this seems like an outdated concern. However, even for counties that maintain paper deed records, they should have the resources in place to maintain these records, which are essential to preserving the rights of all parties, including utilities. There are several reasons utilities should obtain a new easement every time a property changes hands. First, if your policy is to always require an easement when a new owner requests service, you will never find yourself in the position of discovering later that you don’t have the easement you need. As I have discussed in this column before, you can require an easement as a condition of service up front, but once you begin serving a customer you lose that leverage because the Public Utility Commission (PUC) will not support disconnecting service later for failure to secure necessary documentation. Requiring an easement from all new applicants also cuts down on the need for your administrative staff to research the deed records for each piece of property to determine whether your interests are adequately protected by the easements already in place. Further, while recorded easements are enforceable against subsequent purchasers, if you fail to obtain an easement from a new owner you are at the mercy of the language contained in the old easement. This means that if a court finds the old easement to be defective or invalid, or if the
easement doesn’t meet your system’s current needs, your utility would be out of luck. An easement from 1970 is better than nothing, but what if it doesn't accurately describe the current location of your lines on the property, or what if it doesn't let you do certain things you need to do? For example, let’s say an intermediate property owner and the utility agreed to move your lines to another location on the property in the 1980s, but they never recorded a new easement. Without a recorded easement documenting that change, your line is technically trespassing on the current owner’s property. Similarly, what if an old easement doesn't give you adequate room to physically work on your lines? You should think of getting a new easement when property changes hands as your chance to update your easements so that they provide you with the exact location and access that you need for your current operation. Also, even if the easement from the new owner is identical to the one from the old owner, I see no downside to obtaining it. As I mentioned earlier, recorded deeds are enforceable against subsequent owners, but most attorneys would prefer to have a document signed by the person they want to enforce against right now. Finally, if landowners insist, utilities can file a release of old easements with the county clerk along with the newly-executed easement. As for whether subsequent easements nullify older easements, in general it would only do so to the extent that the new easement clearly conflicts with the older one. If they can both be read concurrently, they both remain valid and enforceable. For example, if you have a recorded easement from 1990 allowing you to place a line across the east side of a property, and a new owner in 2020 grants an easement for a line across the west side, both easements are valid and enforceable because they are for separate, distinct lines. However, if the 2020 easement states that the parties want to move the 1990 line somewhere else on the property, the old easement is superseded. It all just depends on the language of your easement documents, which will vary from case to case depending on your negotiations with landowners. Q: I have heard some boards conduct “workshops” to discuss certain topics rather than holding meetings under the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA). Is this allowed, and if so, when? A: The Legal Department has received several questions on this recently, and in almost all cases
once I delved into the system’s goals for the proposed workshop, I have discovered that what they are describing would in fact be an illegal meeting in violation of TOMA. Most questions I get in this area involve common misconceptions about TOMA. Some people think that calling a gathering a “workshop” instead of a “meeting” lessens or dispenses with the procedural requirements of TOMA. Others are under the impression that if a board simply discusses a topic without acting upon it, or if they don’t discuss it in much detail, they can call it a workshop without having to comply with TOMA. Neither of these are correct. TOMA has a complicated definition of “meeting,” but essentially any gathering in which a quorum of your board is present where they discuss official system business is a meeting fully subject to the Act’s many requirements. One thing that I think trips people up is that TOMA goes on to state that “attendance by a quorum of a governmental body at a regional, state, or national convention or workshop. . . if formal action is not taken and any discussion of public business is incidental. . . to the workshop” is not a meeting. It is critical to understand that “workshop” has a very specific context here. The primary example I use is our TRWA conferences. Your board is free to attend one of our conferences as a group to receive training, and they can even incidentally engage with presenters and vendors about your official business as part of that training. Further, note how the discussion of workshops specifically refers to their “regional, state, or national” nature. To me, this implies that educational opportunities that also include people outside your utility’s board or customer base best fit within this exception. One member recently asked if they could bring this type of training to their board on a local level without calling an open meeting. In other words, can a system invite a consultant to their office to discuss human resources issues with their board or give them training on compliance with various laws and regulations? The answer is yes, as long as you are careful not to tread into actual discussions of official business or policy. For example, your board could receive training on the need for a policy to implement TOMA’s requirement that the public be allowed to speak at your meetings. Once your board starts discussing what goes in that policy and how to implement it, however, they have begun discussing Continued on page 16 Quench — 2020 Issue 6 15
Continued from page 15
official business without convening an open meeting. In many cases, this will be a very fine line to walk, so all board members and staff participating in such sessions should be vigilant at all times as to the substance of their sessions. Q: Our water supply corporation held our 2020 annual meeting before COVID-19 began shutting things down. With the pandemic still going on, we expect our 2021 annual meeting will be impacted. Do you have any tips for us on how to handle our annual meeting during the pandemic? What lessons did systems who were impacted this year learn that could help us this time around? A: While the COVID-19 pandemic only affected water supply corporations who held their annual meetings in March or April of 2020, it is likely that the majority of TRWA members will have their annual meetings impacted by the pandemic in some fashion in 2021. When the pandemic first hit, the TRWA legal department advised our members to hold their meeting on their scheduled date, if at all possible. This advice continues into 2021 for a few reasons. First, though there is promising news about a vaccine, we still don’t know how long the pandemic will last, so it is unclear when a rescheduled meeting would be able to take place free of coronavirus concerns. Also, based on the experiences of systems who postponed their 2020 meeting, we know of a few complications that can arise from postponement, such as determining when directors’ terms end or begin, and determining which members of your corporation are eligible to vote when the meeting eventually occurs.
now that systems have had almost a year to adjust to life with COVID-19. The governor’s order allowing for online and phone-based meetings remains in effect, so systems have alternative methods for holding meetings at their disposal that may not have been available to them in 2020. These are factors that courts or the PUC could take into consideration if a board’s decision to postpone its annual meeting were challenged. With that in mind, TRWA continues to recommend the following best practices for conducting your annual meetings in 2021: •
Meetings should be short, to the point, and free of unnecessary social activities. While some systems use fun activities like meals or door prizes to generate attendance, TRWA recommends that systems refrain from this practice once again in 2021 to promote social distancing and to ensure compliance with any gathering restrictions that may be in place statewide or locally.
•
Members should be strongly encouraged to vote ahead of time, rather than in person. State law and TRWA Model Election Procedures allow members to mail their ballots or drop them off at a designated location before the date of the annual meeting. Systems might consider promoting and encouraging these voting methods while letting people know that the meeting itself will be a short event.
•
Establish safe voting procedures for those who wish to vote in person at the meeting. Since the law allows people to vote in person at your meeting, we do not recommend denying them that option altogether. Instead, many systems in 2020 came up with creative ways for members to safely vote in person, including utilization of drive-through voting, outdoor voting in a parking lot or other structure, or giving voters access to the voting station on a one in, one out basis.
•
Members should be encouraged to view the meeting online. As discussed above, Governor Abbott has relaxed Open Meetings Act requirements for the duration of the pandemic, which means you can broadcast your annual meeting online. If you have the capability to do so, promote the online option to discourage people from gathering in a large group.
Additionally, since the scale of the pandemic took us by surprise in 2020, it was unlikely that a WSC would get in very much trouble if they moved their meeting while attempting to comply with the law to the greatest extent possible. While that is still probably the case, it could more of a concern in 2021
If you have a legal question you would like answered, please email legal@trwa.org. 16
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W WRAPT
Water/Wastewater Risk Assessment and Planning Tool *Free Member-only Benefit *Minimize Data Entry *Step-by-step Certification
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The Texas Rural Water Association created WRAPT to help member water and wastewater utilities meet today’s regulatory challenges and comply with the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA). AWIA requires systems that serve more than 3,300 people to complete a risk and resilience assessment (RRA), develop an emergency response plan (ERP) and certify to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that they have done so. The due dates for completing these are set forth below based on the population size served:
Risk and Resilience Assessments
Emergency Response Plans
Population Served
Certification Deadlines
Population Served
Certification Deadlines
>100,000
*Deadline passed
>100,000
*Deadline passed
50,000 - 99,999
December 31, 2020
50,000 - 99,999
June 30, 2021
3,301 - 49,999
June 30, 2021
3,301 - 49,999
December 31, 2021
Every five years, utilities must review their RRA and ERP and submit a new certification to the EPA that these have been reviewed and, if necessary, revised. To help our member systems comply, TRWA developed WRAPT, a cloud-based software that contains dynamic, logic-based questions you can use to build your RRA and ERP. Members can plug in their PWS ID to prepopulate some fields to reduce data entry, and the tool will securely store your information as long as you maintain TRWA membership. WRAPT will generate your finished reports as PDFs so you can easily review your completed information. It also includes certification documents and instructions on how to selfsubmit certification to the EPA. To sign up for WRAPT, you must have an active TRWA membership. To gain access to this tool, email wrapt@trwa.org. Once you have signed up, please contact your Circuit Rider if you have any questions, or call us at 512-472-8591.
WRAPT@TRWA.ORG WWW.TRWA.ORG/WRAPT 512-472-8591
Water/Wastewater Workforce Challenges
T
By Nichol Howell, Professional Development & Training Director Texas Rural Water Association
his article serves to provide a better understanding of current workforce challenges in the water/wastewater industry and some suggested solutions. What’s Going On? The number of qualified applicants entering the water/wastewater industry is declining. While employers are struggling to attract and hold onto skilled workers, particularly younger and more diverse workers; a tide of retirements is drastically cutting into the pool of skilled, qualified workers in many utilities and resulting in staffing vacancies of up to 50 percent in some cases. Add the difficulty of hiring qualified applicants, and the need for new workers in the industry is greater than ever. The bottom line is that the capable workers are in short supply due to an aging workforce eligible for retirement and the lack of a pipeline for new talent. The water workforce is aging. With a large number of water/wastewater industry employees nearing or currently eligible for retirement, we are at risk of losing a vast amount of institutional knowledge. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median water/wastewater sector employee is 48 years old, with the typical employee retiring at age 56. From 2016 to 2026, the BLS projects 10.6 percent of water/wastewater workers industry-wide each year on average to either permanently leave or transfer out of their current jobs and water/wastewater occupations will see an overall employment growth of 9.9 percent. Together, the combination of separations and future growth in the sector is projected to lead to an average of 9,200 annual openings for water/ wastewater operators, and the industry as a whole is projected to have thousands of open positions over the next decade in need of skilled talent. Lack of a new talented pipeline. Approximately 45 percent of water/wastewater workers are in the prime of their careers, meaning the water/wastewater workforce has a relatively full pipeline of middle-aged workers. However, there’s a lack of younger talent in these jobs and supervisory positions for these 18
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employees to move into. Just 10.2 percent of water/ wastewater workers are under the age of 24. Also consider that unprecedented changes are occurring in the water/wastewater industry workforce due to the availability of digital technologies, automation, and changes in workforce demographics. Employees will need to possess new skills to respond to the new normal of how work is being done in the future utility. The bonus here is that positions around digital technology such as real-time monitoring, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) could be a draw for the younger crowd who grew up with a smart phone in their hand. Difficulty hiring qualified candidates. According to a June 2018 Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program report titled Renewing the Water Workforce: Improving Water Infrastructure and Creating a Pipeline to Opportunity, most water/wastewater workers have less formal education than workers in other industries, including 53 percent having a high school diploma or less. Therefore, they require more extensive on-the-job training and familiarity with a variety of tools and technologies. The study shows 78.2 percent of water/wastewater workers need at least one year of related work experience and 16 percent need four years or more to be fully effective in their work, meaning utilities need to hire new employees before current employees leave or retire to ensure a seamless transition. To help this transition, in July 2017, the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) established and certified its National Guideline Standards of Apprenticeship for Water and Wastewater Operation Specialists through the U.S. Department of Labor. With those standards in place and in an effort to assist the public water systems in Texas with recruiting and filling positions with trained and competent workers, TRWA will implement a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) in 2021 which will include classroom and on-the-job training components. When you partner with TRWA on the endeavor, apprentices work for you, but the overall
operation of the program is managed by us, the program sponsor. Stay tuned for more information on this program in 2021. Retaining talent remains a challenge. Workers may look to transition to other industries that demand similar skill sets yet offer better pay or upward career growth. Smaller, rural systems particularly face these challenges; as generally, the larger the utility, the better the pay. Plus, salaries tend to be higher in areas with market competition from other sectors. What Does All This Mean? • • • •
More than 50 percent of your current employees will no longer be working for your utility in 10 years Many of these employees will be taking valuable tacit knowledge (understood, but not documented) with them Current training levels will need to be upgraded and expanded Utilities will have to work harder at becoming “employers of choice”
What Do We Do? To prepare for future industry challenges, utilities need to adjust existing recruiting and hiring procedures, expand their retention efforts and pilot new training opportunities in an effort to attract and maintain a diverse and skilled workforce. Although utilities vary in the scale of their operations and workforce demand, they must assume a lead role in recruiting, onboarding and preparing workers to navigate long-term careers. The best thing we can do right now is get serious and strategic about: •
•
Identifying gaps in the current and future workforce that includes the capture and transfer of important tacit knowledge before employees leave the organization. This is also helpful in creating new training plans and improving and streamlining operations. Identifying and hiring skilled workers through more proactive, innovative recruiting strategies that raise awareness about our industry. • Look for talent in places that may not traditionally attract as much attention: • Workers with complementary and transferable skills employed in transportation, energy and other related industries. • Diversify your workforce. In addition to gender, age and race; consider diversity in terms of skill sets, education, and experience. • Create messaging and informational materials
•
•
that help youth, teachers, school counselors, parents and the community understand the industry and career pathways. • Partner with local high schools, colleges and trade schools to: • Promote internship opportunities to students • Provide facility tours/field trips for students and educators • Allow job-shadowing when appropriate • Integrate project-based learning experiences • Promote and distribute information to customers about our industry and career opportunities: • Subscribe to TRWA’s digital magazine to educate your customers • Participate in community events or host your own events. TRWA has a brochure about water and wastewater operator careers that you may put your own logo on and distribute at your office and throughout your community. Adjust existing hiring procedures and expand retention efforts to attract and maintain a diverse and skilled workforce. Make sure your company culture matches the type of employee you want to employ. Provide competitive pay and benefits to retain well trained and high performing employees. Facilitate workforce development and transition by providing expanded and upgraded training opportunities and investing in on-the-job training to equip new and current employees in both hard and soft skills. Making your workers' professional development a priority and seeking opportunities for them to grow shows them you are investing in their career.
In summary, without actively investing in the current workforce and recruiting qualified candidates, the water/wastewater sector will likely continue to struggle to retain and upskill workers. Not only do systems need to focus on recruiting and retaining workers for themselves, they should be a standard bearer for the entire water/wastewater sector. Through a variety of internal programmatic changes, they can heighten awareness of the water/wastewater workforce opportunity and further prioritize action around faster and better hiring, more flexible training and more predictable retention. If you have questions about this article, you can contact the author at Nichol.Howell@trwa.org or 512289-9850. Quench — 2020 Issue 6 19
FINANCING SOLUTIONS FOR RURAL WATER SYSTEMS
Specially negotiated terms for TRWA members
Texas Rural Water Association has partnered with CoBank, a national cooperative bank that serves vital industries across rural America, to provide attractive financing solutions for TRWA members. Find out about the specially negotiated terms on many loan products for water and wastewater utilities, including:
3 USDA GUARANTEED LOANS AND BONDS 3 USDA INTERIM CONSTRUCTION FINANCING 3 LINES OF CREDIT 3 USDA REFINANCING 3 TERM LOANS Visit TRWA’s website for complete information about the program:
www.trwa.org/cobank For further questions, please contact John DeLuca at 303-694-5958 or email texaswater@cobank.com 20
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Water Tank Leaks By Erin Schmitt, Media Director/Technical Writer, Pittsburg Tank & Tower Group
S
everal things can cause a leak — from cracked welds to holes from deterioration. There have even been instances where people have fired shots at water tanks, puncturing the steel and causing it to leak. Water can also seep through the base plate connected to the pipe system, as was the case with a 105-year-old tank. Leaks can cause everything from water loss to tank loss in the most catastrophic cases. Any water loss is lost revenue for a water system. So, repairing a leak quickly and efficiently can help save money. Tank owners can do little to guard against something like errant bullets — that’s more of a job for the police — but the owner/operator can make sure the tank is maintained and repaired in a timely fashion, drastically reducing the chance of the tank deteriorating. If a leak is identified, the best thing an operator can do is contact professionals immediately to address it before the tank deteriorates too much. Tank operators should do thorough visual checks on tanks’ exteriors at least quarterly to determine if there are any obvious signs of damage or weakening, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard set forth in NFPA 25 section 9.2.4.1. Professional inspectors should examine the tank as soon as possible if there are any leaks or rust streaks caused by leaks. The tank should also be repaired immediately. Leaks happen at inopportune times, though is there ever really a good time for a water tank to spring a leak? No. However, if a tank begins leaking Leaks can spring up anywhere. The leak depicted below occured in a valve pit.
in the summer, which is usually peak water usage for most systems, it’s a bigger hassle since more water is needed to cover the demand. Plus, taking a water tank offline for repairs would limit the water supply. Tornados, earthquakes and other natural disasters may cause structural damage to a storage tank. Severe winter storms can freeze a tank and cause it to overflow. For instance, when cold weather causes a tank to freeze, the pressure on the tank changes. When this happens, metal appurtenances in the tank, like a ladder or hooks, can break free and rip a hole through the steel. Although the weather and Mother Nature can cause leaks, most are the result of a lack of maintenance. Over time, steel will rust as it comes into contact with a mixture of air and water. A water tank has an abundance of water on the inside, and its exterior is exposed to precipitation. Sometimes, if the tank can’t be fixed for a while, the best thing to do is limit the amount of water stored for the time being. For example, keeping about 10,000 gallons in a 100,000-gallon tank can help relieve pressure on the leak. Corrosion deteriorates the structural integrity of a tank. For the most part, leaks will start small. Sometimes it’s so little it’s imperceptible or, if a leak is detected, it’s small enough that the tank operator uses a quick fix to patch the leak. Wooden wedges, bolts and even a broomstick handle have plugged leaks. These solutions act as a bandage for leaks but they do not resolve the problem. Corrosion products can also help seal leaks. “Any exterior corrosion, especially where metal loss is apparent, should be evaluated by a professional engineer familiar with the construction of water storage tanks,” according to the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Manual M42. Solving the issue requires a professional to patch the hole with new steel, something that costs more money than taking a wooden wedge and jamming it into a hole. Leaks can spring up anywhere, including underneath the tank. If that happens, the best course of action may be to weld a new steel piece over the existing hole. Leaks can be fixed by plugging welds Continued on page 24
22
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Continued from page 22
or patching or inserting plates. The best approach depends on the severity of the leak and what the tank owner desires. For example, a South Carolina tank without cathodic protection developed several holes throughout the steel. As each hole cropped up, the tank operator would deal with them on an individual basis, treating it with some quick fix or ignoring it altogether. By the time professionals evaluated the tank, a hole on the shelf’s top ring had grown so large that an adult man could stick both of his hands through the opening. Three sheets of steel helped fix the hole and restore the steel to its original thickness. Steel thickness on a steel tank has a wide range. Inspectors should at least have a rough idea of what the steel thickness is before beginning their inspections. If the tank operators have the original drawings for the tank, the inspectors can use those to compare current steel thickness readings against what it was like when built. If you have any questions on this article, please contact the author Erin Schmitt at eschmitt@pttg.com or 270-869-9400, ext. 4626.
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Savings members enjoy per conference registration
Savings members enjoy per classroom training registration
Legal Consultation $250 $150
Discount members receive on online training courses
$50
$30
TRWA Conferences held annually
$200
Amount members save when using our Sales Tax Exemption Service
Average hourly rate for attorney consultation on legal questions Average hourly rate for paralegal services
$50
Amount members save when using our Eminent Domain Reporting Service
Consultation services are included with TRWA membership.
Advocacy All advocacy services are $5000
Average monthly cost of hiring lobbyists to advocate for you at the capitol.
Value of an on-site technical assistance system visit
$75/hr
Workforce Services
$500
Member discount on print classified ads in our trade magazine We provide free resources to help water systems promote jobs & attract candidates
$50
Hourly rate of contractors hired to provide recruitment and employment services
Member discount on online job postings
Communications and Publications
$360
Market value of industry rate reports
$480
Market value of industry salary reports
$400
$100
20-30%
Members enjoy free access to online resources, including sample templates & forms; operations & maintenance manual/required monitoring plan; WSC election procedures; rate study worksheet; vulnerability assessment; emergency response plan; SUD conversion manual, & more!
$2800
Members have access to use TRWA-owned generators at no cost during emergencies.
Estimated value of answering member technical questions by phone and email.
$150
$200
We keep abreast of regulatory updates & pass that information along to our members. Estimated monthly value:
Daily cost to rent a generator for use during emergency
$75/hr + travel
$3000
Savings passed on to members in need of these documents
$1600
Technical Assistance
Percentage of first year’s salary charged by recruiters hired to fill a position
$10
Savings members enjoy on Public Funds Investment Act training
Cost to hire someone to create a sample tariff or district service policy Cost of TRWA’s sample tariff or district service policy
We represent member interests at state & federal agencies. We regularly meet with agency staff, attend stakeholder meetings & provide comments on rule packages. Estimated monthly value:
included with membership
per meter
$5,250
minimum
The Value of Membership
$1.35
$500
per document
>
FREE
TRWA membership includes 5 subscriptions to our bimonthly trade magazine, Quench, valued at $30 each
Members receive a free copy of each report for participating in the survey.
$950
$150
Quencl h
ua 5 ann ons ti ip r c s sub
TRWA’s members-only online and print membership directories are free for members. It typically costs $1 per entry to buy comparable industry directories.
$20-30
Range in cost of our members-only publications, including an essential training manual for water board directors Quench — 2020 Issue 6 25 The value is clear!
From the Hole: Tales from the road by Michael Beadnell, Instructor/ Circuit Rider for Texas Rural Water Association Wastewater Collections, Galveston
I
was asked to teach a 20-hour wastewater collections course the second week of November in Galveston. To be able to recognize Veterans Day, Galveston wanted the 20-hour course in two 10hour days on November 12 and 13th.
Rider #4, I’ve been on the road assisting non-profit water supply corporations, water districts and small cities with less than 10,000 population with a variety of issues, but I was excited to get off the road for a bit to teach a course.
When I travel to a system, I like to dive into the history of the area, and Galveston has a rich history.
On the morning of November 12th, I met with the Utility Supervisor Mary Kimbark prior to the student's arrival for the class. After our meeting, I unloaded and set up for the class. Once the operators arrived, we performed the usual paperwork, and I started class with introductions and goals. Then we jumped into the lecture, book work and demonstrations.
The Spanish conquistador Francisco Vazquez de Coronado and his team were dying of thirst and wandering desperately in search of a fabled golden city. Just when they thought they were at the end of their ropes, along came the Apache who graciously guided them to a stream. The stream, which Francisco and the team joyously dubbed Rio de los Brazos de Dios, is known today as the Brazos River and is the 11th-longest river in the United States, stretching 1,280 miles from its headwater source in Northwest Texas to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico. The Brazos River has a 45,000-square-mile drainage basin. Being one of Texas' largest rivers, it is sometimes used to mark the boundary between East Texas and West Texas. The Brazos flows through exposed bedrock to eventually discharging into the Gulf of Mexico. The City of Galveston is one of the major cities in the Brazos River watershed and the river serves as Galveston's drinking water source, which it purchases from the Gulf Coast Water Authority through the Thomas A. Mackey Water Treatment Plant in Texas City. Galveston Municipal Utilities Department is located south of Harborside Drive, two blocks from the famous Strand Street, and has a brand-new state of the art building with a fully equipped training room. The building embraces the conveniences of modern technology and keeps up with the growing needs of the community and its staff. We are excited to have recently partnered with Galveston to provide our operator certification classes in the area. As I mentioned in my last column, until TRWA’s Technical Assistance Department can find a permanent replacement, I have been helping out with the Circuit Rider program. Serving as the Circuit 26
Quench — 2020 - Issue 6
While providing a general description of the responsibilities of wastewater personnel, the class dove headfirst into the water cycle. Next, we covered the need for regulations of wastewater discharges to protect public health, followed by a discussion of receiving streams. Then we discussed area design and volume after chapter one. Up next was an explanation of state and federal regulators, general goals of wastewater collection and treatment objectives. After that, we went over the requirements and general characteristics of wastewater, which includes the physical, chemical, bacteriological and radiological characteristics. We ended the first day of training with a discussion of pump curves. The following day, I started by going around the room to see how much was retained from the day before. Our Wastewater Collections Course is known as a core course—an approved curriculum that fulfills a main requirement to become a licensed operator. Comprehension of course material that the state feels a student needs to know to become an operator can be at times overwhelming, so it is important as an instructor to check regularly for understanding and gauge retention. The wastewater collection system is made up of many hazards, so the next and most important subject for comprehension on the agenda is the topic of general safety practices. Awareness of the hazards and how to protect ourselves and our families
is essential. A good understanding of personal protective equipment (PPE) and its proper use is the collection system operator's last line of defense. We studied confined hazards and duties of each team member when entering a confined space. The employee with the training and authorization to enter confined spaces is known as the "Entrant." The Entrant’s duty is to know the hazards faced when entering, the proper use of equipment to communicate, and to exit when alarm is sounded or when ordered to do so. The person responsible for the health and safety of the Entrant at all times during entry operations is called the "Attendant." The Attendant must always be stationed outside the space and communicates with the Entrant to verify their condition, looking for behavioral signs or symptoms of the consequences of exposure. When necessary, the Attendant also performs non-entry rescue. Another important confined entry team member is the "Entry Supervisor." The Entry Supervisor is the person responsible for determining acceptable entry conditions are present when entry is planned, and they also authorize entry and oversee operations. The Entry Supervisor verifies all tests are in place, rescue services are available and removes unauthorized individuals from the space. The final portion of the day we covered operations of collection systems and discussed of the materials of construction and construction best practices. We watched a film about lift stations and their operations, then talked about industrial waste monitoring and control. Next, we reviewed math skills and applied them to specific problems related to wastewater hydraulics and pumping. Finally, we completed the course with a segment on collection system management. I ended the 20-hour course with a final exam, which we corrected together so they could keep their notes as a study guide for the operator certification exam. As always, I like to close out my column with a math question. Try to work it out for yourself before reviewing the answer on page 31 of this magazine:
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THE LEADER
AND ORIGINAL INNOVATOR OF PRESTRESSED CONCRETE TANKS
If you have a 6-inch pipe flowing at 3 feet per second, what is the gallons per minute of the pipe? Please email training@trwa.org or call 512-4285754 if you have questions about any of our training offerings. If you have questions for me, please email michael.beadnell@trwa.org or call 512-924-4552. 888-PRELOAD | WWW.PRELOAD.COM | INFO@PRELOAD.COM
Quench — 2020 Issue 6 27
TRWA Briefs Give a Gift to Rural Water
T
his holiday season, give a gift to rural water by donating to the Texas Rural Water Foundation!
East Cedar Creek FWSD General Manager Retires
L
ong-time friend of rural water Bill Goheen announced his retirement from East Cedar Creek Fresk Water Supply District (ECCFWSD) earlier this year.
Rural water and wastewater systems face many challenges due to limited budgets, high levels of responsibility, regulatory demands and a shortage of licensed operators. TRWF was established by TRWA to support all rural utilities and address these issues through programs that provide resources and build the capacity of utilities to best serve their customers. But we cannot do it without your support. We hope that you will keep the Texas Rural Water Foundation in mind when making your yearend giving. Your tax-deductible donation will go toward Foundation programs such as our Student Scholarship and Veteran Employment Programs, and will assist with developing new programs that will help sustain and grow the Texas rural water industry. Your gift is extremely important to the Texas Rural Water Foundation, and every dollar counts in our quest to support and empower rural water and wastewater utilities and the communities they serve. To make a donation, visit www.trwa.org/trwf and click the “Donate Today” button. You mayalso request a donation form by contacting foundation@ trwa.org or by calling 512-472-8591. Please note, for your gift to qualify for tax deduction in 2020, your mailed contribution must be postmarked on or before Thursday, December 31, 2020; credit card donations must be processed by end-of-day December 31. To learn more about the Foundation, visit our webpage www.trwa.org/trwf or give us a call! Your gift will help us become a greater resource to rural water and wastewater systems throughout Texas today!
J. F. FONTAINE & ASSOCIATES, INC. CONSULTING ENGINEERS RURAL WATER SYSTEM ENGINEERING SINCE 1962 700 N. Sycamore St. P.O. Box 4187 Palestine, Texas 75802
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Quench — 2020 - Issue 6
(903) 729-6005 jffontaine@jffontaine.com
Goheen has nearly four decades of experience in the utility profession and led ECCFWSD through over 15 years of steady growth and satisfied customers. Prior to working at ECCFWSD, Goheen served in rural water in various capacities in Alabama, Kansas and Oklahoma, including as Circuit Rider for the Kansas Rural Water Association and Assistant Project Manager of the Circuit Rider Program at the National Rural Water Association. He has served on the Board of Directors of several professional associations including Texas Rural Water Association, Kansas Rural Water Association, and the Cedar Creek Texas Water Utilities Association. He continues to hold "A" licenses in water and wastewater in both Texas and Kansas. Please join us in congratulating Bill on his retirement!
Nominate Someone Today for a TRWA Award of Excellence
T
here's still time to submit nominations for TRWA's annual Awards of Excellence! The application window for all award categories closes on February 1, 2021. Don’t miss the opportunity to nominate your system or one of your colleagues for these prestigious awards honoring those who exemplify excellence, dedication and achievement. Our individual awards were created to recognize the shining stars of our member utilities, seeking to honor their spirit and commitment in support of their system and the larger community. Individual awards are given in the following categories:
• • •
Excellence in System Management Excellence in Administration Excellence in Operations
To nominate an individual for one of these awards, simply submit a nomination form and tell us in 750 words or less what makes your nominee stand out in their selected category! In addition to our individual awards, we also give out two system-wide awards each year. The Small System Excellence Award is designed to honor a deserving system serving 1,500 or fewer connections, and the Large System Excellence Award is designed to recognize a system serving more than 1,500 connections. Special thank you to Master Meter for sponsoring the Large System award! We still welcome Associate Member sponsors for each of the other categories. Use this opportunity to showcase whatever it is that sets your system apart from the rest, and share your ideas with your industry peers who can learn from your successes. Are you employing innovative technologies or processes? Did you do something special to engage with your community? Did you make significant efforts to improve your system? Did you successfully launch a grassroots campaign or activity to foster political participation? Tell us about it! To nominate your system, fill out a nomination form and tell us in 1000 words or less why your system stands out and deserves this award. Only TRWA member systems are eligible, but anyone can nominate your system for an Award! Get started on your nomination now and submit it online at www.trwa.org/awards. Please remember that former award winners are not eligible. All entries must be postmarked or delivered by February 1, 2021 to be considered. All award winners will be honored during the Awards Ceremony at the opening general session of RuralWaterCon in March and will be featured in the spring issue of this magazine. Individual winners will each receive a $500 prize and a commemorative plaque. The system-wide winners will each receive a $1000 prize and commemorative plaques. If you have any questions about the nomination form or the awards process, or if you are interested in sponsoring one of the awards, please contact us at 512-472-8591 or editor@trwa.org.
Now Accepting Applicants for TRWF Student Scholarships
E
very year, high school seniors, college students and even graduate students submit applications for one of our Texas Rural Water Foundation (TRWF) Student Scholarships, which are intended to recognize and assist qualified individuals in their pursuit of a higher education in a field that supports rural Texas. This Student Scholarship Program is designed to help defray the cost of tuition, fees, books and/ or room and board by awarding funds directly to the student upon proof of enrollment. The number of annual scholarships and the amount awarded is based upon the number of qualified applicants and the amount of funds available. In the 2020-2021 award year, the Dwayne Jekel Memorial Scholarship recipient was awarded $3,000, four recipients were awarded $2,000, and five were awarded $1,000. The TRWF scholarship committee is particularly interested in supporting students who seek a career relating to the water and/or wastewater industry or a career that will support rural Texas. They also encourage applications from qualified veterans who will receive special consideration. Former student scholarship recipients are invited to apply for a continued scholarship. To be eligible to reapply, the applicant must provide transcripts to demonstrate that they are in good academic standing. Applications and full eligibility requirements are available on our website. If you know someone who is interested in applying, please direct them to www.trwa.org/StudentScholarships. You can also get to the page by visiting www.trwa.org and clicking on the TRWF tab in the navigation pane. All applications must be received by 5 p.m. on February 5, 2021. You can mail it to: ATTN: TRWF Scholarship Committee, Texas Rural Water Association, 1616 Rio Grande, Austin, Texas 78701. You may also send applications by email to editor@ trwa.org. Please share this opportunity with your peers and community members who may benefit from one of these scholarships. If you have any questions, please contact us at 512-472-8591or email editor@ trwa.org. Quench — 2020 Issue 6 29
Classified Ads Texas Rural Water Association | FMT Assistance Specialist (Bilingual) The Texas Rural Water Association is seeking an English/Spanish bilingual Assistance Specialist to assess and evaluate water and wastewater systems, and provide Financial, Managerial, and Technical (FMT) assistance to promote the development and growth and/or sustainability of targeted utilities. This position requires the ability to travel up to 90% of the time and maintain a valid Texas driver's license and acceptable driving record. Essential Functions: • Ensure completion and compliance of the goals, objectives and deliverables required under state contracts, currently FMT Assistance Contracts • Provide direct on-site FMT assistance to water and wastewater systems, as assigned • Contact public water/wastewater systems to schedule FMT assistance visits, typically within a defined geographic area, as assigned • Perform FMT assessments or consolidations of public water/wastewater systems as assigned • Contact potential applicants of Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF) or applicants of other TWDB funds to schedule assessments, as assigned by Environmental Services Director • Assist the Environmental Services Director in attaining the goals of the Association and perform other duties as assigned Minimum qualifications for this position include: • State of Texas Class B or higher certification in surface water or groundwater • Three (3) or more years of water and/or wastewater utility experience, including providing technical assistance and training services to water and wastewater utilities • Knowledgeable in state and federal regulations that apply to public water and/or wastewater systems • Knowledgeable in the forms and applications of TCEQ that apply to all retail public utilities • Familiarity with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements and TCEQ rules concerning water quality and water utilities • Experience in word processing, excel spreadsheet, and database applications • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • Maintain thorough knowledge of all state and federal regulations as they apply to water and wastewater utilities • Ability to learn technical material • Ability to exercise independent judgement in advising utilities regarding their business operations • Maintain valid Texas drivers’ license • Must be bilingual in Spanish This description covers essential functions and is not a comprehensive list of job duties. For the full job description, visit our posting on our website at www.trwa.org/TRWAJobs. To apply, email a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to jason.knobloch@trwa.org.
30
Quench — 2020 - Issue 6
Plan Ahead CONFERENCES:
January 21-22, 2021 TRWA/TWCA Water Law Seminar, Virtual March 25-26, 2021 RuralWaterCon 2021, Renaissance Austin
OPERATOR TRAINING COURSES: Learn more about our upcoming classroom and online training options at www.trwa.org/training
Answer to "From the Hole" math question from page 27: In this question we are given a pipe size, the flow of the pipe and are asked for the rate of the flow in gallons per minute. The formula to achieve flow rate is the Q=A x V — the flow rate in cubic feet per second being Q, the area in square feet is A and the flow in feet per second is V. Now we arrange our numbers: the square foot of a 6” pipe can be achieved by converting the pipe to feet then finding the radius. 6 ÷ 12 ÷ 2 or .25’ Now we can solve for square feet: 3.14 x .25’ x .25’ = .196 square feet, which is now our A value. The V value is given at 3 feet per second. We can now solve for Q: .196 x 3 = .589 cubic feet per second. The conversion from cubic foot per second to gallons per minute is cubic feet per second x 449. Knowing that, we can now solve the problem: .589 x 449 = 264 ½ GPM
Advertiser Index AIA Insurance Agency......................................... Page 21 Childress Engineers...................................................... 11 CoBank...........................................................................20 Daniel & Brown, Inc.......................................................27 Hayes Engineering........................................................16 J.F. Fontaine & Associates...........................................28 KSA Engineers...............................................................24 Maguire Iron...................................................................24 NewGen Strategies & Solutions...................................27 Pittsburg Tank & Tower Maintenance Co., Inc............24 Preload...........................................................................27 Russell Drilling Co., Inc................................................24 SAMCO...........................................................................23 Smith Pump Co., Inc........................................................9 USABlueBook................................................ Back Cover Quench — 2020 Issue 6 31
1616 Rio Grande| Austin, TX 78701-1122 Telephone: (512) 472-8591 | Fax: (512) 472-5186 www.trwa.org
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