Quench - May/June 2018

Lead and Copper Rule — Action Level Exceedance Procedures

Also Inside:

TRWA Emerging Leader Connects Water System with Local School TRWA Partners with TXWARN to Enhance Emergency Response Efforts May / June 2018 www.trwa.org

TRWA Today

TRWA Board of Directors

Officers Brian Macmanus President Cameron (Dist. 6)

Chris Boyd Vice-President Denton (Dist. 3) Bruce Alexander Secretary Medina (Dist. 2)

Barry Miller Treasurer

Gonzales (Dist. 5)

Pat Allen Immediate Past President Guadalupe (Dist. 9)

District Directors Mark Gardenhire

Shackelford (Dist. 1)

Delores Atkinson Lampasas (Dist. 4)

Clay Hodges Hunt (Dist. 7) Charles Beseda Hill (Dist. 8)

Kent Watson Brazos (Dist. 10)

Kevin Spence Franklin (Dist. 11)

Shirley Thompson Kaufman (Dist. 12)

Robert Nettles Walker (Dist. 13)

Rhonda Shaw Rusk (Dist. 14)

Established in 1969, the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) is a statewide nonprofit trade association with an active membership consisting of approximately 750 nonprofit water supply corporations, water districts, small-town water departments and investorowned utilities. In addition, more than 200 water industry suppliers participate in TRWA activities as associate members. TRWA members provide water and wastewater service to 2.5 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 onsite technical assistance, education and information exchange, TRWA helps its members better meet their needs as well as the needs of their customers.

2

Quench — May / June 2018

Leadership Team

Lara Zent

Allison Kaminsky

Lisa Adams

Larry Bell

Celia Eaves

Janice Gibbs, CPA

Trent Hightower

Jason Knobloch

Angela Russell, CMP

Executive Director and General Counsel Deputy Executive Director Foundation Development Director Technical Assistance Director Professional Development and Training Director Finance Director Assistant General Counsel Environmental Services Director Member Services Director

Melody Bennett

Ross Brookbank

Pam Cantrell

Emily Collins

Kelsey Copeland

Patti Flunker

Angela Harris

Andrew Montemayor

Ariane Walker

Amanda Wilson

Project Support Specialist Assistant Projects Manager, Environmental Services Accounting Support Specialist Administrative Assistant Communications Specialist Executive/Legal Assistant Project Support Specialist Instructional Designer Training Support Specialist Member Services Coordinator

Thomas Acker, Jr.

Michael Beadnell

Nathan Cantrell

Alex Eaves

Paul King

Deborah McMullan

Steven Mindt

Charles Perkins

Bruce Pearson

Refugio Rodriguez

James Smith

Quentin Turner

William White

Gilbert Ybarbo

Instructor Instructor Wastewater Technician Wastewater Technician Circuit Rider Source Water Protection Specialist FMT Specialist Circuit Rider Instructor FMT Specialist Circuit Rider FMT Specialist Assistant Technical Assistance Director FMT Specialist

Office Staff

Field Staff

Contact the Editor

Editorial and advertising inquiries may be directed to the Editor, Allison Kaminsky, at 512-472-8591 or editor@trwa.org.

Join the conversation at: www.facebook.com/TexasRuralWaterAssn Find us at @TexasRuralWater and @TRWALegislative for industry and legislative news relevant to you!

Features:

7 8 10

8

27 29

Letter from the President Letter from the Executive Director Keep it Legal Answers to your legal questions

Ask Larry Answers to your technical questions

Advertiser Index Plan Ahead

TRWA’s Calendar of Events

4 5 14

By Angela Russell, Texas Rural Water Association There is still time to register for TRWA's top summer conference! Read more about what our Tech Conference has in store for attendees this year.

TRWA Emerging Leader Connects Water System with Local School

10 In Every Issue:

Get some Vitamin Sea! Sign up Today for TRWA's Training and Technical Conference

By Amanda Ramos, East Rio Hondo WSC As part of her participation in TRWA's Emerging Leaders Program, Amanda Ramos engaged her community by inviting a local school to tour the ERHWSC plants.

By Lisa Adams, Texas Rural Water Foundation Meet this year's recipients of the TRWF Student Scholarships!

16 How to Maintain Pipe Integrity

By Ed Nunes, Krausz USA Read about three major repair strategies that managers can use to boost the durability of water and wastewater systems.

21

22

25

27

Sharyland WSC Celebrates 50 Years

29

TRWA Welcomes New Employees

On the Cover: "Deep in Mud," North Alamo WSC, PH 2OTOSTREAM 2018 Category Finalist

30

Welcome to TRWA's New Utility Members

TRWA Partners with TXWARN to Enhance Emergency Response Efforts

By Allison Kaminsky, Texas Rural Water Association We are excited to announce our new partnership with the Texas Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network!

18 31 31

Four Lucky Seniors Receive TRWF's 2018 Student Scholarships

Technical Assistance Corner: Lead and Copper Rule — Action Level Exceedance Procedures

By Jason Knobloch, Texas Rural Water Association Learn more about what to do when your water tests beyond the acceptable limits of lead and copper.

Understanding the Importance of Return Activated Sludge

By Thomas Acker, Texas Rural Water Association Need help understanding the activated sludge process?

Read on for an overview of how RAS moves through a treatment plant.

By Sherilyn Dahlberg, Sharyland WSC On May 22, 2018, Sharyland WSC celebrated its golden anniversary.

Since the last issue of Quench, we have had a few staffing changes at TRWA! We are excited to announce TRWA's new 2018 Utility Members.

Quench — May / June 2018 3

President’s Message Howdy Texas Rural Water Association!

“During these times of high demand for our quality product, it is more important than ever that we maintain an atmosphere of great customer service.”

Wow, a nice long cool spring rapidly turned into a scorching hot summer.

Water demands are up in Deep South Texas and likely across the entire state. I mentioned in my last message that we all need to be true to rural. During these times of high demand for our quality product, it is more important than ever that we maintain an atmosphere of great customer service. This great customer service is what puts TRWA members ahead of our larger urban counterparts and keeps us true to rural. Our customer base is always demanding more from us. Take the time to step back and assess the level of customer service that your utility is providing.

When a customer calls on the phone or walks in the door, are they greeted with a smile and pleasant “hello”? Don't give them the default big corporate America "Hello, welcome to ______." Look them in the eye and/or speak with conviction. Do we engage a customer with a specific problem and treat them with the importance that they are to our organizations? Our customers are why we receive our paychecks.

Despite frequently being unappreciated, we all need to stay positive and remind ourselves for whom we work. Always take that extra effort to let them know you truly care. Giving them your attention alone is half of the battle in good customer service. Always ask yourself, "How would I want to be treated in this situation?"

My utility recently underwent customer service training for all of our employees. It was a very productive experience and greatly motivated the employees to stay focused on customer service. Our efforts are now focused on being best in class for our service field. I hope all systems can undertake a similar effort.

Our 2018 PAC fundraising efforts can still use your help if you have not yet sponsored at the Bronze, Silver or Gold level. This is definitely a team effort — please come on board!

Until next time, keep the water going with a smile.

Be Good,

Brian E. Macmanus, P.E. President Texas Rural Water Association

4

Quench — May / June 2018

Letter from the Executive Director

During the Legislative Interim, the Texas House and Senate committees conduct hearings on a variety of issues to educate themselves prior to the next legislative session. TRWA has been attending hearings on groundwater permitting held by the House Natural Resources and the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs Committees.

In these hearings, we listen to the testimony and the perspectives of the various legislators, taking note of who we need to follow up with and who may be our allies and opponents on future legislation. In the fall, the House Natural Resources Committee plans to hold a hearing on the CCN decertification issue where we will play an active role. If your system has stories or challenges on groundwater permitting or decertification, please share them with us. When we meet with legislators, they request several specific examples of the challenges we describe.

During the Interim is a great time for you to meet with your legislators, form relationships with them and educate them about your water system and what opportunities and challenges you are facing. It’s important to establish these relationships before your legislator gets bogged down with the next legislative session. The relationships our members foster are key to the success we have in Austin and may also prove beneficial to you at the local level. For example, we had a couple of members in east Texas that were having difficulty dealing with their local Texas Department of Transportation office. One text from their friend, the local state rep, to a key TxDOT official helped get the channels of communication flowing and the issue resolved.

If your local lawmakers know you, what you represent and respect you, they will listen to what you have to say and pay more attention when they hear from you on key issues compared to someone unfamiliar to them.

These relationships are mutually beneficial. Your representatives want to know you and what they can do to help the people they represent.

“If your system has stories or challenges on groundwater permitting or decertification, please share them with us.”

At our Annual Convention in April, we held a Legislative Strategy Session to discuss grassroots engagement and to request that individuals commit to cultivating relationships with their state reps and senators by passing around a sign-up sheet. Trent Hightower, our new Assistant General Counsel, recently followed up with these individuals to provide them with suggestions on how to get started. Trent also posted talking points on TRWA’s key legislative issues on our website, along with a guide on how to develop and maintain relationships with legislators and their aides. These resources may be found at https://www.trwa.org/page/legislativeagenda.

Trent will continue to follow up with this group every few months with new ideas and suggestions to keep the momentum going. If you would like to join us in this effort, please contact me or Trent. Thank you to those of you who have already volunteered to assist us in this important endeavor!

My best,

Lara Zent Executive Director and General Counsel Texas Rural Water Association

Quench — May / June 2018 5

O

ne of the numerous benefits of a membership with the Texas Rural Water Association you hold in your very hands — our bimonthly magazine, Quench.

Year by year, our magazine has become more and more popular, thanks to you, our loyal readers!

To ensure the continued success of Quench, we have decided to implement a new subscription process for 2017. This will help us speak to the increased demand and associated production costs by ensuring an accurate and manageable distribution list.

Your membership with TRWA will continue to include complimentary subscriptions to Quench: •

Regular Utility Members — Up to five (5) complimentary subscriptions

•

Associate Members — One (1)

•

Use our online form: TRWA's website now has an online subscription form, accessible by clicking the “Publications” tab on our menu. With this form, you can update your system's list to reflect who you'd like to receive the included subscriptions, as well as purchase any additional subscriptions you may want to add to your account.

•

Download a form: You may also download the form from our website, fill it out and send it to editor@trwa.org, or fax it to (512) 472-5186.

We will issue your system’s complimentary copies of Quench to the main mailing address for your utility, beginning with our January/February issue, until any updates are received.

If you have any questions or if this new subscription process creates a financial hardship for your system, please contact us at editor@trwa.org or call (512) 472-8591.

6

Quench — May / June 2018

Get Some Vitamin Sea! Sign up Today for TRWA's Training and Technical Conference

By Angela Russell, Member Services Director, Texas Rural Water Association

R

egister now for the 2018 Training and Technical Conference in Galveston July 11-12 for educational sessions by the sea.

This year’s program has something for everyone, whether you are a director, manager, operator or administrative staff of a water/wastewater system.

Several classes are being offered before the conference officially kicks off. Customer Service Inspections & Cross-Connection Control offers 16 hours of continuing education Monday and Tuesday.

Water Utility Safety and Water Utility Management are both 20-hour courses held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Public Funds Investment Act training takes place Tuesday and includes either four hours toward renewal or six initial hours. This year, those who sign up for one of the 20-hour courses will receive a discount code toward registration at the Tech Conference. Sign up for the course online first, and then use the code that is emailed to you to save $50 on your Tech Conference registration.

The conference begins with a General Session on Wednesday, July 11, and offers 20 unique breakout sessions so you can choose the courses that are most important to you and your system. Water and wastewater operator certification credit has been approved by TCEQ. Check out the full agenda on our website at www.trwa.org.

You’ll want to visit the exhibit hall at the Galveston Island Convention Center, where water and wastewater industry vendors will showcase their products and services. Enjoy breakfast in the exhibit hall Wednesday and Thursday mornings, and network with peers and vendors at Thursday’s Vendor Showcase Lunch, included with your registration.

Texas Rural Water Political Action Committee (PAC).

This family-friendly event features a catfish dinner, trivia challenge and games for the family. Pre-register early so that we can have an accurate headcount for all those hush puppies! Shuttles will run from the San Luis Hotel to the fish fry, which will take place at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Tickets for the Family Fun Fish Fry are just $15 per adult and $10 per children under 18. For an additional $10, register your team of up to six people for the Trivia Showdown. We encourage you to use a personal form of payment (personal check, credit card or cash) so your registration fee can help us reach our annual goal of raising $50,000 for PAC. PAC funds are distributed to legislators who understand our issues and support rural water. A PAC contribution helps open their doors to consider our positions on issues important to TRWA members.

To sign up for the fish fry, visit www.trwa.org and click on the “PAC” tab in the navigation bar to find the TRWA Family Fun Fish Fry menu item. There you will be able to find a downloadable registration form for both attendees and sponsors. Please sign up or RSVP now to save your spot.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Tech Conference and for the Family Fun Fish Fry. Sponsorships help defray costs for the association and attendees and are an excellent way to show your company’s support of rural water. If you are an associate member, contact us at (512) 472-8591. A list of sponsorships can be found on our website.

Last year’s exhibit hall “Check in for the Win” game was a big hit among attendees and exhibitors alike, and we are bringing it back for 2018. Pick up a game card at the registration desk and get it stamped by all the exhibitors you visit. Completely stamped cards may be turned in to the registration desk for a chance to win an Amazon gift card!

Galveston offers many attractions for visitors, including 32 miles of beaches, historic homes such as the 1892 Bishop’s Palace and the 1895 Moody Mansion, museums such as the Galveston Railroad Museum, and the Pleasure Pier, featuring rides and midway games. Visit downtown and peruse boutiques, shops and art galleries. Nearby Moody Gardens features Rainforest and Aquarium Pyramids, paddlewheel boat cruises, 3D and 4D theaters, and is next door to Schlitterbahn Waterpark. There is so much to see and do while you are in Galveston!

Wednesday night is the third annual Family Fun Fish Fry, hosted by AIA Insurance, in support of the

We look forward to seeing you and your family at the Technical & Training Conference!

Quench — May / June 2018 7

TRWA Emerging Leader Connects Water System with Local School

By Amanda Ramos, Administrative Services Manager, East Rio Hondo WSC

L

ast March, I learned that the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) was beginning their new professional development program, TRWA Emerging Leaders, to begin cultivating a new generation of leaders in our industry. I knew immediately I wanted to be a part of this program because I love and enjoy what I do, and I want to become a significant leader in our industry.

As an employee of East Rio Hondo Water Supply Corporation (ERHWSC), I have had the opportunity of learning more about rural water than I ever imagined possible. This industry is continuously evolving, which makes our day-to-day interesting, to say the least. As leaders move on to enjoy their retirement, they leave most of their predecessors with big shoes to fill. I think it is crucial that a new set of leaders receive the training they need to someday take charge of a water system and TRWA. I was honored when I received my acceptance letter to participate in the inaugural Emerging Leaders Program class in May 2017. I quickly learned that one of the program requirements was to complete a major community project by the end of October. I knew I had a few months to prepare before my deadline, but I was undecided on which project to select.

One thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to incorporate something with our local schools and students. In my opinion, A selfie while the students observed the educating filter backwash. The safety equipmnt for the children the tour was donated by one of ERHWSC's about our vendors, C&S Safety Supply.

8

Quench — May / June 2018

ERHWSC Operations Manager Eric Haydon explains the process of the clarifier to the touring students.

industry and the process of providing safe and plentiful potable water is extremely important.

My first plan was to have a booth at a local school’s Career Day. I contacted two local school districts: Rio Hondo ISD and Los Fresnos CISD, but I did not receive a response. Then I realized they were out on summer vacation, so I decided to wait a few weeks and tried again in early August. By that time, I figured the administrative staff would be getting back to school to prepare for the new school year. Again, I did not receive a response from Rio Hondo ISD, but was excited when I received a response from Los Fresnos CISD. They said they would be glad to have us, but…their Career Day was scheduled for December. I was disappointed to learn this because my project deadline was in October, so I knew that option wouldn’t work.

During my monthly coaching sessions with my coach and mentor Sherilyn Dahlberg, we discussed the possibility of touring a water treatment plant or providing information to the students at my local church. My first choice was having a few students tour the water treatment plant because they could see firsthand how potable water is treated before it comes out of the faucet, and I would have the opportunity to learn as well, but I wasn’t sure if this could be an option because of the potential liability. I decided to ask my boss, ERHWSC General Manager Brian Macmanus, and he was very supportive of this choice.

Having less than 60 days to plan and prepare for the potential tour, I immediately reached out to the principals of the local schools and was ecstatic when I received responses immediately from the Los Fresnos CISD principals. They provided me with the information for the teachers who they thought would be interested on bringing their students to tour our facility. After I reached out, one of the teachers responded and was very excited about the possibility of bringing her students to tour the plant.

She mentioned that they had toured other facilities in our region and that they would love to tour both the water and wastewater plants because the process of treating wastewater was a requirement for the students to learn for them to pass her class. After a few discussions, we agreed on a date.

I reached out to Eric Haydon, ERHWSC Operations Manager (and fellow Emerging Leaders Program classmate), and asked if he could be our tour guide, and he agreed. I was happy that everything was finally coming together. Eric then asked a local vendor if they could donate safety equipment, such has hard hats and safety glasses. I followed up with him, and they agreed to donate the equipment, which was definitely a win for us.

On the day of the tour, we started off at the Martha Ann Simpson Water Treatment Plant. Eric is the go-to guy when it comes to water treatment, so he provided a very informative tour of the water treatment plant. I enjoyed learning and also seeing the students’ reaction to the process of treating water.

We then continued to the wastewater plant, and Eric and his department provided a tour of that facility as well.

The tour was a success! Establishing a relationship with the school teacher will be a great community outreach resource for us as in the future as we continue to schedule her students to tour our facilities.

I could not have completed this project without the help of my mentors Brian Macmanus and Sherilyn Dahlberg, and my coworkers, especially our tour guide Eric and his department.

TRWA will begin accepting applications for the 2019-20 Emerging Leaders Program class this winter. If you have any questions about this program, visit www.trwa.org or contact leadership@trwa.org.

Name of Project: Montgomery Mud Location: Texas Customer: Schier Construction

Name of Project: Azle Avenue Location: Texas Customer: City of Dallas

Glass Fused To Steel Low Maintenance

No Repainting EVER! Licensed Contractor

Next time you need water or wastewater storage tanks

GO WITH THE BRAND YOU KNOW

AND TRUST-AQUASTORE! WWW.TEXAS-AQUASTORE.COM Phone 903.870.5000 – sales@texas-aquastore.com Quench — May / June 2018 9

Four Lucky Seniors Receive TRWF's 2018 Student Scholarships

By Lisa Adams, Foundation Development Director, Texas Rural Water Foundation

W

e are pleased to announce the 2018 Texas Rural Water Foundation (TRWF) scholarship recipients. This year, the TRWF Board of Directors reviewed 41 applications from highly qualified students.

The grading process is taken very seriously by the TRWF Board, who diligently review each applicant’s information and submission essay. The required essay gives students a chance to share about their personal strengths, future academic goals and how their ambitions will benefit the rural water/wastewater industry and/or the larger rural Texas community.

This year, four student scholarships were awarded to deserving high school seniors in the amount of $2,000 each. The scholarships will be dispersed directly to the student in two installments of $1,000 per semester upon proof of enrollment.

Continue reading to learn more about this year’s Student Scholarship Recipients: Jaden Hart (Lamar County Water Supply) Jaden is a senior at Prairiland High School in Pattonville, Texas. He enjoys fishing, dove hunting, playing the banjo, spending time with his family and his church youth group. During his childhood, while playing in a nearby stream with a tree that had been uprooted from straight-line winds, Jaden discovered that a portion of the water flow disappeared entirely underground near the uprooted tree.

Located 20 feet away, a small stream of water flowed out from the side of the creek.

Realizing it was the same stream, from then on, Jaden was hooked 10

Quench — May / June 2018

on anything regarding water and weather. With an interest in both Hydrology and Meteorology, he decided to combine these two favorite subjects and wants to become a Hydrometeorologist. He has been accepted at the University of Texas A&M Commerce (TAMUC) and will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Environmental Sciences in August 2018. He will then transfer to the College of Geosciences at Texas A&M University College Station in order to complete his master's degree in Water Management & Hydrological Science with a minor in Meteorology. For his future career in Hydrometeorology, he hopes to do research on finding and developing more efficient and costeffective ways to access the vast underground water supply here in Texas, along with studying weather patterns and hazards of hydrometeorological origin and the mitigation of their effects in the agricultural regions that are considered crucial to the food supply.

Ryan Coggins (Mountain Water Supply) Ryan is a proud Texas resident who wishes to become a public servant in the political world.

He has already started and will continue to dedicate his life to helping others. Ryan wants to show people that not all politicians are there for their own personal gain. He wants to make a lasting impression and help to make a difference in the world. This year, he challenged himself and raised the bar by running for Gatesville ISD School Board of Trustee. Ryan placed 5th out of 13 in a race for three At-Large seats. He plans to attend

McClennan Community College for two years to achieve an associate degree in General Education Studies and transfer to a university to receive a bachelor’s degree with a double major in History and Political Science with a minor in Economics. His goal is to become Governor of Texas, and hopefully, President of the United States. Ryan shared that it is a true honor to receive this TRWF Scholarship, which will enable him to continue dedicating his life to helping and serving others. In this case, he can use his political aspirations to help with the Texas water industry and to help with legislation that can help with changes and improvements for clean and safe water.

Kinsey Kelly (Bloomburg Water Supply Corporation) Kinsey is a graduate of Atlanta High School in Atlanta, Texas.

She plans to attend college and take general study courses until she decides what field she wants to pursue.

During high school, Kinsey played on varsity basketball and softball. She was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. She was a top scholar at Atlanta High School. She enjoys singing and is a member of the First Baptist Church of Bloomburg. Her interest in the water industry stems from reading meters with her grandmother at Bloomburg Water Supply Corporation. Her experiences showed Kinsey the financial challenges in small cities, and that water is necessary to us all and safe drinking water is essential to everybody.

While working with her grandmother, she has been bitten by dogs and stung by wasps. She shares that reading meters can be quite a challenge, too. She has been reading meters for two years, which made her realize how important water is. She is going to continue reading meters while attending college.

Kinsey would like to take some courses in business

or environmental studies to get more knowledgeable in the water industry and to help in the future.

Rachel Raabe (Three Oaks Water Supply Corporation) One of Rachel’s earliest memories is sitting in the Kindergarten classroom at five years old and wishing to be an engineer when she grew up. It was not until high school that Rachel started to seriously consider what she was going to do after her graduation. She started looking more closely at engineering and what the job and education requirements entailed. She was then able to start formulating her goals and decided that she would like to earn a degree in civil engineering. Eventually, she would like to pursue a master’s degree at Texas A&M and earn a professional engineering license. Rachel joined two organizations that help students to learn more about civil engineering: F.A.C.E. (Freshman Aspiring to be Civil Engineers) and Concrete Canoe, which enables up-and-coming civil engineers to apply what they’ve learned and design a canoe made from concrete that will be used in competitions at different universities. Rachel’s father is a civil engineer and specializes in water. Civil engineers work closely with the water industry where they design and manage effective water infrastructures such as pipes and storage tanks. Rachel’s goal is to design efficient and reliable infrastructures that will ensure citizens in rural Texas will be provided safe and clean drinking water. *** We appreciate every student who took the time to apply and share their personal stories with us.

If you are going to be a senior this year, and you are interested in applying for the 2019-20 TRWF Student scholarship, applications will be available in November 2018.

Continued on page 13 Quench — May / June 2018 11

When an emergency hits and all the residents are counting on you… you can count on Ferguson Waterworks.

Our Rural Municipal professionals are dedicated to providing service and solutions to customers in urgent situations. We can help you resolve critical challenges with our vast inventory of waterworks products and knowledgeable associates. No matter where you are, Ferguson Waterworks is there to help you with what you need, when you need it.

Find the closest waterworks location near you by visiting

A CALL FOR HELP... ANSWERED.

FERGUSON.COM/WATERWORKS ©2018 Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.

0518 841979

Few things in the waterworks industry have been as innovative as the Mechanical Joint. Times have changed. And so has AMERICAN. Introducing the AMERICAN Flow Control Series 2500 with ALPHATM ends. Now, you can use the same valve for ductile iron, HDPE, PVC, and even cast iron pipe. Unlike MJ, the restraint accessories come attached, leaving only one bolt on each end to tighten. That saves you time and money.

The AMERICAN Series 2500 with ALPHATM ends – it’s the only gate valve you’ll ever need.

ALMOST AN Y MATERIAL .

NO TIME AT ALL .

www.american-usa.com PO Box 2727, Birmingham, AL 35207 • Ph: 1-800-326-8051 • Fx: 1-800-610-3569 EOE/Vets/Disabilites ALPHA™ is a trademark of Romac Industries Inc. (U.S. Patent 8,894,100)

DUCTILE IRON PIPE

12

Quench — May / June 2018

FLOW CONTROL

INTERNATIONAL

SPIRALWELD PIPE

STEEL PIPE

Continued from page 11

Professional Scholarships In January 2018, the TRWF Board voted to make the TRWF Professional Scholarship available year-round to TRWA members and their staff. Each quarter, the Board will review any applications submitted and pick two applicants who will be awarded a scholarship. With proof of registration and completion of an approved TRWA water or wastewater-related operator certification course, conference, or a certificate of completion of the TRWA Emerging Leaders Program, the applicant can be reimbursed for up to $400. To request a professional scholarship application, please email Lisa.Adams@trwa.org or call 512-472-8591.

of the application and will be awarded a higher disbursement.

The TRWF Scholarship Fund is tax deductible.

If you are interested in donating, you may visit the Foundation’s website at www.texasrwf.org. If you have questions about TRWF Scholarships, contact Lisa Adams at foundation@trwa.org.

The Professional Scholarship intends to help advance water professionals’ careers by investing in those with aspirations to gain more knowledge and training, which will in turn, keep the best and brightest in the water and wastewater industry.

We are excited to share with you that in 2019, the Foundation will be introducing the Robert Jekel Scholarship. This prestigious award will go to one lucky scholar who exceeds the requirements

Life depends on water. water depends on you.

Sustaining a rural community is hard work.

Let CoBank handle the financing. n n n n n n

pre-deveLopment Loans interim ConstruCtion Loans refinanCe existing debt term Loans for CapitaL expenditures Leasing Lines of Credit

Get started today:

www.cobank.com

844-846-3135 • water@cobank.com Quench — May / June 2018 13

Keep It Legal

Q:

Answers to Members’ Questions by Trent Hightower, TRWA Assistant General Counsel

A developer approached our Water Supply Corporation (WSC) about providing nonstandard water service to a proposed RV park, and the initial feasibility study indicates that substantial alterations are necessary. The developer now refuses to pay for a final feasibility study, has stated that they plan to drill their own well, and has asked us to state unequivocally whether we are able to supply the park. Since we still don’t know what, if any, alterations are necessary to provide service, how should we respond?

A: We recommend you respond in writing stating that you cannot provide a cost estimate and determination about the feasibility of providing service until the developer pays for the final feasibility study. The developer is searching for an “easy out” so they can move forward with their plan to drill a well without complying with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) regionalization requirements. A public water system is defined as a “system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances… [with] at least 15 service connections or serv[ing] at least 25 individuals at least 60 days out of the year.” See TCEQ’s rules at 30 TAC 290.38(71). Assuming the RV park meets those requirements, it must comply with regulations pertaining to public water systems. Before a new entity can become a public water system, it must show that no other utility in the area can provide them with the needed service or that it is not economically feasible for them to do so. To do this, the entity must submit a complete application and pay your fees to determine whether it you can provide the service and at what cost.

It is also important to note that if the park does become a public water system, it may only provide service to property it owns, and it is barred from providing service to any other areas because that would violate your CCN. See Texas Water Code Section 13.242(b). It is the utility’s burden to police their CCN and file a cease and desist action with the Public Utility Commission if an encroachment occurs.

As it relates to the proposed well, TCEQ regulates well permitting for public water systems and requires 14

Quench — May / June 2018

all new public water systems to submit a TCEQ Public Water System Plan Review Submittal Form, which requires new applicants to submit: • • •

• •

A list of all water utilities within ½ mile of the proposed service area boundaries (reference 30 TAC 290.39(c)(1)) Copies of written responses from each of the entities listed above (reference 30 TAC 290.39(c)(1)) Copies of formal applications for service from each of the following (reference 30 TAC 290.39(c)(1)): • Any municipality if the system is within its ETJ • Any district or other political subdivision whose corporate boundaries are within ½ mile of the proposed service area boundaries • Any other water service provider whose certificated service area boundary is within ½ mile of the proposed service area boundaries Documentation that all application requirements, including fee payments, are current and satisfied.

A cost summary for the proposed project and a business plan (reference 30 TAC 290.39 (f)). The business plan must confirm capital available to construct the system according to TCEQ requirements. For community water systems, the business plan must contain a description of water supply systems within a two-mile radius of the proposed system, copies of written requests seeking to obtain service from each of those drinking water supply systems, and copies of the responses to the written requests.

Q: One of our members has an RV on their property which is connected to a water hose for water service. When our operators go to the property to inspect, the member simply removes the hose. What is our recourse? Can we cut off service to the member?

A: Check your tariff for your WSC’s policies relating to shared connections. The TRWA Sample Tariff allows members in good standing to share

water usage on a temporary basis with RV’s and travel trailers located on the member’s property, provided the member submits a request to the corporation’s business office five days before shared usage begins, and the shared usage does not exceed a period of three months. However, if the RV or travel trailer is being used as a permanent residence, the Sample Tariff requires an additional membership and a separate meter to be installed for the residence. The Sample Tariff also requires additional meters if the member routinely has more than one visitor at a time on their property, or if they have multiple visitors throughout the year.

Additionally, the TRWA Sample Tariff reserves the right for the corporation to refuse or deny the shared usage for any reason. The corporation also has the right to inspect the premises for any potential crosscontamination issues as outlined in the Customer Service Inspection requirements and to ensure that the meter is properly sized for the additional usage at the time of total peak water demand.

In TCEQ’s Regulatory Guidance RG-206, revised May 2009, the TCEQ explicitly addresss the issue of denying service to existing customers with unauthorized cross-connections. In cases of suspected but unverified cross-connections, a water supplier may terminate service with notice if the customer refuses inspection. In cases of known cross-connection or contamination of a public water supply, a water supplier has a duty to terminate service immediately. While notice is preferable, the guidance acknowledges that it is not always feasible.

Before terminating service, we recommend that the system document and retain any evidence it has of the unauthorized connection and the customer’s refusal to allow inspection to demonstrate to TCEQ that the system acted prudently.

Q: What are some of the major considerations a Special Utility District (SUD) should contemplate before issuing debt?

A: As a governmental entity, a SUD is subject to many requirements not applicable to WSCs, so it is critical that the general manager and board carefully review the terms of a proposed loan to determine its validity under Texas law. First, Chapter 65 of the Texas Water Code only authorizes SUDs to issue bonds or notes for the purpose of constructing improvements to its system, or for refunding.

Therefore, a SUD may not simply sign any type of loan agreement; any debt must be in the form of a revenue note or revenue bonds.

Second, Texas Water Code Section 49.181 requires TCEQ approval for the issuance of bonds other than those sold to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Texas Water Development Board, or a federally-chartered instrumentality of the United States. With respect to revenue notes, a water district may not execute a note for a term longer than three years unless approved by TCEQ unless the note is issued to one of the above entities.

Section 49.183 of the Water Code only authorizes a district to sell bonds after advertising for and receiving competitive sealed bids, which must be awarded to the highest bidder that provides the lowest net effective interest rate to the district.

Further, Section 49.184 of the Water Code requires the Attorney General to approve and certify the bonds, and the Comptroller to then register them before bonds may be delivered by a water district.

If the payment obligation is payable only out of the current fiscal year’s appropriated funds, then it may not be considered a public security and may be exempt from AG approval.

Q: Our WSC has a “facilities only” CCN in an area also subject to the CCN of a neighboring municipality. The municipality has informally indicated that they have no plans to provide water service to a new development. Can our WSC extend water service to the development?

A: No, the WSC is not authorized to provide retail service to the new development without the municipality’s consent. A “facilities only” CCN only allows the WSC to provide service to the customers who were connected to your service lines at the time the CCN was granted. If the WSC extends service to a new connection in the municipality’s CCN, the WSC could be subject to a cease and desist action; therefore, the WSC should not commit to provide service to potential connections on the property unless or until the property is included in its own CCN. The most efficient solution to this issue would be for the WSC and the municipality to enter into an agreement to designate or swap service area as contemplated by Texas Water Code Section 13.248. If the municipality is not amenable to such an agreement, the owner of the property could seek decertification of the tract under Texas Water Code Section 13.254(a-1). If granted, your WSC could then amend your CCN to serve that area.

If you have a legal question you would like answered, please email legal@trwa.org.

Quench — May / June 2018 15

How to Maintain Pipe Integrity

By Ed Nunes, Product Manager, Krausz USA

W

ater and wastewater infrastructure is deteriorating due a lack of investment and funding. This means that municipalities and utilities are looking to maintain their systems’ integrity at a minimal cost. What can utility managers do to keep water and wastewater systems durable without replacing pipes, an expensive and time-consuming investment that also causes disruptions?

Here are three repair strategies that managers can use to boost the durability of water and wastewater systems.

1. Restrain pipe where necessary Restraining techniques ensure piping stays connected and help prevent costly repairs that can shut down a water or wastewater system.

Connections such as 45s, 90s, end caps and hydrant connections are common points of restraint since this is where water flow is increased making the connection a potential weak link. Restraints are also used in connections within wells, wastewater lift stations and treatment plants. When considering pipe restraint techniques, it’s important to examine factors that may affect the chances of pipe movement and separation. Criteria to consider include the nature of the piping system, ground movement and other ground stresses.

The Nature of the Piping System The first consideration is the design of the piping system itself. In a pressurized buried pipeline, such as a water main or wastewater force main, axial thrust forces act on the pipe based on changes in fluid velocity, pipe size or pipeline direction. This generally happens at fittings, such as plugs, caps, valves, tees, bends or reducers. Such hot spots definitely need to be restrained.

Ground Movement Earthquakes and ground movement can cause connection failure, beam or shear breaks, and cracks along the length of a pipe. A region’s geographic phenomena can greatly determine how much the ground moves. Some regions regularly experience ground movement, whereas others are relatively stable.

Ground movement can also be caused by 16

Quench — May / June 2018

seasonal weather changes, especially during winter and spring. The ground freezes in the winter, and ice melts in the ground during the spring; both cause major ground shifts. Ground movement is also correlated to extreme weather changes.

Other Ground Stresses Pipe also can be affected by the ground in a variety of other ways. The amount of ledge or rock in the ground can negatively affect piping. If a high level of ledge is in the ground, even slight movements caused by traffic or weather can cause piping to break. Conversely, swampy areas with ground that is moist and spongy moves easily and can also stress pipes. There’s also a long list of other environments that lead to pipes uncoupling, including tidal areas, bridge crossings and pipes running under water. For these circumstances, it’s best to consult with engineers on how to evaluate the risks associated with a distribution system’s environment.

Several techniques are available to restrain pipes, including rodding, thrust blocks and mechanical restraint devices and sleeves. Coupling restraint products are relatively new to the market and can be very helpful. Such couplings use a mechanism to grip the pipes to restrain them. The products have been shown to be effective with relatively low cost, as the restraining technology is within the coupling itself.

Offered in a wide range of diameters, coupling restraints can be useful in situations where utility lines either cross or run parallel to water and wastewater pipes. Such close pipe-to-pipe proximity makes it difficult—if not impossible—to install thrust blocks and rodding.

2. Allow for shock absorbers within the piping system Shifting ground is one of the key reasons why pipes crack or break near where pipes are connected with couplings. This is especially prevalent in the spring when the ground thaws as cold winter temperatures give way to warmer spring weather. To minimize the effect of ground movement, make sure to use repair couplings that allows for angular deflection during installation (i.e. accept pipes which are positioned at a small

angle), as well as continuous dynamic deflection, which helps with absorbing ground movement post-installation over time and minimize future pipe breaks.

In one coupling solution, a specially-designed hydraulic gasket self-inflates using existing water pressure — as water pressure rises in the pipe, water enters the gasket that self-inflates and allows for dynamic deflection of the pipes while maintaining a perfect seal.

3. Make repairs the right way It’s common for installation crews to try to take short cuts with pipe repairs as they want to complete projects as quickly as possible, and municipalities try to maintain their water infrastructure with increasingly tight budgets. While there is great temptation to take shortcuts, these “savings” cost time, money and worker safety.

Pipe repair shortcuts never last, tremendously boosting costs. When repairs must be redone, communities are left to deal with additional repair costs, service interruptions and restricted traffic due to road closures and detours. Not only that, when a crew enters a repair site a second time, the ground is less stable, which can increase the chances of

the ditch caving in. Add it all up, and shortcuts are a bad idea.

Be sure to take the time to measure the pipe outside diameter before to ensure the right sized repair product and to ensure a strong pipe connection that will last. For nighttime repairs, use proper lighting to illuminate work areas and not simply backhoe or excavator lights, which are not strong enough and can compromise safety. Finally, use quality parts. You cannot afford to purchase products that will fail early, requiring another repair, and no utility can afford the cost of making a second repair at the same location. Couplings and clamps that are easy to install can also make repair jobs more efficient, save time and help eliminate installation errors.

Maintaining the integrity of water and wastewater infrastructure is a challenge with budgets being stretched in many cases. By using these strategies, utility managers can help ensure their piping infrastructure remains stable without the expensive step of replacing pipes.

Ed Nunes is a Product Manager for Krausz USA, the creators of HYMAX.

Serving Texas Since 1943

TRWA Ad 2016 (bleeds).pdf 1 2/2/2016 7:57:33 PM

AWWA D110 Type III Tanks

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Planning and Design Services for your Water System TREATMENT ∙ STORAGE ∙ DISTRIBUTION

877.572.3647 KSAENG.COM

888-PRELOAD • www.PRELOAD.com • info@PRELOAD.com Quench — May / June 2018 17

Ask Larry

Q:

A Q&A column with TRWA Technical Assistance Director Larry Bell

Our system has been asked to serve two quadplexes that were until recently supplied by wells that no longer produce water. We had the owner submit a feasibility study and it shows that we can support them. Does the owner have the choice of either getting a meter for each unit or getting one master meter? The quadplexes were built in 2006 and are not located within the boundaries of a city. It is unclear whether the units are part of any government-assisted or subsidized housing programs for low-income residents.

A: Chapter 291, Subchapter H of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) rules govern utility submetering and allocation (30 TAC 291.121 – 291.127). The property owner may have a single master meter as long as the property is not divided or does not consist of separate tracts of land. If it is a single tract of land and the plumbing to each of these eight units is all combined into one common line, then a master meter would probably be the better option for this applicant. By having only one meter to maintain near the road system, the owner would not be responsible for installing and thereafter maintaining individual lines and meters to each of the dwellings, or for disconnecting and reconnecting each individual unit’s separate water meter.

intends to keep the well for irrigation purposes, it cannot be tied back into any line connected to the system’s new master meter.

As it relates to the property’s location within or outside of a city, or its participation in any government-assisted or subsidized housing programs, it will be the owner’s responsibility to notify any necessary authorities of the new source of water, if required, since the system is merely supplying potable water to the property from a master meter.

Q: A buyer is in the process of purchasing 100+ acres of raw land with the intention of doing some improvements, subdividing into four smaller tracts, and selling the tracts individually.

This is not a traditional subdivision or planned community, but at some point the new owners will probably request a meter (the property has one meter currently).

Does this situation qualify as a nonstandard service agreement which would require the current purchaser of the full 100 acres to provide plats, pay engineering fees, and comply with other requirements? What about situations where an existing landowner decides to sell off parcels of their original tract and do not contact the system prior to the sale of the property? What happens when new owners come to us wanting a meter?

"The property owner may have a single master meter as long as the property is not divided or does not consist of separate tracts of land. ”

The date of construction is not relevant to the issue of whether a single master meter or individual meters would be preferable; however, it is important when considering the required customer service inspection (CSI) which must be completed for all eight units and the tract of property to be served. The CSI inspector should make a note on the CSI form stating that the well has been completely disconnected from all the potable water lines serving the dwelling units. Also, since the lead ban was in effect when the units were constructed in 2006, the CSI inspector should use swabs to test the plumbing for led. Finally, if the property owner 18

Quench — May / June 2018

A: The current purchaser in the situation you have outlined qualifies as a “developer” under Texas Water Code Section 13.2502, which defines a developer as a “person who subdivides land or requests more than two water or sewer service connections on a single contiguous tract of land.”

That section and the Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) rules in 16 TAC Section 24.85 which apply to water supply corporations (WSCs) and Special Utility Districts (SUDs) provide this modified definition of a subdivision which may be different from the one used by cities and counties.

Section 13.2502 also provides that if a WSC or SUD publishes notice of their subdivision service policy and the developer does not comply with that policy, the system is not required to provide service to that subdivision or development. The law allows systems to require the necessary information such as a plat of the property, so they can properly size new line(s), determine where they should be connected, and determine whether their current facilities are sufficient to serve the area or whether upgrades will be required. Your policy may also require the developer to pay the necessary upgrade costs, provide the system with the groundwater rights to the property, and provide the necessary easements so the utility can provide the service there.

By putting these requirements on the developer, the Legislature has allowed these systems to operate more efficiently in their planning and allocation of lines and facilities. The person(s) dividing this property should be taking care of all this business upfront and not leaving it to the system or subsequent purchasers to spend countless hours sorting out how to secure easements or alternate routes to provide service to a location which is within that original “subdivision.” After all, the “developer” is the one making money off the sale of these tracts of land, not the system, so why should the system be taking care of issues which are the developer’s responsibility as part of doing business?

If the developer does not work with the system to ensure the future access to water at the subdivided lots, you have a problem when subsequent buyers apply for meters. The system will seem like the bad guy when they refuse to provide the service or charge an exorbitant amount for one connection. You may want to notify the seller/previous owner in writing that their buyers will be unable to receive service until they have complied with your subdivision service policy for securing service to the area.

If word gets around that the system can’t serve tracts/parcels of property subdivided from this developer, the developer may have a lawsuit or two their hands for selling property that lacks access to public water. Many systems facing this issue have also contacted local realtors to make sure that they’re not advertising property for sale as having water available without first verifying that availability with the local service provider.

Now-a-days systems can communicate with developers, realters and potential buyers

through their websites. The system may post their complete policies or portions of their policies online to get the word out. Unfortunately, many systems tend to wait until something blows up before deciding to take this kind of proactive approach. It is always better to keep the members/customers and the public informed of current and changed policies.

Even if they fail to read the information mailed to them or made available online, at least the system’s board and staff can point to their good faith attempts to keep the community informed about potentially costly issues.

Q: A neighboring WSC wants to get an interconnection with our WSC. They have a 2” line that comes within a few feet of ours, and they want to be able to tie into our line in the event of an emergency. We have almost 1,800 active connections and five wells. What kind of advice can you give us? Are there any pitfalls we should be aware of?

A: 30 TAC Section 290.44 addresses the general steps TCEQ requires engineers and systems to address when preparing for an interconnection with another public water system.

Some of the key areas to address include, but are not limited to: •

A written contract. Your contract should set the maximum gallons of water to be provided per minute and accumulatively over the course of a day, week, or month. Your engineer’s hydraulic pressure study may indicate that your system can only provide 40 GPM at that interconnection or up to 100 GPM. Whatever that GPM is should be the basis of the allowable flow of water into the receiving system’s piping.

•

Pressure and Volume. If there is not sufficient pressure or volume of water available from that 2” main line, then some paralleling of lines back into your system may be required to ensure volume and pressures are adequate to meet the flow requirements of the receiving system.

•

Master Meter. You should agree with the receiving system as to which system has access to this meter, which system reads the meter, and that there will be a monthly water bill at an agreed-upon rate per thousand gallons.

Continued on page 20 Quench — May / June 2018 19

Continued from page 19

•

Isolation Valves. Valves installed prior to and after all interconnection components have been installed.

•

Flush and Valve Sampling Port. These two devices allow the system to flush water until it is clear of debris or from time to time as the need arises. The sampling port allows for water quality tests to be collected at the source of the water and can be installed either before or after the master meter.

•

Security. Some type of vault, building, or intruder-resistant fencing should be installed to keep the public from tampering with these valves, meter and controls.

If you have a technical question you would like answered, please email larry.bell@trwa.org.

THE CONFERENCE FOR Water & Wastewater Utility Systems Large & Small, Municipal & Rural Operations, Management, Boardsmanship & Governance

WaterProConference.org

FORT WORTH, TEXAS SEPTEMBER 17-19, 2018

Register Now at WaterProConference.org 20

Quench — May / June 2018

TRWA Partners with TXWARN to Enhance Emergency Response Efforts

By Allison Kaminsky, Deputy Executive Director, Texas Rural Water Association

W

e are excited to announce our new partnership with the Texas Water/ Wastewater Agency Response Network (TXWARN). TXWARN, a well-established mutual aid network, is free to all utilities in the state of Texas and provides its members with emergency planning, response and recovery assistance and information before, during and after an emergency. In turn, TRWA’s Board plans to dissolve our Rural Water Emergency Assistance Cooperative (RWEAC) and will be coordinating our emergency response efforts with TXWARN. Our members will benefit from being part of this larger network.

TRWA is joining forces with the TXWARN program to provide member-utilities: •

• •

• • •

Membership does not create an obligation to respond in any given emergency.

The TXWARN website allows you to match your needs and resources with those of other utilities around the state. It also provides member-utilities with emergency planning, response and recovery information before, during and after an emergency.

In the event of a local emergency or natural disaster, TRWA members can still call our emergency response hotline at 1-866-586-6480 for assistance.

We will continue to provide resources and manpower to help you get your utilities back up and running and protect the health and welfare of your communities and customers. Additionally, our generators are available to TRWA members for any local emergency situation.

If you find your system in need, contact us at 512-472-8591 to utilize one of our seven generators that are housed across the state.

"In the event of a local emergency or natural disaster, TRWA members can still call our emergency response hotline at 1-866586-6480 for assistance.”

A standard omnibus mutual assistance agreement and process for sharing emergency resources among members statewide.

The resources to respond and recover more quickly from a disaster.

A mutual assistance program consistent with other statewide mutual aid programs.

A forum for developing and maintaining emergency contacts and relationships.

New ideas from lessons learned in disasters.

Training to assist utilities be better prepared for disaster response and recovery.

Other partners of TXWARN include the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas section of the American Water Works Association, Water Environment Association of Texas, Texas Water Utility Association, the Division of Emergency Management of the Office of the Governor, the Texas Municipal Utilities Association and Communities Unlimited.

If your utility is not already a member of this network, we encourage you to begin the sign-up process by visiting www.txwarn.org and click on “Register” to enroll your utility. If you’re already a TXWARN member, please take a moment to log into the website and update your information.

We believe that our partnership with TXWARN is the best way to meet everyone’s water-related needs in the event of a disaster. As the nationwide WARN system expands, mutual aid to and from other states will make TXWARN the most powerful tool in Texas for a utility’s recovery from a disaster.

More information can be found at www.txwarn.org.

If you have any questions about the program, you Quench Bus Card Ad 2018 .qxp 2/22/18 8:01 PM Page 1 may email info@txwarn.org.

1-800-327-9761 (except FL) E-mail: regal@regalchlorinators.com

TEL (772) 288-4854 FAX (772) 287-3238

Your TRUSTED Selection for Water Disinfection

1044 S.E. Dixie Cutoff Road, Stuart, FL 34994 USA www.regalchlorinators.com

ONLY 68 PARTS IN OUR CHLORINATOR Quench — May / June 2018 21

Technical Assistance Corner: Lead and Copper Rule — Action Level Exceedance Procedures

By Jason Knobloch, Environmental Services Director, Texas Rural Water Association

S

ince the inception of the Lead and Copper rule (LCR) in 1991, regulations have been set for public water systems in an effort to maintain safe, acceptable limits of lead and copper in drinking water for utility customers. The LCR not only addresses the lead and copper limits, but the corrosivity of the water that could allow them to leach out. As of 2017, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) increased the number of constituents monitored to better aid in identifying water corrosivity in Texas, and they include alkalinity, calcium, chloride, conductivity, hardness, iron, manganese, sodium, sulfate, total dissolved solids, pH, temperature and an inhibitor if used. The method of completing this is through Water Quality Parameter (WQP) sampling. WQP sampling under the LCR is used to identify the physical properties and chemical characteristics that help the public water supply and the TCEQ determine water corrosivity and the appropriate method of corrosion control treatment if necessary.

The LCR, located in Title 30 TAC 290.117, includes various triggers that would require a system to conduct WQP sampling. The rule states that large systems over 50,000 in population, newly discovered systems, systems with a new water source and/or a long-term change in treatment, and systems that have had an Action Level Exceedance (ALE) for lead and copper are required to perform WQP sampling. WQP sampling includes collecting samples from the entry points and in the distribution system. Tables located in 290.117 specify the required number of samples to be taken from each location and are based on population.

Just like all monitoring, a Public Water Supply (PWS) must have WQP sample sites identified in the system’s monitoring plan (290.121). WQP sites are not required to be the same locations as the lead and copper sites. They can be at any location in the distribution designated as your WQP sample site(s), including using bacteriological sites. As with all monitoring, it is best practice to identify more sample locations than required in the event that one or more of them are inaccessible when needed.

As part of the WQPs, field measurements for 22

Quench — May / June 2018

temperature and pH are required and must be taken within 15 minutes of the time samples are collected. 30 TAC 290.119 states that all drinking water compliance samples must be analyzed by an approved lab. Since the sampler would need to obtain this data when collecting, the PWS must submit TCEQ form 10450 to be considered an approved lab if one of the system’s operators would be performing the pH and temperature analysis. You must include which approved analytical method is being used to collect the information on the form.

The online form has a drop down menu with the approved methods to choose from.

Unlike lead and copper samples, WQP samples are not to be taken from internal plumbing such as a kitchen or rest room sink. The purpose is to monitor the corrosivity of the water in the distribution system. Ideal sample locations would be access points off the main distribution line, such as a service connection. Customers’ outside faucets can be used when the water being sampled comes directly from the meter. Regardless of the point chosen, the sample should represent the water in the distribution system and not the premises it serves. WQP sampling also differs from lead and copper sampling in that the sample point needs to be thoroughly flushed. It is recommended to flush at least 5 minutes to ensure that fresh water is pulled from the distribution lines.

Though there are various triggers for WQP sampling, having an ALE for lead and copper are of the most concern. When an ALE occurs, there are steps that must be taken within specific time frames to maintain compliance. It is worth noting that exceeding an Action Level (AL) for lead or copper is not a violation itself, but the failure to complete the required follow up sampling and procedures to identify the issue and correct it is.

An ALE occurs when a system exceeds the AL for lead (0.015 mg/L) and/or copper (1.3 mg/L) in more than 10 percent of the samples taken, also known as the 90th percentile. With an ALE, the PWS is still required to complete the Lead Consumer Notice and send it to the customer(s) where the ALE sample(s) were collected within 30

days of receiving the results, as well as submitting a representative copy (copy of one notice) to TCEQ within 90 days. ALEs also require the system to provide Lead Public Education to the sites where the exceedances occurred and to submit a certified copy of the educational notice used to TCEQ within 60 days from the end of the monitoring period of the exceedance.

The LCR also requires the water system to conduct repeat lead and copper sampling. These samples must be taken from the monitoring sites and entry points and submitted to TCEQ using form 20683. Entry point sampling is considered to be after treatment but before distribution, not a raw sample. In addition to the repeat lead and copper samples, the system must also conduct WQP sampling from the entry point(s) and distribution system and submit to TCEQ using form 20679. This set of WQP samples is used to gain information on the water’s characteristics during the time of the exceedance. Due to older versions still available on the TCEQ website, note that the most current version of the form should show that it was updated in December interested in having us 2017. as your

is recommended to always sample early during the reporting period in the event of an ALE, requiring repeat and WQP sampling. Note that if a system has an ALE and sells water to other systems, the purchasing systems must also conduct WQP sampling.

Once the initial WQP samples are completed, the system must sample for the next 12 months starting the next available reporting period. For example, if a system had an ALE during summer monitoring (June–Sept.), the 12 months of WQP sampling would start in January of the following year and continue through December. If a system was on six-month sampling and had an ALE in March, the 12 months of WQP samples would start in July of that same year and continue through June of the following year. WQP sampling schedules can be found on Texas Drinking Water Watch (http:// dww2.tceq.texas.gov/DWW/). These samples are to be quarterly and not only once within a six-month period.

8.5” x 5.5” Ho

The next step with an ALE is submitting the Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment (OCCT) recommendation. The OCCT is due 180 days Code feel free to contact one of our The repeat lead and copper and WQP samples from the end of the monitoring period in which ent representatives below Updates are all due by the end of the reporting period that the ALE occurred. To do this, the system would KS — Rick DiZinno the2601 system was initially testing in. If the system reference the Environmental Protection Agency 6-9000 ext. on Heltsley summer monitoring (June–September), (EPA) OCCT recommendation document (https:// TANKS —was Patrick 6-9000 ext. the4601 deadline for sampling would be November 30. www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-03/ In-Service For systems on six-month sampling, the due dates documents/occtmarch2016.pdf) and use the Cleaning would either be June 30 or December 31 depending previous WQP sample results to identify what on the ALE occurrence. Because of the deadline, it the recommended treatment is according toNEWEPA. TANKS — Rick DiZinno (270) 826-9000 ext. 2601 This is a process of identifying EXISTING TANKS — Patrick H your pH and alkalinity to find your (270) 826-9000 ext. 4601 Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) from a table in the document. With that information, you would then locate the appropriate flow chart and follow the information down to the recommendation. Once identified, the system would submit TCEQ form 20755 (Source Water Treatment Recommendation), the flow chart from the EPA document, the WQP data used to come to that conclusion, and a statement from the system explaining their position If you are interested in having us as Code your partner, feel free to contact one of on the recommendation.

Updates

4.25” x

our department representatives below

NEW TANKS — Rick DiZinno (270) 826-9000 ext. 2601 EXISTING TANKS — Patrick Heltsley (270) 826-9000 ext. 4601

In-Service Cleaning

By submitting the OCCT recommendation, a system is not

5.5” x 4.25” Horizontal Continued on page 24 Quench — May / June 2018 23

Continued from page 23

agreeing to install treatment. In fact, a system can send the WQP data to TCEQ to run an analysis to determine if the water is corrosive or not in advance of submitting the OCCT. This analysis can also be done in-house using the Langelier Saturation Index, Ryznar Stability Index, or other available indices.

TCEQ also has a model available called Tetra Tech.

If it is determined that the water is not corrosive, a recommendation could be that no treatment is recommended at all. This typically happens in cases where sampling errors occurred that triggered the need for WQP sampling. However, it is important to note that if an exceedance for lead and/or copper occurs at any point during the repeat or six-month sampling schedules or if the system has exceeded in the past, a corrosion control study and treatment will be required.

control. After a system installs treatment for corrosion control, entry point sampling is required every two weeks for the life of the system, but the distribution sampling can be reduced if the monitoring data consistently stays within OWQP ranges.

The WQP section of the LCR has many moving parts and can seem extensive. For more information regarding specific information on your system’s compliance and/or specific schedules, contact the TCEQ Lead and Copper Program at (512) 239-4660 or visit https://www.tceq.texas.gov/ drinkingwater/chemicals/lead_copper. If you have questions regarding this article or WQP sampling in general, feel free to contact Jason Knobloch at (512) 472-8591 or email Jason.Knobloch@trwa.org.

Once the OCCT has been submitted and all four quarters of sampling have been collected and submitted, then it’s time to evaluate. If the system has shown that the water is not corrosive, and no other exceedances have occurred, the system will go back to routine lead and copper sampling. If the data shows otherwise, a corrosion control study will have to be done and treatment will be required.

The corrosion control study can be done by anyone who understands the data collected over the past 12 months and will be submitted using TCEQ form 20495 (instructions are included with the form).

There are only three options to recommend for adding treatment for corrosion control; alkalinity adjustment, calcium adjustment, or inhibitor. When the study is completed, submitted and approved, the system will have 24 months to install the treatment chosen.

Once the corrosion control treatment is installed, the system will be required to complete four more quarters of WQP sampling and then submit Optimal Water Quality Parameters (OWQP) for the system.

This is when the system determines optimal ranges for pH and the corrosion control treatment installed and must operate within those ranges at all times.

The pH range should be set at no lower than 7.0 unless an exception is granted by TCEQ. If alkalinity is adjusted as part of treatment or an inhibitor is used to optimize corrosion control, OWQPs shall include minimum concentrations or ranges for each entry point and tap sample. If calcium carbonate is used, a minimum concentration must be maintained in all distribution samples. These OWQPs would then be the system’s MCL for monitoring corrosion 24

Quench — May / June 2018

BEAUMONT | HOUSTON | TERRELL | TYLER

800. 774.5932

SPI-ENG.COM

Understanding the Importance of Return Activated Sludge

By Thomas Acker, Instructor, Texas Rural Water Association

T

here are different ways to inject Return Activated Sludge (RAS) or Recycled Sludge into your aeration basin. There is sometimes confusion about the location of an RAS point when it comes to differentiating between what happens at an actual wastewater plant versus the drawings that are in books, PowerPoint, questions and possibly even on tests. Keep in mind that not all drawings are created equal. Some are very detailed, and some are very simple in art and design, but even with a drawing, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out where the RAS inlet or outlet are located.

Remember that the basic activated sludge process consists of: •

Aeration Tank, where the biological reactions occur

•

Air (oxygen) Source, where oxygen and mixing occur

•

Secondary Clarifier, where solids settle and are separated from treated wastewater

•

RAS, where the collected solids are returned to the aeration tank

•

Waste Activated Sludge (WAS), where the collected solids are removed from the process

RAS is mainly utilized for “reseeding” the treatment process in a wastewater plant with some “good” bacteria/bugs to keep the population up as needed. By bringing active microorganisms back into the process, typically aeration basin, they can again feed on incoming wastes. RAS usually comes from the final settling basin, but can also come from decanting a digester in the system. Either method produces a mixture that is loaded with bacteria that is good for the plant and treatment process.

Before we discuss where RAS comes from and goes to, it is important to understand how we feed RAS. Varying the RAS flow rate affects the concentration and detention time of clarified solids.

Adjusting the RAS pumping rate allows the return of more or less concentrated solids while also increasing or decreasing the depth of the sludge blanket. RAS flow rates can be paced off influent flow rates. When RAS flow rates are too low, thick sludge

blankets in the final clarifier can result. The operator will see gas bubbles (from nitrogen gas) and rising/ floating sludge clumps on the clarifier surface. It is important to remember that RAS should have a light brownish color and should not become septic, which can be indicated by a dark-gray to black color and a foul odor.

Not all plants return their RAS directly to the beginning of the treatment process; some return it directly to the aeration basin or other places in the process prior to the aeration basin. With that in mind, let’s look at simple diagrams for feeding RAS: 1. In this flow diagram, the RAS comes from the clarifier via the RAS pump and back to the head of the plant to be injected in the influent prior to the aeration basin for reseeding.

2. In the next drawing, the RAS is routed from the clarifier directly into the aeration basin.

This is the normal flow for “racetrack” styles of extended aeration basins.

Continued on page 26 Quench — May / June 2018 25

Continued from page 25

3. In the next diagram, the RAS is routed from the final clarifying tanks up to the primary clarifier outlet line, which is still located prior to the aeration tank, but not up to the influent.

Therefore, seeding is still accomplished, but in a different manner.

A

ALLIED TANK SERVICE Tank Maintenance Professionals

ALLIED

TankMaintenancePro@Gmail.com

° Inspections:

Basic, Comprehensive & Underwater Camera Repairs / Maintenance °

° Asset Management ° Paint / Coatings / Logos

• Transmission/Pipeline/ Construction Easement Negotiations • Right of Entry Permitting • Water Right Leasing • Tank/Plant Site Land Purchasing

1533 Austin Hwy. Suite 102-424 San Antonio, Texas 78218 (210) 410-8715 (800) 223-0625

• Initial Project Research/ Estimates • Market Value Research/ Appraisals • Title Research/Curative • Condemnation Support

www.hrmrow.com | (512) 353-1075 If you cannot find your RAS inlet or outlet, you may have to resort to the engineer drawing of the plant and simplify it yourself by making your own drawing of how the plant works. Remember, the RAS outlet will always be located ahead of the aeration basin whether it is goes to the Head (before the aeration basin), a line (before the aeration basin), or directly to the aeration basin. It is designed to affect the aeration basin’s bacteria count no matter where we “inject” the little critters that we need.

If you have any questions about this article, please contact Thomas Acker at 512-472-8591 or thomas.acker@trwa.org.

26

Quench — May / June 2018

Sharyland WSC Celebrates 50 Years

By Sherilyn Dahlberg, General Manager, Sharyland WSC

S

haryland Water Supply Corporation (WSC) is in the Rio Grande Valley approximately 60 miles west of Brownsville, which is at the southern tip of Texas. The Rio Grande Valley sits along the U.S./Mexico border, which in reality is the Rio Grande River. This river is shared by both countries and is the surface water source for all of the Rio Grande Valley. Our raw water is conveyed through the irrigation district canal system where it is stored in our reservoirs then delivered to the water plants where it is purified and sent out to our customers.

Our story starts out like most, if not all, other WSCs. Community-minded people saw the need for safe drinking water in our very rural area and seized the opportunity provided by Farmers Home Administration (FHA) to organize, borrow and build a rural water system they named Sharyland Water Supply Corporation.

That sounds easy enough, but it took many years of meetings, typically held late at night after they finished at work and on their farms. These meetings went well past midnight. The planning and devotion to the process as everyday people/volunteers was demanding, but they knew that the goal, securing safe drinking water for their rural community, would be worth all the effort and sacrifice.

FHA required a commitment of $35 (deposit/ membership) from 700 property owners, and once that was accomplished, the loan was secured and the work began.

Our service area was large — starting at the river at the south and extending 17 miles north, then from U.S. Business Hwy. 281 at the east extending 12 miles west. Additionally, the community of McCook

From left: Sharyland WSC Assistant GM Javier Ramirez, Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, and Sharyland WSC GM Sherilyn Dahlberg

was included at the northwest. Inside our assigned geographical boundaries were portions of several cities that remained separate from Sharyland WSC. In all, our service area covered approximately 150 square miles.

Once the loan came through, we began installing 1 ½”, 2”, 3” and 4” lines. We also secured land and began building a water plant. By 1970, water infrastructure and services were becoming a reality for hundreds of families and small businesses.

When people saw water being delivered to their area and neighbors, they also wanted water, and we had a steady flow of requests, which quickly caused us to outgrow our infrastructure’s capability. By the mid-70s, we were again borrowing funds from FHA to expand our water plant and add water lines.

For years the requests for service continued and construction could not happen fast enough. In spite of our expansion efforts, the demand for new service requests mounted. We watched our rural area turn rural-urban. It was a difficult period, but we pushed through those difficulties and continued to build and grow.

During the 1970s, 80s and 90s, as water became accessible to the rural areas outside the neighboring cities, they also experienced growth, which led to the expansion of their city limits. Through mutual agreements, we sold portions of our service area to the neighboring cities. Through this process, Continued on page 28 Quench — May / June 2018 27

Continued from page 27

Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa and Sharyland WSC Board President Andrew H. Smith.

we would release an area, the infrastructure and members within it. On those occasions, the customers were assured of continuous service. FHA approved each release and Sharyland WSC adjusted its CCN boundary.

Since that time, we have built two additional water plants bringing our production capability to 22 MGD. We now have over 18,000 customer accounts, approximately 110 square miles of service area, 975 miles of water lines and four elevated storage tanks.

Service requests continue to grow steadily, and we are excited for the future of this area.

On May 22, 2018, Sharyland WSC celebrated its 50th Anniversary. We were privileged to have the Honorable Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa who delivered flattering remarks and presented Board President Andrew H. Smith and General Manager

Sherilyn Dahlberg with a U.S. Flag that was flown over the State Capitol and a Proclamation commemorating our 50th Anniversary. Other guests were Casandra Meade and Joshua Rojas, representing U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s office, Nuriddin Kalam, representing U.S. Congressman Vicente Gonzalez’s office, Justin Cantu, representing Representative Bobby Guerra’s office, and Brian Macmanus, President of Texas Rural Water Association. It was a wonderful event.

Sharyland WSC employees are like a family and our efforts are for the community, which we also consider “family.” Our seven-person Board of Directors and 43 employees are indebted to all of the Directors and employees who came before us and gave of themselves to help make our WSC strong and successful.

We recognize that FHA (now the U.S. Department of Agriculture) has empowered rural communities all across Texas and the country to live healthier, happier lives because of the funding opportunities for WSCs. We also recognize the good work of Texas Rural Water Association in its efforts to ensure WSCs have an equal voice at both the State and Federal level. The Association provides countless benefits through its staff, expertise, training classes and networking opportunities. It, too, is a part of our family.

It is said, “People move to the country to get away from the city”, but we’re finding that this is only partially true these days. We say, "Whether you’re a country dweller or a city dweller, everyone deserves good, clean, safe drinking water."

While adapting to current demands and regulation to provide quality drinking water to the community, we remain committed to our founding values of 50 years ago — “Service, Community and Integrity.”

Does your system do something that stands out? Let us know! Contact editor@trwa.org and your system could be featured in the next issue of Quench!

From left: East Rio Hondo WSC General Manager and TRWA Board President Brian Macmanus, Sharyland WSC General Manager Sherilyn Dahlberg, and North Alamo WSC General Manager Steven Sanchez.

28

Quench — May / June 2018

TRWA Welcomes New Employees

S

ince the last issue of Quench, we have had a few staffing changes at TRWA. Read on to learn more about the new additions to the TRWA Team.

Attorney Trent Hightower joined the TRWA team in mid-May as our new Assistant General Council. Trent grew up in a small farming and ranching community near Lubbock, where his family has somehow gotten cotton and cattle to grow in dry, red dirt for almost 100 years. From an early age, he learned just how important water issues are to rural communities, and he’s very excited to begin working for those communities’ interests at TRWA. After graduating from Texas A&M University and the Texas Tech University School of Law, Trent started his career as an attorney with the Texas Legislative Council in Austin. While at TLC, Trent drafted legislation for the Texas House and Senate on a range of issues including water, natural resources, agriculture, and transportation. In 2012 he took a position as Staff Attorney to Judge Orlinda Naranjo in the 419th District Court of Travis County, where he worked on virtually every type of civil law case, focusing on family law and the disposition of administrative appeals from agencies statewide, including the PUC and TCEQ. Trent has lived in Austin for 10 years now, so you can often find him complaining about traffic and the ever-growing skyline just like the lifetime natives. He also enjoys running, traveling, and hanging out with his dogs, a chocolate lab named Sadie and a beagle mix named Rusty.

Trent is available to provide consultation and legal advice to member water utilities and their attorneys on a variety of legal issues. He will also be a valuable member of TRWA’s legislative team, advocating for our members’ interests during the interim and in preparation for the upcoming legislative session.

Also joining the TRWA team in May, Andrew Montemayor is the newest addition to our Training Department as our Instructional Designer. He will be developing training materials and manuals to support instructor-led classes and online self-directed education for utility staff.

Andrew, who prefers to go by Drew, originally hails from Dunfermline, Scotland, but has been living in the U.S. since he was 8. He served 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and has traveled extensively during his lifetime. He has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from East Carolina University, a B.S. in Anthropology from Texas State University, and soon he will receive his Master’s in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. He considers himself a lifelong learner and he brings to the table many experiences from many industries.

He has over 10 years of experience working as an engineer, seven combined years in education and instructional design, and five years in social services.

“Teaching and instruction are perhaps the two things I enjoy doing the most,” says Drew.

“Professionalism, service and loyalty have always defined my life in academics, my career and my personal life.”

When he’s not working, Drew enjoys fossil hunting, playing guitar and scuba diving.

Gilbert “Gil” Ybarbo joined our Environmental Services Team in April as a Financial, Managerial and Technical Assistance Specialist. In his position, he will provide onsite technical assistance Gil has almost 30 years in the water and wastewater utility industry and has served the public at organizations like the San Antonio River Authority, San Antonio Water System, City of Continued on page 30 Quench — May / June 2018 29

Continued from page 29

Carlsbad in New Mexico and the City of Seguin.

Gil attended college in Carlsbad and in Cedar Hill, Texas, where he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He graduated in October 2002 from Northwood University with Cum Laude Honors. Gil holds a double A water and wastewater license and is always eager to help the public water system and publicly owned treatment works community. Gils passions are barbeque, fishing and bird watching.

Formerly interning with our Foundation and in our Environmental Services Department, Emily Collins recently joined the ranks of TRWA employees as a part-time Administrative Assistant. In her position, she is providing much needed support to our Environmental Services Department. Emily is a recent graduate of Texas State University with a B.S. in Applied Sociology, and lives in Lufkin, Texas. While she earned her degree, she worked in various administrative roles and also volunteered in Haiti for Water is Life, an organization working to provide clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene education programs to schools and villages in desperate need.

Welcome to TRWA's New Utility Members

T

RWA's 2018 Membershp Drive officially ended on May 15, and we are excited to announce and welcome our new Utility Members: • • • • • • • • •

Bourland Estates WSC Canyon Lake Villas Public Water Supply Corporation City of Devine City of Rogers East Texas MUD of Smith County Munson Point Property Owners Association Richland SUD TBM Resident WSC The Ridge at Frio River Water Company

Welcome to the TRWA family! We would also like to thank our renewing members for their loyalty and continued dedication to this Association.

If you have any questions about your membership benefits, please do not hesitate to contact us at membership@trwa.org or 512-472-8591.

Join us in welcoming our new employees!

T

Pass the Hat for PAC and Support Rural Water

his fall, TRWA invites your system to "Pass the Hat for PAC" at your monthly board meetings during the months of September and October and pool your donations to make a contribution to the Texas Rural Water Political Action Committee (PAC). The PAC is composed of hundreds of individuals like you who want to make a difference by giving to a fund that helps candidates and public officials who support rural water and are effective leaders.

During the fall fundraising campaign, we will be tracking the contributions made between September 1 – October 31 for a friendly competition between districts and systems. In the November/December issue of Quench, we will announce the winning TRWA District and the winning system. The highest collective contributor's system will also win a special prize. Last year's winners were District 6 for overall participation, and North Alamo WSC for raising $430 to support our cause.

We ask that system managers or board members only request small cash donations (less than $10) from their board members and management level 30

Quench — May / June 2018

staff. To comply with the Open Meetings Act, be sure to include the PAC fundraiser on the agenda for the meeting so your board members may discuss it and take up the collection.

The system manager or board member who collects the funds can then send in a personal check for the total amount collected, made payable to the Texas Rural Water PAC, accompanied by a completed PAC Remittance Form, which can be found on our website under the "Legislative" tab.

Help us reach our 2018 fundraising goal of $50,000 in 2018! If each of TRWA's 750 member systems raises just $50 during this initiative, we will collectively raise $37,500. Every dollar counts, and through our collective contributions, we can help keep effective leaders in office.

If you would like to learn more about the PAC, please visit www.trwa.org and click on the "Legislative" tab on our menu to read about the PAC, see how much we've raised so far and even make an online donation!

Plan Ahead CONFERENCES: July 11-12, 2018

Technical and Training Conference, San Luis Resort and Galveston Island Convention Center

September 17-19, 2018

National Rural Water Association's WataerPro Conference, Fort Worth Convention Center

October 3-4, 2018

Fall Management and Districts Conferences, Hilton Garden Inn South Padre Island

November 7-8, 2018

Fall Management Conference, Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco

OPERATOR TRAINING COURSES: Water Credit Courses

Water Laboratory: San Antonio, August 14-16  Coldspring, August 28-30 Water Distribution: San Antonio, August 28-30 Groundwater Production: Lorena, August 21-23  San Antonio, September 11-13

Water and Wastewater Credit Courses

Chlorinator Systems and Chemical Handling: Gonzales, June 26-28  Argyle, July 17-19 Customer Service Inspections: Lorena, June 19-20  Galveston, July 9-10  Mabank, July 24-25  San Antonio, July 31 - August 1  Hallsville, September 11-12  Harlingen, October 9-10 Pump and Motor Maintenance: San Antonio, July 24-26 Utility Safety: Mabank, June 27-29  Galveston, July 9-11  San Antonio, October 2-4 Utility Calculations: San Antonio, October 9-11 Utility Management: Galveston, July 9-11  San Antonio, July 17-19  Gonzales, August 28-30 Valve and Hydrant Maintenance: Harlingen, July 31 - August 1  San Antonio, October 16-18

Wastewater Credit Courses

Basic Wastewater: San Antonio, September 25-27 Wastewater Collections: San Antonio, September 18-20 Wastewater Laboratory: San Antonio, June 26-28 Wastewater Technology: San Antonio, August 20-24

Public Funds Information Act Training Initial and Renewal: Galveston, July 10

Advertiser Index

AIA Insurance Agency........................................... Page 6 Allied Tank Service........................................................26 American Flow Control.................................................12 Childress Engineers......................................................28 Chlorinators Incorporated............................................21 CoBank...........................................................................13 Daniel & Brown, Inc.......................................................13 Ferguson Waterworks...................................................12 HRM Land Acquisition Solutions.................................26 J.F. Fontaine & Associates...........................................26 KSA Engineers...............................................................17 Maguire Iron...................................................................20 Pittsburg Tank & Tower Maintenance Co., Inc............23 Preload, LLC..................................................................17 Russell Drilling Co., Inc................................................17 Schaumburg & Polk, Inc...............................................24 Smith Pump Co., Inc......................................................27 Tank Connection............................................................26 Texas Aquastore..............................................................9 Quench — May / June 2018 31

1616 Rio Grande| Austin, TX 78701-1122 Telephone: (512) 472-8591 | Fax: (512) 472-5186 www.trwa.org