Nov/Dec 2019 Quench

Pathogenic Microorganisms: Helpful Treatment Information

Also Inside:

TRWA Membership Drive Now Underway Is Your System Being Affected by PFAS?

November/December 2019 www.trwa.org

TRWA Today Established in 1969, the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) is a statewide nonprofit trade association with an active membership consisting of over 750 nonprofit water supply corporations, water districts, small-town water departments and investor-owned utilities. In addition, more than 200 water industry suppliers participate in TRWA activities as associate members. TRWA members provide water and wastewater service to 3 million customers throughout Texas.

TRWA is dedicated to helping directors, managers, operators and office professionals provide efficient service and clean, safe drinking water to their customers. Through on-site technical assistance, education and information exchange, TRWA helps its members better meet their needs as well as the needs of their customers.

Board of Directors

TRWA Staff

Leadership Team

Officers

President Brian Macmanus Cameron (District 6) Vice-President Chris Boyd Denton (District 3) Secretary Bruce Alexander Medina (District 2) Treasurer Robert Nettles Walker (District 13) Immediate Past President Pat Allen Guadalupe (District 9)

District Directors Mark Gardenhire Shackelford (District 1) Steve Adams Brown (District 4) Dave McMurry Bastrop (District 5) Johnny Rudisill Collin (District 7) Charles Beseda Hill (District 8) Kent Watson Brazos (District 10) Kevin Spence Franklin (District 11) Shirley Thompson Kaufman (District 12)

Lara Zent Allison Kaminsky Larry Bell Vacant Janice Gibbs, CPA Trent Hightower Jason Knobloch

Executive Director & General Counsel Deputy Executive Director Technical Assistance Director Professional Development & Training Director Finance Director Assistant General Counsel Environmental Services Director

ext. 101 ext. 107 cell: 512-964-8133 ext. 134 ext. 102 ext. 106 ext. 137

Amanda Ashcraft Melody Bennett Ross Brookbank Pam Cantrell Kelsey Copeland Lisa Gallo Angela Harris Miles Hartman Brittney Melancon Ariane Walker

Office Manager Project Support Specialist Assistant Environmental Services Director Accounting Support Specialist Communications Specialist Meeting and Event Planner Project Support Specialist Project Support Specialist Paralegal Training Support Specialist

ext. 100 ext. 130 ext. 132 ext. 139 ext. 155 ext. 105 ext. 131 est. 135 ext. 110 ext. 111

Thomas Acker, Jr. Michael Beadnell Nathan Cantrell Alex Eaves Paul King Deborah McMullan Charles Perkins Bruce Pearson Refugio Rodriguez James Smith Quentin Turner William White Scott Willeford Gilbert Ybarbo

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

cell: (512) 751-6337 cell: (512) 924-4552 cell: (512) 924-7158 cell: (512) 964-7203 cell: (512) 913-9753 cell: (512) 923-5842 cell: (512) 964-2108 cell: (512) 922-4942 cell: (512) 923-5812 cell: (512) 964-9234 cell: (512) 517-9889 cell: (512) 924-4233 cell: (512) 657-8813 cell: (512) 317-2003

Office Staff

Field Staff

Contact the Editor

Editorial and advertising inquiries may be directed to the Communications Department at editor@trwa.org.

Join the conversation at: www.facebook.com/TexasRuralWaterAssn 2

Quench — November/December 2019

Find us at @TexasRuralWater for industry and legislative news relevant to you!

Features:

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In Every Issue: Letter from the President Letter from the Executive Director

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Ask Larry

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Keep it Legal

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Answers to your technical questions Answers to your legal questions

Classified Ads Advertiser Index Plan Ahead

TRWA’s Calendar of Events

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On the Cover: Sunset in Round Rock, Texas During the Holiday Season by: Roschetzky Photography

TRWA Membership Drive is Now Underway

By Allison Kaminsky, Texas Rural Water Association The start of the new year means it is time to renew your system’s TRWA membership for 2020.

Is Your System Being Affected by PFAS?

A National Rural Water Association Initiative NRWA is gathering information about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances across the country.

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From the Hole: Tales from the Road

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Pathogenic Microorganisms: Helpful Treatment Information

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TRWA Briefs

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2019 In Memoriam

Technical Assistance Corner: Operation and Maintenance Manuals

By Ross Brookbank, Texas Rural Water Association A comprehensive Operation and Maintenance manual is an important time-saving tool for water systems.

Texas Systems: Connect to Keep the Water Running

By Quentin Turner, Texas Rural Water Association Water systems should work together to use communication, education, and training to resolve problems that arise.

Local Project Implementation: Educating Operators and Building a Network

By Felix Ruiz, East Medina County SUD As a TRWA leadership program participant, Ruiz put together a training program for operators and elected officials on backflow prevention and cross connection awareness.

By Michael Beadnell, Texas Rural Water Association One of TRWA's instructors travels to Harlingen to teach a Water Utility Calculations Class.

By Charles Perkins, Texas Rural Water Association While they are not particularly resistant to disinfection by chlorination, four organisms are well-known and widely publicized in the news thanks to their terrifying names and often deadly effects.

Now Accepting Student Scholarship Applications; Eminent Domain Filing Began Nov. 1, 2019; Be Sure to Update Your 2020 Quench Subscriptions; Johnson County Special Utility District Celebrates Grand Opening of New Complex; South Rains SUD Continues Local Fundraiser to Support the Texas Rural Water Foundation.

We honor the contributions and memory of individuals in our rural water community who passed in 2019.

Quench — November/December 2019 3

President’s Message Howdy Texas Rural Water Association!

Winter is here and with the fresh crisp air, I hope each of you takes some time to focus on your system status and how you can freshen things up a bit. Here are some things I hope you will consider to make yourself and your utility that much more true to rural.

“Keep in mind that your customers are the lifeblood of your utility, and spending that extra bit of time with them to provide a personal touch is what separates rural from urban organizations.”

Assess your customer service levels and attitudes, both externally and internally. Keep in mind that your customers are the lifeblood of your utility, and spending that extra bit of time with them to provide a personal touch is what separates rural from urban organizations. Simply said, rural folks have empathy for others and remember to care, but are equal and fair to everyone.

Assess your leadership character. Leadership is the most crucial aspect in making your utility great. Leadership is definitely a multifaceted issue, but look where you, individually, and your utility can improve.

Assess your emergency preparedness. Do you have a general plan for various scenarios, the equipment and materials needed, and open lines of communication with your emergency support resources? Are you training for an emergency?

Are your operation plans, and rules and regulations (tariff and policies) up to date? Is everyone on staff aware of the written plans and rules? Are they well understood?

Hopefully during this time of cooler weather, your utility staff members can check off the items above and slowly but surely move all of our utilities to a higher level of professionalism. I thank each of you for the continuous improvement that makes our rural water industry stand out in a crowded field.

Get outside and enjoy the fresh air. It doesn’t last very long in Texas.

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

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

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Letter from the Executive Director Dear TRWA members, The TRWA Board of Directors meets three times each year – in March, July and December. For the past several years, the December meeting has been held at our office in Austin. The committee meetings have been held off-site, but this year they were also held in our office. Staff worked hard to get the office looking its best and decorated for Christmas in preparation for the visit from our board members. If you are ever in Austin, please come by to visit us at the office.

At the December meeting we look ahead to the next year, setting the budget and discussing priorities. At this meeting, the board adopted legislative policy positions for staff to work on between now and the 2021 legislative session. These are available for your review on our website at: www.trwa.org/leg.

In 2020, the board will also meet to update TRWA’s Strategic Plan. This will guide the direction of TRWA staff projects and priorities for the next several years. The board members are your representatives in this process, but we will also engage you directly by sending out surveys to get your input on how TRWA can best serve your needs moving forward.

A new initiative for 2020 will be to bring more TRWA meetings out to local communities with opportunities for networking with your neighboring water systems, in addition to receiving training and interacting with local leaders – there will be lunch and learn type opportunities and we are excited to dedicate a staff member to help implement these.

“I wish you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to serving you next year and throughout the next decade.”

We will soon be sending out the brochure for our annual convention in San Antonio. We are excited about the dynamic topics and speakers lined up for this conference. We will be honoring Representative Lyle Larson, chairman of the Texas House Natural Resources Committee, who was instrumental in helping us achieve reform to the CCN decertification process this year. At the closing luncheon, we will celebrate the graduates of our second class of Emerging Leaders, TRWA’s new leadership development program. I hope to see you there!

I wish you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to serving you next year and throughout the next decade.

Warm wishes,

Lara Zent Executive Director and General Counsel Texas Rural Water Association

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TRWA Membership Drive is Now Underway

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

ith the start of the new year, it is time to renew your system’s TRWA 2020 membership. Current TRWA members should have received a renewal statement in the mail. If you have not received a statement, please contact membership@trwa.org. Renew by March 20 to be eligible to vote at TRWA RuralWaterCon. TRWA members receive many valuable benefits that help navigate the ever-changing challenges facing the industry. These benefits include: Legal Services A full-time attorney responds to questions from member systems relating to legal issues faced by water utilities and consults on water law issues.

While attorney consultations on legal questions run $250 per hour on average, TRWA attorney consultations are included with membership.

TRWA also maintains a legal defense fund to assist members with representation regarding issues with a statewide impact.

Technical Assistance TRWA field representatives provide training and onsite technical assistance to TRWA members on issues such as preventative maintenance, leak detection, water audits, rate analysis, budgeting and management. The value of this service starts at $75 per hour.

TRWA members are able to use TRWA-owned generators during emergencies, a benefit valued at $400 per day.

Education and Training With several conferences each year and 25 classroom training courses available, members benefit from TRWA’s comprehensive technical training program for water and wastewater operators, managers and board members. Most of our courses are approved for TCEQ operator license credit, and TRWA’s operator certification program provides training for obtaining or renewing state water and wastewater operator licenses. In addition to receiving discounts on training courses, 6

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TRWA members can also register at a lower rate for RuralWaterCon, the Technical and Training Conference, Office Professionals Conference, Water Districts Conference and Fall Management Conference.

Resources TRWA provides thousands of dollars worth of resources to keep members informed, including manuals and training materials, and legal resources, such as sample personnel policies, service policies, board policies, salary and rate reports and a sample tariff.

Advocacy Members’ interests are represented at the state and federal level by TRWA’s lobby team, who work to influence legislative and regulatory issues that impact water systems. The average monthly cost of hiring lobbyists to advocate for you at the Capitol is $5,000, but all TRWA advocacy services are included with membership.

Workforce Services TRWA provides free resources to help members promote job openings and attract candidates, and members receive discounts on TRWA’s online and print job postings.

TRWA matches participating systems with eligible job-seeking veterans and provides free training and educational resources to the veteran, saving TRWA members the $150 per hour rate of contractors hired to provide recruitment and employment services.

Communication and Public Relations TRWA utility members receive five complimentary subscriptions to Quench, TRWA’s award-winning magazine. Members also benefit from the exclusive opportunity to participate in our consumer magazine, Texas on Tap. If you have questions about membership or need assistance logging in to our website, please contact our Member Services Department at (512) 472-8591 or membership@trwa.org.

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Is Your System Being Affected by PFAS? A National Rural Water Association Initiative

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RWA is gathering information across the country to see how many water systems have been affected or have growing concerns about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

What is PFAS? PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), GenX, and many other chemicals. PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States since the 1940s. PFOA and PFOS have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. Both chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects.

What are the possible health effects?

Studies have shown an association between increased PFOA and PFOS blood levels and an increased risk for several health effects, including effects on the liver and the immune system, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, thyroid disorders, pregnancyinduced hypertension and preeclampsia, and cancer (testicular and kidney).

Where can PFAS be found?

PFAS may be in drinking water, food, indoor dust, some consumer products, and workplaces. Blood serum concentrations of PFASs are higher in workers and individuals living near facilities that use or produce PFASs than for the general population. Pathways of exposure include ingestion of food and water, use of consumer products or inhalation of PFAS-containing particulate matter (e.g., soils and dust) or vapor phase precursors.

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What is being done?

On October 10, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a negative regulatory determination for perchlorate in accordance with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The Agency determined that "a national primary drinking water regulation (NPDWR) for perchlorate would not present a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction for persons served by public water systems.”

The EPA revised this determination in February 2011 with an affirmative conclusion: "EPA has determined that perchlorate meets SDWA's criteria for regulating a contaminant -- that is, perchlorate may have an adverse effect on the health of persons; perchlorate is known to occur or there is a substantial likelihood that perchlorate will occur in public water systems with a frequency and at levels of public health concern; and in the sole judgment of the Administrator, regulation of perchlorate in drinking water systems presents a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction for persons served by public water systems. Therefore, EPA will initiate the process of proposing a national primary drinking water regulation (NPDWR) for perchlorate.”

Eight years later, EPA announced a PFAS Action Plan to respond to the public interest and utilized information received.

This represents the first time EPA has built a multi-media, multi-program, national communication and research plan to address an emerging environmental challenge like PFAS. EPA’s Action Plan identifies both short-term solutions for addressing these chemicals and longterm strategies that will help provide the tools and technologies that states, tribes and local communities need to provide clean and safe drinking water to

their residents and to address PFAS at the source — including before it gets into the drinking water.

The EPA Action Plan includes: •

Drinking water: EPA is moving forward with the maximum contaminant level (MCL) process outlined in the SDWA for PFOA and PFOS— two of the most well-known and prevalent PFAS chemicals. By the end of this year, EPA will propose a regulatory determination, which is the next step in the Safe Drinking Water Act process for establishing an MCL.

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Clean up: EPA has already begun the regulatory development process for listing PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances and will issue interim groundwater cleanup recommendations for sites contaminated with PFOA and PFOS. This important work will provide additional tools to help states and communities address existing contamination and enhance the ability to hold responsible parties accountable.

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Enforcement: EPA will use available enforcement tools to address PFAS exposure in the environment and assist states in enforcement activities.

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Monitoring: EPA will propose to include PFAS in nationwide drinking water monitoring under the next Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Program. The agency will also consider PFAS chemicals for listing in the Toxics Release Inventory to help the agency identify where these chemicals are being released.

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Research: EPA will develop new analytical methods so that more PFAS chemicals can be detected in drinking water, in soil, and in groundwater. These efforts will improve the ability to monitor and assess potential risks. EPA’s research efforts also include developing new technologies and treatment options to remove PFAS from drinking water at contaminated sites.

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Risk Communications: EPA will work across the agency—and the federal government—to develop a PFAS risk communication toolbox that includes materials that states, tribes, and local partners can use to effectively communicate with the public.

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Together, these efforts will help EPA and its partners identify and better understand PFAS contaminants generally, clean up current PFAS contamination, prevent future contamination,

and effectively communicate risk with the public. To implement the Action Plan, EPA will continue to work in close coordination with multiple entities, including other federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, water utilities, industry, and the public.

In April 2019, a key component of the Action Plan, a draft interim guidance for addressing groundwater contaminated with PFOA and/or PFOS, was released for public review and comment.

A month later, EPA released the pre-publication version of the proposed perchlorate drinking water regulation. EPA asked for comments on a proposed Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) of 56 micrograms per liter. In addition, the Agency is seeking comment on three alternative regulatory options: an MCL and MCLG for perchlorate set at 18 micrograms per liter, an MCL and MCLG for perchlorate set at 90 micrograms per liter, and withdrawal of the Agency’s determination to regulate perchlorate.

The rule denies any opportunity for a small community "variance," which is a compliance option authorized in the Safe Drinking Water Act that allows a small community that exceeds the MCL at a level that presents no harm to the public to have access to an affordable compliance option.

What you can do now?

NRWA is bringing together utility systems from across the country that have concerns or have been affected by PFAS contamination. NRWA has set up a page on its website, NRWA.org/initiatives/PFAS, for systems to enter their information. This information will allow NRWA to arrange a free evaluation of the system and provide more details about efforts to recover costs for remediation and treatment from PFAS contamination.

Visit www.nrwa.org/initiatives/pfas/ to learn more and be a part of future efforts to recoup costs from PFAS contamination.

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Technical Assistance Corner: Operation and Maintenance Manuals

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By Ross Brookbank, Assistant Environmental Services Director Texas Rural Water Association

y helping to keep track of inspections, equipment, operations, staff and system maintenance, a comprehensive Operation and Maintenance manual is an important time-saving tool for water systems.

Following is a basic template for an O&M manual, including information pertaining to the creation, the completion and the maintenance of your public water system’s O&M manual in accordance with the TCEQ’s Regulatory Guidance RG-501C document.

It is important to keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive compilation of what must be included in your specific water system’s O&M manual, as various types of systems require different information.

Instead, this is a basic template, a place to start creating a manual specific to your system.

Public Water System Customer Information and Facility Description The PWS customer information section will be the title page of your O&M manual and should include the PWS name, PWS identification number, TCEQ regulated entity number, TCEQ customer reference number and the date. The date is important to help track when the document was last revised so you can keep up with new equipment or processes.

The facility description section is where the user will describe what comprises their system and should include, at the bare minimum: water source (for example, aquifer or surface water body), emergency interconnections, number of connections (or population), and the capacity and location of all tanks that make up the system.

Another vital piece of information to include in the facility description section is the well information, which should identify each well with PWS well name, TCEQ well identification number, well depths, a copy of each well driller’s log, and the location of each well. It may be good to also include GPS coordinates when talking about well location. As mentioned before, this is a basic platform and each system may require more specific information to identify their facilities.

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Start-up, Operating Procedures, Plant Map and Routine Maintenance Use the start-up, operating procedures, plant map and routine maintenance sections to describe what goes on at the plant during daily operations. This should be written in a way that would allow a third party with no previous knowledge of your system to assume the daily, weekly and monthly operating procedures of the system in the case that the normal operator is absent or unable to perform the work on any given day.

Operating procedures to be described in this section include but are not limited to: start-up activities such as the sequence of turning on pumps, testing water, checking chemical feeds and washing filters.

Include a diagram or map of the plant showing details for each piece of equipment. This section should include equipment manufacturers, suppliers and any existing warranty information.

Additionally, one must describe the routine maintenance performed on all equipment comprising the system such as maintenance of wells, water meters, pumps, pressure tanks, vehicles and all other system equipment. The routine maintenance section should also indicate when the maintenance takes place and at what intervals, whether it is daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly, for example.

A housekeeping schedule should also accompany your routine maintenance schedule. This section is to identify tasks necessary for basic upkeep of a wellmaintained system, such as knocking down spider webs, sweeping, setting varmint traps and whatever else the operator deems necessary to keep a clean, respectable and tidy work space.

Records and Reporting The records and reporting section of the O&M manual includes several requirements for the keeping of records, all of which should be broken down by daily, weekly, monthly and annual record keeping and reporting requirements. First, water

system facility construction and repairs must be documented appropriately per your system’s specific requirements. Second, responses to emergencies such as water outages, major leaks, customer complaints and pressure drops must be recorded.

Third, certifications and permits associated with the water plant, such as operator licenses, maps and utility easements, must be kept and organized.

A complete table for monitoring, reporting and record keeping is available in the Compliance Module of TCEQ’s RG-501D document. Tracking charts are especially useful for keeping records of tests such as disinfectant residual, disinfection usage and water production/master-meter readings. Such charts must be filled out, stored and logged by the PWS plant operator, as required by TCEQ. Example layouts of the charts in question are displayed on pages 23, 25 and 27 of RG-501C, respectively. There are no specific requirements for how this information should be recorded and kept, just that all of the pertinent information is recorded.

This is not a comprehensive list of everything that must be in your O&M manual. Rather, let this serve as either a starting point for creating a new manual or as something to reference when updating an outdated manual.

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Additional requirements that you may need to address in your O&M manual for your PWS are covered extensively in TCEQ’s RG-501C document at www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/comm_exec/ pubs/rg/rg-501c.pdf.

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Questions regarding this article can be directed to Ross.Brookbank@trwa.org.

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Texas Systems: Connect to Keep the Water Running

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By Quentin Turner, FMT Assistance Specialist Texas Rural Water Association

strongly believe that people should serve others.

That is what I was taught growing up and that is one of the biggest reasons that I began working in the water industry. As an operator, I was responsible for the quality of the water customers used daily for cooking, bathing, laundry or just washing their cars. I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment in my work and used to go home and tell my children that “my customers had good water for another day.”

While serving in the military, I saw firsthand other countries where populations receive questionable quality water, if at all, only one or two days each week. Water is an extremely important public service industry. Thanks to the extremely dedicated men and women working daily to maintain compliance and provide the best product possible, Texans have the knowledge and resources to keep our quality water flowing. While we experience issues here as well, systems can use communication, education, and training to resolve problems that arise.

through TRWA's contract with this agency; however, receiving the assistance is voluntary.

As I work with water systems, I try to think from their perspective, how I would want a representative of TCEQ to relate to each system’s particular situation. I research the issues facing each system I visit and look for viable and affordable solutions to the issues they face. I offer up as many solutions as possible, collaborating with TCEQ; system engineers and operators; and based on my previous experiences. I consult with my supervisors, work colleagues, TCEQ staff, operators and reference material on a daily basis to be as informed — and to be able to inform others — as much as possible.

" I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment in my work and used to go home and tell my children that “my customers had good water for another day.”

Early on and throughout my career, continuing to this day, I received a great deal of help and support from others. My position as a Texas Rural Water Association Financial, Managerial and Technical (FMT) Specialist provides me the opportunity to give back by assisting as many of my fellow managers, supervisors and operators in the Texas water industry as I can — passing on the information and training I received as an operator to the next generation of water professionals so they can meet the obstacles they face each day.

This includes assisting on issues dealing with the regulations, policies and procedures involved in providing effective and efficient water service to their customer base, while also facing limitations related to funding and staffing.

The assignments to assist systems come from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) 12

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I frequently make suggestions to systems regarding improvement in communications. Purchased water systems often say their provider will not communicate with them and as a result, there is an adversarial relationship. I have learned that great relations between provider and purchasers often stem from systems having open channels of communication.

There are ways to get information and give feedback to foster a harmonious relationship between systems. Any successful relationship is built upon hard work and diligence and will include ups and downs. The key to maintaining a good relationship is stability; and trying to keep enough good information flowing to allow the quality and productivity of the job to be accomplished.

I recommend water board members attend the meetings of other water boards they contract with or other local water authorities to gain an understanding of how those entities operate, forge key local relationships and gain a broader understanding of the local water business.

I also suggest to small systems with limited resources to be creative and find ways to make their resources go further. When it is necessary, it is okay to beg, borrow or trade.

I have visited multiple systems that purchase water from larger systems. The small systems have limited funding to purchase additional testing equipment for required monitoring. I have suggested that small systems ask larger systems if they are willing to trade time (to deliver samples or purchases of supplies) for a loan of a particular testing instrument. Conversely, a large system with an old, no longer used piece of testing equipment could offer to loan or sell the equipment to a small system.

Most of us in the water industry are fighting the same fight, so why not lend a hand and help another struggling system? Why not ask another system TRWA Ad 2016 (bleeds).pdf 1 2/2/2016 7:57:33 PM for help with an issue they may have experienced?

More gets accomplished when we all pull together and help each other.

If you are in a situation where you need help, I encourage you to seek another water system and ask for help. Be sure to offer them something in return, and you might be surprised how quickly and easily you can help one another to resolve issues. At the end of the day, you too can feel better about what you have helped get done.

To request free financial, managerial and technical assistance through TCEQ's FMT program, please contact FMT@tceq.texas.gov or (512) 239-4691. You can also learn more online at: www.tceq.texas.gov/drinkingwater/fmt.

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awards of excellence

Nominate systems and individuals to honor their excellence, dedication and achievements www.trwa.org/page/awards System-wide awards:

Small System Award (1,500 or Fewer Connections) Large System Award (1,500 or More Connections)

Individual awards:

Excellence in System Management

Winners Receive: Recognition at RuralWaterCon 2020 Commemorative Plaque & Cash Prize Feature in Spring Quench Magazine Nominations Due: February 3, 2020

Excellence in Administration Excellence in Operations Quench — November/December 2019 13

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• Paid Endorsement

Local Project Implementation: Educating Operators and Building a Network

By Felix Ruiz, Emerging Leader Program Participant; East Medina County SUD This year, as a TRWA Emerging Leader Program (ELP) participant, I put together an individual project and presented the results to fellow classmates and the TRWA team that developed the program.

The established interactions East Medina County SUD has with the community we serve helped me to choose a project that would be beneficial to fellow water operators in the area and would provide an opportunity to share information with elected officials and others.

Working with the TRWA Training Department, we were ELP Participant, Felix Ruiz able to set up a date for TRWA instructor Bruce Pearson to come to Castroville to provide a lunch program on backflow prevention and cross connection awareness training. The East Medina staff prepared a flyer for the training session and accepted calls from attendees who reserved a spot.

TRWA was able to work with TCEQ to secure an hour of training for all licensed water and wastewater operators for this event.

TRWA secured the attendance of a representative from the offices of U.S. Congressman Will Hurd and Texas Senator Pete Flores.

Don Vasser from Congressman Hurd’s office thanked me for the opportunity to attend the event. He left with a better understanding of the work his family members did as plumbers when he was growing up. Gracie Flores from Senator Flores’ office was appreciative of the opportunity to attend the event, where she learned more about protecting drinking water.

providing more than 25 door prizes for attendees.

Everyone was given a ticket when they came in and nobody left until all the prizes were handed out.

More than 40 people participated in this event.

Several attendees stayed late with questions and comments, thanking us for the opportunity to attend. We are looking forward to doing this event again next year in another community within our service area.

A month after this luncheon, my superintendent and I gave a presentation at the 2019 Fall Management Conference in San Antonio. When we concluded our presentation, we were approached by a gentleman who attended the Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Awareness Training. He thanked us again for inviting him and his co-workers and said they are looking forward to the next presentation East Medina County SUD will be hosting.

This event gave me an opportunity to turn an idea into a successful project with the help and joint efforts of several dedicated individuals. Several times while planning and executing the project I was asked what someone could do to help. As the leader of this project, I learned to accept help and delegate responsibility for tasks that I was not specifically best suited for.

The team made this project a success.

Thanks again to my superintendent Bruce Alexander, East Medina County SUD and staff, Karen Ellis L to R: Celia Eaves, Pat Allen, Felix Ruiz, Gracie Flores, Don Vasser and Bruce Alexander and Jason Granato with Ferguson Waterworks, Sammy’s Restaurant in Castroville, Pat Allen with Green Valley SUD, TRWA Instructor Bruce Ferguson Waterworks and East Medina coPearson, TRWA, and everyone who had a role in sponsored the meal and facility. TRWA joined them in the success of this project.

Quench — November/December 2019 15

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

Q:

We are considering purchasing either a stainless steel or fiberglass tank to replace our 30-year-old galvanized ground storage tank. Can you tell us about the pros and cons of fiberglass storage? Are they more cost-effective? Does TCEQ even allow them for storage of potable water?

A: TRWA does not recommend any products or services, so I can only give you information based on applicable rules or feedback I have heard from other systems. I have not heard of fiberglass tanks in the 30,000 to 50,000-gallon range being used by public water systems, but TCEQ has approved the use of fiberglass tanks of smaller sizes for potable water storage.

One main drawback of fiberglass tanks is almost any caliber rifle cartridge can cause them to leak. People can also shoot holes into a steel or galvanized tank, provided the cartridge has enough power to penetrate the tank walls, but by their nature, fiberglass tanks are more susceptible to this kind of vandalism. In my personal experience, back when I was operating a system, I happened to be near one of our welded steel 32,000-gallon storage tanks when two guys drove up and shot the tank with what sounded like a .30-06 rifle from about 50 yards away.

The tank was pitted but the bullet did not penetrate the tank wall. The next time the tank was painted the contractor just welded the spot to make it smooth with the rest of the outside of the tank, and no one could tell it had been damaged at all.

you must be sure it has the correct shade and color to keep algae from forming inside the tank. Based on feedback I have received, sunlight can penetrate some fiberglass tanks and cause slime growth on the inside.

In general, I would defer to your engineer’s assessment of how fiberglass tanks stack up against stainless steel tanks in terms of strength, longevity and water quality. I also suggest having your manager or board members visit some neighboring water systems to assess which types of tanks they use and get a feel for the maintenance issues they have encountered with both kinds of tanks.

Q: Is our water system manager required to have any type of operator license?

A: This is a common question and the answer depends on the system's general manager job description. Some systems require their general manager to have and maintain the proper license(s) required for operation of their system and complete and sign off on regulatory reports. Larger systems need a person to concentrate on managing the system’s functions and workers, and therefore do not require that person to hold any license. These larger systems then designate one of their licensed operators as the operator in charge, lead operator or system superintendent, and require those individuals to maintain the applicable licenses.

"Many systems may have started out requiring their manager to maintain the proper license(s) because there were few other staff on hand who held them."

Some welded steel tanks have been in service for well over 50 years and only require regular sandblasting and painting. Some galvanized bolted steel tanks have lasted for more than 30 years without much or any maintenance, but their longevity can depend on several factors, such as the water quality and the proximity of the tanks to salt and air exposure.

Another thing to consider with fiberglass tanks is 16

Quench — November/December 2019

Many systems may have required their manager to maintain the proper license(s) because few other system staff held them. In these instances, to maintain compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulations, their manager had to maintain a license should one or more other licensed staff get sick, leave the system or retire.

When reviewing the licenses your staff hold, it is important to consider what would happen should

any of them retire, quit or get injured and not be able to work for an extended period. In one of those situations, the system would be without a properly licensed operator to sign off on the daily, monthly or annual regulatory reports within their area of expertise. Water distribution operators are not licensed to be groundwater operators, and therefore cannot legally complete and sign off on groundwater reports, for example.

It is up to your board and manager to determine how they will continue to follow TCEQ rules if the groundwater operator or wastewater treatment operator leaves. To ensure license coverage, systems should consider hiring a manager who has both types of licenses or hiring an additional operator to have a minimum of two C groundwater and wastewater operators on staff at all times. It is also possible that your distribution operator could take the appropriate classes, meet the experience qualifications, and pass the C exams to serve as the second operator for these other positions.

There are many ways to tackle this issue. It is up to the board to decide whether they want to pay Continued on page 18

Quench — November/December 2019 17

Continued from page 17

to hire another properly licensed operator or just pay one salary to a general manager who has the required licenses and could fill in as needed when the regular operator is on vacation, sick or decides to leave the system.

Q: A member of the public has been collecting bacti samples from our public water system and submitting it to a lab for testing. We are concerned because we do not know who is taking the samples or how they are being taken, since it is not being done by an employee of our system.

What happens if it comes back with a positive result?

To begin, anyone can collect a bacti sample, fill out a form and submit it for testing to any lab.

However, any TCEQ-approved lab receiving a random sample in this way should follow the protocols required by TCEQ when attempting to submit sample results to the agency. Unapproved labs may not know what to do with these samples or even how to properly conduct these tests. This second type of lab will often just send the results back to the person who paid for the sampling without also sending them to TCEQ. If I were you, I would be interested in learning more about the sampling being conducted. First, is this individual submitting the samples to the lab along with any forms that have your system’s name or PWS ID number on it? Also, what specific things are being tested for, and whose name appears as the person who conducted the sample?

If these samples are labeled as routine monthly samples and being sent to TCEQ, you should contact the agency to inform them that these samples are not being collected by anyone associated with the system. Next, you should check your sample monitoring plan to be sure whether the samples

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18

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Quench — November/December 2019

are being taken from an approved sampling site. If they are not, this needs to be called to the TCEQ’s attention, because samples collected from an unapproved site are not supposed to be entered by the TCEQ as an official monthly sample. Additionally, each year, every PWS in the state is required to send TCEQ a complete list of all its operators. Only those on the system’s annual list of operators are supposed to submit samples for the PWS that employ them.

All this being said, some systems have really been drug through the fire in local newspapers, television newscasts, and even by TCEQ when contaminants are found, even when the samples were not collected and submitted by an operator of that system. You should question any samples collected by someone unaffiliated with your system, and any samples taken from an unapproved sampling site. In those situations, it is helpful to immediately keep TCEQ in the loop so they are aware of any potential problems with test results that they might receive.

Questions regarding this article can be directed to Larry.Bell@trwa.org.

FINANCING SOLUTIONS FOR RURAL WATER SYSTEMS

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Texas Rural Water Association has partnered with CoBank, a national cooperative bank that serves vital industries across rural America, to provide attractive financing solutions for TRWA members.

Find out about the specially negotiated terms on many loan products for water and wastewater utilities, including:

3 USDA GUARANTEED LOANS AND BONDS 3 USDA INTERIM CONSTRUCTION FINANCING 3 LINES OF CREDIT 3 USDA REFINANCING 3 TERM LOANS Visit TRWA’s website for complete information about the program:

www.trwa.org/cobank For further questions, please contact John DeLuca at 303-694-5958 or email texaswater@cobank.com

Keep It Legal Answers to Members’ Questions by TRWA Assistant General Counsel Trent Hightower

Q:

Our system is in the process of adopting a public comment policy in response to the new law requiring utilities to allow public comment periods during their board meetings. As a district, can we limit public comment only to our customers? Can a water supply corporation only allow its members to speak at their meetings?

Unfortunately, with the way the law is written, neither a district nor a WSC can limit public comment periods only to those individuals who receive water service from the utility. Instead of referring to a district’s customers or a WSC’s members, Government Code Section 551.007, which was added by the legislature earlier this year, requires boards to allow any member of the public to address them at their meetings if they want to do so. This broad language does not include any kind of limitation requiring those members of the public to obtain water service from the utility, reside within the utility’s service area, or, in the case of WSCs, to be a member of the corporation.

members. However, if non-affiliated individuals do sign up to speak at your meetings, you should enforce your public comment policy with them just as you would any of your customers or members.

Q: We are a WSC. One of our board members has delinquent debt with our system. The meter in question was on a property the board member rented out to a family member, but the account was in the board member’s name. The meter at that location has been pulled. How should we handle this?

As a threshold matter, board members should always be treated the same as any other member.

It can look bad to your other members if they think a director is getting special treatment that they would not receive in the same situation. Because of their status as leaders within the community, the people sitting on your board should hold themselves to a higher standard and do their best to abide by all the system’s rules as stated in your tariff. It is likely that your board member considers the debt in question as belonging to his relative, not to him. However, as a director, he should know that in a WSC the property owner is generally the person who is on the hook if a tenant does not pay the water bill, even if that tenant is a relative.

"Because of their status as leaders within the community, the people sitting on your board should hold themselves to a higher standard and do their best to abide by all the system’s rules as stated in your tariff."

Note that the use of the broad term “public” has implications for all types of governmental entities beyond water utilities – school districts cannot restrict comment to people who pay taxes within the district or have children attending district schools, and county commissioners’ courts are required to allow residents of other counties to address them as well. While the statute allows entities to establish reasonable rules regarding the rights of the public to address their boards, it is likely that courts would see a rule conditioning the right to speak on an affiliation with a governmental entity to be counter to the purpose of the statute.

Practically speaking, I do not foresee excessive public comment by non-customers or non-members being too big of a threat to the majority of TRWA’s 20

Quench — November/December 2019

As for the amount owed, you can liquidate the membership fee paid for the property in question to go toward the amount owed. Also, since you mentioned that the meter has been pulled at the property where the relative was living, it is important for you to confirm that your board member has another membership with your corporation. If this meter was the sole basis for his membership, this individual is no longer qualified to sit on your board since Section 67.0051 of the Water Code requires directors to be members of the corporation.

Assuming the director has other memberships, you will want to refer to your tariff to see whether it allows for liquidation of additional memberships to pay for debts associated with another membership.

The TRWA Sample Tariff allows for this. Note again, however, that if liquidation of the director’s additional membership(s) to satisfy the debt results in that person no longer having an active membership with the corporation, he would at that time no longer be eligible to serve on the board for the same reason discussed above. If that would be the case, perhaps reminding the director of this could prompt him to pay the amount owed. If the board member feels that his relative was responsible for the bill, it is up to him to pursue reimbursement from his relative without involving the utility, but since the membership was in his name he is ultimately responsible for the bill just like in any other landlord/tenant situation.

Finally, if liquidation of additional memberships does not cover the full debt, you can then pursue any remaining amounts through legal action and debt collection processes. You can also condition reinstatement of service on payment of the debt if he requests service again at any time in the future.

I realize this is a delicate situation since he is a board member, but it is important that he be treated just as any other member in this situation would be treated. Otherwise, you might find it harder to collect from anyone else when they encounter similar circumstances in the future.

Q: We have an agreement with a sewer utility to disconnect water service for their customers who fail to pay for their sewer service.

If we disconnect water for a customer under this agreement, but the customer does not currently owe us a balance for water, can we still charge the monthly water bill while service is disconnected due to the unpaid sewer bill?

The short answer is no. A broader version of this question came up at our recent Fall Management Conference while several PUC staff were in attendance. A member of the audience asked whether a system could charge any base rate or monthly fee for the time the meter was disconnected.

The PUC staff responded that if the customer did not have access to water due to the meter being locked, then no charges could be assessed during that disconnected period.

Based on PUC staff’s response, it stands to reason that the utility should adjust the customer’s next bill to account for the portion of the base rate that would have been charged during the

disconnection period. For example, if the water meter is locked and the customer pays the delinquent bill the next day, the system could deduct that one day’s worth of the base rate from the next monthly water bill. If the system’s base rate or minimum bill is $30 per month, then 1/30, or $1, would be deducted from the following month’s base rate.

Q: Our WSC is in an area with a lot of oilfield activity. Several years ago, previous management allowed an oil company to establish memberships to support their drilling operations.

The properties in question are owned by private landowners, not the oil company. Now one of the landowners and the oil company are in a dispute over who owns the membership. Who does the membership belong to?

Depending on the language in your tariff, it is likely that neither party has a valid membership in this scenario. Section 67.016(d) of the Water Code states that a WSC may make water or sewer service conditional on ownership of the real estate designated to receive service. The TRWA Sample Tariff contains this provision, and many of our members’ tariffs do as well. The sample tariff also states that applicants for service can demonstrate proof of ownership of the real estate to be served through a deed of trust, warranty deed, or other recorded documentation, and that the corporation may cancel a membership if it is found that these requirements have not been met.

I believe that is the case here. The oil company cannot hold a membership at this property because it does not own the real estate being served. If they need water at this location to service their operation, the owner of the property will need to apply and qualify for membership in the WSC. If the oil company wants to pay for the use of that water, that is an arrangement that will have to be worked out between the landowner and the oil company, but the landowner would be the person ultimately responsible for the bill.

Assuming your tariff contains the provisions discussed above, you should notify the oil company that you will be canceling its membership within a set number of days if they cannot satisfy your proof of ownership requirements. You can also let them know that the property owner can apply if he or she wants to continue servicing the drilling operation.

Questions regarding this article can be directed to Legal@trwa.org.

Quench — November/December 2019 21

From the Hole Tales from the road by Michael Beadnell, Instructor for Texas Rural Water Association Water Utility Calculations Class, Harlingen

A

s rivers flow, they carry runoff from the banks as well as sediment and debris from inside the river. Occasionally the sediment runoff can be so enormous that it forms a delta. A newly formed delta has the capability to divert some of the river flow, thus creating a new river called a distributary channel.

The Arroyo Colorado is an ancient distributary channel that branches off and flows away from the Rio Grande River. The Arroyo Colorado flows into the Laguna Madre, which is Spanish for “mother lagoon.” Where Harlingen’s Valle Vista Mall now exists, there used to be a ranch called La Providencia. In 1900, water was sold by the barrel from the wells of La Providencia Ranch. In 1904, on the north banks of the Arroyo Colorado, an explorer named Lon C. Hill founded Harlingen, named after a city he liked in the Netherlands. The town's post office was established that same year, and the first school opened with 15 students in 1905 near the Hill home, the first residence built in Harlingen.

The first running water system conveying water across the Arroyo Colorado by a big flume was constructed in 1908 and the convenience of surface water was realized in the Valley. It was not until 1910 that the city of Harlingen built its first reservoir.

A 50,000-gallon steel tank was erected in 1912 on a concrete base that is now the city parking lot, and the location of this month’s article.

Harlingen is in Cameron County, referred to as the heart of the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas. About 30 miles from the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico, Harlingen is the city with the least expensive cost of living in the United States.

Harlingen's strategic location at the intersection of U.S. Route 77 and U.S. Route 83 makes it a fantastic location for training and attracting operators from up and down the coast and in and around the border towns.

Water Utility Calculations is a 20-hour course that covers water and wastewater related calculations, everything from clean water hydraulics to wastewater mean cell retention time. Pointing out 22

Quench — November/December 2019

the facility locations and doing the usual paperwork and introductions, we went over basic mathematical principles. This was a good opportunity for me to evaluate the learning curve of the classroom, and to make sure the class was comfortable and ready to move on.

Next we advanced to calculator protocol.

Without being familiar with the basic calculator, it is difficult to calculate the advanced and intermediate calculations we are faced with day to day. We next went over surface area or square feet of the four shapes water and wastewater operators encounter: the square, the circle, the triangle and the trapezoid.

The comprehension of these basic shapes needs to be accomplished in order to advance to the next step, the comprehension of cubic feet. Solving for cubic feet requires incorporating a third dimension to our surface area or square feet, multiplying the square feet by the length, height or depth. Without an understanding of solving this concept it would be impossible to determine the following portion of the calculation course, finding cubic yards, gallons, weight and calculating PSI. Incorporating a hands-on session for new operators and those who have not visited calculation concepts for a while provides a visual picture for further understanding.

A gallon of water is poured into one of two identical empty containers. Then we weigh the empty container and the one with a gallon of water in it. Taking the container with a gallon of water in it then subtracting the empty container weight from it determined that a gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds. Next the class observed while one student measured a square object’s length, width and depth.

Those observing then engaged in placing water into that cubic foot. The exercise determined that a cubic foot holds 7.48 gallons.

The class now had a visual, in order to calculate pounds per square inch. To determine pounds, the number of gallons poured into the cubic foot is multiplied by the weight of one gallon of water: 7.48 x 8.34 = 62.4 pounds.

To determine square inches, calculate the inside length of that same cubic foot by the inside width in inches, or 12 inches long times 12 inches wide. This gives us the calculation of 144 square inches. "Per" in our industry means divide, so the 62.4 pounds divided by the 144 square inches equals .433. Now we have a visual formula, feet times .433 equals PSI. We moved on to some more questions. If the whole classroom was filled with one foot of water, what is the PSI pushing down on the classroom floor? That was easy: 1 foot x .433 = .433 PSI.

a meaningful number because it is the minimum operating pressure under normal conditions in our water distribution systems.

Moving on, there are several chapters in our calculation book about algebra. A good understanding of algebra is essential to determine calculations such as pump efficiency, the total dynamic head and the production in gallons per minute. Many of the basic steps in calculations are lost over time if not revisited occasionally.

Mort Herold, the president of Memory Improvement Services and a leading professional memory training consultant, has said, “How easily or how long you remember something depends on how often you retrieve it. The more often you use it, the more accessible it becomes. If the only time you practice is to study prior to an exam, then it should come as no surprise that the math is more difficult.

This is called the ‘use it or lose it’ syndrome.”

Operators in class are encouraged to incorporate mathematics into their daily routine so it will become second nature. In class, effort was made to overcome problems and help the student to improve knowledge and confidence. What is gained and retained in part depends on their efforts.

As public water system operators, we have plenty of time waiting on those line locates, waiting on parts and waiting on rock to arrive. Those are great times to revisit the formulas, take advantage of that time and really practice math. With any luck it will jump start your career as an operator. It did mine.

Questions regarding this article can be directed to Michael.Beadnell@trwa.org.

If the classroom has two feet of water in it, what is the PSI pushing down on the floor? This is still not too difficult: 2 feet x .433 = .866 PSI. Moving on, here some thinking caps and calculators came out. What if the room had 2.31 feet of water in it, what would be the PSI pushing down on the floor? 2.31 x .433 = 1 PSI Before moving on to the next portion, what if this classroom was 80 feet filled with water, what would the PSI be pushing down on the floor, rounded off to the nearest whole number? 80 x .433 = 35 PSI, Quench — November/December 2019 23

Pathogenic Microorganisms: Helpful Treatment Information

By Charles Perkins, Energy Efficiency Circuit Rider Texas Rural Water Association

C

hlorination has long been accepted as the standard best practice for destroying pathogenic organisms in water and wastewater treatment. In the United States, chlorine was first used to disinfect municipal water supplies in 1908, with chloramination following in 1917. Almost any textbook on the subject will tell you that at the proper dosage and with sufficient time, chlorine will destroy 99 percent of all disease causing organisms it encounters. This might lead a prudent operator to ask about the other 1 percent.

Are there sinister microbes lurking somewhere out there in our water supply or floating around in our wastewater effluent that can survive the chlorination process?

Fortunately, the answer is no. When provided with a sufficient dosage of chlorine for a long enough period of time, there are no organisms that can survive. However, there are a few that require such a high dosage of chlorine or such an extended period of contact time with the chemical that the normal chlorination process utilized by most water and wastewater treatment facilities is not enough to effectively kill them. These pathogenic organisms are distinguished from the others by being labeled “chlorine resistant.” There are other organisms that, while not being particularly resistant to disinfection by chlorination, have garnered much attention in the news due to their terrifying names and often deadly effects.

Four of these organisms are well-known and widely publicized. The best known of these pathogenic microbes are giardia and cryptosporidium, which can cause intestinal illness and even death. These little fellows are protected by an outer coating known as an oocyst, something like the candy coating on M&M’s candies. Because of this protective shell, they are able to withstand chlorination for a long enough period of time to make it impractical to treat them by chlorination alone. A chlorine dosage of 8mg/l will kill giardia cysts after a 10-minute exposure, while a dosage of 10mg/l will kill cryptosporidium after a 25.5-hour 24

Quench — November/December 2019

exposure. Due to their relatively large size for a microorganism however, they can be removed by simple coagulation and filtration, thereby removed as a threat to public health. These microbes are found in surface water supplies and possibly in groundwater supplies under the influence of surface water. That is one reason why these types of treatment facilities utilize the coagulation and filtration process.

Another type of pathogenic microbe for which public awareness has been raised recently is the ever-feared “flesh eating bacteria,” scientifically known as the Vibrio vulnificus species of bacteria.

As the name implies, these necrotizing bacteria can destroy tissue in skin and muscle as well as subcutaneous tissue, resulting in amputation and death. Since it is bacteria, this unwanted pathogenic organism has no real defense against chlorination and the standard chlorination treatment should render Vibrio vulnificus inert.

Because of the unusual and terrifying effect upon those who have the misfortune of coming into contact with this type of microbe, it garners a lot of attention, but I know of no instance in which Vibrio vulnificus has managed to survive in the properly disinfected public water supply. In fact, these bacteria thrive mostly in warm salty or brackish water, and, in most cases, people come into contact with these bacteria by eating raw or undercooked shellfish. Since these microbes are found in brackish surface water sources, they are not considered to be a threat to most groundwater sources. While there have been instances of Vibrio vulnificus presenting itself in swimming pools, the Center for Disease Control has stated that a recommended pH of 7.2-7.8 and a free chlorine residual of 1.0mg/l in pools and 3.0mg/l in hot tubs and spas will be sufficient to kill the organism Another pathogen to carry the word “eating” in its title is N. fowleri, otherwise known as the “brain eating amoeba.” While this name conjures an image from a cheesy 1950s science fiction movie, it is more than fitting for this organism, which causes

acute infection of the brain that is almost always deadly.

As recently as September 2019, a 10-yearold girl in Texas died after being infected by the amoeba, and it is believed that she came into contact with the pathogen while swimming in the Brazos River near her home outside Waco.

The amoeba in question can be found in warm freshwater lakes and rivers, as well as hot springs and in the soil. The amoeba enters the body through the nose and can travel to the brain where it destroys tissue. Unlike the other pathogens mentioned, this one can only cause infection when entering the body in this manner, and drinking contaminated water will not cause infection as the human digestive system is sufficiently hostile to kill it. Thankfully this amoeba possesses no special resistance to chlorination and a five-minute exposure to a free chlorine concentration of 0.5mg/l will kill the organism.

While these four pathogens are susceptible to chlorine disinfectant, as described, and removal through coagulation and filtration, as described, it should be noted that they can survive for prolonged periods when encased within the protective biofilm that can form inside water distribution pipes.

pathogens while maintaining the integrity of the system and the ability to provide safe drinking water to their customers.

It is important to remember that the occurrence of infections from these pathogens is extremely rare. With proper treatment practices and diligence by staff they will remain this way. While these occurrences may make for a big news story, very rarely will one find an article on how well public water and wastewater systems operate to prevent exposures of potentially dangerous microorganisms to the public. There have always been pathogenic organisms present in our water sources and they will continue to be there to challenge us to remain vigilant and ever mindful of the positions we hold as trustees of the health and well-being of the public who consume our treated water.

Questions regarding this article can be directed to Charles.Perkins@trwa.org.

Not only do these biofilms absorb the free chlorine that comes into contact with the outer layers of the microbes, they shield and protect the microbes that dwell within this protective coating.

These biofilms can slough off from the inside of these pipes and thereby release potentially dangerous pathogenic organisms into the water supply.

In one study related to N. fowleri, the amoeba survived a chlorine dosage of 20mg/l for three hours while encased within a biofilm. When this amoeba was found in public drinking water in a Louisiana drinking water system in 2019, the system was flushed with a free chlorine concentration of 1.0mg/l for 60 days to eradicate the amoeba.

While the use of higher concentrations of chlorine may be periodically beneficial to ensure the removal and eradication of biofilm buildup in the system, it should be remembered that higher dosages of chlorine can produce unwanted and potentially dangerous compounds that may present a higher risk to public health than the organisms themselves. It is a balancing act that water systems must practice to continue to ensure that the public is protected from potential exposure to these

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Quench — November/December 2019 25

TRWA Briefs Now Accepting Student Scholarship Applications

W

e are pleased to announce that the 20202021 Texas Rural Water Foundation Student Scholarship Cycle is now open. The TRWF scholarship program is designed to assist young people in the furthering of their education by attending college or graduate school. If you know a promising student endeavoring to continue his or her education, please share this opportunity with them.

This scholarship program is designed to help defray the cost of tuition, fees, books or room and board by awarding funds directly to the student upon proof of enrollment. The number of annual scholarships and the amount awarded is based upon the number of qualified applicants and the amount of funds available. In the last scholarship cycle, four students were awarded scholarships of $2,000 each, and a fifth individual, the highest scoring applicant, received the first ever Dwayne Jekel Student Scholarship in the amount of $3,000.

A special thank you to Dwayne Jekel’s family, whose endowment made this special scholarship possible. To learn more and apply, visit trwa.org/ studentscholarships.

Eminent Domain Filing Began Nov. 1, 2019

S

enate Bill 1812, introduced by the 84th Texas Legislature in 2015, requires all entities with eminent domain authority to report specific information to the Texas Comptroller on a yearly basis. All entities with this authority, including water and wastewater supply corporations, water districts and cities, are required to file this yearly report or face penalties of up to $2,000 for noncompliance.

Although TRWA members are required by state law to submit this report, we do not automatically submit them on members’ behalf. To take advantage of our filing service, you must fill out the form located on our website and return it before Feb. 1, 2020. Questions can be directed to eminentdomain@trwa.org. Learn more online at www.trwa.org/page/SB1812.

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Quench — November/December 2019

Be Sure to Update Your 2020 Quench Subscriptions

D

on't forget to review your Quench subscription information and make any necessary changes when you renew your TRWA membership for 2020.

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

Regular Utility Members: Up to five complimentary subscriptions

•

Associate Members: One complimentary subscription

Included in each renewal packet is a list of whom we have from your system currently receiving a copy of the magazine. If you have not updated your information, it will list the main address for your system to which we have been sending your five complimentary copies. If your system purchased additional subscriptions for an annual fee of $30, we will continue to send magazines to those individuals in 2020 and issue an invoice, unless we hear otherwise.

If you would like to make any changes to your subscription list, please send them in at your earliest convenience. You may do this with your renewal, by email to editor@trwa.org, or by fax to 512-472-5186. If you have any questions please contact us at editor@trwa.org or call (512) 4728591 Ext 115.

Johnson County Special Utility District Celebrates Grand Opening of New Complex

By Josh Howard, TRWA Emerging Leader Program Participant, Johnson County SUD

J

ohnson County Special Utility District celebrated the grand opening of their administrative office and service center complex Sept. 19, 2019. The public was welcomed in helping to celebrate the relocation and construction of the new facilities and to learn more about the district’s daily activities.

The district hosted facility tours and set up interactive education stations for the public; and Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District attended and demonstrated their water education trailer to teach and promote water conservation.

Johnson County SUD was founded in 1965 as Johnson County Rural Water Supply Corporation. Like most WSCs, this community water system started small, providing water to about 250 rural residents. The district’s first office operated out of what was the original Cleburne Hotel.

By 1980, Johnson County WSC had grown to 5,000 meters and the next office facility was constructed two miles south of Cleburne. This space served as the district’s headquarters for the next 39 years.

Today, the district serves more than 16,000 meters and has developed into a regional water supplier. The district’s growth over the years, coupled with urgent needs for newer facilities, prompted relocation. The new administrative office and service center complex is more centrally located to daily operations in the system.

The adequate space and new facility enhances morale for all employees, with a fresh, new outlook to take on the next forty years.

South Rains SUD Continues Local Fundraiser to Support the Texas Rural Water Foundation

S

outh Rains Special Utility District was proud to participate for the second consecutive year in Salvage Your Scrap, a fundraising campaign for the Texas Rural Water Foundation which administers the Student Scholarship and Rural Water Workforce programs. Under Salvage Your Scrap, systems are called upon to gather all their scrap metal and recycle it locally, then donate the proceeds to the Foundation.

2018 Emerging Leader Program (ELP) graduate Rachel Webb, the General Manager of South Rains SUD, turned this into a community-wide cleanup event for her customers, facilitated by the utility. This year, they raised $573 with a cumulative contribution of $1855.35 to the Foundation To learn more or get involved with Salvage Your Scrap, visit www.trwa.org/scrap or call (512) 472-8591.

South Rain General Manager Rachel Webb Presented TRWA Executive Director Lara Zent with a Foundation Donation at the 2019 Districts Conference.

Quench — November/December 2019 27

Serving Texas Since 1943

AWWA D110 Type III Tanks

888-PRELOAD • www.PRELOAD.com • info@PRELOAD.com

@youraccount

pH20tostream Photo Contest

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a #TXWater Photo

the photo and release form

cash, framed print and more!

Deadline: March 2, 2020 www.trwa.org/photostream 28

Quench — November/December 2019

2019 In Memoriam We honor the contributions and memory of individuals in our rural water community who we learned have passed in 2019. If there is someone whose memory you would like to honor in Quench, please send their information to editor@trwa.org.

Harold Carter passed on May 13, 2019, after a 39-year career of federal service. The last 31 years were with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development's (formerly Farmers Home Administration) state office in Temple, working with various Rural Development programs. During his tenure, Rural Development financed more than 200,000 miles of rural water lines, 30,000 apartment units, many community sewer systems, rural hospitals, nursing homes, fire stations, businesses, single-family houses and other facilities.

While working for the federal government, he was instrumental in writing the design criteria for a water system for the Philippines’ main island. In recognition of his lifetime contributions to our industry and rural Texas, Harold was the recipient of the 1997 Friend of Rural Water Award by the Texas Rural Water Association; the year he retired from USDA-RD as a GS12.

Norman Kitzman passed on July 27, 2019. In the early 1970s, Norman was instrumental in the establishment of Pattison Water Supply Corporation in Pattison, Texas. Shortly after the water system opened its door for business, Norman was elected to the Board of Directors where he served as president for more than 30 years.

Norman was a very active volunteer and spent much of his free time giving back to his community. He helped start the Pattison Brookshire Area Volunteer Emergency Ambulance Corporation, was on the Royal FFA Parade Committee, served as a liaison and alternate for San Bernard Electric Cooperation, helped with the Pattison Volunteer Fire Department, and assisted with the Pattison Methodist Cemetery.

Brenda Kellow passed on August 10, 2019. Brenda was always ahead of her time. She served on the Wylie Northeast SUD Board of Directors for 13 years after she retired as a renowned certified genealogist. She was educated, involved, independent, and deeply devoted to family, community, history and education. Brenda authored the weekly genealogy column in the Sunday Edition of the Plano Star Courier for almost 25 years. She was the founding President and Director of Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries Inc. and served as an officer and committee chair in several of the 27 genealogical lineage societies to which she belonged.

Brenda will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her quick wit and her shining example of the best version of a modern woman: one who develops her own individual potential, while still nurturing and blessing those she loves.

Quench — November/December 2019 29

Classified Ads SAMCO Leak Detection and/or GPS Technician Quadvest Water and Wastewater Utility Company is in search of the top talent in the industry. We have been in business since 1978 and have recently made it our focus to grow—becoming one of the few privatelyowned utility companies that are classified as a Class A utility company. Achieving success through our happy employees, we have become “Houston Business Journals” top 40th best company and “Texas Monthly’s” 14th best company! Our Core Values set us apart and take us down an ‘E-P-I-C P-A-T-H’ to success. They are Employee Centricity, Professionalism, Innovative, Customer Centricity, Passion to Win, Accountability, Trust and Hard Work.

If you want to be a part of a top Texas Utility Company and our Core Values are important values to you, please contact us at http://quadvest.com/careers or email Mandi Brown at mbrown@quadvest.com.

“The Glass Is Always Full”

SAMCO is seeking a Leak Detection and/or GPS Technician based out of Austin, Texas. Under supervision of the Project Manager, this position will perform acoustic leak detection on various water distribution systems, water conservation consulting, and GPS data collection services. These services will help improve utilities infrastructure by enhancing operational efficiency, reliability during water system assessments, and most importantly conserve water for the public.

Education: •

HS diploma or equivalent

Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities : • • • • •

Leak detection and water distribution field knowledge : 1 year experience Knowledge of GPS applications and data collection Must be proficient with computer skills and applications Must live in the Austin area to commute daily to SAMCO office building.

Able to travel and stay overnight while working on out of town projects

Employee Benefits: • •

Advertiser Index AIA Insurance Agency......................................... Page 14 Childress Engineers......................................................13 CoBank...........................................................................19 Daniel & Brown, Inc.......................................................23 Dedicated Controls........................................................ 11 DN Tanks........................................................................28 J.F. Fontaine & Associates...........................................18 KSA Engineers...............................................................13 Maguire Iron...................................................................17 Pittsburg Tank & Tower Maintenance Co., Inc............18 Preload...........................................................................28 Russell Drilling Co., Inc................................................26 SAMCO.............................................................................7 Schaumburg & Polk, Inc...............................................25 Smith Pump Co., Inc......................................................18 Texas Aquastore...................................................... 11, 17 USA Bluebook................................................ Back Cover 30

Quench — November/December 2019

• •

50% company contribution for employee only medical 10% company contribution of employee gross income to SEP IRA after 2 years of full time employment Paid vacation, sick days, and holidays Employee Incentive Programs

Employment Requirements: • • •

•

Candidates must successfully pass a preemployment background check Possess valid Texas driver’s license and maintain insurability Please go to website samco-leakservice.com under “Contact” tab and email application with resume to owner Sam Godfrey 512.751.5325 if you have any questions.

Salary is pending based on experience & qualifications.

Plan Ahead CONFERENCES: March 26-27, 2020

RuralWaterCon Annual Convention, San Antonio

June 4-5, 2020

Office Professionals Conference, San Antonio

July 15-16, 2020

Training and Technical Conference, Galveston

OPERATOR TRAINING COURSES: Water Credit Courses

Basic Water Works Operations: Decatur, January 7-9  Floresville, January 14-16  Lorena, January 28-30  Harlingen, Feb. 4-6 Groundwater Production: San Antonio, Feb. 25-27  Lorena, April 14-16  Van, April 28-30 Surface Water Protection: Denton/Aubrey, Jan. 14-16  Denton/Aubrey, Feb. 18-20  San Antonio, March 3-5 Water Distribution: Kilgore, April 7-9  Harlingen, April 14-16  Decatur, April 28-30 Water Laboratory: Kempner, Jan. 28-30

Water and Wastewater Credit Courses

Basic Math: San Antonio, March 11 Customer Service Inspections: Van, Jan. 22-23  Atascosa, Jan, 22-23  Harlingen, March 3-4  San Antonio, April 7-8 Chlorinator Maintenance: San Antonio, Jan. 28-30  San Antonio, Feb. 25-27  Pleasanton, April 7-9 Pump and Motor Maintenance: Denton/Aubrey, April 28-30 Utility Management: Denton/Aubrey, March 3-5  San Antonio, March 17-19  Atascosa, March 24-26 Utility Safety: Winnsboro, Feb. 4-6  Pleasanton, Feb. 11-13  New Braunfels, March 10-12  Valve & Hydrant Maintenance: San Antonio, March 31- April 2 Water Utility Calculations: New Braunfels, Feb. 18-20  San Antonio, March 24-26

Wastewater Credit Courses

Activated Sludge: San Antonio, Feb. 11-13 Basic Wastewater: Texarkana, Jan. 7-9  San Antonio, Feb. 4-6  Harlingen Feb. 11-13  Decatur, March 24-26 Wastewater Collections: San Antonio, Feb. 18-20  Harlingen, March 17-19  Texarkana, March 31- April 2 Wastewater Treatment: Texarkana, Feb. 25-27  Van, March 10-12  San Antonio, April 14-16

Public Funds Investment Act Initial: Terrell, Jan. 22 Renewal: Terrell, Jan. 22

Quench — November/December 2019 31

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