Quench - January/February 2015

TWDB Implements Rules for SWIFT Prioritization

Also Inside: Preview of the 84th Legislature TWDB Loan Program Helps Bring Surface Water to the Bright Star-Salem Community The Importance of Forests to Water Resources

Jan / Feb 2015 www.trwa.org

TRWA Today

TRWA Board of Directors

TRWA Staff

Officers

Fred Aus Executive Director

Allison Kaminsky Communications Director

Clay Hodges President

Hunt (Dist. 7)

Teresa McAnally Member Services Director

Lance Harrell Information Technology

Pat Allen Vice President

Guadalupe (Dist. 9)

Lara Zent

Pauline Word Brian Macmanus Secretary

Larry Bell

Cameron (Dist. 6)

Raymond Curtis

Barry Miller Treasurer

Alex Eaves

Gonzales (Dist. 5)

Paul King

James Morrison Immediate Past President

James Smith Walker (Dist. 13)

District Directors

John Frantz Hartley (Dist. 1)

Bruce Alexander Medina (Dist. 2)

Chris Boyd Denton (Dist. 3) Delores Goode Lampasas (Dist. 4) Charles Beseda Hill (Dist. 8)

Kent Watson Brazos (Dist. 10)

Kevin Spence Franklin (Dist. 11)

Vickie Armstrong Kaufman (Dist. 12)

Jerry Pickard Sabine (Dist. 14)

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel Legal Assistant Technical Assistance Director Wastewater Trainer Wastewater Technician Circuit Rider Circuit Rider

William White Circuit Rider Celia Eaves Environmental Services Director Deborah McMullan Source Water Protection Specialist

Steven Mindt Technical Assistance and Training Specialist

Refugio Rodriguez FMT Specialist

Janice Gibbs, CPA Finance Director

Pam Cantrell Administrative Assistant

Angela Harris Administrative Assistant

Michael Vollmar Professional Development and Training Director

Melody Bennett Administrative Assistant Len Klandrud Instructor George Patterson Instructor

Established in 1969, the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) is a statewide nonprofit trade association with an active membership consisting of more than 750 nonprofit water supply corporations, special utility districts, municipal utility districts, small-town water departments, investor-owned utilities and individual members. 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 and operators 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.

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Quench — January/February 2015

Contact the Editor Quench is the official bimonthly publication of the Texas Rural Water Association. Your comments and opinions, as well as editorial and advertising inquiries, are welcomed and should be directed to the Editor, Allison Kaminsky, at (512) 472-8591 or at editor@trwa.org.

Find TRWA on Facebook “Like” our Page and join the conversation at: www.facebook.com/TexasRuralWaterAssn

Follow TRWA on Twitter!

Find us at @TexasRuralWater for all water industry news and @TRWALegislative for legislative updates relevant to you!

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Features:

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Quench: Texas’ Clear Source for Rural Water News

By Allison Kaminsky, Texas Rural Water Association A TRWA Member system has won our magazine rebranding contest! Read more about how the TRWA magazine got its new name.

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Water Development Board Implements 14 Texas Rules for SWIFT Prioritization

Letter from the President

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Letter from the Executive Director

5

Ask Larry

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Keep it Legal

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Answers to your legal questions

Advertiser Index

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Plan Ahead

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TRWA’s Calendar of Events

By Fred Aus, Texas Rural Water Association The 84th Texas Legislature’s Regular Session is underway, and TRWA will have a presence at the Capitol fighting for the interests of our members.

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In Every Issue:

Answers to your technical questions

Preview of the 84th Texas Legislature

By Allison Kaminsky, Texas Rural Water Association The rules are official, and applications are now being accepted for funding. Read more about how you can apply for a loan from the SWIFT.

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RuralWaterCon: TRWA’s 46th Annual Convention

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TRWA Briefs

TWDB Loan Program Helps Bring Surface Water to the Bright Star-Salem Community

By Wanda Gaby, Bright Star-Salem SUD A first hand account of how a $5.9 million loan from TWDB helped Bright Star-Salem SUD bring surface water to their 2,100 customer base.

The Importance of Forests to Water Resources

By Hughes Simpson, Texas A&M Forest Service This is the first in a series of articles we will run in 2015 on forests and watershed management and their importance to drinking water supply.

Read more about our biggest training event of the year, including convention highlights, details on Rural Water Day at the Capitol and announcing the event’s official sponsors.

East Bell WSC Celebrates 50 Years and Beyond; Don’t Miss the Chance to Apply for a TRWF Scholarship; TCEQ Hosts Free Asset Management Workshops; The Texas Rural Water PAC Needs Your Support; Thank You to TRWF’s 2014-2015 VISTAs.

On the Cover: Barton Creek Greenbelt, Austin Photo Credit: Caroline Hackett, TRWF VISTA © 2015 Quench — January/February 2015

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President’s Message

The 84th Texas Legislature is Underway

Another session has started, and I hope you are planning to attend RuralWaterCon and our Rural Water Day at the Capitol. The theme this year is “Everyday Heroes of Rural Texas,” and I can’t think of a better fit than the men and women who work to provide water to rural people. Hot days, cold days, nights and weekends, rural water systems are working to keep water flowing. These hard working folks deserve more than just a hand shake, and this convention is named to honor them. Thank you.

“With new state leadership and many new legislators, it’s very important that we tell our story.”

If you plan on visiting with your representative and senator during Rural Water Day at the Capitol, remember to call ahead to schedule an appointment. With new state leadership and many new legislators, it’s very important that we tell our story. Let them know how many connections your system started with, how many you serve now, where your water comes from, the challenges you face and what your system means to the people it serves.

I know there will be bills this session that, in some way, will affect our members, and the best way to stay informed is by going to the TRWA website to check bill tracking under the Legislative tab. If you want the most up to minute information, follow our TRWA Legislative Twitter account @TRWALegislative. TRWA’s legislative committee, along with our team of lobbyists, will stay on top of bills that we support as well as the ones we don’t. However, as in the past, you may get a call from our team to testify if the team feels it will benefit the cause, so please stay informed and connected.

The 2015 Texas Rural Water PAC campaign is in full swing, and your support is needed. I challenge you to contribute at the gold level. Your personal contribution goes a long way in building relationships with your senators and representatives and benefiting TRWA. Please print off the PAC contribution form found on the TRWA website under the Legislative tab, complete the form, sign it and return it along with your contribution.

See you in Austin.

Keep Texas Rural.

Clay Hodges President Texas Rural Water Association 4

Quench — January/February 2015

Letter from the Executive Director It’s a New Day in Texas

On January 20, Inauguration Day in Texas, newly sworn-in Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick proclaimed, “It’s a new day in Texas!”, and that quickly became a refrain throughout his speech.

New Governor Greg Abbott in his remarks noted there is still more to do in Texas, included for “parched towns thirsty for water,” and that he “will speed up our needed water projects.”

These two new state leaders seem intent on addressing the issues facing our state they have deemed most pressing. And there will be lots of opportunities for us to inform them about the issues facing rural water in Texas. They will have new policy people working on water issues, as will other state leaders. New Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has appointed a new position—an Assistant Commissioner for Water and Rural Affairs.

And new Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is interested in water issues and his agency’s involvement in them.

Meanwhile, it’s a new day for TRWA’s magazine, which has a new name thanks to the input of TRWA members. It will still be filled with “quality” articles, and we hope it goes even further to “quench” your thirst for information about our industry.

Thanks to everyone who attended our Water Law Seminar last week. And I hope to see all of you at RuralWaterCon—our newlynamed Annual Convention in Austin on March 18–20. Please join us at the Capitol for Rural Water Day on March 18, because, as anyone in the legislative process can tell you, every day is a “new day in Texas” when the legislature is in session.

Thanks for all you do for rural water.

“Please join us at the Capitol for Rural Water Day on March 18, because...every day is a ‘new day in Texas’ when the legislature is in session.”

Keep Texas Rural!

Fred Aus Executive Director Texas Rural Water Association

Quench — January/February 2015

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Quench: Texas’ Clear Source for Rural Water News

By Allison Kaminsky, Communications Director, Texas Rural Water Association

T

he start of a new year is tends to be synonymous with new beginnings. It’s a time when most take the opportunity to reflect upon the past and set new goals for the year to come.

We revel in the strides we’ve made toward the goals we already have in place for ourselves, but we also look toward the future and wonder, “Where are we going?” and more importantly, “What can we do get there?”

We at TRWA are no different, and are using this new start to a new year to launch what is most certainly a new beginning for our magazine.

members would be so energized and enthusiastic about the idea,” said TRWA Communications Director Allison Kaminsky. “We received an overwhelming number of submissions, making the final decision a tough one to make.”

With over 100 ideas submitted via e-mail, Facebook and in-person at our Fall Management and Water Districts Conferences, TRWA staff and Board Members had their work cut out for them.

TRWA staff pared down the list of entries to a short list of finalists that were then presented to the TRWA Board at their December meeting.

After much deliberation, the City of Elkhart emerged as a clear winner with their entry.

You will notice some changes to this publication in 2015, the most noticeable of “When which is our we read new name: the contest Quench! information, Staff and Mayor of the City of Elkhart (left to right): Raymond Dunlap, Gregg Lewis, Carla Formerly we began Sheridan, BJ Perry, Ben Hamon, Joseph Branson, Jan Stuteville and Kenneth White. known as to think Quality about the on Tap!, Quench will continue to provide you with importance of water and what it meant to us. We the timely and relevant news and information as love to swim, fish, play in rain puddles with our before, but you will also see some enhancements children and grandchildren and love the ponds as we continue to grow and expand our publication that dot our landscape in our rural community. As throughout the year. we discussed the use of water in our lives, we all understood the importance of clean drinking water.

The first step in this metamorphosis was to After throwing out what it meant to us to be able to rebrand, and what better way to tap into the unique run a glass of clean, cool water out of our taps, we nature of the Texas rural water industry than to ask came up with the word, ‘Quench,’” said Elkhart City our members what they think. So in the September/ Secretary Jan Stuteville.

October issue of this magazine, we launched a contest and invited all TRWA member employees to submit their ideas.

“When TRWA announced we would be rebranding our magazine, we had no idea that our 6

Quench — January/February 2015

As they say, sometimes the simplest answer is the right one! TRWA Board and staff agreed—just as you drink a glass of quality water to quench your thirst, we hope you will continue to read our

magazine to quench your need for Texas rural water news.

For submitting the winning entry, the City of Elkhart is invited to send four of their staff to any 2015 TRWA conference of their choice, free of charge! We look forward to congratulating them in person at one of our five upcoming conferences this year.

“We haven’t made any plans which ones we will want to attend,” Stuteville said. “We were looking at them and seeing which ones benefit us the most and who on the staff would benefit the most from them.”

Some officials from the City of Elkhart have participated in TRWA conferences in years past, but at the cost of the city. The award, nearly $1,600 in value, will help to relieve some of the costs toward educating officials and keeping licensure up to date.

“We are so proud of our magazine, specifically since so many TRWA members rely on it for the information and tools they need to succeed,” said TRWA Executive Director Fred Aus. “We truly appreciate the participation and creativity of all those who entered our contest, and are excited to have a new brand that was sourced directly from our membership.”

Thank you to everyone who participated in this contest, and to the loyal readers of our magazine.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Editor, Allison Kaminsky, with ideas for features, comments on prior issues and suggestions on how we can continue to improve TRWA publications. She may be reached at editor@trwa.org or at 512-472-8591.

Letters to the editor may be featured in subsequent issues of Quench.

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Quench — January/February 2015

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Preview of the 84th Texas Legislature

By Fred Aus, Executive Director, Texas Rural Water Association

T

he 84th Texas Legislature’s Regular Session is underway, and there are many new faces and new challenges. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is that Texas Rural Water Association will have a presence at the Capitol fighting for the interests of TRWA members and working to educate legislators and other policy makers about the critical issues facing rural water and wastewater systems.

But before we get into TRWA-specific issues, it is always useful to have a sense of the legislative environment in which we will be working. First, there will be new leadership. Texas has a new Governor, former Attorney General Greg Abbott, who succeeds Texas’ longest-serving Governor, Rick Perry. And the Texas Senate will be headed up by a new Lieutenant Governor, Dan Patrick, who previously served as a State Senator from Houston. The Texas House of Representatives will continue to be led by Speaker of the House Joe Straus, from San Antonio.

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As this issue goes to print, Lt. Governor Patrick has changed committee make-up and jurisdictions on water. The Senate Natural Resources Committee is now the Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee,” still chaired

by Sen. Troy Fraser, and it will oversee the Public Utility Commission, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Railroad Commission.

The Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs Committee will be chaired by Sen. Charles Perry.

Water bills could be referred to either committee.

The House Committee on Natural Resources will now have a new Chairman, and will also have a new standing “subcommittee on special water districts,” which will be looking at such districts’ organization, operation, powers and duties, as well as their role in the conservation of natural resources and the development of land and water in the state.

The legislature faces many significant issues this session. While water issues, including water infrastructure, continue to be among them, state leadership and legislators will also be wrestling with a challenging state budget cycle, given the recent downturn in oil prices, transportation funding, tax reform, border security and education reform.

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There are a significant number of new legislators in each chamber, with nine new state senators (although five of them have previously served as state representatives) and with 27 new state representatives, pending the outcomes of some special run-off elections. When you add in the 41 freshman state representatives and six freshman state senators from the 83rd Texas Legislature, that means that nearly half of the 181 members of the Legislature—31 state senators and 150 state representatives — have served for one or fewer legislative sessions.

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How do legislators balance all of these issues and how do TRWA and TRWA members make sure our issues are heard? That’s where we all have to work together to tell the story about who we are and what we do. Legislators want and need to know the great work you are doing to provide quality water service to your community and their constituents. Whether it is back in their legislative district on a day the

Quench — January/February 2015

TRWAAd-3625x4875-4c.indd 2

1/15/15 10:27 AM

legislature is not meeting or on Rural Water Day at the Texas Capitol on March 18, 2015, you have an opportunity to educate your state representative and state senator about what it takes to provide quality water or wastewater service to a rural community in Texas. When they know the value of the service you provide, they will likely be more understanding of the challenges you face.

The TRWA Board of Directors has approved a legislative agenda for the 84th Texas Legislature Regular Session, and a detailed version is available on the TRWA website (see sidebar for link). Most of what they have directed TRWA’s lobby team to do is to educate legislators about a variety of issues and monitor legislation on those same issues for potential impacts to TRWA members. This, of course, includes issues affecting your certificated service areas, as well as any legislation about fireflow requirements for rural water systems. But it also includes groundwater issues, which are expected to draw a lot of legislative attention this session, and we will continue to voice rural water’s concerns, including where groundwater permitting decisions may be detrimentally affecting rural water systems.

There could also be changes to implementation of the State Water Plan. Last session, through our

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Visit our website to learn more about TRWA’s legislative policy positions and to easily track bills of interest for TRWA member systems.

Legislative Recommendations: bit.ly/TRWALege Bill Tracking: bit.ly/TRWABillTrack You can also follow us on Twitter for realtime legislative news and updates: @TRWALegislative campaign to “Keep Texas Rural,” the legislature supported our efforts to ensure that a portion of new State Water Plan funding would be available for rural water systems. This session there may be ways to ensure that the state and regional water plans specifically address the water supply needs of rural communities.

We also expect a lot of discussion on desalination and water reuse, including how brackish water may be regulated. TRWA has positioned itself so that rural water interests have a seat at the table, especially when new technologies are being proposed.

The legislative session also gives us a chance to support the funding requests of agencies, including the Texas Water Development Board, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Public Utility Commission. If they have the tools necessary to do their job, that should benefit our members also.

Other issues will arise that we will need to respond to also on behalf of TRWA members, and there will be times when we ask for your help to weigh in on an issue. We also want and need to hear your concerns. Share them with the TRWA Board member in your district. A great place to be involved is at RuralWaterCon, TRWA’s Annual Convention in Austin on March 18-20, 2015. And be sure to follow the bills we are tracking on TRWA’s website, and follow @TRWALegislative on Twitter. See the sidebar for details. We will also use e-mail alerts to TRWA members on time-sensitive issues. Above all, join us in telling your story about the work that you all do as everyday heroes in the Texas rural water.

If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact us at 512-472-8591.

Quench — January/February 2015

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Ask Larry

Q:

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

It has been my experience that the equity buy-in fee is the same for every member, regardless of the size of meter being installed because it is a per tap basis fee. My manager is questioning if this is the correct procedure, or should we be multiplying the equity buy-in fee by the meter equivalent? Our equity buy-in fee is $1,562.50 for a standard residential 5/8” x 3/4” meter.

Should we be charging 8 times that, or $12,500 for a new 2” meter?

A: Yes, the equity buy-in fee or any other capital improvement type fee should be multiplied by the equivalent meter size, because the purpose of the fee is for new customers to reimburse the system for past investments to the system’s capacity and to create a dedicated fund for future capacity improvements, such as line upgrades, new tanks, treatment or production. The need for these additional capacity improvements are directly correlated to the demand that new customers place on the system’s current capacity. Because larger meter sizes use up a greater proportion of the system’s capacity, the customer with the larger meter is required to reimburse the system in proportion to their capacity demands.

The membership fee should also be multiplied based on the size of the meter being requested by an applicant. “Membership fee” is defined by Section 24.3(26) of the Public Utility Commission’s (PUC’s) rules as “a fee not exceeding approximately 12 times the monthly base rate for water or sewer service…” Since the monthly base rate for a 2” meter is 8 times that of a 5/8” x 3/4” meter, the membership fee should also be multiplied accordingly. This also protects the system from non-payment, as the amount billed to a 2” meter is much greater than the amount billed to a standard residential meter.

Q: We are on the Gulf Coast and all the homes are built on stilts. We have a homeowner who built two homes on the same lot up on pilings, and the two homes are tied together by walkways. These are two separate buildings on the same set of pilings, each with full bathrooms

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Quench — January/February 2015

and kitchens. Is this considered two homes and two meters, or can they be served by the same meter?

A: This issue is now being regulated by both the TCEQ and the PUC. The TCEQ continues to have jurisdiction over the health and safety issues that are governed by the Health & Safety Code and Chapter 290 of the TCEQ’s rules. The PUC now has jurisdiction over rates and fees. The majority of the TCEQ’s chapter 291 rules are now in Chapter 24 of the PUC’s rules. The Chapter 290 rules, which directly apply to all public water systems, including water supply corporations and districts, require each public water system to “provide accurate metering devices at each service connection for the accumulation of water use data” (Section 290.44(d) (4). “Connection” is defined as a “single family residential unit or each commercial or industrial establishment to which drinking water is supplied from the system” (Section 290.38).

PUC’s rules on this issue apply to investor owned utilities, but TRWA has always referred to these rules as guidance in drafting TRWA’s model tariff because they are good policies that the regulatory agency is likely to support for all types of systems.

This new relevant rule is at Section 24.89(a)(1) and is identical to the old TCEQ rule at Section 291.89(a)(4). The rule states, “One meter is required for each residential, commercial or industrial service connection. An apartment building or mobile home park may be considered by the utility to be a single commercial facility for the purpose of these sections. The executive director may grant an exception to the individual meter requirement if the plumbing of an existing multiple use or multiple occupant building would prohibit the installation of individual meters at a reasonable cost or would result in unreasonable disruption of the customary use of the property.” The PUC is in the process of creating a new guidance document on this issue that references the new rule and separates the portion of the issue now under their regulation.

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apartment or a “mini” condo (two-home condo) and would be considered two dwellings. Most systems would require two meters; however, if the plumbing is interconnected, you may instead require one larger size master meter, if the capacity demand warrants this. This would be similar to a master metered account that you would have for hotels, apartment complexes, condos and townhouses.

I recommend that you review with the customer the multiple dwelling rules from your service policies, their service application and agreement form, and the TCEQ and PUC rules referenced above; and explain to them that their setup is considered two different dwellings. You may also want to go by the houses to see if there are two electric meters. Many water systems use the number of electric meters as fall-back support for their decision to require two water meters. It may be more difficult for the customer to argue that they should only have one water meter when they have two electric meters.

Q: I have some questions concerning certificates of convenience and necessity (CCNs). A developer is planning to build 250 homes at the edge of our CCN. The developer is requesting wastewater services our current system plant does not have the capacity to provide, even with a plant upgrade. Can you advise us on how to respond to this request so we don’t set ourselves up for failure at a later date? And would the developer have to form his own CCN to serve this large development?

A: If the development is inside your current CCN boundary, then you have the legal obligation to provide service there. If the development is outside your CCN boundary, then it’s up to your board to decide whether they want to extend wastewater

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service to include this new development amend your CCN accordingly.

Remember that your system may benefit from the investment that this developer will make to pay for the system upgrades that would be required to serve the development, which may include a larger plant, an additional plant and a collection system. Another benefit would be that the 250 new ratepayers would pay debt service for a new wastewater treatment plant loan, which may keep the individual rates stable or lower for current customers.

If your board decides not to expand to serve this new area, then the developer could form a district with its own wastewater system, or set up a privately-owned system to do the same, in which case the developer would be required to secure a CCN. If you have a technical question you would like answered, please e-mail Larry.Bell@trwa.org.

Quench — January/February 2015

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Texas Water Development Board Implements Rules for SWIFT Prioritization

By Allison Kaminsky, Communications Director, Texas Rural Water Association

I

n 2013, voters approved the creation and funding of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT). SWIFT is designed to fund close to $27 billion in water supply projects over the next 50 years to ensure that Texas communities have adequate supplies of water during drought. At least 20 percent of these funds have been earmarked to support water conservation and reuse projects, with at least 10 percent set aside to support projects serving rural communities and agriculture.

The Texas Legislature directed the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to develop rules that specify how projects will be prioritized for SWIFT funding. Over the course of 2014, TWDB held numerous work sessions, stakeholder meetings and, once the draft rules were published, rulemaking comment hearings, to gather public input on how to best draft the rules for prioritizing projects. TRWA was heavily involved in this extensive stakeholder process, and the result is a final set of rules that seek to level the playing field for small and rural communities to obtain funding. The final rules were adopted on November 6, 2014, and now that they are official, TRWA encourages member systems to submit for funding. The first step is to complete an abridged application, which will allow TWDB to evaluate and rank projects for funding.

Any Texas political subdivision, including nonprofit water supply corporations, municipalities, counties, river authorities, special law districts, water improvement districts, water control and improvement districts, irrigation districts and groundwater conservation districts, may apply for assistance through this program. If a project meets the minimum requirements, such as being a recommended water management strategy in the most recent State Water Plan (SWP), it will be ranked according to an adopted point system to prioritize projects.

Eligible projects include conservation and reuse, desalinating groundwater and seawater, building new pipelines, developing reservoirs and wells fields, purchasing water rights, as well as numerous other strategies. For a complete list of recommended water management strategies, visit www.twdb.texas.gov/ swift/index.asp.

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Quench — January/February 2015

If your project is not included in the SWP, an entity has the option to request an amendment to the 2011 Regional Water Plan to include its project, which is the first step for a potential amendment to the 2012 SWP. Although the timing for this process may not coincide with the SWIFT’s initial 2015 funding cycle, it would allow for consideration in subsequent funding cycles.

The prioritization system as outlined in 31 Texas Administrative Code section 363.1304 assigns a point system to various criteria. The criteria that receive highest consideration can be awarded up to 30 points each, which are: • • • •

The project will serve a large population, meaning populations of 10,000 or more.

The project will provide assistance to a diverse population, meaning both rural and urban populations.

The project will provide regionalization, serving more entities than solely the applicant.

The project will meet a high percentage of water supply needs of users to be served by the project.

This is in relation to the needs identified in the state water plan, and will be measured by the first decade once the project becomes operational.

Projects can earn points based on other criteria, including: •

•

•

•

A project can earn up to 15 points based on the priority assigned by the regional water planning group, based on the percentile within the regional project ranking.

A project can earn up to 15 points for demonstrating its effect on water conservation, including preventing water loss and projected water efficiency improvements for agricultural projects.

A project can earn up to 8 points for preparation and readiness to proceed within 18 months of the application deadline. This includes preliminary planning, design work, and acquisition of water rights associated with the project.

A project can earn up to 5 points if it addresses an emergency need. This can be based on TCEQ’s list of local public water systems with a supply that will last less than 180 days without

•

•

additional rainfall, a water supply need anticipated to occur in an earlier decade A project can earn up to 5 points based on local contribution to the project, including federal funding, up-front capital (such as funds already invested in the project or cash on hand), and inkind services to be invested.

A project can earn up to 2 points based on the financial capability of the applicant to repay the loan, based on the applicant’s household cost factor.

Additionally, the prioritization of projects by the 16 regional water planning groups in their 2011 regional water plans will be another criterion in the TWDB’s ranking process.

The first application deadline for funding consideration is February 3, 2015; however, there are expected to be up to two rounds of funding per year, with another deadline to be scheduled later this year.

We will provide updates in later issues of Quench and on TRWA’s website as they become available.

After the initial deadline, TWDB will prioritize abridged applications and determine availability of funds by category and financing terms, before invitations to submit a full application are extended.

Full applications will require more detailed information, and will receive environmental, engineering, financial and legal reviews from TWDB staff during summer 2015. Once the technical review process has been completed, the project will be presented to the Board for funding consideration. It is anticipated that loan closings will occur in November or December 2015. Entities seeking SWIFT funds are asked to review their schedules in anticipation of this important timeline. Local preparation and coordination is crucial to ensure borrowers close their loans quickly following the closing of TWDB’s bonds used to fund the program.

The SWIFT offers a variety of loans and terms to accommodate the diversity of projects included in the state water plan: •

Low-interest Loans – Long-term, fixed-rate loans offered at below market rate. Maturities range from 20 to 30 years, and interest rates are based on the TWDB’s cost of funds, which reflects the agency’s credit rating. This interest rate is further reduced by a subsidy established by the Board. For the initial round of SWIFT funding, the estimated subsidy amount is 35.5 percent for 20-year maturities. The subsidy amount for longer maturities will be reduced based on an applied calculation.

•

•

Deferred Loans – Used to fund developmental costs (planning and design). Maturities range from 20 to 30 years, and principal and interest is deferred up to eight years, or until the end of construction, whichever is sooner. Interest rates are based on the TWDB’s cost of funds, which reflects the agency’s credit rating. This interest rate is further reduced by a subsidy established by the Board. For the initial round of SWIFT funding, the estimated subsidy amount is 15 percent for 20-year maturities. No subsidy is available for loans longer than 20 years.

Board Participation – Long-term, fixed-rate financing through a temporary TWDB ownership interest in a regional facility. These terms are intended to allow entities to reasonably finance the total debt for an optimally sized regional facility. The local sponsor repurchases the TWDB’s ownership interest under a repayment schedule that allows for the structured deferral of both principal and interest. Financing terms vary, but are generally 34 years. For the initial round of SWIFT funding, interest rates are based on the TWDB’s cost of funds, which reflects the agency’s credit rating. No additional subsidy amount is available.

Funding through the Board Participation option requires specific determinations be made by the Board, including that: the estimated cost of the facility exceeds current financing capabilities of the area; the project cannot be reasonably financed by the area; and the public interest will be served by the Board’s participation in the project.

The above information is preliminary. The TWDB will identify the amount of funds available for new applications by category, establish the structure of financing and the terms of any subsidy at the time it considers the prioritized list of projects. The SWIFT also has the ability to provide multi-year commitments for entities that have project funding needs spanning several years. Grants are not available in the SWIFT. For more information about SWIFT implementation, you may visit www.twdb.texas. gov/swift/index.asp. If you have questions about the application process, regional teams have been created to assist you with the development of projects and identifying which TWDB program is optimal to meet your needs. To locate your regional team’s contact information, visit www.twdb.texas.gov/ financial/programs/swift/regional_project_teams.asp.

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TWDB Loan Program Helps Bring Surface Water to the Bright Star-Salem Community

By Wanda Gaby, General Manager, Bright Star-Salem SUD

I

n 2007, Bright Star-Salem SUD was faced with a common problem shared with other water systems across Texas: Where is our water going to come from for the future? With extreme growth throughout the 90s and unsuccessful well drilling, the board was faced with some tough choices. Our current wells, some only producing 35 gallons per minute, could not keep up with the added growth. However, because of careful planning and the ability to look ahead to the future, the board had secured a small amount of water rights from Lake Fork Reservoir through Sabine River Authority in the early 80s and had been paying for them monthly. So with the ability to use 700,000 gallons per day of surface water, we began the task of applying for a loan through the Texas Water Development Board’s (TWDB) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program. The loan was approved for $5.9 million, and the project included two elevated storage towers, a 1 million gallon per day surface water treatment plant, several miles of upgraded water lines and a 500,000 gallon concrete ground storage tank.

The first hurdle the board faced was converting to a Special Utility District in order to get a better interest rate. This process took about two years and was well worth the time and commitment. Not only do we save money on sales tax for new vehicles, but we are also able to sell water to other SUDs at no interest penalty on our loan. Another added benefit is the ability to offer better retirement benefits to our employees. In my opinion, converting to a water district is something that every board should at least consider.

The second hurdle was to amend the state water plan. This process took over one year and was burdened by much paper work. Since Bright Star was a ground water system in the original state water plan, it required a change in order to qualify to provide surface water. However, with a good engineering firm that is well experienced in this process, we were successful in amending the state water plan.

The loan was approved in 2007 based on building and cost estimates for that time, and since the construction did not begin until 2011, prices had increased. But the board committed to seeing this project through and committed to pay the difference

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in cash, so we pressed on. It took four years to complete the construction phase of the project, but we had very few change orders and were fortunate to have good contractors to work with.

Starting up a new surface water treatment plant is a very difficult task. When your customers have been drinking good, East Texas groundwater for 40 years and they switch to surface water, it is a huge difference. The plant opened in July 2013, and we still struggle with a few taste and odor issues. Our customers have been good in working with us, and we hope that over time they can learn to accept that surface water has a different taste.

The sunshine at the end of the project is that even before construction was finished, a neighboring water system was requesting to buy water. We no longer have water restrictions at Bright Star, although we do highly encourage and promote water conservation.

We still maintain our 14 water wells, and our 2,100 customer base is now divided into half groundwater and half surface water.

We look forward to serving surface water to our customers for many years and having excess water to sell to our neighbors. All in all it was a good project, which would not have been possible without the loan we received from TWDB. It took a long time, but was well worth the wait. We strongly encourage any system planning to make infrastructure improvements to look into the financial assistance programs offered by TWDB. Does your system do something that stands out? E-mail editor@trwa.org or call 512-472-8591 and tell us your story! You could see your system highlighted in the next issue of Quench!

Keep It Legal Answers to Members’ Questions by Lara Zent, TRWA General Counsel and Deputy Executive Director

Q:

We have a connection in our water supply corporation service area with six people living in one house. One of the residents is ill and disabled. The water bill at this residence is delinquent in the amount of $600. The member claims he does not have to pay and that it is illegal for us to disconnect.

What is the law on this issue?

A: Texas law does not prohibit a water system from disconnecting service to an ill or disabled customer. The TRWA sample policy on this issue (in both the tariff and district service policy documents) tracks the Public Utility Commission’s (PUC’s) rule for investor-owned utilities. This rule gives an ill customer an extra month to pay their bill; however, after that service may be disconnected, unless the customer enters into a deferred payment plan. A deferred payment plan is essentially a new agreement that allows the customer to make payments on agreeable terms instead of having to pay in full; but the plan/agreement should make clear that if the customer does not make the new payments, service will be disconnected.

The PUC’s rule pertaining to disconnection for ill customers is located at Title 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Section 24.88(f). Although this rule only applies to investor-owned utilities, the language serves as good guidance on the issue and is an indicator of what the PUC staff would support if your customer lodged a complaint regarding your policy.

Here’s the language in TRWA’s model policy based on this rule: Disconnection for Ill Customers – The Corporation may not discontinue service to a delinquent residential Member or tenant under an alternative billing agreement permanently residing in an individually metered dwelling unit when that Member or tenant establishes that discontinuance of service will result in some person at that residence becoming seriously ill or more seriously ill if service is discontinued. To avoid disconnection under these circumstances, the Member or tenant must provide a written statement from a physician to the Corporation prior to the stated date of disconnection. Service may be disconnected in

accordance with Subsection (a) of this Section if the next month’s bill and the past due bill are not paid by the due date of the next month’s bill, unless the Member or tenant enters into a Deferred Payment Agreement (see Miscellaneous Transaction Forms).

The Corporation shall provide notice to an owner of rental property in the event a tenant requests service not be discontinued due to illness as per this subsection.

Q: We serve a rental property where someone destroyed our meter. Our operator photographed and documented the damage, which was a total loss, and called local law enforcement. We do not have an alternate billing agreement in place for the renter, but they pay the bill directly and the landlord/member is aware of that arrangement. Can we bill for the damage to the meter and disconnect for non-payment? Can we pursue criminal charges?

A: The PUC rule at Section 24.88(b)(4) supports disconnection without notice for meter tampering.

The rule defines meter tampering as tampering with a meter or equipment that causes damage or unnecessary expense to the system, bypassing a meter or equipment or other instances of diversion; which includes physically disorienting a meter, attaching objects to the meter, inserting objects into the meter, and other electrical and mechanical means of tampering with, bypassing or diverting utility service.

The burden of proof for meter tampering is on the water system, but you have done the right things by taking photographs and calling local law enforcement. Our sample tariff also recommends executing a sworn affidavit from the staff member who documented the destroyed meter.

You can and should bill for the damage caused to the meter. We suggest you bill both the renter and owner so the owner is aware of the issue. This correspondence and your tariff should also clearly state that service will not be reconnected until all damages have been paid.

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You may also pursue criminal charges. Texas Penal Code Section 28.03(b)(3)(B) and (c) specifically addresses this crime, and it’s a good idea to provide this citation to law enforcement officials when you file the charges.

Q: I need to know what our water system should do about extremely low pressure for two new customers at the end of a new line on our expansion. Should we charge them a monthly charge for their meter if we cannot provide adequate water pressure? We are working with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the engineers to solve the problem, but we don’t have a timeline on how long this will take. Do we charge them in the meantime?

A: You still should charge the customer for service even though the pressure is low. We are not aware of a situation where the TCEQ or the PUC have suggested otherwise. Your board has the discretion to decide whether to give these new customers a discount on their rates while you are trying to fix the problem.

Q: We have a board member who leaves an executive session/closed board meeting and then publicly discusses everything the board discussed in the closed session. Is there any prohibition against this? If not, could the board of directors adopt a “code of ethics” that would prohibit this behavior and allow the board to dismiss a director for revealing confidential information from a closed meeting?

A: This is a very frustrating situation, but it’s not illegal. It is illegal for a board member to provide a copy of the certified agenda (minutes of the executive session) to anyone else other than current board members.

Once, I was presenting on the Open Meetings Act and was taken aback when an audience member who was on a water system board said she felt it was her duty to let the public know what was discussed in executive sessions and shared this information on her blog.

I strongly advise against this type of behavior since it thwarts the purpose of the executive session, which is to discuss certain sensitive issues freely (as set forth the Open Meetings Act); however, I do not believe that you have the legal authority to prohibit this type of behavior by board policy or otherwise. It is rare that a board 18

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member does not respect this confidentiality, but unfortunately this is not always the case.

I recommend placing this issue on the agenda for discussion at the next board meeting, because if one member is not respecting the confidential nature of these discussions, then this important tool will no longer be available to your board.

If you have a legal question you would like answered, please e-mail legal@trwa.org.

The Importance of Forests to Water Resources

By Hughes Simpson, Water Resources Manager, Texas A&M Forest Service

O

ver 50 percent of the nation’s freshwater resources originate from forests that cover about one-third of the United States.

Forests provide a number of essential economic, social and environmental functions, in addition to supplying the cleanest water of any land use.

These lands absorb rainfall, refill groundwater aquifers, slow and filter storm water runoff, reduce floods and maintain watershed stability and resilience. A 2013 report by Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) estimates watershed services provided by Texas forests are valued at $13.2 billion annually.

In an effort to identify and highlight the most important lands to surface drinking water across the nation, the United States Forest Service (USFS) developed the Forests to Faucets project.

This interactive, web-based Geographic Information System tool maps critical forestlands, documents the role they play in protecting water supplies, and models the extent to which these lands are threatened. TFS is currently refining this national analysis to provide higher resolution for priority areas throughout the state.

While the benefits of forests are numerous, these lands are constantly at risk. Population growth throughout the state is expected to explode over the next 50 years, leading to significant changes in land use throughout the state. The Southern Forest Futures Project, conducted by the USFS, forecasts that over 1 million acres of forestland will be lost to development and urban sprawl in Texas.

Not only will this forecasted population growth result in increased water demands, it will also lead to increases in impervious cover in areas where forestlands occurred, resulting in impacts to water quality and supply. This growth will not be spread evenly throughout the region, being concentrated near population centers and major travel corridors.

Several municipalities and water management organizations have already recognized the important

role forests play in supplying fresh drinking water, and as such, have taken action to conserve these critical landscapes. The most prominent example of this is the New York City Watershed Project, in which city leaders decided in the early 1990s to begin conserving the forestlands in Upstate New York where their source water originated, rather than building a new water filtration facility, as would have been required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. This facility would have cost an estimated $6 billion upfront to construct and $250 million annually for maintenance. By spending approximately $167 million annually to purchase forestland, conservation easements and encourage landowners to implement sustainable management practices, New York City has been able to comply with the legislation at a fraction of the cost. Water quality monitoring over the last 20 years has demonstrated the success of this project. Approaches such as this are currently being explored for application in the South.

In addition to threats from urbanization, forests also may become more susceptible to insects, disease, invasive species, wildfire and natural disasters in the future that will affect watershed function. The Southern Pine Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer and other pests have the potential to cause Continued on page 20 Quench — January/February 2015

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widespread mortality and changes to species composition. To counteract this, sustainable forest management can improve health and vigor, improving forest resilience and enabling these lands to continue providing watershed services.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are the principle means by which the forest sector protects water resources through sustainable land management. These non-regulatory conservation practices are designed to provide an economical way of protecting soil and water resources, two key elements necessary for growing a healthy, sustainable and productive forest. Examples include leaving buffer zones of trees next to streams, properly sizing and installing culverts or temporary bridges to cross waterways, establishing grass on forest roads to prevent erosion, and many other practices that have been tested and proven effective over the years. TFS, working cooperatively with numerous organizations, manages the forestry BMP program in Texas.

Given the challenges that water providers, watershed managers and forest landowners will face in the future, it will be essential that their interdependence be better understood and the fundamental importance of forests for each of

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these acknowledged. The vast majority (almost 95 percent) of Texas forests are privately owned, so their future lies in the hands of individuals and corporations. Motivating them to take actions beneficial for water resources will require creative thought and investment.

This is the first in a series of articles we will run in 2015 on forests and watershed management, and their importance to drinking water supply. We will run additional articles on water quality, water quantity and creative solutions for water resource management throughout the year. If you have any questions about this article, you may contact Hughes Simpson at the Texas A&M Forest Service, Division of Forest Resource Development and Sustainable Forestry, at hsimpson@tfs.tamu.edu.

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46th Annual Convention Set for March in Austin If you haven’t already, now is the time to register for RuralWaterCon! TRWA’s 46th Annual Convention will be in Austin at the Renaissance Hotel on March 18-20, 2015! In addition to informative sessions, convention highlights include many networking opportunities, including the TRWA/AIA-sponsored golf tournament, to be held at Avery Ranch Golf Club; a Welcome Reception, sponsored by CoBank; a President’s Banquet, with a keynote delivered by Texas Country Reporter’s own Bob Phillips; the RuralWaterConnections Luncheon, where we will honor Texas rural water heroes; and the Exhibit Hall, where some of the latest product and service advancements will be on display. There will also be several opportunities to support the Texas Rural Water Political Action Committee (PAC), with a silent PAC auction being held throughout the event, and a live PAC auction of our premium items during Thursday night’s social hour.

There will be two full days of breakout sessions, including a mini-track of topics geared specifically toward board members. We will also honor the 2015 TRWA Awards of Excellence winners and the TRWF Scholarship recipients during our opening session. The Annual Business Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 19, and TRWA District Elections will be held Friday, March 20 during District caucuses.

This only scratches the surface of what is sure to be an exciting and fulfilling event! A full agenda is now online at www.trwa.org. If you have any questions about this convention, please contact us at 512-472-8591 or meetings@trwa.org.

March 18 is Rural Water Day at the State Capitol Join the TRWA Board and Lobby Team for some grassroots lobbying on Wednesday, March 18! Beginning at the Renaissance Hotel, we will hold a Legislative Briefing Breakfast where we will review the status of pending water-related legislation. We will then provide shuttle service to the Capitol, where you will have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with your elected representatives. TRWA members are also invited to attend House and Senate Meetings throughout the day. Invite your senator or representative to the Welcome Reception, which is an excellent opportunity to visit with your legislators in an informal setting. Texas Rural Water Day is complimentary, but registration is required. For details, visit www.trwa.org.

RuralWaterCon Announces Official Sponsors Many of the features we are able to provide during RuralWaterCon would not be possible without our sponsors. This year’s general sponsors are AIA Insurance, CoBank, Daniel & Brown and TraC-n-Trol. This event would not be possible without them, and we are very appreciative of their support of TRWA. You can learn more about the services they provide at the Opening General Session on Thursday, March 19 at 8:30am.

There are still sponsorship opportunities available. Event sponsors will get a listing in the convention program, signage at the event and preference when making booth assignments in the Exhibit Hall. If you are interested in a sponsorship opportunity at RuralWaterCon, please contact our Member Services Director, Teresa McAnally, at 512-472-8591 or at meetings@trwa.org.

Thanks to our sponsors for leading the charge to help Keep Texas Rural!

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TRWA Briefs East Bell WSC Celebrates 50 Years and Beyond On January 16, 2014, East Bell Water Supply Corporation (EBWSC) celebrated 50 years of continued service to its community. The system marked the occasion at its Annual Membership meeting at SPJST Lodge # 47, Seaton Star Hall in Seaton, Texas, where all 50 previous annual meetings were held. Approximately 300 guests were in attendance and celebrated with a catered meal, door prizes, coffee mugs and the reading of the minutes from the first meeting in November 1964.

All past Board of Directors and their years of service were recognized at the meeting, including current board of directors Eugene Brenek (29 years of service), Kenneth Halfmann (24 years of service), Donald Malovets (10 years of service) and Abbeye Zavodny (9 years of service).

EBWSC Board Members (from left): Abbeye Zavodny, Kenneth Halfmann, Marvin Green, Donald Malovets and Eugene Brenek

Now, one year later, EBWSC would like to commemorate the occasion, and looks forward to 50 more years of growth and service.

EBWSC was chartered by the State of Texas in November 1964. A loan for startup costs was acquired from Farmers Home Administration for $114,000.00. EBWSC originally had 82 members in Bell County. Water was purchased from Central Texas Water Supply Corporation (CTWSC) and also supplied by one well and pump station in the service area. The first board consisted of five directors with Jerome Green being the first president. Initially, two board members read the water meters, but then the system converted to a member-read honor system, and recently, the system was upgraded to radio read meters 24

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The corporation now serves 1222 members in Bell and Falls counties with water still being purchased from CTWSC, along with two wells in the service area and six pump stations. The board still has five members, and the current president is Jerome’s son, Marvin Green, who has served on the board for 30 years.

Does your system do something that stands out?

E-mail editor@trwa.org or call 512-472-8591 and tell us your story! You could see your system highlighted in the next issue of Quench!

Don’t Miss the Chance to Apply for a TRWF Scholarship There is still time to apply for a 2015 Texas Rural Water Foundation scholarship! The deadline to participate in the 2015 scholarship cycle is Friday, February 6. Whether you are a student looking to pursue a higher education in a concentration that will lead to a potential career in the water and/or wastewater industry, or you are a system operator or manager pursuing continued education and career advancement, we encourage you to take advantage of one of these opportunities!

These scholarships are designed to help defray the costs of tuition, fees, books and/or room and board for the recipient. Because the Foundation has absorbed these programs from the Texas Rural Water Association, we are now able to extend these scholarships beyond the scope of TRWA membership. These funds will continue to bolster the water and wastewater industry in rural Texas, but now anyone interested in supporting and promoting our industry can apply.

New this year, we are welcoming former student scholarship recipients to apply for additional funds.

To be eligible, these applicants must provide transcripts to demonstrate they are in good academic standing, and remain in a concentration that will lead to a potential career in the water and/or wastewater industry.

Each TRWA member system was sent at least one packet containing the application forms for both the Student Scholarship Program and the Operator/ Manager Scholarship Program. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, please ask your supervisor for the desired packet. These application forms, along with eligibility information, are also available for download on the Texas Rural Water Foundation’s website at www.texasrwf.org. Please

share these opportunities with your peers and community members who may benefit from one of these programs.

The number of scholarships and the amounts awarded will be based upon the number of qualified applicants and the amount of funds available.

Historically, student recipients have received $1,000 to be applied toward the academic year, and operator/manager recipients have received up to $250 each for TRWA-approved courses taken during the program year.

Scholarship recipients will be announced at the 2015 RuralWaterCon, to be held March 18-20 in Austin, Texas. All recipients will be contacted directly with information on how to receive payment.

Recipients will also be recognized in the April/May issue of Quench. For more information, visit www. texasrwf.org or you may contact Allison Kaminsky, communications director, at Allison.Kaminsky@trwa. org or 512-472-8591.

TCEQ Hosts Free Asset Management Workshops TCEQ is hosting free Asset Management Workshops beginning in February. These workshops will provide tools and an opportunity for operators, administrators, council members and others to begin asset management planning in order to make better financial decisions and stop the cycle of reacting to crisis situations – which always costs more money!

They will discuss how to: • Develop an asset inventory • Prioritize needed repairs or replacement of assets • Prepare a budget • Determine the amount of money needed to support your system • Evaluate your water source during drought conditions.

The Texas Rural Water PAC Needs Your Support We encourage you to participate in our annual Texas Rural Water Political Action Committee (PAC) fundraising campaign. The Texas Rural Water PAC is the bipartisan state and federal political action committee of the Texas Rural Water Association.

PAC funds support the campaigns of state and federal candidates who will take a stand on issues that matter to Texas rural water. Each year, TRWA members contribute to the fundraising campaign so that the Texas Rural Water PAC can support legislators who will have a positive effect on our association’s future. By contributing to the Texas Rural Water PAC, you can affect the political process by ensuring that Texas rural water is fairly and effectively represented.

Sponsorship funds are pooled to make contributions to state and federal candidates in Texas – men and women who understand the issues facing water and wastewater utilities. These contributions support our effort to elect individuals to public office who will give rural water fair and effective representation. The Texas Rural Water PAC Board reviews candidates’ views and voting records to determine which ones to support.

There are two ways you can support our cause.

The first is by way of individual contribution, which will earn you one of three levels of sponsorship: • • •

Gold level, an individual contribution of at least $250; Silver level, an individual contribution from $100 to $249; and Bronze level, an individual contribution from $25 to $99.

PAC Sponsors will be able to display their pride in rural water with rewards, which will bear the ‘Keep Continued on page 26

Operators will earn three Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for attending a workshop. The locations and dates are as follows: • • •

Denton Rosenberg Liberty

February 17, 2015 February 26, 2015 March 26, 2015

For more information about upcoming workshops and to register for a workshop near you, visit TCEQ’s website at http://www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/small-pwsworkshop/ or call toll-free at 800-447-2827.

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Texas Rural’ logo and be given to contributors at each level. Suggested contribution amounts are guidelines; individuals may contribute more or less.

Individuals may legally contribute up to $5,000 per calendar year. To make a contribution, please complete and return the Texas Rural Water PAC Contribution Form and make your personal check payable to the “Texas Rural Water PAC.” This form is available on our website, and will also be mailed to each system in February 2014.

The second way you can support the Texas Rural Water PAC is by making an in-kind donation to be featured at PAC auctions at the RuralWaterCon on March 18-20, 2015. A silent auction will be held throughout the duration of Convention in the Exhibit Hall, and a live auction of our premium items will be held Thursday, March 19. If you would like to donate an item, please either send it to the TRWA office, c/o Texas Rural Water PAC, 1616 Rio Grande, Austin, Texas 78701, or send a description of your item to Allison.Kaminsky@trwa.org and drop your donation off at the PAC booth when you arrive at the Convention. All donations are appreciated, though Corporate or District contributions are prohibited by law.

The Texas Rural Water PAC’s strength lies in the involvement of water professionals like you. By pooling your contributions with hundreds of other TRWA members across the state, we can make the voice of our industry in Texas even stronger. Join the Texas Rural Water PAC team and show your support for Texas water. Become a sponsor and help us Keep Texas Rural!

Thank You to TRWF’s 20142015 VISTAs On February 13, the Texas Rural Water Foundation will part ways with their second round of AmeriCorps VISTAs as they complete their year of service. Their hard work over the past twelve months has grown TRWF’s programming, which will benefit countless Texans for years to come. We would like to take the opportunity to highlight some of their efforts and to give thanks for everything they have done.

Caroline Hackett, Foundation Development Specialist, has worked to establish relationships between the Foundation and a variety of water industry organizations, including the Texas Water Municipal Consortium, the Texas Water Foundation 26

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and the Colorado River Alliance. She created a water conservation survey, the results of which are helping shape the Foundation’s water conservation education program. Her write-up of the survey results were published in the Water Conservation Advisory Counsel’s Report to the Texas Legislature.

Moving forward, Caroline has accepted a Hydrologist position with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Veteran Employment Specialists Anjelica Sepulveda and Lily Roblin have run the day-to-day operations of the Veteran Employment Program (VEP), which has made great strides over the past year. They have managed a $5,000 grant from the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), and have written the quarterly progress reports required by the grant.

They also just completed work on a second grant application. Anjelica’s and Lily’s efforts have helped secure new job positions and provided training to eight veterans new to the water and wastewater utility industry, providing these veterans with longterm career opportunities. They have also worked to create strong partnerships with various veteran assistance programs and, in doing so, have built up the recognition of the VEP. Anjelica also worked with TRWA staff to develop an On-the-Job training template for utilities to use when applying to the TVC to become On-the-Job Training providers, a program which allows veterans to utilize their GI Bill for supplementary income while working at a utility. Anjelica aspires to find work in the social services field where she can continue to lend a helping hand to others in need of assistance.

Lily also wrote several articles and created an internal bi-weekly e-newsletter for TRWA staff and board members. Lily is exploring a variety of job opportunities, with a goal of helping others.

Cathleen McKinnon and Taylor Sutherland have spent the past year improving and expanding upon

current TRWA course content and materials to better train rural water industry professionals. Cathleen, Classroom Course Development Specialist, has edited the water distribution manual and has worked with staff to develop a new TRWA groundwater production manual. Cathleen is pursuing opportunities to develop her various interests, and hopes to someday help people through art therapy.

Taylor, Online Course Development Specialist, worked to update and improve the basic water online course. The new course will be more visual and interactive than the current course, including links to instructional videos. Taylor has accepted a position with CLEAResult, an energy consulting company, to develop a career in sustainable business consultation.

These VISTAs’ efforts have been crucial in ensuring the success of TRWF’s mission to support and empower rural water and wastewater utilities and the communities they serve. We wish them the very best as their professional lives develop, and know they will continue to make their mark on the world!

Advertiser Index

AIA Insurance Agency......................................... Page 13 Childress Engineers......................................................20 CoBank.............................................................................8 Daniel & Brown, Inc.......................................................21 DSA Coatings.................................................................21 Hayes Engineering........................................................26 HD Supply...................................................................... 11 J.F. Fontaine & Assoc., Inc...........................................18 KSA Engineers.................................................................7 Maguire Iron...................................................................12 Pittsburg Tank & Tower Maintenance Co., Inc............18 RG3 Meters..............................................................20, 23 Russell Drilling Co., Inc................................................25 Smith Pump Co., Inc......................................................18 Superior Tank Co.............................................................9 Tabor & Associates, Inc................................................12 Tank Connection............................................................21 Texas Rural Water Foundation.......................................7 TraC-N-Trol, Inc..............................................................21 Velvin and Weeks..........................................................16

Plan Ahead CONFERENCES: March 18-20, 2015

46th Annual Convention, Renaissance Hotel, Austin

June 4-5, 2015

Office Professionals Conference, Hyatt Regency Riverwalk

OPERATOR TRAINING COURSES: Water Credit Courses

Groundwater Production: San Antonio, March 3 Water Distribution: Forney, March 17  San Antonio, April 28 Water Utility Calculations: San Antonio, February 24 Water Utility Safety: Terrell, February 3  San Antonio, April 7

Water and Wastewater Credit Courses

Chlorinator Maintenance: San Antonio, February 10 Customer Service Inspections: Midlothian, February 3  Springtown, February 18  Quitman, March 3  San Antonio, March 24  Collinsville, March 31  Jasper, April 14  Gladewater, April 28 Valve and Hydrant Maintenance: San Antonio, March 10  Denton, April 21

Wastewater Credit Courses

Wastewater Collections: Denton, February 18 Wastewater Treatment: San Antonio, April 14

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

The Convention

for

March 18-20, 2015

Austin, Texas | Renaissance Hotel