Fall 2012 by David Evener

Fall 2012

A Hot Investment PV solar meets drinking water needs for New Mexico water district, page 9 Also inside: —Fight corrosion and water contamination with fiberglass pipe, page 12 —EPA Update, page 20

The

Heavyweight Champ New 80DIVFD New special patent-pending submersible pump check valve for use with variable-frequency drive (VFD) control pumps. Standard check valves will “chatter” and be noisy when a VFD goes to low flow, causing eventual failure. The unique Model 80DIVFD unit is designed to minimize flow losses and hydraulic shocks in the pumping system. It features a standard epoxy coating (NSF® approved powder) ductile iron body to support deep set pumps. This new, exclusive poppet system insures that the valve smoothly automatically adjusts to flow and is noiseless at even very low flows. It’s another winner from Flomatic…Call for complete information at 800-833-2040 or visit us on the web at www.flomatic.com

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Vol. 1, No. 2 Fall 2012

FEATURED ARTICLES 9 A Hot Investment By Marc Stewart and Jim Miller

PV solar meets drinking water needs—and costs—for New Mexico water district. 12 An Established Option By Bill Rardin

Fight corrosion and water contamination with fiberglass pipe. Page 9

14 PUBLIC GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS JOURNAL Q & A By Mike Price

Charles Fishman, author of The Big Thirst

COLUMNS 16 Engineering Your Business by Ed Butts, PE, CPI The Fine Points of Efficiency Minor improvements can make a big difference when it comes to an efficient system.

18 Safety Matters by Gary Ganson, CIH, CSP Accident Investigations A root-cause analysis can prevent a reoccurrence of accidents on the job site.

20 EPA Update by Charles Job Characteristics of Groundwater-Supplied Community Water Systems in the United States. The views expressed in the columns are the authors’ opinions based on their professional experience.

About the cover

12 Fall 20

Water tanks for the Sun Valley Water District in Alto, New Mexico, are shown. The district, 170 miles southeast of Albuquerque, serves about 200 mostly residential customers. It recently added PV (photovoltaic) solar technology. To read more about it, go to page 9. Photo submitted by Jim Miller of the Sun Valley Water and Sanitation District. ge 9

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Page 12

DEPARTMENTS 2 3 3 4 7 8 23 23 24

Editor’s Note: Swing for the Fences In This Issue Index of Advertisers Industry Newsline The Log Web Notes Coming Events Newsmakers Featured Products

The Public Groundwater Systems Journal (ISSN #2166-6512) is published quarterly by the National Ground Water Association, 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081. Printed and mailed at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and additional mailing offices. Postal acceptance: Periodical (requester subscription circulation) postage paid at Westerville, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Public Groundwater Systems Journal, 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081. Canada Post/ Publications Mail Agreement #40739533. Return address: 4960-2 Walker Rd., Windsor, ON N9A 6J3.

www.NGWA.org

Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 1/

EDITOR’S

NOTE

Swing for the Fences t all started with a simple letter. My brother-in-law Scott and his employer sent a letter to Major League Baseball in 2008 stating they could help reduce bats breaking into multiple pieces, a problem that was receiving a lot of publicity that summer due to a few highly-televised injuries. “Why not?” Scott thought when they fired off the letter. His company—like the groundwater industry—had slowed tremendously due to the decrease in home construction, so why not send a letter to baseball’s bosses and see if it nets a new opportunity for the firm. Well, guess what happened? Scott’s company was contacted by someone at Major League Baseball. Come to New York. Let’s talk. Home run, baby! Scott’s firm received a one-year contract to take part in a third-party certification and quality control program. Before the first shouts of “Play ball!” in 2009, he and his colleagues studied every broken bat from a two-month stretch of the 2008 season. The group’s finding helped create more stringent regulations for the bat suppliers with the intent to decrease “multiple-piece bat failures.” They also met with all of the approved bat manufacturers before that 2009 season and instructed them on the new regulations and—most importantly—how to test bats to ensure they conform. Finally, they went to almost every team’s spring training site and tested all of the existing maple bats being used by

the players. The bats that failed were removed from use in games. So what happened? Multiple-piece failures went down 30% from that 2008 season that had the so-called experts screaming on television and radio. Those numbers netted the company another one-year contract. And at the end of the 2010 season when breaks went down another 10%, the company had a new revenue stream. Scott’s company still certifies all types of structural and non-structural building products from all over the world. The housing start numbers that are starting to slowly climb from the hole they have been in for a few years are still a welcome sight for his firm. But when Scott and his wife, Jennifer, were the guests of Major League Baseball at the All-Star Game this season, I am sure he was glad they fired off that letter. There is no telling what might have happened if they had not. Don’t be afraid to explore any idea you have for your company. It may seem crazy, but these are crazy times. Crazy ideas may be the best ones going right now. Your idea may not result in a grandslam new revenue stream, but right now I’m sure you’d take a few extra hits wherever you can get them.

Thad Plumley is the editor of Public Groundwater Systems Journal and director of publications at the National Ground Water Association. He can be reached at tplumley @ngwa.org and on Twitter @WaterWellJournl.

Advertise your products and services to the groundwater industry’s most influential readership. Call Shelby Fleck and Vickie Wiles in the NGWA sales department at (800) 551-7379. ● ● ●

Shelby Fleck

Approximately 25,000 readers every issue. More than 20,000 work at community groundwater systems. Others reside in professions also allied to the field. Readers reside in every state.

Disclaimer Public Groundwater Systems Journal and the National Ground Water Association provide information for guidance and information purposes only. This publication is not intended to provide investment, tax, or legal advice. The information contained herein has been compiled from sources deemed reliable and it is accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief; however, Public Groundwater Systems Journal and the National Ground Water Association cannot guarantee as to its accuracy, completeness, and validity and cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions. All information contained herein should be independently verified and confirmed. Public Groundwater Systems Journal and the National Ground Water Association do not accept any liability for any loss or damage howsoever caused in reliance upon such information. Reader agrees to assume all risk resulting from the application of any of the information provided by Public Groundwater Systems Journal and the National Ground Water Association. Trademarks and copyrights mentioned within Public Groundwater Systems Journal are the ownership of their respective companies. The names of products and services presented are used only in an educational fashion and to the benefit of the trademark and copyright owner, with no intention of infringing on trademarks or copyrights. No endorsement of any third-party products or services is expressed or implied by any information, material, or content referred to in the Public Groundwater Systems Journal. Advertising Disclaimer Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all content (including text, representation, and illustrations) of advertisements printed and also assume responsibility for any claims arising therefrom made against the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising that it believes is not in keeping with the publication's standards or is deemed unsuitable or misleading.

Vickie Wiles

2/ Fall 2012 Public Groundwater Systems Journal

www.NGWA.org

IN THIS elcome to the second issue of Public Groundwater Systems Journal, a publication created by the National Ground Water Association for those working at public water systems served by groundwater.

You are receiving this issue as you work at one of the more than 40,000 community water systems in the United States. Public Groundwater Systems Journal is designed to aid you in your professional needs as it contains a mix of feature stories, columns, and departments authored by professionals in the field as well as award-winning authors. The first feature article is “A Hot Investment” on page 9 by Marc Stewart and Jim Miller, who are on the Board of Directors for the Sun Valley Water and Sanitation District in Alto, New Mexico. They discuss the impact photovoltaic solar technology can have on rural water systems. A system was installed for Sun Valley that is low maintenance and tracks the sun each day to increase efficiency. They point out that such systems should be considered today as panel prices have fallen and prices for the rest of the needed equipment are expected to drop as well. Returns on investment can average 8% a year and investment paybacks can be less than 10 years— a significant consideration as electrical costs are expected to climb through 2025.

A second feature story points out that an option against aging piping systems is the use of fiberglass. Author Bill Rardin says in “An Established Option” on page 12 that fiberglass pipe has been in the oil and gas industry for decades, but should be valued more as an option for water systems because of its unique characteristics. Rardin, a general manager of Major Turbine Pump and Supply in Dublin, Georgia, points out fiberglass is resistant to most corrosives, lighter than steel, stronger than PVC, and while more expensive, outlasts most conventional products, meaning long-term savings for systems that decide to use it. Associate Editor Mike Price interviews Charles Fishman, New York Times best-selling author of the book, The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water, in the Public Groundwater Systems Journal Q & A on page 14. Fishman is an award-winning reporter and author who spent three years trying to understand water issues around the world. The focus of his book is society’s relationship with water. Fishman Mike Price states that while water is the most vital substance in our lives, it is something that has been taken for granted for too many years. He details

how there is still no reason for a global water crisis as there is more than enough water; it just has to be used smartly. Preventing accidents from reoccurring is the subject of the Safety Matters column. Gary Ganson, CIH, CSP, writes about the importance of performing root-cause analysis investigations that not only assist in preventing an incident from occurring in the future, but helping deterGary Ganson, CIH, mine what might have CSP been a factor in causing it. In “Accident Investigations” on page 18, Ganson goes over the key elements of a root-cause analysis and the seven factors that should be determined by a proper analysis. He also highlights the importance of near-miss reporting, a difficult safety tool to use, but one that can be invaluable to a company.

Public Groundwater Systems Journal is free to individuals working in the groundwater industry. After being published twice this year, it will move to a quarterly format in 2013, getting delivered once every season.

INDEX OF Page

Alloy Screen Works (800) 577-5068 www.alloyscreenworks.com Baker Mfg., Water Systems Division (800) 523-0224 www.bakermfg.com Cotey Chemical (806) 747-2096 www.coteychemical.com Flomatic (800) 833-2040 www.flomatic.com www.NGWA.org

OBC

IFC

ISSUE

ADVERTISERS

Page

Ground Water Science www.groundwaterscience.com Heron Instruments (800) 331-2032 www.heroninstruments.com NGWA/Bookstore (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/ConsensusDOCS (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org

6 13

Page

NGWA/Membership (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org NGWA/State Law Matrix (800) 551-7379 www.ngwa.org Robbco Pumps (806) 749-7475 www.robbcopumps.com

IBC

Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 3/

INDUSTRY

NEWSLINE

Lead-Content Law Takes Effect in 2014 Back inventory of products not meeting the definition of lead-free under the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act can no longer be used after January 3, 2014, unless the product is exempted under the law. Industry members should begin now to plan their production, purchasing, and inventory management to meet this deadline in the United States. The Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act changed the definition of lead-free to mean not containing more than a weighted average of 0.25% lead when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures. As of January 4, 2014, no person may introduce into commerce or use any pipe, or any pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture, in the installation or repair of any public water system or any plumbing in a residential or nonresidential facility providing water for human consumption that is not lead-free under this

new definition. Back inventory that does not meet the 0.25% lead-free calculation cannot be installed after January 3, 2014, unless it is exempt from the prohibitions. The definition of lead-free solder and flux—0.2% lead—was not affected by the Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking is expected to provide additional direction on the new federal law’s implementation. Some of the potential topics that may be addressed through rulemaking include: how repair of components will be treated; whether and what product labeling may be mandated; clarification on the scope of coverage and the scope of exemptions; as well as whether and through what process product certification, third-party or otherwise, may be required. At a recent meeting, the EPA announced the proposed rule has been delayed until “sometime after the first quarter of 2013.” Given it typically takes many months between issuing a proposed and final rule, final rule publi-

cation is highly unlikely until after the January 4, 2014 date when only products meeting the new lower lead content requirement can be introduced into commerce or used in drinking water systems in the United States. Under the “Protect your business” category in the “Member exclusive content” area of www.NGWA.org, members of the National Ground Water Association can access the FAQ on the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act and EPA presentation on the new lead-free law.

Utilities See Water Demand Outstripping Supply by 2030 Wide-ranging water management efforts and large-scale investments must be made if utilities are to meet near certain water stress—demand outstripping supply—by 2030, according to a new Economist Intelligence Unit study. The report, sponsored by Oracle Utilities and titled “Water for all?” considers the preparedness of utilities to

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The research also reveals differences in the approaches taken by utilities in the six developed and four developing countries under study. In the face of climate change, utilities in the developed markets are focusing more attention on creating infrastructure capable of responding to changes in weather and demand patterns. Utilities in the developing countries, in contrast, are more likely to focus on rolling out or expanding basic infrastructure.

supply water to the current global population of more than 7 billion people, with a further one billion expected by 2030. The study compares strategies used by utilities in 10 countries—the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Spain, Brazil, Russia, India, and China—to meet this challenge. The study is based on an online survey of 244 executives of water utilities in these countries, supplemented by indepth interviews with 20 water utility executives and independent experts. The research concludes utilities worldwide expect to meet future demand despite increased pressure on supplies. Their optimism is based on an expectation that water productivity will improve and utilities and governments will take a wide range of measures to ensure water is used more efficiently. For example, the leading overall response to water stress in the future is expected to be a sharp focus on demand management. This represents a shift in utilities’ traditional emphasis on continuing to supply increasing quantities of water in response to increasing demand.

CH2M HILL WaterMatch and Net Impact Partner to Launch Program to Promote Water Reuse CH2M HILL WaterMatch is collaborating with Net Impact to launch the new WaterMatch Makers University Program. This first-of-its-kind program channels the energy and creative thinking of students around the world onto water issues in their local communities. The students use social networking to connect people and promote water reuse. CH2M HILL—a global full-service consulting, design, construction, and op-

erations firm—launched the grassroots, goodwill initiative WaterMatch as a social network to connect water users with water generators to promote the beneficial reuse of municipal effluent for industrial and agricultural users in 2011. Recognizing the importance of water reuse and the low rates of implementation around the world, corporations, organizations, and universities are partnering with WaterMatch to promote reuse and sustainable water management through a variety of actions. With more than 300 volunteer-led chapters worldwide, Net Impact will connect the WaterMatch Makers University Program with their vibrant network of universities and students to promote water reuse and take action on local water issues. The program offers students real-world learning experiences that support local community and economic development while protecting the environment. The WaterMatch Web site has more than 21,000 potential water reuse sources. For more information, visit www.ch2mhill.com/watermatch.

NEWS/continues on page 6

ey!

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Save time by shopping at the NGWA bookstore. NGWA’s bookstore is your one-stop shop for all of your groundwater literature needs. It contains more than 200 titles from all the major science publishers, as well as NGWA Press, at prices that beat those of major publishing houses. Visit the online bookstore today at www.NGWA.org.

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Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 5/

NEWS/from page 5 New Housing Starts Increased by 15% in September The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for September. The report shows privately-owned housing starts in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 872,000. This is 15% above the revised August estimate of 758,000 and is 34.8% above the September 2011 rate of 647,000. September had the best monthly performance since July 2008, when housing starts were on an annual pace of 923,000. Single-family housing starts in September were at a rate of 603,000; this is 11% above the revised August figure of 543,000. The September rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 260,000. Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 894,000. This is 11.6% above the

revised August rate of 801,000 and is 45.1% above the September 2011 estimate of 616,000. Single-family authorizations in September were at a rate of 545,000; this is 6.7% above the revised August figure of 511,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 323,000 in September. Privately-owned housing completions in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 683,000. This is 0.4% above the revised August estimate of 680,000 and is 13.8% above the September 2011 rate of 600,000. To read about new residential construction data, visit www.census.gov/ construction/nrc.

ASTM Launches New Initiative to Address Environmental Impacts of Products

The American Society for Testing and Materials has announced a new initiative to help measure environmental impacts of products. The initiative is for Program Operator for Product Category Rules (PCRs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which will provide 䡲 Long-term well and wellfield decline? the venue for devel䡲 Wells not performing as expected from the oping PCRs and beginning as expected? verifying EPDs. As green and 䡲 Water quality issues or concerns? sustainability be䡲 Need creative solutions to water supply? come more prevalent terms, and measurement systems and labels more common, there is a growing 䡲 Ground water is what we do need to understand the real environ䡲 Specialists in sustaining and improving well mental impact of and wellfield performance products from raw 䡲 Ground water system biofouling and material extraction biocorrosion — total solution experts to disposal and recycling. 䡲 Certified and licensed in multiple states “The ASTM In䡲 We tackle your “weird well problems” ternational program will provide scien䡲 Training — get a handle on things yourself tifically based, quantifiable infor䡲 Working across the USA and internationally mation about prodSmith-Comeskey Ground Water Science LLC uct parameters such as resource conwww.groundwaterscience.com sumption and ozone depletion, which

6/ Fall 2012 Public Groundwater Systems Journal

will give both businesses and consumers an understanding of a product’s real impact on the environment,” says Timothy Brooke, vice president of certification, training, and proficiency testing at ASTM International. Through ASTM’s certification program, technical advisory committees will oversee the development process for PCRs. PCRs will detail the rules and guidelines for developing environmental declarations for products that can fulfill equivalent functions. EPDs will be verified to ensure their adherence to the ISO 14040 standards as well as to ensure that life cycle assessment data accurately describes the environmental aspects of a product. ASTM International has developed its program in accordance with ISO 14025—Environmental Labels and Declarations—Type III Environmental Declarations—Principles and Procedures. Inquiries about developing new PCRs and verifying EPDs are welcome. Contact ASTM’s certification and declarations department at cert@astm.org or visit ASTM’s Web site at www.astm.org for more information regarding the ASTM International program.

Pentair’s Sta-Rite Online Water Systems and Products Catalog Is Now Compatible with iPad and iPhone Pentair launched its Sta-Rite online catalog of water systems and sewage/ sump/effluent products, accessible on all desktop and mobile computing platforms. This virtual, interactive catalog can now be accessed on iPad, iPhone, Android operating systems, PCs, and Mac desktop computers. “Our dealers and distributors now have the option of accessing our StaRite catalog on just about any smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer. This is especially important to in-field technicians who need immediate information even when servicing remote applications,” says Susan O’Grady, Pentair market manager. The catalog is integrated into the StaRite Web site, and is available anywhere a cellular data signal is present. To access the online Sta-Rite catalog, visit www.sta-rite.com and click the “Interactive Virtual Catalog” link. www.NGWA.org

THE

LOG

NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION

Protect Your Groundwater Day Swept the Nation

Across the United States more than 200 Web and social media sites publicized NGWA’s September 11 Protect Your Groundwater Day—ranging from associations, news media, and federal, state, and local governmental agencies to private businesses, educational organizations, and health concerns. “This is what we know from the Web, but based on past experience it’s likely much more groundwater awareness took place that we don’t yet know about,” said NGWA Public Awareness Director Cliff Treyens. In just its third year, Protect Your Groundwater Day is gaining attention. Noteworthy examples of Protect Your Groundwater Day initiatives included: • A news story on Kentucky Governor Steven Beshear urging citizens to protect groundwater. • A joint news release by the Tennessee Department of Health and the Department of Environment and Conservation picked up by dozens of news media outlets and news services. • A public tour of a Kentucky Geological Survey karst monitoring station installed in an underground limestone conduit that feeds groundwater directly. • Efforts by other state agencies including the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Arizona Geological Survey, Delaware Geological Survey, Delaware Office of Drinking Water, Delaware Water Resources Center, Illinois EPA, Indiana Department of Health, Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection, Kentucky Division of Water, Kentucky Geological Survey, Maine CDC, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, New Mexico Dewww.NGWA.org

partment of Health, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Oregon Health Authority, and Washington Department of Health. • Outreach by private businesses including Brown & Caldwell and Franklin Electric (Twitter), Crews Environmental and Mud Puppy (Facebook). • News releases and articles by the American Association of State Geologists, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, the National Association of Conservation Districts, and the National Environmental Health Association. More promotional partners have yet to be approached. Any organization that wishes to promote either National Groundwater Awareness Week in March 2013 or Protect Your Groundwater Day in September 2013 should contact Treyens at (800) 551-7379, ext. 554, or e-mail ctreyens@ngwa.org. To learn more about Protect Your Groundwater Day, visit www.NGWA.org and scroll under “Media Center.”

Water Scarcity Challenges Addressed at Conference on Great Plains Aquifers: Beyond the Ogallala Ann Bleed, Ph.D., PE, delivered the keynote address at the NGWA Conference on Great Plains Aquifers: Beyond the Ogallala on October 25-26 in Omaha, Nebraska. Bleed focused on the challenges of water scarcity made increasingly more complex by interstate transfers of water, compacts, and decrees and the need for creativity in finding places to help mitigate increasing demand. She posed the questions “Can we meet our future challenges by traditional means?” and “How do groundwater scientists see their roles in meeting these challenges?" Bleed also shared insight into using the legal system to allocate and manage groundwater. Generally the legal system does not work well in controlling natural resources since groundwater and surface water boundaries

don’t coincide and win-lose lawsuits are not conducive to finding solutions. Panelists addressing “how do we value conserved water” attempted to quantify the economic and noneconomic impacts of conservation and efficiency efforts as well as delineating between conserving consumptive and nonconsumptive water. A manager of a local irrigation district challenged legislators to separate the political from the scientific and professional decisions related to water management. He maintained that those challenged with reduced water supplies will determine which crops are best to grow in that environment. During discussions it was noted that there appeared to be a political transition from “not in my backyard” to "not during my term of office" when water resource availability and management were critical topics. Such a “kick the can down the road” mentality compounds the already daunting task of prudently managing the resource.

Brochure Gives Guidance on Water Testing Near Oil and Gas Activities The National Ground Water Association and the Ground Water Protection Council are making available a water testing brochure for household water well owners living near oil or gas development and completion activities, including hydraulic fracturing. The brochure is timely with hydraulic fracturing emerging as an issue across the United States. The NGWA/GWPC brochure walks water well owners through how to go about getting their water tested prior to oil and gas activities to establish baseline water quality. It then provides guidelines for retesting the water after oil and gas development and completion activities. The brochure, which is an abbreviated version of the previously published NGWA Information Brief on Water Wells in Proximity to Natural Gas or Oil Development, can be downloaded under the “Water Quality” tab at Well owner.org.

Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 7/

WEB

NOTES

FIND IT ON THE NGWA WEB SITE, NGWA.ORG

Mark Your Calendars for 2013 NGWA Washington Fly-in

Join your fellow colleagues in advocating groundwater issues and building relationships with congressional leaders at the 2013 NGWA Washington Fly-in, which will take place February 25-26 at the Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Avenue NW, in Washington, D.C. The NGWA Washington Fly-in puts groundwater professionals in touch with the men and women who set the nation’s groundwater policy. NGWA will set up your congressional meetings, provide you with briefings on the hot topics of the day, and give you tips for maximizing your visit. The one missing piece is you bringing your knowledge of groundwater and your business to Washington and joining NGWA as it welcomes a new Congress. Learn more about the 2013 NGWA Washington Fly-in at www.ngwa.org/ flyin/Pages/default.aspx.

NGWA’s First Phone App for iPhone Provides Valuable Information A glossary of groundwater and water well terms is available from NGWA as an iPhone application downloadable online in the App Store at www.apple.com/iphone/apps-for-iphone. The app for Apple’s iPhone is $4.99. NGWA’s Lexicon of Groundwater and Water Well System Terms was selected by a task force of industry professionals and contains terms with the most relevancy to the various groundwater professions and to the use, protection, remediation, and management of groundwater. While there are often re8/ Fall 2012 Public Groundwater Systems Journal

gional differences in the use of some terms, the document is certainly an ideal collection of the definitions that relate to groundwater and the professionals who work with it. To learn more or to purchase this product, visit the NGWA Online Bookstore at www.NGWA.org, or call (800) 551-7379 or (614) 898-7791.

NGWA’s Community Makes Sharing Ideas, Communicating Easier The NGWA Community is a discussion group that makes it easier to share ideas and communicate with other NGWA members. The upgraded discussion group: • Has an area to post messages and still receive discussion posts in your email inbox • Allows you to control how and when you receive messages from the groups • Uses your NGWA.org Web site login to access your groups • Has an enhanced member directory to allow member-to-member networking • Updates your profile, adds your photo, and imports your LinkedIn profile for others to view • Allows you to post documents, videos, and links. Please make sure your NGWA membership is up to date to confirm you have access to the discussion group. You can log on to the site by going to http://community.ngwa.org and signing in with your NGWA.org user name and password. To become a member, visit www.NGWA.org.

NGWA Bookstore Offers Variety of Water Resources NGWA’s Online Bookstore at www.NGWA.org offers a wide range of resources on water use, including the book Siting, Drilling and Construction of Water Supply Wells. Designed for municipal water supply engineers, hydrogeologists, water utility managers, and water resource professionals, this book is an excellent desk reference for any question regarding

water wells, including siting, water quality, drilling methods, field testing, design, construction, development, and operation. The book is designed to be a practical reference and contains dozens of photographs and drawings. It describes and illustrates all common drilling methods, geophysical logging, and field testing. Well development, important for assuring well productivity and long life, is covered in detail as well. To learn more or to purchase this product, visit the NGWA Online Bookstore at www.NGWA.org, or call (800) 551-7379 or (614) 898-7791.

NGWA Career Center Works to Connect Those in Groundwater Industry Start your job search by visiting the NGWA Career Center at careers.ngwa .org, where job seekers can post their resume, view jobs, create a personal job alert, and set up a job seeker account and access it. The NGWA Career Center has been enhanced with new features to help connect members with new employment opportunities. Employers and recruiters now have access to your specialized niche. Among other things, employers and recruiters can review resumes, post jobs, and create an employer account and access it. Make use of the NGWA Career Center to meet all of your needs in today’s job market.

Stay Connected with NGWA Follow the National Ground Water Association on . . . Twitter www.Twitter.com/NGWAtweets Facebook www.Facebook.com/NGWAFB YouTube www.YouTube.com/user/NGWATUBE www.NGWA.org

(COVER STORY)

A Hot Investment PV solar meets drinking water needs—and costs—for New Mexico water district. By Marc Stewart and Jim Miller prolonged, severe drought continues in the southwestern United States. Warmer temperatures and higher wind velocities in and through overgrown forests on public and private land have contributed to declining surface water and groundwater resources in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. At the same time, non-agricultural demand for water continues to steadily rise. Large-scale forest and range fires in 2011 further affected already stressed watersheds. The forecast as far out as 2025 is no more optimistic. An already waterchallenged region is becoming even more water stressed. Rural New Mexico is a case in point. Pressure from the prolonged drought on its nearly 1500 small municipalities, mutual domestic associations, or water and sanitation districts has raised disturbing questions. How much water will there be? Where will it come from? What quality will it have? How much will it cost? These kinds of questions have forced rural water systems to refocus on two key operating variables: loss reduction

Marc Stewart and Jim Miller are on the Board of Directors for the Sun Valley Water and Sanitation District in Alto, New Mexico. Miller is the chairman of the board. He can be reached at (575) 258-5240.

www.NGWA.org

Contrary to myths, PV solar is relatively simple, low maintenance, and increasingly affordable. and overhead cost control (i.e., energy). America’s national laboratories have focused on this all-important connection between water and energy. The continued security and economic health of the United States depends on a sustainable supply of both energy and water. The intimate link between clean, affordable energy and clean affordable water is crystal clear. There cannot be one without the other. One solution to the clean water/energy challenge is the application of rapidly changing PV (photovoltaic) solar technology to rural water systems. New Mexico has lots of sun—everywhere! In use on rural water systems for more than 20 years, PV solar is hardly a new technology. But what is new is the improved efficiency and the declining costs. Here’s how one small New Mexico water system met this challenge. Contrary to lingering myths, PV solar is relatively simple, low maintenance, and increasingly affordable. It’s not much different from the conventional

electrical system that powers the typical community water system—a power source, wiring, disconnects, meters, grounding, breaker boxes. It’s pretty much the same stuff. PV solar has panels, an inverter to convert DC electricity to AC, and a second REC meter (measures renewable energy credits). Utility companies today specify the standards for the PV equipment that is to be connected to their system, typically UL-approved, industrial quality equipment. Rapid advancements in panel efficiencies from vast amounts of recent research and intense manufacturing competition from China have greatly reduced panel prices (80% lower than in 2005). Balance-of-system (the rest of the equipment) costs are now expected to begin dropping. Equipment warranties vary from 10 years on the smaller components to panel warranties of 25 years. Returns on investment vary with local electricity pricing, but for many water systems, returns can be 8% per year. Investment paybacks of less than 10 years are realistic in the big picture of steadily rising electrical prices nationwide through 2025. PV solar works well in remote locations, like many rural water sites. The Sun Valley Water District is located in Alto, New Mexico, 170 miles

SOLAR/continues on page 10 Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 9/

SOLAR/from page 9 southeast of Albuquerque. It serves about 200 mostly residential customers. Its PV system was installed by BartzSpencer Solar and Wind Pumping Systems of Carrizozo, New Mexico, a small company that primarily designs and installs agricultural (ranch and farm) solar livestock watering systems. The system is pole-mounted and grid-connected, whereby most of the power is used to power well production. The balance is sold to the utility on a set rate schedule. The District’s ability to provide water for up to six days during a prolonged power failure and the probability of 30% higher costs and maintenance requirements for battery backup eliminated consideration of an off-grid system. What makes the Sun Valley system distinctive is its Zomeworks passive gas fluid panel tracking system, tracking the sun’s passage across the sky each day with no motors, pulleys, or hydraulics. Zomeworks, another New Mexico company, has designed and manufactured passive tracking systems for water

The PV solar system for the Sun Valley Water District in Alto, New Mexico, is rated to withstand 90 mile per hour winds, which is possible in the southwest.

systems around the world. Passive gas fluid tracking makes sense for rural water systems since they require minimal maintenance for water system operators. The system tracks east-west each day. A seasonal adjust-

ment bar allows a system operator to also adjust the array on a north-south axis toward the sun’s daily position above the horizon. Both passive tracking and manual adjustment enable the system to be about 30% more efficient

NSF 61 Approved Pitless Units & Pitless Booster Stations!

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Stay ahead of the curve on State and National regulations by choosing NSF 61 Approved Pitless Units and Pitless Booster Stations from Baker Water Systems! 10/ Fall 2012 Public Groundwater Systems Journal

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Most of the power for Sun Valley Water District’s PV solar system is used to power the well production. The balance is sold to the utility on a set rate schedule.

in electrical production than a fixed mount system. The Sun Valley PV system is rated to withstand the 90 mile per hour winds possible here in the windy southwest. The PV system is also set up to be monitored along with water production and

storage facilities, using SCADA remote monitoring software. Physical security (fencing) to prevent injury, vandalism, and theft may also be needed in New Mexico, particularly to protect against wild horses, deer, and elk.

The kind of water system pre-design information needed to start the conversation with a solar vendor/installer includes: • Site latitude and longitude and GPS location • Relatively clear horizons on the east, south, and west sides (no trees) • Three-year electrical cost and consumption summaries by meter at all well locations (available in your accounting software or from your utility company) • Distance to electrical utility distribution lines • The system’s water loss (leak) ratio. Why pay for the electricity to pump water you can’t sell? • Several financing sources are available, including New Mexico Finance Authority’s Revolving Water Loan Fund. Staff at the Sun Valley Water District found PV solar simple, low maintenance, and affordable. In fact, it thinks you should consider adding it to your district. Your customers will appreciate the reduced overhead costs! PGWSJ

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Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 11/

An Established Option Fight corrosion and water contamination with fiberglass pipe. By Bill Rardin he demands being placed upon public water supply systems are increasing every year. And whether they are originating from environmental, regulatory, or fiscal constraints, these demands donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appear to be going away. Water quality is degradingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;thus requiring more treatment than in years past. The number of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations seems to be increasing daily with no end in sight. The biggest problem is that all of these issues need to be addressed, often within strict budget constraints. Compounding all of these problems, many of the systems in place are old and in desperate need of repair or upgrade. To that end, one viable long-term solution to aging piping systems is fiberglass.

Fiberglass History Fiberglass pipe is not new. In fact, fiberglass piping has been used in the oil and gas industry for decades. But within the last 30 years this technology has been applied to the water industry. Fiberglass pipe was used as a well casing in the late 1960s. And fiberglass slotted well screen was more commonly used in areas where steel would not last in the late 1970s. It was a natural chain of events that initiated the use of fiberglass pipe, water well column pipe, and submersible drop pipe to complement the casing and screen. Fiberglass can also be used as a substitute for steel in short couple, jockey, or high-service pumps where aggressive or gray water may corrode conventional materials more quickly.

Fiberglass Characteristics

Bill Rardin is the general manager of Major Turbine Pump and Supply located in Dublin, Georgia, and has more than 20 years of experience in the pump industry. He can be reached at (800) 656-1473 or sales @majorturbine.com.

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Fiberglass pipe is resistant to a wide variety of corrosives. It eliminates the need for special corrosion-resistant coatings. It alleviates concerns related to rusting, electrical conductivity, and less than ideal pH. Fiberglass also has a lower coefficient of friction than steel, which means less buildup will accumulate on the inside surface of the pipe. It is unaffected by chlorine, so much so that it is commonly used in water parks where chlorine concentrations far exceed average. www.NGWA.org

Finally, fiberglass is lighter than steel (about half the weight), yet stronger pound for pound. It is also stronger than PVC when used in submersible drop pipe applications. All of this means extended life over conventional steel and PVC, and at a lower cost than stainless steel.

Manufacturing Process The process of manufacturing fiberglass is quite simple. A given number of strands of fiberglass are wound around a mandrel in a combination of helical and hoop patterns. By changing the number of hoop vs. helical windings, the surface strength can be adjusted. By varying the number of revolutions around the mandrel, the wall thickness of the pipe can be changed. This combination of adjusting the type (helical/hoop) and number of windings allows for the strength and pressure ratings to be controlled. During the process, a predetermined amount of resin is used as a bonding agent along with a catalyst to accelerate cure times. Once the pipe has cured evenly, the mandrel is removed. The pipe can now be machined for either

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a flanged or a threaded and coupled connection, depending on the job specifications. One note that should be made here is that all of this can be accomplished while maintaining that fiberglass pipe is conducive to use in potable (drinking) water systems (NSF 61 classification). This NSF approval assures the product is constructed to eliminate the possible introduction of undesirable chemicals into the water supply.

Cost Comparison As a general rule, fiberglass pipe on average costs 30% higher than carbon steel. However, taking into account how our current steel pipe infrastructure is aging and deteriorating at an alarming rate, the increased cost can easily be justified by the long-term savings over replacement costs. These costs vs. savings will translate into real money when fiberglass pipe outlasts conventional products by several years. When compared to stainless steel, the cost of fiberglass pipe averages about 50% less per foot on

comparable size, yet contains similar corrosion-resistant properties.

Fiberglass Applications Fiberglass can be used in a wide variety of installations. Line shaft turbines can use fiberglass pipe in either water or oil-lubricated applications. Used in conjunction with a stainless steel shaft, a water lube installation can be virtually corrosion free. For oil lube applications, fiberglass pipe has been set as deep as 350 feet without any concerns about the pipe separating or developing holes due to corrosion.

Fiberglass an Option When low carbon steel doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer suitable longevity and the budget eliminates the prospective installation of stainless steel pipe, fiberglass pipe offers a long-lasting economical alternative to conventional installation. In essence the longevity, strength, custom ability, and cost effectiveness of fiberglass leave consumers with a viable alternative to conventional piping products. PGWSJ

Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 13/

PUBLIC GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS JOURNAL Q & A

Charles Fishman The Big Thirst his month Public Groundwater Systems Journal decided to chat with Charles Fishman, New York Times best-selling author of the new book, The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water. Fishman is an award-winning reporter and author who has spent the last three years trying to understand water issues around the world. The focus of his book is society’s relationship with water. Fishman states that while water is the most vital substance in our lives, it is something that has been taken for granted for too many years. He details how there is still no reason for a global water crisis as there is more than enough water; Photo by Lidia Gjorjievska it just has to be used smartly. Fishman is the author, previously, of The Wal-Mart Effect, the New York Times bestseller that explained WalMart’s impact on the world, and how the company achieved that impact. Since The Big Thirst was published, Fishman has spoken about water issues at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the U.S. State Department.

Public Groundwater Systems Journal: The global water crisis has become a popular topic in the mainstream media, with more and more “water books” being published. Mike Price is the associate editor of Public Groundwater Systems Journal. In addition to his PGWSJ responsibilities, Price produces NGWA’s newsletters and contributes to the Association’s quarterly scientific publication. He can be reached at mprice@ngwa.org.

What prompted you to want to write about water and how does your book differ from others? Charles Fishman: I got interested in water in a very simple way. I was staying at a hotel in Miami, Florida, a couple years ago with my family, and each room had bottles of FIJI Water. I had never heard of FIJI Water—and I couldn’t believe that Americans needed water, in small plastic bottles, from halfway around the world. I got curious about FIJI Water and the nation of Fiji— and when I got back to the office, I discovered that 53 percent of the people who live in Fiji don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water. An American in Orlando or Austin, in Milwaukee or Phoenix, can walk to a corner store and get clean, safe water from Fiji more easily than the people who live in Fiji. That was amazing to me. So my first interest in water came through the business of bottled water— a business that didn’t exist when I was growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. I wrote a magazine story about bottled water, and the reaction from readers was astonishing. People were surprised to learn where bottled water came from, and the impact it had, and it turned out people were genuinely curious about water itself. So that bottle of FIJI Water in my Florida hotel room really opened the world of water and water issues to me. PGWSJ: In conducting interviews and research for your book, what surprised you the most? Charles: I think the most important things I didn’t know became the twin themes of the book. One is how little we ordinary people know about water. Our ignorance of water is really amazing, considering it is probably the most familiar substance in our lives. And I also discovered that most water problems are solvable. We have the technology, the money, even the water to handle most instances of water scarcity, but we often

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don’t have the political will. The water isn’t the problem. And I stumbled into this huge wave of water innovation that’s coming that I don’t think has been written about, or realized, even in the world Read excerpts and reviews of The Big Thirst at of water. www.thebigthirst.com. One of the most important statistics in the book is also a big surprise and also totally unknown. The United States today, in 2012, actually uses less water as a nation than we did in 1980. In 30 years, the country has grown by 70 million people, and we have doubled the size of our economy, but we use less water than we did in 1980. That’s both astonishing and inspiring. It means it is very possible to modernize and grow as a nation, while also using less water. PGWSJ: The book investigates “our strange and complex relationship to water” and how we take this resource for granted. As you say, changing our water consciousness is the hardest part. How do you propose instilling a new mind-set? Charles: I know we can come to think differently about water, but I don’t think attitudes change overnight. Changing how we think about water will happen because of a combination of things: education, scarcity or crisis, and leadership. That’s just what I learned when I talked to people from Australia, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Delhi. People are curious about water. It’s one of those things in life that, once you pay attention to it, you start using it differently. It’s like counting calories. Few of us can keep track of exactly what we eat every day, and how many calories each bagel and www.NGWA.org

potato chip and french fry has, without changing our eating habits. Water is the same way—once you start learning about it, once you start paying attention to it, you change the way you behave. Education alone, attention alone, changes behavior. I think scarcity will wake people up, and I think there’s plenty of room for people to learn, and to use water more carefully and more creatively. In 25 years, we’ll look back at the fact that for 100 years we used purified drinking water to flush toilets as completely silly. PGWSJ: The price of a typical water utility bill is drastically lower than someone’s cell phone or cable television bill. How does increasing the worth of water play into changing people’s water consciousness? Charles: Our water infrastructure is hidden, and it’s also crumbling. Water systems in the U.S. leak 16 percent of the water they pump right back into the ground. Yet water service is incredibly cheap. The average home water bill in the U.S. comes to $1 a day. When water utilities try to raise prices, we Americans howl as if paying $4 more a month is going to mean we have to give up taking care of grandma. It’s silly. We’re spoiled. For a whole bunch of reasons, we think water should be essentially free. But water that is so cheap you never think about cost when making water use decisions is a silent disaster. When something is free, the message is it’s unlimited. Free water—and $1 a day is virtually free—is one of the things that allows us to never think about water. PGWSJ: What do you want readers to take away from your book and in what ways has your research and interviews affected your own water consciousness? Charles: When I was writing the book, I hoped it would give people back a sense of wonder about water. We really do love and appreciate water—a hot shower at the end of a long day, a cold glass of water after a long run, a leap into an inviting swimming pool—and that emotional connection is important. The more you learn about water and water’s role, the more it makes you smile. I wanted people to appreciate the depth and complexity of water problems, and a coming era when water www.NGWA.org

“People are curious about water. It’s one of those things in life that, once you pay attention to it, you start using it differently.” scarcity will be common—but also that unlike many other big problems, I wanted people to come away with a powerful sense that water problems are solvable. PGWSJ: Many of Public Groundwater Systems Journal’s readers work at or with community water systems served by groundwater. What role do you see them playing in the global water crisis? Charles: I think people who run water utilities have a vital role in helping their communities understand water, from where it comes from for a water system, the work necessary to acquire it, store it, treat it, and supply it. Most residents in the United States don’t even have that kind of really basic knowledge. That’s the kind of information that can be passed along to customers in creative, fun, entertaining, and enlightening ways quite simply in monthly bill inserts, for instance. The “invisibility” of water for ordinary Americans is dramatically compounded in places that rely on groundwater. If your community uses water from a lake, river, or reservoir, everyone can see the water itself every day. Groundwater is invisible, and the impact that human use has on that groundwater is also invisible. For me, the global water crisis begins right at home at the most local level: a typical family or resident, and the water system they rely on. If people understand where their own water comes from, if they understand the work required to get that water to them, if they understand the state of the water resources they rely on, that is the most important step to understanding much larger water issues. Every part of the “global water crisis” is really a local water problem. Right in the United States, vital groundwater sources—the Ogallala and the Floridan Aquifer to name two important ones—are in seriously overtaxed condition. If the people using them every day understood more clearly their own impact, that would help sus-

Charles Fishman is the keynote speaker for the 2013 NGWA® Summit—The National and International Conference on Groundwater taking place April 28-May 2 in San Antonio, Texas. More information can be found at groundwatersummit.org. tain those water sources. It would also mean that when water issues elsewhere or larger water issues arise, people have a real basis for understanding based on their own experience. PGWSJ: Lastly, what issue do you think is the most important facing water professionals today? Charles: The biggest problem in the world of water is, simply, water ignorance. Water illiteracy. The people who work with water and understand water issues—the science, the engineering, the environmental issues, the public policy —those people have almost no skill at talking to the public about these very important issues. Typical people busy with a struggling economy, with their own work, their children, their parents, not to mention all the other issues around them, have almost no understanding of water, except they know they don’t want their water bill to go from $27 a month to $33. So the people who understand water need to learn to communicate the wonder and the challenges of the water system much more vividly, much more consistently, much more accessibly. The public needs to make room in their own minds, their own lives, for a little information about water. Water is literally the first thing we encounter on getting out of bed in the morning— when we head to the bathroom to use the toilet and wash our faces—and the last thing we do before getting into bed at night, when we brush our teeth. We need to realize that issues of water availability and water scarcity are going to become urgent in the next 10 to 20 years, and being ignorant about water will not help us make good decisions. PGWSJ The Big Thirst and other groundwater resources can be found in the National Ground Water Association’s Online Bookstore at www.NGWA.org.

Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 15/

By Ed Butts, PE, CPI

The Fine Points of Efficiency Minor improvements can make a big difference when it comes to an efficient system.

fficiency—that single word may have different meanings to different people, but never has it had more validity than in today’s world with rising energy costs. To the typical salesperson, efficiency means convincing you their product will deliver more of something for less money. To engineers, it means producing some type of final outcome—whether it results in work or a product—with the least amount of effort. Efficiency is basically the difference between a theoretical or perfect result and the actual result of a task, effort, or process. In our day-to-day world in the water well business, efficiency usually applies to electrical, mechanical, or chemical efficiency. There are ways to improve efficiency in each category.

So, What Does It Really Mean? The dictionary defines efficient as “acting to produce an effect with a minimum of waste or effort, or exhibiting a high ratio of output to input.” Both of these definitions obviously apply to the water well industry even though each has a different application. Our goal in design and application is to develop a system with the highest practical level of operating efficiency. And in many cases we have achieved these improvements on many levels. But it is important to remember there will always be some loss of efficiency in any process or effort regardless of any improvements, streamlining, or enhanced design of the system. Many of the increases in efficiency of a given machine or process can be directly correlated to customer demand or government intervention. For example, a prompting from congressional action led to the revised U.S. codes related to energy. These codes and standards set minimum requirements for energy-efficient design and construction for new and renovated buildings that impact energy use and emissions for the life of the building. This is especially important since buildings account for almost 40% of the current U.S. energy use, as much as two-thirds of the electricity consumption, and Ed Butts, PE, CPI, is the chief engineer at 4B Engineering & Consulting, Salem, Oregon. He has more than 35 years experience in the water well business, specializing in engineering and business management. He can be reached at epbpe@juno.com.

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one-eighth of the water. With buildings being such a main source of energy usage in the United States, along with the surrounding issues associated with high energy usage, it is imperative that buildings abide by these new codes. This will ensure higher efficiency since using more efficient methods and materials initially when constructing the buildings will help cut down on the total energy usage over the life of the facility. There are new building energy codes for both commercial and residential buildings as well as other types of energy usage. In addition, recognizing that electric motors account for the greatest single consumption group of electrical power, new regulations and attractive rebate programs have been adopted for the retrofit of older less-efficient motors and for new premium efficiency motors. These new motors can have a direct application on well pump and booster pump applications. Beyond the improvements we can make in electric motors, there are other seemingly minor system or component improvements we can make as well. In many cases, these improvements can appear to be so minor as to be insignificant or meaningless. However, when factored over the life of the unit or yearly operating hours, they can readily add up to an energy cost savings that is well over the cost of the investment itself. Although improving the efficiency of a system or pumping plant is usually tied directly to a savings of electrical energy, there are various types of peripheral methods that may also save energy and, therefore, raise efficiency.

Operational or System Methods When feasible, select pumping plants to operate during “off-peak” periods. These periods, usually during the early morning or late evening hours, may provide lower energy consumption costs than another time of day. In reservoir fill applications, this may allow refilling of the reservoir during a period with relatively low consumption. In most cases, use of a throttling valve is advantageous to “water shedding.” Although the use of this process must be verified for the specific pumping unit involved, usually throttling a pump back to a lower flow rate will provide greater energy savings than recirculating the water back to the source or otherwise wasting the water. www.NGWA.org

Always use high quality and accurate pressure gauges and flowmeters for tracking data. Even though this may seem like a no-brainer, developing and maintaining an accurate and effective data collection process requires not only accurate data, but consistently accurate data. Variations or inaccuracies in the method of data collection can easily lead to wrong assumptions and decisions. Consider “non-pumping” energy losses. Once again, many times the energy losses associated with non-vital functions such as the lighting, heating, cooling, or utilization transformers within a pump station may appear to be minor or insignificant. But when these losses mount up, such as for continuous lighting or heating, the energy losses can become extreme.

Improving Pump Efficiency Using pump components with low hydraulic friction such as bronze, porcelain, and stainless steel will cause lower drag within the pump itself and thus lower pumping costs. Specify a C-10/C-20/C-30 polished finished on impeller passages. ●

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Little known tricks such as backfiling, dynamic balancing, or polishing of impellers can also raise efficiency a point or two, which can save horsepower. Select the pump to operate as close as possible to the best efficiency point (BEP) or window at all times if and when possible. Improve piping by using larger suction and discharge piping than required, eliminating tees, ells, and restricted piping where feasible. Using piping materials with the lowest friction factors, such as PVC, can also benefit a system. Even modifying a control, isolation, or check valve on the pump’s discharge line can pay long-term dividends. Depending on the valve size, flow rate, and duty, changing out a standard globe style of inline control valve with an angle or “wye” pattern type of control valve can save up to 2–4 psi or up to 10 feet of head. For a valve used strictly for isolation of the station, using a fully opening valve type such as a gate valve rather than one with an inline obstruction like a plug or butterfly valve can also lower the head loss through the valve and save power.

Increasing Motor Efficiency With regard to motors, increasing the wire sizes, optimizing voltages, improving the power factor, using premium efficiency motors, providing a clean and cool operating environment, and de-rating a motor’s horsepower for a given load can raise the efficiency of a pumping plant by as much as 5% through electrical changes alone. ●

The use of high performance coating on a bowl assembly can provide lower disc friction to the impellers, resulting in energy savings. A coating such as Scotchkote 134 (SK134) fusion bonded epoxy can cost between $500 and $800 per stage to apply, but can raise efficiency by as much as 2–4 points. For example, on a pumping unit designed for 1000 gpm at 300 feet TDH, this can result in a horsepower savings of up to four brake horsepower. At 4000 hours per year of operation, this can result in an energy savings of more than $1200 in the first year alone.

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During the design of new or replacement deep well pumping units, consider the relative difference in bowl and motor efficiency and service life between submersible and vertical turbine units. Although the capital investment of a submersible pumping system will almost always be less than a comparable sized vertical turbine unit, the combined efficiency of the bowl and motor will often be up to 10–15 points higher for the vertical turbine unit. For example, with a pumping plant designed for 1000 gpm at 300 feet TDH, the difference in hourly pumping costs can amount to $1.30 per hour or $5200 per 4000-hour operating period. In addition, the service life of a vertical turbine unit is often greater than a submersible due to lower speed and accessibility factors. Obviously, these ratios don’t always apply, so the designer must evaluate these factors on a case-by-case basis.

Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) Variable speed or frequency drives have rapidly become a favored method for energy savings and improving system efficiency. However, they are not without their drawbacks and limitations, so the designer must consider specific features to provide the highest possible efficiency and extend the life of the drive and the motor being driven. ● As with most electronic devices, VFDs do not care for heat. Not only will the life of the unit suffer but the operating efficiency will also. For these reasons, proper ventilation and cooling must be observed. ● When using a VFD with submersible motors or other motors with a long cable run between the motor and drive (less than 50 feet), a condition known as “reflected wave voltage” can occur. This simply means the drive may be exposed to a returned level of voltage back from the motor in values hundreds of times higher than rated for. Various protective devices such as rectifiers are used to negate these conditions and should be implemented. ● When sizing the VFD, consider the actual amperage the unit will need to operate, not just the horsepower. Since a submersible motor will draw higher current than a comparable horsepower standard motor, sizing for horsepower may not provide an adequate reserve capability for the higher current. In many cases, increasing the unit size by one can protect against this potential. ● Specific types of installations, such as those on vertical hollow shaft or standard horizontal motors, can result in ground loops or arcing of imposed voltages within the bearings. Various methods exist to protect against this occurring.

Conclusion As power costs continue to rise each year, the need to fully consider the efficiency of each item in our pumping systems will also continue to rise. I want to remind each of you just how important efficiency has become in our world and there are ways you can improve it with just a little thought. Consider all of the possibilities. PGWSJ

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By Gary Ganson, CIH, CSP

Accident Investigations A root-cause analysis can prevent a reoccurrence of accidents on the job site.

hy is it important to investigate an accident? An accident is an unplanned event that results in personal injury, illness, or damage to property and equipment. The goal of an accident investigation is to learn from the events that occurred with the goal of preventing them from occurring again. The investigation is used to try to drill down to the different components that contributed to or caused the accident. For example, a result of an investigation can be learning about your employees’ knowledge or awareness deficiencies and improving training to prevent others from possibly exposing themselves to a potential injury. There are different methods that can be used to carry out the investigation. However, I think you can achieve the best results by conducting a root-cause analysis. At my company, we use rootcause analysis and also track near-miss events. These tools provide information that assists us in preventing an incident from occurring in the future, as well as determining what might have been a factor in causing it.

Key Elements Key elements include conducting a site investigation, taking photographs, hearing testimony from the injured party and witnesses, reviewing documents, and a final evaluation. An accident investigation should be initiated quickly to identify the facts about the events. But always keep in mind this is not a fault-finding exercise. Gary Ganson, a certified industrial hygienist and certified safety professional, is a senior consultant for Terracon in Lenexa, Kansas.

Employers should try to instill that reporting a near miss should be done in a spirit of cooperation. This is important to stress to employees, otherwise you may not get truthful and reliable information. Regardless of the severity of the incident—whether it is a car accident or a bruise on the arm— an investigation should be conducted. When undertaking a root-cause analysis, the person responsible for conducting the incident investigation should be the direct supervisor. Unlike someone from the outside, the supervisor has quick access to employees and responsibility for them, which will allow them to convey findings more easily. Once the supervisor has identified the parties involved, he or she needs to bring them together to discuss what they observed, heard, or believed may have occurred. In the capacity of interviewer, the supervisor needs to keep in mind that nothing at all is insignificant at the outset. The investigation follows the basic five W’s of who, what, where, why, and when in order to determine what happened, what the outcomes were, and what equipment was damaged. It’s also important to take lots of pictures as soon as possible and add them to the ongoing investigation. What the incident investigation is trying to achieve is to comprehend the contributing factors to the event—such as what machinery was implicated, if a human error occurred, or what other fac-

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tors were involved without pointing any fingers. A root-cause analysis should determine the following factors: ●

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Was a supervisor or management involved? Are they conducting safety talks, promoting safety, involved with their employees? The identity and background of the victims. There are some employee characteristics—training level, age of the victim, whether they were a new hire—that can help establish trends or classify a group that might be more vulnerable to accidents. For instance, maybe most of the accidents are happening to older workers as a result of physiological changes and unintended stresses to the body contributing to ergonomic injuries. Or new hires might not be getting adequate training if most of the accidents happen in the first year of employment. A detailed description of the event based on testimony or observation. This is a narrative of what happened and what personnel were doing. If any equipment was involved, the analysis should contain a description of the equipment, what the equipment was doing, condition of the equipment, how frequently it was maintained, and whether it had been modified in any way. Characteristics of the different tasks that were being performed at the time of the accident. For example, was the drill rig operator already drilling, or was he cleaning augers? Time factors—what time of day did the accident occur? Attention spans lag at certain times of the day and www.NGWA.org

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certain days of the week. Be especially aware of long work week activities, such as working 60-plus hours or seven days straight. Was personal protective equipment or other safety equipment involved? Determine if PPE was missing, or required but not being used. Were other tools that should have been provided not provided and why? Look for details such as whether safety glasses were not being worn or loose clothing was worn close to a rotating auger. Nature of the injury. What body part was injured and what was the severity of the injury?

Determining Causation Factors After collecting all the information, the investigator has to sort through it and determine a causation factor. This factor may be very obvious in some incidents, and in others it might not be quite as easy to figure out what might have occurred. This requires re-creating the sequence of events, grouping all causation factors together, and finding the root cause or causes that contributed to the accident. Once causation factors have been recognized, corrective actions must be identified to prevent the incident from happening again. Corrective actions might include training, additional maintenance on equipment, use of PPE, or stressing general safety to the employees. The corrective actions become part of a prevention strategy along with an implementation schedule to prevent the incident from happening again.

Near Misses As I noted earlier, at my company we also track near-miss events as part of our incident investigation. It is worth noting the near-miss reporting process is one of the most difficult tools to use. There is an underlying fear on the part of many employees that reporting near misses is tattling on themselves or their co-workers. Employers should try to instill in their workers an understanding that reporting a near miss should be done in a spirit of cooperation. The desired outcome of reporting near misses is that no one gets hurt and nothing gets damaged. www.NGWA.org

Using a near-miss reporting tool allows employers to track whether incidents are happening with reoccurring frequency, indicating that there is obviously a problem. Sooner or later, the law of averages catches up and an accident occurs. Near-miss reporting just might prevent that from happening. In order for the near-miss reporting tool to work, employees must be encouraged to be observant and always aware of everything around them. The reporting process shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be something labor intensive and hopefully will result in being able to reduce the severity of the accident or prevent the accident from occurring at all. Those are the outcomes we hope to instill in workersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to increase their own awareness. This is especially important for drillers working on remote sites where they might get a little bored drilling during a long day. My philosophy is itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a dull day if nothingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;no accidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;happen, and dull days are my favorite. There are lots of tools to help with incident investigations, such as online forms available through OSHA that will walk an employer through the process.

If a company is truly interested in preventing an accident from occurring again, it is well worth the time and money spent to conduct an accident investigation. If in doubt, check with your compensation carrier on actual costs versus lost or down time. The benefits of doing an incident investigation are many. The best one is that no one gets hurt. PGWSJ

Get Safety Resources Online You can never be too safe, so take advantage of safety resources online. Go to the Web site of the National Ground Water Association and check out the resources it has available at www.NGWA.org/ Professional-Resources/safety/pages. Also while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at the Web site, go to the Bookstore and check out NGWA Pressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Safety Meetings for the Groundwater Industry, a set of 52 sheets that provide information so companies can hold weekly safety meetings on topics specific to their industry.

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Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 19/

By Charles Job

Characteristics of Groundwater-Supplied Community Water Systems in the United States he Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest Community Water System Survey (CWSS) conducted in 2006 indicates that between 2000 and 2006 the number of groundwater systems decreased by 6.5%, reflecting a long-term trend of system consolidation within the water utility sector. This survey was done for the year 2006 with the full report being available in 2009 and serving as reference for future regulatory development. Selected characteristics of groundwater-supplied community water systems (or “groundwater systems”) summarized here and in Table 1 are based on a random sample of community water systems across the United States. The full report provides a much greater range and depth of results. Some groundwater system highlights indicate: Systems with groundwater supply. 34,570 community water systems supplied drinking water that was entirely from a groundwater source and another 1527 systems supplied water primarily from groundwater sources, totaling 36,097 systems. This was a decrease of 2491 systems from the 2000 CWSS. Ownership. Fifty-five percent of the groundwater systems in the United States were privately owned (down from 62% in the previous 2000 CWSS), with 62% of these systems serving pop-

Charles Job, of the Environmental Protection Agency, serves as a manager for drinking water system financial assistance, data management, communication, and training. He is a member of NGWA.

ulations of 500 or fewer persons (down from 87% in 2000). Average daily production. Average daily production ranged from 0.029 million gal/d (MGD) for systems serving 500 or fewer persons to 201 MGD for the largest groundwater systems. Average number of wells. Small systems supplying all groundwater serving 100 or fewer persons had an average of 1.7 wells per treatment plant. The systems serving 100,001 to 500,000 persons averaged 5.4 wells per treatment plant. The average number of wells for systems not providing treatment was 1.2. Treatment. The percent of systems not providing treatment ranged from 28.1% for systems serving 100 or fewer persons to 0.01% for the largest system serving 500,000 or more persons. Groundwater systems providing treatment ranged from having 1.1 treatment plants per system for the smallest systems to 129 treatment plants for the largest systems that primarily supplied groundwater. Pipeline in place.1 The smallest systems averaged 4 miles of distribution pipe. The largest systems utilized on average 2643 miles of distribution pipe. The average distance of distribution pipe in place was 32 miles per system. Although the largest systems replaced

an average of 8 miles per system for the past 5 years, the smallest systems in the survey on average did not replace any pipeline during that time. The largest systems installed an average of 14 miles of new distribution pipe and one mile of transmission pipe. Revenues. Average annual revenue for the smallest systems was $8,000, whereas the largest systems averaged over $125 million. Most systems (including groundwater and surface water systems) used a uniform rate or declining block rate residential charge structure. Increasing block rates were used by some (27–35%) of larger systems. Twenty percent of public and 15% of private systems on average relied on a flat fee for water charges. Expenses. The survey found that expenses for groundwater systems ranged on average from $10,000 per year for the smallest to nearly $100 million for the largest. Examining expenses on a water unit basis indicates significant economies of scale for groundwater systems: $4.52 per 1000 gallons produced for systems serving 100 or fewer people down to $1.33 for systems serving more than 500,000 people, a factor of 3.4. Capital investment. Capital investment in groundwater systems appears to exhibit a significant economy of scale. Dividing the average total capital investment in the 5 years from 2001 to

Data are for both groundwater- and surface water-supplied systems.

20/ Fall 2012 Public Groundwater Systems Journal

www.NGWA.org

Table 1 Characteristics of Groundwater-Supplied Community Water Systems by Water System Service Size Source: 2006 Drinking Water Community Water Systems Survey Groundwater-Supplied1 Community Water System Service Population Ranges Category

100 or less

101– 500

501– 3300

3301– 10,000

10,001– 50,000

50,001– 100,000

100,001– 500,000

Over 500,000

All Sizes

8409

2072

1384

164

34,570

Groundwater Systems: 100% groundwater Primarily groundwater

10,308 12,155 7

203

310

558

346

1,527

Public

1069

4501

6450

1999

1614

195

108

15,944

Private

9246

7857

2269

630

115

20,153

Ownership type

Average daily flow (MGD) for public and private water systems 100% groundwater

0.049

0.037

0.17

0.684

2.663

8.316

17.384

201.336

0.607

0.029

0.292

1.349

5.664

9.106

39.614

165.945

4.736

1.7 (2.6)

1.8 (1.8)

1.8 (7.8)

3.2 (1.9)

2.3 (3.2)

3.4 (7.6)

5.4 (9.7)

2.8 (1.0)

2.1 (4.5)

Average number of wells per untreated entry point

1.2

1.3

1.1

3.8

2.6

1.2

Groundwater systems not providing any treatment (%)

28.1

24.3

10.3

2.5

5.7

0.01

9.1

Primarily groundwater Average number of wells treated per treatment plant2

Average number of treatment plants per system 100% groundwater supply

1.1

1.2

1.7

2.1

3.4

7.6

9.3

11.1

1.5

1.7

2.7

5.7

13.7

129

2.7

Avg. miles of distribution pipe in place3

159

411

684

2,643

Avg. miles of transmission pipe in place4

357

Avg. revenue ($000)

183

447

2,122

6,275

14,810

125,197

318

Mean revenue per 1000 gallons produced ($)

2.6

2.97

4.29

3.62

2.91

3.49

4.39

2.08

3.26

Avg. % not charging directly for water

Avg. expenses ($000)

168

598

2,674

7,379

23,182

99,861

382

Avg. total expenses per 1000 gallons produced ($)

4.52

3.44

3.81

2.92

3.39

3.72

3.06

1.33

3.8

Percentage of systems making major capital investments in the past 5 years

35.6

35.0

56.8

43.1

58.8

55.6

64.1

35.9

42.4

Avg. capital investment in the past 5 years ($000)

180

598

982

3382

14,420

45,405

134,434

1089

Primarily groundwater supply

EPA UPDATE/continues on page 22 37 www.NGWA.org

Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 21/

Table 1 (Continued) Groundwater-Supplied1 Community Water System Service Population Ranges Category

100 or less

101– 500

501– 3300

3301– 10,000

10,001– 50,000

50,001– 100,000

100,001– 500,000

Over 500,000

All Sizes

Type of capital investment in the past 5 years (percentage of systems funding each investment category) Land

0.9

0.3

0.6

3.4

1.5

0.5

1.1

Water Source

26.2

30.8

26.4

9.6

19.7

6.3

15.8

15.2

Distribution and transmission

29.9

46.2

38.2

44.4

55.2

27.5

32.9

36.9

41.3

14.3

9.4

32.6

11.9

24.7

40.1

10.9

20.7

Storage

22.8

24.4

6.5

17.8

9.6

5.6

3.6

13.9

Security

0.9

0.2

0.1

1.1

0.3

0.5

0.2

0.7

0.3

Other

0.1

0.5

5.5

4.7

14.6

13.6

31.5

7.5

Treatment

Except where indicated by footnote. Systems that mixed water sources have the following average number of wells treated per treatment plant for the service population ranges are given in parentheses. 3 Includes all groundwater and surface water-supplied community water systems surveyed. 4 Includes all ground and surface water-supplied community water systems surveyed. Source: 2006 Drinking Water Community Water Systems Survey. 2

EPA UPDATE/from page 21 2005 for this survey by the average daily production indicated that the smallest systems invested at an annualized rate of $306,122 per MGD supplied, whereas the largest groundwater systems invested $133,400 per MGD supplied. The four major types of capital

expenses across most system size cateh gories were distribution and transmission systems, water source, treatment, and storage. These summary results can be compared to the results from the 2000 survey reported in GWMR (2004), volume 24, no. 2, pages 48, 50, and 52. Additional information about the 2006 CWSS are available from EPA’s website

at http://water.epa.gov/ aboutow/ ogwdw/upload/ cwssreportvolumeI2006 .pdf. This article was compiled by Charles Job, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (4606M), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., from the EPA’s Web site and is not a statement of EPA policy.

Stay up to date on construction laws that impact your business. a

The Associated General Contractors of America’s Construction State Law Matrix is the most comprehensive, concise, and regularly updated resource available for locating information on state laws affecting public or private construction practices. And now, NGWA members can receive a 10% discount on a 12-month subscription that provides you with easy access to all 50 U.S. matrixes, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Visit www.NGWA.org/state-law-matrix to learn more.

Ground Water Monitoring &

22/ Fall 2012 Public Groundwater Systems Journal

www.NGWA.org

COMING

EVENTS

March 10–13/ Alabama Rural Water Association 35th Annual Technical Training Conference/ Montgomery, Alabama. Web:http://alruralwater.com/ conference/am-1.asp March 10–16/ National Groundwater Awareness Week/ PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customer service@ngwa.org, Web: www.NGWA.org March 18–21/ WATERCON 2013/ Springfield, Illinois. Web: www.isawwa.org March 20–22/ Michigan Rural Water Association Annual Management and Technical Conference/ City TBA, Michigan. PH: (989) 539-4111 March 20–22/ Texas Rural Water Association 44th Annual Convention/ Austin, Texas. Web: www.trwa.org March 25–28/ Mississippi Rural Water Association Annual Conference/ City TBA, Mississippi. Web: www.msrwa.org April 9–12/ Texas Water 2013/ Galveston, Texas. Web: www.texas-water.com April 22–25/ California Rural Water Association Expo/ South Lake Tahoe, California. Web: www.calruralwater.org/ p/expo April 28–May 2/ 2013 NGWA Summit— The National and International Conference on Groundwater/ San Antonio, Texas. PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: customerservice @ngwa.org, Web: www.NGWA.org May 14–16/ 2013 North Carolina Rural Water Association Conference and Exhibition/ Greensboro, North Carolina. Web: www.ncrwa.com May 18–21/ Georgia Rural Water Association 2013 Spring Training Conference/ Jekyll Island, Georgia. Web: www.grwa .org *Dates shown in red are National Ground Water Association events.

NEWSMAKERS NEW ADDITION Flowserve Corp., a provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, announced John E. (Jay) Roueche III has been named vice president, treasurer, and investor relations. He will report to Michael S. Taff, senior vice president and chief financial officer. Roueche most recently served as vice president, treasurer, and investor relations for McDermott International Inc. BUSINESS GROWTH MeterSense announced the Albuquerque Bernalillo County (New Mexico) Water Utility Authority selected MeterSense and Customer Connect, Harris Utilities’ meter data management and customer engagement solutions, to complete its smart-grid infrastructure deployment. Mueller Systems announced Mueller Co. created the Mueller Co. Technology Center, which centralizes the company’s research and development efforts. Southeastern Equipment now offers Aries Industries pipeline inspection and rehabilitation equipment in Ohio. Product offerings include pipeline and sewer cameras, deep well and borehole cameras, lateral reinstatement cutters, sealing/grout systems, and surveying equipment. AWARDS Steve Allbee of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Walter Graf of the Water Environment Research Foundation both received 2012 WATERiD Leadership Awards at the UIM (Water Utility Infrastructure Management) Asset Management Conference on November 28-29 in Arlington, Virginia. The Washington Suburban

Sanitary Commission in Laurel, Maryland, and the Portland Water Bureau in Portland, Oregon, both received WATERiD Utility Awards. El Paso Water Utilities was awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for their 2012-2013 budget. The award signifies budgeting excellence among North American government bodies and is awarded only to organizations that produce exemplary budget documents. ANNIVERSARY

Wally and Don Brithinee Brithinee Electric began its 50th year in business. Today the company is a leading resource for commercial motor repair, new motor sales, and motor control systems in the southwestern United States. Brithinee Electric serves a diverse customer base including municipalities, utilities, food processors, rock and gravel producers, cement companies, air conditioning contractors, chemical companies, paper and plastic producers, wind farms, and original equipment manufacturers. The company was founded in October 1963 in Colton, California, by Wallace and Zora Brithinee and their twin sons, Donald P. and Wallace P. Brithinee.

Look for PGWSJ Once a Season in 2013 The Public Groundwater Systems Journal will be published quarterly in 2013. Make sure you get content that can help you on the job by filling out and mailing back the card on the cover of this issue. Each publication will be filled with feature articles on key topics, columns by industry experts, and departments featuring the latest news and products of the industry. Don’t miss PGWSJ in 2013. www.NGWA.org

Public Groundwater Systems Journal Fall 2012 23/

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MicroDynamics Wastewater Microwave Uses UV Technology Severn Trent Services has introduced the MicroDynamics microwave UV technology. The technology is revolutionary in that microwaves are used to generate monochromatic UV light from electrodeless lamps. The last major development in UV technology prior to the introduction of microwave UV technology was in the 1990s, when low pressure amalgam and medium pressure lamps were first introduced. MicroDynamics systems use traditional UV lamps that are electrodeless. There are no electrical connections to fail, corrode or leak, which dramatically increases system efficiency and bulb life when compared to traditional UV lamps. MicroDynamics systems feature no electrical connections in the water. This leads to simple maintenance requirements and increased safety. In addition, the system does not require the lamps to be submerged in the channel—lamps can operate in air—thus reducing concerns regarding precise water level control. The MicroDynamics systems operate with unlimited start/stop of the system with no degradation of UVC output or UV lamp. The MicroDynamics OCS 660 open channel ultraviolet system offers efficient and effective disinfection of secondary and tertiary wastewater effluent.

24/ Fall 2012 Public Groundwater Systems Journal

Hach Launches FDT-Certified Multi-Sensor Device Type Manager Hach Co. has received certification by the FDT Group for its multi-sensor DTM (device type manager), available on and as a free software download for the sc200 Universal Controller with Profibus DP. Covering 43 sensors and analyzers and 20 different parameters, Hach’s multi-sensor DTM represents the world’s broadest portfolio of certified analytical devices for water and wastewater. A DTM is software used in FDT frame applications which provides users the ability to configure device parameters and access advanced diagnostic information from any location. This significantly simplifies setup, configuration, and diagnostics as they can all be performed from the control room rather than out in the plant. The new multi-sensor DTM software is available to engineers, consultants, system integrators, and end users as a free download on Hach’s Web page.

Transmitter Displays and Controls pH and ORP Values for Process Monitoring Sensorex’s TX-3000 pH/mV transmitter monitors changes in process fluids, displaying pH or oxidation reduction potential (ORP, measured in mV), and temperature for more accurate control in water, chemical, electronics, food production, environmental, and wastewater applications. The line-powered TX-3000 can be user programmed onsite to measure pH or ORP (Redox). Its dual output design, with an isolated 4–20 mA output for pH or ORP readings and one for temperature measurement, eliminates the need for a separate temperature transmitter. A large backlit LCD screen displays both parameters simultaneously and two adjustable Hi/Lo relay contacts deliver results to automated process control systems. www.NGWA.org

Give yourself and your loved ones some peace of mind.

No one likes to think about the possibility of it happening to them. But, in spite of all the precautions and protections put in place to prevent them, accidents unfortunately can and do happen. While we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a magic solution to give you to stop them from taking place, we do offer you and your loved ones some peace of mind should the unthinkable occur. With a public groundwater systems membership in NGWA, you can purchase a $50,000 accidental death and dismemberment insurance policy for only $15 a year. For more information on this policy, as well as the other many benefits of membership in NGWA, visit NGWA.org/membership or call NGWA customer service at 800 551.7379 (614 898.7791) Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. ET.

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The AD&D policy offered through NGWA public groundwater systems membership is underwritten by Life Insurance Company of North America, a CIGNA company.

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