RCAP Shares New Videos for Distribution Systems, Hydrants, and Chlorine Residual

Our partners at National RCAP have just shared three new videos developed as part of their EPA competitive award “Distance Assistance” initiative.  They have distributed the videos to their regional partners (RCAC, Great Lakes RCAP, Midwest Assistance Program, RCAP Solutions, Southeast RCAP, and Community Resource Group) and are encouraging them to recruit system operators to view and learn from them.  In addition, RCAP suggests that, “These videos can be used in classroom trainings as valuable “breaks” from powerpoint presentations and other training activities.  The techniques demonstrated are useful skill-building visuals of daily activities, and can even be used for math exercises.”

• Protecting Distribution System Water Quality – https://vimeo.com/134849908
  Just because you produced high quality water at the treatment facility doesn’t mean that your job is done. Maintaining water quality throughout your distribution system is also essential. Studies have shown that over 1/3 of waterborne illness originated from problems in the distribution system. Water quality in the distribution system can degrade for a variety of reasons including contamination from an uncontrolled cross connection, contamination during storage, or high water age leading to degradation of water quality. Events such as a main break or loss of system pressure can also allow contaminated water to enter the distribution system. So as an operator what should you do? This video will discuss 6 items for you to consider to protect water quality in the distribution system.
• Hydrant Inspection and Flushing – https://vimeo.com/134771413
  This video will cover basic inspection and flushing of a fire hydrant. All fire hydrants in a water system need to be inspected on a regular basis. Inspection is needed to ensure a high degree of confidence that hydrants will perform properly in an emergency. A number of circumstances can affect a hydrant’s performance, including vandalism, accidental damage, wear and tear, and mechanical malfunction. Hydrants may also be flushed periodically to improve water quality.
• Measurement of Chlorine Residual – https://vimeo.com/134882448
  This video will cover taking a good chlorine sample and methods for analysis. Effective measurement of chlorine residual is essential for protection of public health. The presence of the residual not only provides disinfection, it also serves and an indicator of water quality. Loss of residual can be an indicator of a water quality problem. Chlorine residual may be measured for compliance or non-compliance purposes. While the analysis will remain the same, how you collect the sample may differ. This video will discuss measurement of chlorine residual using a colorimeter and a handheld spectrophotometer.

National RCAP is planning to share two more videos – one on coliform sampling and one on valve exercising and maintenance – in the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

Meanwhile, for more information about distribution system water quality, hydrant inspection, chlorine residual, and other topics, please visit the RCAP website at www.rcap.org.