Virtual Session Kickoff of National Capacity Development and Operator Certification Workshop Series

ASDWA and EPA held the first of three virtual sessions this week as part of the National Capacity Development and Operator Certification Workshop series. Approximately 150 people attended this week’s session from 35 states, EPA Headquarters and Regions, technical assistance organizations, and more. The session was entitled, “Targeting Disadvantaged Systems to Develop Capacity and Compliance.” During the webinar, presenters from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and Regional Partners, and the State of Texas shared information about their assistance efforts to help water systems in two disadvantaged communities in Vermont and Texas. A key takeaway from the webinar and following discussion sessions included the need to tailor a mix of federal, state, and local people, programs, and resources to provide technical assistance, leverage loan and grant funding, recruit volunteers, and get community buy-in for helping disadvantaged communities maintain and operate their water systems, and achieve compliance. View the webinar recording and presentations here.

Get Ready for the Next Two Virtual Sessions!

Next week, on Thursday, August 20th from 2:00 – 4:00 pm (eastern), ASDWA and EPA will conduct the second virtual session in the three-part series entitled, “Becoming Financially Resilient through Asset Management.” This session will also include a 45-minute webinar and optional one-hour Teams meeting discussion. For more information, view the new session handout with presentation descriptions and speaker biographies and register for the webinar here.

And last, but not least, the third and final session on Tuesday, August 25th from 2:00 – 4:00 pm (eastern), will showcase “Adaptive Training and Testing Techniques” that were utilized during COVID-19 to continue operator training and testing, and how states may apply these strategies going forward during the pandemic. Register for the webinar here.