On April 3, EPA released a guide for water utilities on sustainable and effective practices. Developed with extensive input from utility leaders and states, this document will help water sector utilities of all sizes adopt proven and sustainable practices over time to better serve communities across the nation. The practices in the document are organized around a series of attributes of effectively managed utilities endorsed by EPA and leading water professional associations.

The new plates are designed to make it easier to recognize emergency response vehicles during storms or other emergency situations. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, the vehicle must either be owned or controlled and registered in the name of the agency or locality in order to be eligible for the new plate.

The plates have a white background with a red banner and have the letters “EM” on them for Emergency Management.

Underground in places nobody likes to look, bacteria are doing terrible things to our sewage pipes. The concrete pipes that carry our waste are literally dissolving away, forcing engineers into a messy, expensive battle against tiny microbes.

On March 20, 2014, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a guidance document to  assist drinking water and wastewater utilities implement the “Buy American” provisions of the fiscal year 2014 appropriations bill for the Clean Water (CWSRF) and Drinking Water (DWSRF) State Revolving Funds.

A series of webinars to instruct government agencies and the public on how to use the streamlined and revised Environmental Assessment Forms (EAF) will be held this spring, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.

Announcing the retirement of the Town of Liberty’s Working Supervisor of Water and Sewer Department, Albert Picard. After 36 years of service with the town Albert has decided to spend more time with his wife Virginia, his two children and his four grandchildren. Albert has always supported NYRWA.  I, Rich Winters and Steve Grimm have often worked with Albert in his system and am sure we will both miss his professionalism. Here’s wishing you the best in whatever the next chapter of your life brings your way. Gods speed my friend.

Just a reminder to all our Voting Members, please plan to join us for the 35th Annual Business Meeting  scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at the Turning Stone Resort and Conference Center in Verona, NY.  For those voting members present, you have an opportunity to enter our drawing to win “The Meredith H. Thompson Training Award” that entitles the winner to join us and attend the National Rural Water Association Annual Technical Expo this October in Seattle, Washington.  Looking forward to seeing you there.

NYRWA 35th Annual Technical Conference April 14-17, 2014 Turning Stone Resort/Conference Center, Verona, NY