Take ONE step today to increase your preparedness.

 

It is never too early to learn about preparedness!

Teach kids about their drinking water with Thirstin’s Wacky Water Adventure activity book.

Next, use the Water Operators: Delivering Safe Water Every Day activity book to inform children about the important services water utility operators provide. This interactive book can be used by water utility education staff and school teachers alike to enrich field trips, water plant tours, career days, community events and more.

Upcoming Webinars

Utility Talk: Power Resilience and California’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Events
September 24 at 1:00 pm EST

LIVE "Utility Talk" on power resilience, accompanied by a Q&A session. Join this live broadcast for an engaging conversation with EPA subject matter expert, Lauren Wisniewski, Blake Chetcuti and Jim Wollbrinck of San Jose Water Company. ➽ Register Here

Building Security and Resilience to Cyber Threats, Disinformation, and other Hazards in the Water and Wastewater Sector
October 7, 2020 at 3:00-4:30 PM EST
Join EPA during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month for a 90-minute webinar featuring experts from EPA’s Water Security Division (WSD), the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) as they discuss their roles in supporting and furthering the security and resilience of the water and wastewater sector. The webinar will delve into the balance of valuable technology needs with cybersecurity measures and provide information on malicious activities in the cyber domain that threaten the sector. CEUs will be offered. ➽ Register Here

Learn more at epa.gov/waterresilience 

ORC Hiring and Contracting Guide

A new resource for owners and administrators of water and wastewater facilities serving <100,000 persons 

The Water Quality Control Division is excited to make a new resource available to water and wastewater facilities serving fewer than 100,000 persons. The purpose of the ORC Hiring and Contracting Guide is to:

• Promote better understanding of owner and operator in responsible charge (ORC) responsibilities;
• Provide tools to help facility hiring or contract managers select qualified ORCs that will be a good fit for their systems; and
• Help facility hiring or contract managers write effective agreements that clearly articulate all ORC duties and responsibilities.

The ORC Hiring and Contracting Guide is organized into four distinct sections which relate to, and support, each other, but which can stand alone to meet a facility’s specific need. 

Section 1 – Responsibilities Table

• The Responsibilities Table lists facility and ORC responsibilities under 9 category headings. The two-column format makes it easy to compare and contrast related responsibilities.

Section 2 – Interview Tool

• The Interview Tool suggests questions a hiring or contracting manager can ask to help evaluate candidates’ qualifications, experience, availability, etc.

Section 3 – Topics for Written Agreements

• The Topics for Written Agreements section discusses a number of topics that may be useful and appropriate for written agreements between facility owners and their ORCs. The agreement with a contract operator in responsible charge may include more items than an agreement with an employee who serves as the ORC, but all written agreements should establish clear expectations and include a comprehensive list of the ORC’s duties.

Section 4 – List of Potential ORC Duties

• The List of Potential ORC Duties can be used by facility owners to evaluate the needs of their systems and identify the specific duties their ORC will need to perform.

The ORC Hiring and Contracting Guide empowers facility owners to knowledgeably select the best candidates for the role of ORC and to negotiate fair, clear and effective agreements with their ORCs.

Interested persons can find the Guide under “Resources” on the division’s “Training opportunities and resources for water systems” webpage. (Google search: “CDPHE training opportunities.”) Moreover, the division is offering free training to help interested persons navigate the Guide and better understand how to apply it to their specific situations. Registration for the training is also available on the division’s “Training opportunities and resources for water systems” webpage. (Google search: “CDPHE training opportunities.”)

➽ Nancy Horan, Facility and Operator Outreach and Certification Board Liaison

PFAS Bill Update

The legislature passed two important bills this year regarding PFAS, pervasive chemicals that originate from toxic firefighting foam and other sources. It is important to know how these bills will help prevent further PFAS contamination that could impact your source water and provide valuable resources for your water system if it is impacted. 

House Bill 20-1119 allows the department to better control and regulate the use of PFAS firefighting foam. The bill:

• Requires entities using and storing PFAS firefighting foams to follow established capture and disposal standards and have a certificate of registration (which will be approved into law by the Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission by June 2021).
• Allows the use of PFAS firefighting foam for training or testing at federally designated airport structures used for storing and maintaining aircraft and entities with a certificate of registration that follow established capture and disposal standards.

Senate Bill 20-218 charges a fee on the transport of fuel and uses the money to develop a cash fund. This cash fund will provide funding for:

• Implementing a takeback program that purchases and properly disposes of PFAS firefighting foam. 
• Sampling, assessment and investigation of PFAS chemicals in groundwater, lakes, rivers, and other waters.
• Funding water treatment infrastructure for PFAS chemicals. 
• Providing emergency assistance to communities affected by the chemicals.

Click here for more information about the PFAS bills and get involved in the stakeholder process to create a certificate of registration program.

➽ David Dani, Emerging Contaminants Coordinator

Perspectives on a New Decade - Rerun

Hello everyone,

I recently unearthed the article below from the Aquatalk archaeological dig site and radiocarbon-dated it to 2010. This article was from the bygone days when we actually mailed out hard copies of the newsletter to all subscribers. It was a retrospective look at the 2000s and a look ahead to the 2010s. I thought it would be fun to republish now and then in a future message, we can look back at what actually happened in the 2010s and look forward to the 2020s as well. Thank you for all you do to keep tap water safe in Colorado!

Perspectives on a New Decade
Originally published Spring 2010

As we close out the 2000s and head into the 2010s, I wanted to offer some perspective on where the Safe Drinking Water Program in Colorado was in 2000, where we stand today, and what the future portends. I  believe that the last decade solidified the value and viability of the Safe Drinking Water Program in a number of ways. However, as we enter 2010 we are still trying to address some long-standing challenges and improve our ability to implement an effective program into the future.

In 2000, Colorado was far behind in adopting and implementing new drinking water rules following congressional re-authorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1996. Specifically, Colorado did not adopt any of the new rules on time, and received extensions from EPA. In some cases, the extensions almost expired before we adopted the rule.

This situation created a great deal of concern for EPA, the state, and public water systems. The concerns centered around whether Colorado would or could maintain program primacy and the impacts of losing primacy including loss of flexibility, loss of field presence, and loss, of the now $24 million annual capitalization grant under the drinking water state revolving fund. Additionally, there was a great deal of uncertainty on the part of public water systems regarding how these new rules would be implemented in Colorado.

Fortunately, the Safe Drinking Water Program gained support and financial resources from all of our funding partners. Specifically, additional funding was provided by:

• federal funding in the form of set asides from the capitalization grants
• support from the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority
• general fund increases from the state Legislature
• fees from public water systems

During the last decade everyone stepped up to the plate and helped ensure that this program would continue to benefit the citizens and visitors of Colorado. By 2005, Colorado had caught up with adopting required regulations, and we have since continued to adopt new regulations in accordance with EPA deadlines. Although today the Safe Drinking Water Program does not have resources to adequately implement the new regulations into the 2010s, the dire situation of 2000 has improved substantially. Furthermore, as we have added resources to the program, I believe that we have struck a balance by adding engineers, compliance officers, enforcement staff and personnel specifically devoted to helping public water systems strengthen their technical, managerial and financial capacity.

The 2000s brought unexpected events as well, including the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the Alamosa Salmonella outbreak in March 2008. In response to our threatened national security, federal, state and local agencies enhanced their crisis response readiness, and public water systems assessed their security vulnerability. Working with stakeholders from around the state, the Colorado Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (CoWARN) was established in 2007 so that utilities could effectively assist each other in time of need. CO-WARN was put to good use during the Alamosa outbreak. The overall outbreak response, subsequent investigation and efforts going forward in the aftermath are enormous. We all became more aware of the potential for and consequences of waterborne disease. As a result, the Safe Drinking Water Program has intensified efforts and developed new strategies to reduce the likelihood of disease outbreaks in Colorado that are associated with public water systems. 

So in early 2010 I wonder what the next decade will bring. Will we be able to effectively implement the regulations adopted in the late 2000s? What new regulations will be promulgated by EPA before 2020? 

What progress will be made in understanding and dealing with pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other unregulated contaminants in drinking water?

What additional precautions will water utilities need to take as part of our nation's efforts to protect the homeland? What about climate change impacts? Will we be able to address the need for billions of dollars of investment in infrastructure? Surely, unexpected challenges will arise as well.

One thing is certain. Water utilities and the Safe Drinking Water Program will continue to struggle with resource issues related to personnel (aside from staffing levels, consider the percentage of our workforce nearing retirement), financial sustainability, and/or aging infrastructure. As I say all the time, safe drinking water does not just happen. In fact, drinking water is not safe without the hard work and dedication of public water system personnel and the necessary financial support of their customers.

Continuously safe drinking water is absolutely the public's expectation. Whether safe drinking water is a right, or not, is a philosophical discussion for debate. More often than not, it is viewed as a basic right. In the face of such expectations and challenges, I believe that we must strive to educate the public so that our services are appropriately valued. Improving public awareness of the Safe Drinking Water Program and the efforts of public water system operators and managers is certainly one of my goals for the 2010s. 

Only time will tell what I (or my successor) will write in this space in 2020 while reflecting on the 2010s. Let's all work together to ensure that the message will be a positive one! 

Thank you.

➽ Ron Falco, P.E., safe drinking water program manager

Private Cisterns Connected to Public Water Systems

Private Cisterns: an Often Overlooked Potential Cross Connection 

Colorado’s majestic mountains, plateaus, gorges and canyons, rolling plains and high deserts are a beauty to behold all year round and also truly awe inspiring! However, Colorado’s varied geography also makes it a distinct state with numerous remote water systems that present unique situations. One of these is the use of private water cisterns at homes to store or supplement the water supplied by a public water system. Historically, the construction details of these cisterns  were not always well documented by the public water system. In addition, private cisterns have not typically been thoroughly inspected to ensure they contain robust protections of potable water. As a result, these cisterns can pose a risk to public health from backflow and may or may not be a cross connection, depending on how they are constructed and maintained.

For example, in September 2018, a consecutive water system in Delta County had total coliform (TC) and repeat TC positive samples in the distribution system. The responsible operator’s investigation identified that the distribution system was contaminated by a backflow event from a private cistern that was inadequately controlled. The cistern was tested for bacteriological contamination and came back positive for total coliform. The investigation found that the existing residential cistern was plumbed from the meter pit through a single non-testable check valve to a dole valve then to the cistern below water level. The customer service line was then plumbed to a tee between the dole valve and the cistern. 

To address this unique situation in Colorado, the department has created a guidance document to provide answers to frequently asked questions about backflow prevention and cross connection control (BPCCC) of cisterns that are used by customers of public water systems.

The cistern guidance explains and clarifies BPCCC expectations for suppliers with private cisterns connected to their system. The department expects that cisterns are constructed in accordance with the Colorado Plumbing Code or be properly protected with an assembly (RPZ or testable double check) or method (air gap) as described in the guidance. The guidance and additional BPCCC documents can be found on the department’s BPCCC website.   

Suppliers first need to determine whether or not a private cistern is a cross connection. If a private cistern is constructed per the 2018 Colorado Plumbing Code, it is not considered a cross-connection. In that case, the supplier only needs to keep that determination on file but does not need to track the private cistern in their BPCCC program. If the private cistern is not constructed per the plumbing code, then the cistern is a cross connection. The supplier must begin tracking the private cistern in their BPCCC program and control the cross connection within 120 days (or department approved alternative schedule) of discovery.

Does your system have private cisterns? Please review the reference guidance and if there are any questions feel free to reach out to the field services section at cdphe_wqcd_fss_questions@state.co.us.   

➽ Monique Morey, PE, field services section

Potable Water Lines in Sewer Manholes

Potentially Dangerous Cross Connection 

If you are licensed as a potable water distribution and/or a wastewater collection system operator, you are probably familiar with the department’s design requirements and guidelines that specify the horizontal and vertical separation requirements of potable water mains from sanitary sewers and other sources of contamination. The Water Quality Control Division’s Safe Drinking Water Policy 5, Section 8.8 clearly establishes design guidelines for potable water systems that specify separation distances from potable water distribution lines under a variety of circumstances (horizontal separation in parallel pipes, vertical separation in parallel pipes, crossings, exceptions, sewer force mains).

In addition, Chapter 3.2.12 of Water Pollution Control Policy WPC-DR-1 (State of Colorado Design Criteria for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Works) also specifies separation distances between potable water lines and sewer installations. These requirements should be periodically reviewed by distribution and collection system operators and applied to reviews performed by these operators either in the field or in the planning phase. These two policies basically say the same thing: keep contamination sources away from potable water lines.

Safe Drinking Water Policy 5, Section 8.8.6 also clearly states that water pipes must not pass through or come in contact with any part of a sewer manhole. It can be tempting in tight right-of-ways to place water and sewer in the same narrow trench, using the vertical separation requirements so that you can save time and money by not digging a separate trench. When you get to a manhole, some may think “Just leave the water line secure well above the sewage flow. The pipe is sealed and the sewage is way down at the bottom of the manhole. Doesn’t that constitute an air gap for backflow purposes?” No, it does not. Don’t do it or allow contractors to do it.

Do we have this issue in Colorado? 

Yes! During some sanitary surveys and collection system inspections, department inspectors have observed manholes that have potable water lines passing through them (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Potable Water Line in Sanitary Sewer Manhole

Potable water lines that pass through sewer manholes constitute an uncontrolled cross connection since surging manholes could submerge the potable water lines, which could lead to sewage contaminating the potable water distribution system during a backflow event. This could cause serious contamination in the drinking water supply and cause a waterborne disease outbreak in the community that could be harmful to public health and very costly. If you observe or know of conditions like this in your distribution system, they must be immediately assessed as uncontrolled cross connections in your cross connection control program and controlled within 120 days of discovery or an extension must be requested. 

Appropriate controls may include:

    - Re-routing the water supply line around the manhole

    - Removing the manhole 

    - Removing the water supply line

Note: providing encasement of the water supply line is not considered to be a permanent solution.

Be sure to document what action you have taken in your cross connection control program documentation and be prepared to discuss it during your next sanitary survey. If you need an extension to the 120 day limit, you can apply for an extension on the department’s website at Drinking Water Cross Connection Control Program and select Appendix C.1: 120 Day Cross-connection Control Extension Application. If you have any questions please contact the department’s Field Services Section at: cdphe_wqcd_fss_questions@state.co.us.

➽ Andy Poirot, PE

CCWP Portal: How to manage TUs

How to Manage Training Units Through the CCWP Portal?

The Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) Portal has been designed to help operators manage their training units. To accommodate a variety of situations, there are multiple processes for getting information about completed courses into an operator’s account. This article will teach you how to: 

1. Request Catalog TUs 
2. Claim Catalog TUs
3. Apply for Non-Catalog TUs

For more information about the CCWP Portal, please visit the Colorado Certified Water Professionals website or contact the CCWP Office, info@coloradocwp.com, 719-225-7339.

1. Operator requests catalog training units

This process should be used by operators who have received a paper or electronic course completion certificate, rather than having their TUs awarded by the instructor directly through the CCWP Portal. In the Portal, operators need to:

a) Click on the TUs & Credits navigation in the blue bar at the top of the page. 

b) Find and select the “Request Catalog TUs” button.

c) Search for the course number from the course completion certificate. Note: Courses were given new numbers when data were migrated into the Portal. However, the original course numbers (used on completion certificates) are associated with the new Portal course numbers. If more than one option is returned when the original course number is entered, select the correct option by matching the course name.

d) Click “Request TUs”

       

e) Click the button next to the course and verify or enter the course completion date.

f) Upload a copy of the course completion certificate.

g) Manually enter the training unit values from the completion certificate.

                       

2. Operator claims catalog training units

For the most part, operators who complete catalog courses after May 2019 will use this process.  Instructors will upload participant rosters into the Portal shortly after a course is completed. This will trigger an email to participants that training units have been issued and must be claimed. 

a) In the Portal, click on the TUs & Credits navigation in the blue bar at the top of the page.

b) Find and select the “Claim TUs” button.

c) Operators must verify they took the course by claiming the TUs, or indicate a mistake was made by rejecting the TUs. Note: It is a lie for operators to claim TUs for courses they did not take. There is a high likelihood of being caught because the operators who DID take the course will be looking for their TUs. Operators who claim TUs they are not entitled to risk suspension or revocation of their certificates.

d) Once claimed, the training units are automatically added to the operator’s TU library and no further action (such as uploading the course completion certificate) is required.

3. Operator applies for non-catalog training units

An operator who has taken relevant classes from an accredited institution, such as a community college, can use the “Apply for Non-Catalog TUs” button on the TUs & Credits page if the classes are not in the course catalog. An operator should always check the course catalog before applying for non-catalog TUs.

a) The operator needs to use the blue “Add New Course” button to provide information about the class. 

b) Operators will need to upload documentation verifying their participation in the training.

There is no charge to the operator for courses taken from accredited institutions.

An operator who has participated in a non-catalog training event, such as a conference in another state, will also apply for training units using the “Apply for Non-Catalog TUs” button. The operator must provide information about the course provider, as well as details about the training event. There is a $25 fee to cover the review of the training event for TU approval. 

➽Nancy Horan, Operator Certification Board Liaison