Session four of the Environmental Finance Center Network's Community Affordability: A Series of Conversations, Implementing a Bill Payment Assistance Program, will be held July 12. In this 1-hour webinar, EFCN at UNC will share an overview of different types of bill assistance programs and provide considerations for how to set up, fund, and market your program. The webinar will include information about COVID-related assistance as well.  Who Should Attend:  Managers, owners, and operators of water systems serving less than 10,000 people Decision-makers for water utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks Consultants and technical assistance providers serving water systems Register Here

Disaster Recovery Assistance from SRFs and FEMA for Communities - Disaster Response II: Tuesday, July 19 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Dealing with the aftermath of a disaster can be more difficult than the actual disaster itself. Learn how you can work with the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to expedite financial assistance for water and wastewater utilities in the aftermath of a Presidential-declared disaster using Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between EPA and FEMA. Hear first-hand experience from SRF managers who used the MOU to help communities in their state recover from catastrophic natural disasters. Ask FEMA first responders and EPA water professionals for their insight on how to utilize this unique federal partnership to get the assistance you need when a disaster strikes.  Hear from communities, states, and federal agency representatives about their experiences. For more information, visit https://www.cifanet.org/online-learning. To register, visit https://cifa.webex.com/cifa/j.php?RGID=raf8c15b3f353c95caa52af124d834231

Maintaining Distribution Water Quality Using: System Maps, Valves & Flushing: July 21, 2022 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Four Points by Sheraton Bakersfield Date & Time: July 21, 2022 | 8:30AM-3:30PM Accreditation: 6 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded. Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program. Certificate will be awarded. Description: To be effective in their job of providing safe drinking water to their customers, certified water system operators need to possess a wide range of knowledge on many different subjects. This in person workshop will test the participant’s understanding of a range of drinking water topics. The instructors will provide a detailed explanation of many of these topics. Participants will learn: How to use, test and update water system maps and their effect in maintaining water quality We will look at valve types and there uses in the system The need for a valve turning program How to create and execute system wide flushing program and dead-end program Who should attend?: The recommended audience includes distribution system operators. Location: This training will be hosted at the following address: Four Points by Sheraton Bakersfield 5101 California Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93309 Parking is complimentary 

Date & Time: July 26, 2022 | 10:00AM-12:00PM Description: A public water system manager and operator have a lot of irons in the fire. They answer to their customers, local government (board of directors), state and county primacy agencies, other state/county/federal agencies and various businesses/industry. Where does one begin? It all begins with operations, and the managers/operators need to ensure that safe water is consistently delivered to the customers; this water is under sufficient pressure; all required water testing is performed promptly and with proper testing techniques; and that all records are documented accurately and as required. This workshop will utilize the trainer’s experiences, as well as the experience of participants in the workshop, to explore these topics and others as encountered by the experienced managers/operators that will be attending this training. This is a free training. Participants will learn:  About doing “the rounds” Record keeping and reporting Daily/weekly/monthly tasks Their responsibility to the public About dealing with the board of directors or other local government Recommended Audience: Local government board of directors, managers and operators.   Location: This training will be hosted online on GoToTraining. Registration: https://www.events.rcac.org/assnfe/Cart.asp?Mode=SAVENEWCRS&mlUtil_EventID=3229&mlUtil_FeeID=3064&PID= Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours units awarded

Date & Time: July 26, 2022 | 2:00 - 4:00 PM Description: A public water system manager and operator have a lot of irons in the fire. They answer to their customers, local government (board of directors), state and county primacy agencies, other state/county/federal agencies and various businesses/industry. Where does one begin? It all begins with operations, and the managers/operators need to ensure that safe water is consistently delivered to the customers; this water is under sufficient pressure; all required water testing is performed promptly and with proper testing techniques; and that all records are documented accurately and as required. This workshop will utilize the trainer’s experiences, as well as the experience of participants in the workshop, to explore these topics and others as encountered by the experienced managers/operators that will be attending this training. This is a free training. Participants will learn:  About doing “the rounds” Record keeping and reporting Daily/weekly/monthly tasks Their responsibility to the public About dealing with the board of directors or other local government Recommended Audience: Local government board of directors, managers and operators.   Location: This training will be hosted online on GoToTraining. Registration: https://www.events.rcac.org/assnfe/Cart.asp?Mode=SAVENEWCRS&mlUtil_EventID=3229&mlUtil_FeeID=3064&PID= Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours units awarded

Description: Green Asset Management offers a comprehensive approach to managing the green and gray components of a water, wastewater, or stormwater system, stretching limited revenues, addressing aging infrastructure, facilitating regulatory compliance and avoiding costly component failures and service disruptions. In this training, you will learn about how the traditional asset management approach can be applied to both the gray AND green elements of your system. Not sure where to begin? We will provide you with the tools you need to get started and will walk you through the process. Presenters: Jennifer Egan, PG, PhD, Program Manager; and Michelle Kokolis, Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland   Register HERE   Who Should Attend:  Managers, owners, and operators of water systems serving less than 10,000 people, or wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons Decision-makers for water and wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks Consultants and technical assistance providers serving water and wastewater systems

Groundwater Well Operation & Maintenance: Date & Time: August 2, 2022 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Location: Red Lion Hotel Redding (1830 Hilltop Dr. Redding, CA 96002) Description: It is crucial to know how your well is performing. Do you know what is going on deep in the ground? What goes into the process of choosing a well site? Well equipment must be maintained and monitored to ensure long life and quality water within the system. Regular monitoring of the wells helps the operator to compile vital information on the health of the source. This is a free training. Participants will learn:  Well site selection process Well inspection Well maintenance Groundwater qualities Monitoring drawdown Well sounders: Which one is right for me? Who should attend?: The recommended audience includes operators, management, water system personnel or anyone with an interest in better understanding the value of operating a safe drinking water system. Accreditation: 6 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program. Certificate will be awarded.  

Financing Your Small Water System: Budgeting & Rates Setting Date & Time: August 3, 2022 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Location: Red Lion Hotel Redding (1830 Hilltop Drive Redding, California 96002) Description: If you are a board member, manager or operator, it is important to understand the budgeting process and what it means for you. Budgets impact our daily work and understand how to build them, analyze them and use them to plan can shape our systems. Understanding the budget allows us to maximize resources and justify our rates, especially when an increase in rates is necessary. From the budget, rates can be calculated that satisfy the utility's revenue needs. This is a free training. Participants will learn: Evaluate budget and financial indicators Develop a prioritized capital improvement plan Create a budget to sustain that CIP Use these tools to determine revenue needs Set rates in California Prop. 218 processes Who Should Attend?: The recommended audience includes board members, managers and operators.  Accreditation: 6 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded. Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program. Certificate will be awarded.

This two-part workshop will include presentations and discussions on: Solar power Wind power Batteries Biogas and combined heat and power Economic and resiliency benefits to renewable energy Opportunities and challenges Register HERE For further information, visit: https://www.cifanet.org/online-learning.

Renewable Energy at Water Utilities - Part 1: August 9, 2022 | 9:30am - 12:30pm Discuss opportunities for using renewable energy at water utilities including: solar power, wind power, batteries, biogas and combined heat and power, and inline/conduit hydropower. This two-part workshop will include presentations and discussions on: Solar power Wind power Batteries Biogas and combined heat and power Economic and resiliency benefits to renewable energy Opportunities and challenges Click here to register.