Tuesday, September 13, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST What is involved in providing improvements to a public water system? EFCN staff with project management experience will talk about the major funding sources to finance a capital improvement project and describe the process from initial planning to construction of the improvement. 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 REGISTER HERE

Description: A crucial part of any Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is to follow through and complete tasks planned. One of these tasks is the replacement and/or installation of new fire hydrants. This workshop will outline the steps necessary to install wet barrel and dry barrel fire hydrants. This includes the initial planning, the installation itself and steps that may need to be taken upon completion of the installation. Participants will learn: CIP overview Planning for fire hydrant installation Fire hydrant installation Recommended steps to follow upon completion of new hydrant installation Who should attend: water system operators, maintenance staff and managers. Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded. Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program. 

Description: A crucial part of any Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is to follow through and complete tasks planned. One of these tasks is the replacement and/or installation of new fire hydrants. This workshop will outline the steps necessary to install wet barrel and dry barrel fire hydrants. This includes the initial planning, the installation itself and steps that may need to be taken upon completion of the installation. Participants will learn: CIP overview Planning for fire hydrant installation Fire hydrant installation Recommended steps to follow upon completion of new hydrant installation Who should attend: water system operators, maintenance staff and managers. Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded. Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program. 

Creating Operation & Maintenance Plans Date & Time: September 14, 2022 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM  Location: University of Merced, Extension Education Building (2145 Wardrobe Ave. Merced, CA 95341) Description: Your only licensed operator has just left town due to a family emergency, and handed you the phone number of a certified operator in the next town. Will the substitute operator know how your system works and what needs to be done on a daily basis to keep it safe and in compliance? A properly prepared Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Plan is one of a water purveyor’s most important documents. The O&M Plan is a “living” document that explains how a public water system is to be operated and maintained on a day-to-day basis to ensure public health, safety, and compliance with applicable regulations. In addition to being an important training tool for new staff, the O&M manual serves as a practical handbook by which a qualified substitute operator can operate and maintain the system in a safe and reliable manner in absence of the system’s primary operator. This is a free training. Participants will learn: The vital elements that comprise an O&M Plan The most important tools needed for […]

Description: There are many responsibilities associated with water systems. Many residents, board members and operators are not aware of the scope of a water system’s fiduciary responsibilities. Improved understanding of the true cost of water and how to ensure water systems are meeting their fiduciary responsibilities are key to ensure water systems remain viable. Participants will learn about basic financial management and rate setting principles all water systems should be aware of and actively implementing. Participants will learn how to establish a rate structure based on the true cost of producing and delivering water. Who should attend: utility general managers, board members, operators, financial analysts for small water systems and small water system customers interested in learning more about the financial responsibilities and decisions small water systems must make to keep the service afloat. Accreditation: 4 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded

Description: With limited revenues, aging infrastructure, and regulatory obligations to meet, a comprehensive approach to managing your system is vital. You may not be sure which asset(s) to replace when funds are limited, and need help anticipating costs of future demand. This training will teach you how to: develop an inventory of utility components; identify critical assets for sustained operations; make decisions about how to operate, repair, and replace those assets; and set goals for level of service at a sustainable cost. Trainers: Maureen Kerner, Associate Director; and Ella Ban, Environmental Specialist, Environmental Finance Center at Sacramento State Cost: Complimentary. Continuing Education Units: CEUs will NOT be offered for this training. 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

Must Have Financial Policies & Procedures for Small Water Systems Date & Time: September 15, 2022 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Location: University of California Merced, Extension Education Building (2145 Wardrobe Ave. Merced, CA 95341) Description: Your financial policies are the blueprint to building a successful, sustainable water utility. Are yours up-to-date and complete? Polishing your policies can be the cornerstone to providing guidance in decision making, promoting staff efficiency and productivity, and safeguarding assets. The goals of good financial policies and procedures are risk management and to ensure that the utility is consistently operated as a financially sustainable enterprise while providing safe and reliable water, both in the short- and long-term. Decision makers have very important financial responsibilities, including establishing the policy framework governing a utility’s finances. Operators and staff support the board and implement financial management policies on a day-to-day basis and may be instrumental in recommending necessary policies. Comprehensive, well-organized policies should be readily accessible and easy to reference. This is a free training. Participants will learn: Common financial policies for small water systems The benefits of written, up-to-date policies Which policies to create or update at your system How to create a draft policy using […]

Description: At a minimum, every public water system regardless of size and complexity requires a certified water distribution operator. In addition, those systems using treatment also must have an operator that holds a water treatment operator certification. The most significant hurdle for many grade 1 and grade 2 operators in passing the operator certification exam, however, is the math portion of the test. Typically, the math section of the certification exam constitutes about 35% of the total exam score so proficiency in math is necessary to pass the test. The math included in the first three sessions is based on the expected-range-of-knowledge for the California distribution D1/D2 exams. Operator Math 301 is targeted to the grade 3/4 level exams. The target learner for this training wants (and needs) one specific thing: the ability to accurately calculate operator certification exam math questions. Accordingly, the learning event design focuses solely on this need. This training is not designed for “contact hours “or participant “entertainment”. This is a hands-on training with an expectation of continuous participation -- working and answering math problems – throughout the entire session. Who should attend: operators and managers.  Participants will learn: Pressure and Head problems Dosage problems (simple […]

Comprehensive Guide to Water Sampling Date & Time: September 20, 2022 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Location: Sacramento Double Tree, Redwood Room (2001 Point West Way Sacramento, CA 95819) Description: You are getting customer water quality complaints and don’t remember if you completed all of the state’s monitoring and reporting requirements. How do you know if the water you are delivering is safe to drink? What do you tell your customers? What bottles do you use to collect samples? How do you use best sampling technique? Do you need all of the info in that chain of custody? This workshop will provide water system personnel with the information to collect and record most samples effectively. This is a free training. Participants will learn: Key existing regulations Reporting requirements Hands on sampling technique (volunteers appreciated) Emerging contaminants under the California Safe Drinking Water Act The benefits of a timely water quality monitoring program Who should attend?: The recommended audience includes operators, managers, and anyone responsible for ensuring compliance with sampling regulations. Accreditation: 6 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded. Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program. Certificates will be available through your profile.