Events

*Complete any qualifying financial course and submit proof to CalMutuals, and CalMutuals will reimburse your QuickBooks subscription cost for that year. This training provides board members, clerks, operators, and local officials of small and rural drinking water and wastewater systems with a practical, plain-language guide to preparing for a financial audit. The session focuses on the fundamentals of governmental accounting, understanding financial statements, strengthening internal controls, and avoiding common audit findings. Participants will learn what auditors look for, how to organize records efficiently, how to maintain capital asset and debt schedules, and how to build financial practices that support long-term sustainability and eligibility for state and federal funding programs, including State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans.

For a water utility, asset management plays a significant role in overall financial performance. With the use of effective asset management, it is possible to reduce overall infrastructure costs instead of waiting until the assets fail, incurring higher than necessary costs. Mapping a water system’s assets can greatly assist with developing an asset management plan and your ability to locate assets during an emergency. Participants will receive a step-by-step tutorial on how to get started mapping their water system’s assets using Google Earth Pro for project planning, public presentations and developing capital improvement plans. Participants will learn: The basic tools of Google Earth needed to map water system assets How to import scanned maps and handheld GPS coordinates How to derive water main pipe lengths, project planning, and cost estimating How to edit, save, and share your Google Earth maps with project team members and the public The recommended audience includes operators, managers and board members who make future water treatment decisions.  Participants should download and install the free Google Earth Pro software prior to the class by clicking here.

The math included in this training is based on the expected-range-of-knowledge for the California distribution and treatment exams grades 1 and 2.  The target learner for this training will focus on the ability to accurately calculate operator certification exam math questions. This is a hands-on training with an expectation of continuous participation -- working and answering math problems – throughout the entire session.  Participants will learn: Conversions Areas and volumes Dosage problem Head and pressure problems Well and pump problems The recommended audience includes water operators preparing to take their certification exam.

If you want to pass your treatment operator certification exam you must have a basic grasp of the expected range of knowledge that will be on the exam. Of the 100 questions that make up the water distribution operator exam, 85 of them will cover the expected range of knowledge topics. So, if you want to pass the exam, this training is for you.   The State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (DDW) administers the drinking water treatment operator certification program in California. The DDW provides an “Expected Range on Knowledge” for the topics expected on the five levels of state exams. This document is very specific and accurate. This training will be covering this document, which will help prepare the water treatment operator to take the state exam. Consistent with the online nature of the California water operator certification exams, practice problems in this training will be conducted online to give the operator training in the actual exam environment. Accordingly, each attendee will need to bring a cell phone or tablet capable of connecting to the internet to participate in this class.  Participants will learn: Disinfection Distribution System Design / Hydraulics Equipment and Plant Operation / […]

85% of California public water systems use only groundwater as their primary source of water. A significant number of California communities rely on contaminated groundwater sources for their public drinking water supply, requiring the source to undergo a comprehensive treatment effort. Groundwater treatment is a complex topic. The range of contaminants of concern to safe drinking water is broad, covering essentially the entire chemical spectrum. Occurrence of groundwater contamination is similarly diverse encompassing both naturally occurring and man-made contaminants. Operators of groundwater systems therefore need a comprehensive reconnaissance-level knowledge of groundwater treatment technologies and how these technologies are applied to removal/control of specific groundwater contaminants. This learning event will provide California water system operators with a reconnaissance level knowledge of the technologies employed to treat drinking water from groundwater supplies. Participants will learn about: Microbial contaminants (bacteria and virus) Iron and Manganese Arsenic Nitrate Uranium Organics VOCs SOCs Hydrogen sulfide The recommended audience includes operators, managers, and board members.

Concern about PFAS contamination is on the rise, as more water systems are discovering them in their water supply. PFAS is a group of man-made chemicals which include Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS). Known as “forever chemicals,” they do not break down in the environment. PFAS compounds have been found widely in the environment, including thousands of groundwater sources throughout the US. PFAS is now the #1 emerging threat to water systems. Studies identify potential health risks associated with these chemicals. This session probes into the origin of PFAS, the environmental and health concerns, and provides information for small systems about protecting public health. Participants will learn: Why do we call PFAS “forever chemicals”  Where does PFAS come from and is it still manufactured What are the environmental and health effects of PFAS  What are the current PFAS regulations for drinking water What are PFAS treatment technologies for drinking water systems

Concern about PFAS contamination is on the rise, as more water systems are discovering them in their water supply. PFAS is a group of man-made chemicals which include Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS). Known as “forever chemicals,” they do not break down in the environment. PFAS compounds have been found widely in the environment, including thousands of groundwatersources throughout the US. PFAS is now the #1 emerging threat to water systems. Studies identify potential health risks associated with these chemicals. This session probes into the origin of PFAS, the environmental and health concerns, and provides information for small systems about protecting public health. Participants will learn: Why do we call PFAS “forever chemicals”  Where does PFAS come from and is it still manufactured What are the environmental and health effects of PFAS  What are the current PFAS regulations for drinking water What are PFAS treatment technologies for drinking water systems

Throughout the country, small water system staff adhere to regulations to provide safe drinking water for their customers. The drinking water system staff follow directions from the state or county health department but may not realize that these regulations began at a federal level. This workshop will teach operators, managers and board members how and why these regulations exist. Participants will learn: The basis for SDWA and the related U.S. code and federal regulations How drinking water events correspond with amendments to the SDWA How to look-up drinking water regulations under development and review The recommended audience includes all water system operators and managers.