California Association of Mutual Water Companies

EFCN: Connecting with Your Community
2022-10-21 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Webinar Only
Communication with community members can be challenging due to staff and time constraints and lack of resources; however, you can engage with your community about your utility in easy, efficient ways. A basic understanding of communication techniques and how to leverage existing resources, alongside a little planning can strengthen your communication strategies. This webinar will build on the basis that an informed community will support the efforts of the utility to continue to provide the necessary service of clean, safe drinking water. Further discussion will focus on resources and tips for successful communication with your community.

RCAC: Achieve & Maintain Compliance with SDWA Series Part 3 of 3
2022-10-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
The Achieve & Maintain Compliance with SDWA 3-Part Series is being held in Pacific Time.
Description: Cyanobacteria, formerly referred to as blue-algae, are found naturally in lakes, rivers, ponds and other surface waters. When certain conditions exist, such as in warm water containing an abundance of nutrients, they can rapidly form harmful algal blooms (HABs). Some HABs are capable of producing toxins, called cyanotoxins, which can pose health risks to humans and animals through drinking water and recreational water exposure. Additionally, HABs can create taste and odor problems in drinking water, which do not have adverse human health impacts but can create an earthy and musty taste and smell.
The purpose of this learning event is to provide operators of small water systems with a basic knowledge of the causes, health effects and treatment of cyanobacteria and their associated endotoxins in drinking water. Contaminants related to algal blooms are a relatively new area of concern for water systems using surface supplies.
Participants will learn:

Basic information about cyanobacteria and the toxins associated with these organisms
Information about Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) providing an understanding of the characteristics and conditions of that result in HABs; including California’s HAB Incident Reporting Map
An overview of the treatment technologies for the removal of cyanotoxins in the drinking water treatment plant; including a framework for the management of cyanotoxins in a drinking water supply

Recommended audience: operators, managers, and board members of water systems that use surface water supplies.
Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Continuing Education Units awarded per session

EFCN: Interactive Water Loss Discussion for Small Water Systems
2022-10-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Webinar Only
Description: This is an opportunity for you to speak with and hear from your peers. Are you facing water losses at your utility? Are you thinking of developing or expanding a water loss control program, but aren’t sure where to start? Would you like an opportunity for more interactive group discussions? If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes,” then this Interactive Water Loss Discussion for Small Water Systems is designed for you!
Join us for an interactive opportunity to engage with your peers who are also dealing with water loss control issues. Ask questions, tout your successes, find out what has and hasn’t worked for other utilities. This virtual hour and a half session is an opportunity for small drinking water systems to learn from each other in an interactive, peer-exchange format. This session offers system operators, managers, and decision-makers the chance to:

Dive deeply into water loss control issues
Interact with a group of their peers tackling similar challenges
Meet water professionals from outside their organization

*Please Note: Due to the interactive style of this training, space is limited to 45 registrants. This session requires a working microphone to participate in group discussions and a willingness to engage in conversation and share questions and concerns.*
Moderators:

James Markham, Research Engineer, Southwest Environmental Finance Center
Frank Roth, Research Scholar, Southwest Environmental Finance Center
Charles Heltzer, Research Engineer, Environmental Finance Center at Sacramento State

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

RCAC: Navigating State Funding
2022-10-19 14:00 - 16:00, 2022-10-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
Description: Does your system have a capital improvement project and you are trying to figure out where to start in the state funding process? In this class you will learn about the resources available to identify funding opportunities, the requirements of a state funding application and how to request assistance so your system is prepared to execute a funding agreement.
Participants will learn:

How to request technical assistance and the types of assistance available
Resources for identifying state funding opportunities
What to expect when completing a funding application

Recommended audience: managers, board members and operators.
Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded

CFCC: FREE Fall 2022 Virtual Funding Fair on Zoom
2022-10-19 09:00 - 14:00 | Webinar Only
Seeking Funding for Your Infrastructure Project? Obtain information about currently available infrastructure grant, loan and bond financing programs, and options. Connect with federal, state, and local agencies to discuss the financial and technical resources available.
Presentations (9:00AM-12:30PM) followed by Virtual Booths (12:30PM-2:00PM)
The funding fair provides an opportunity for attendees to speak directly with program staff about specific projects and issues affecting their community.

RCAC: Emergency Response Planning & Hazard Mitigation
2022-10-18 14:00 - 16:00, 2022-10-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
Description: Natural disasters that can affect public water systems in California include fires, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and droughts. You name it, we have it. The fires in California have become increasingly vexing, and this workshop will focus primarily on fire prevention and recovery. It can happen to your water system! Water system emergencies are any situation that can cause water outages, unsafe drinking water or any harm to humans or animals. Have you prepared ahead of time? Do you have a written response plan? Do you have mutual aid agreements in place? Are you prepared to interact with state and federal agencies afterwards? This workshop will provide water system personnel with information and resources to respond preemptively and proactively to most emergency situations.
Participants will learn:

Ways to protect your water system before disaster strikes
Lessons from emergencies experienced by the trainers
How to establish effective mutual aid agreements
How to create an emergency and disaster response plan using the Water Board-approved template
Lessons learned regarding state and federal assistance immediately following emergencies

Recommended audience: managers, operators, administrative staff and board members.
Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded

RCAC: Achieve & Maintain Compliance with SDWA Series Part 2 of 3
2022-10-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
The Achieve & Maintain Compliance with SDWA 3-Part Series is being held in Pacific Time.
Description: PFAS have been all over the news recently with anxieties of high levels of drinking water contamination. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals which include Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS). Known as “forever chemicals” PFAS compounds have been found widely in the environment including thousands of groundwater sources throughout the US.
PFAS compounds currently the #1 emerging threat to water systems. Continuing studies are identifying potential health risks associated with these chemicals. This session examines the origin, the concerns, and provides information for small systems about protecting public health.
Participants will learn:

Why these “forever” chemicals are not going away
Where do PFAS come from
What are health effects of PFAS
PFAS regulations in drinking water
PFAS treatment technologies for drinking water systems

Recommended audience: board members, manager, and operators.
Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Continuing Education Units awarded per session.

RCAC: Developing Water System Policies
2022-10-13 08:30 - 15:30 | Hampton Inn and Suites Yuba City, 1375 Sunsweet Blvd, Yuba Sutter Room, Yuba City, CA, 95991, United States
Description: Public water system boards adopt policies to guide internal decision-making processes. These policies may be related to financial decisions, emergency response, personnel, and more. Some policies are required by the State of California, such as having a discontinuation of water service policy that complies with SB 998 – The Water Shutoff Protection Act. This workshop will provide attendees with a reconnaissance level look at governing documents and how to draft and adopt policies through examples and small group exercises.
Participants will learn :

The difference between governing documents
Typical policies a company and water system should consider implementing
Steps to draft and adopt policies

Recommended audience: managers and board members.
Accreditation: 6 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded

BAYWORK - Webinar 3, Digital Innovation: Which tools and strategies pay off for utilities?
2022-10-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
Part of BAYWORK’s 3-part webinar series where experts discuss digital tools and implications for utility workers.
Webinar 3 – Digital Innovation: Which tools and strategies pay off for utilities? Wednesday, October 12th | 10AM to 12PM PST
This session will introduce a range of tools now available for staff training (such as digital twins) and analysis (such as Artificial Intelligence and Collective Intelligence), as well as guidance on protecting water and wastewater systems from cyber-security risks.
Registration Information Coming Soon!
Download and share the flyer
Questions? Email Elizabeth Toups, BAYWORK Manager, at etoups@jvs.org
See other webinars offered in this 3-part series: Webinar 1 | Webinar 2
Who should attend?: For water and wastewater professionals, especially:

Managers and supervisors
Operations and Maintenance Staff
IT, Human Resources and others interested in implementing new technology

RCAC: Water Operator Certification Prep
2022-10-12 08:30 - 15:30 | Hampton Inn and Suites Yuba City, 1375 Sunsweet Blvd, Yuba Sutter Room, Yuba City, CA, 95991, United States
Description: The new California Operator Certification test program allows for operators to take their state exams within weeks of applying. This includes the distribution tests and the treatment tests. This workshop will teach operators the preparation needed for passing these state exams. This will include multiple resources, study materials and guidance needed to apply and take the test. This workshop will also cover the math basics needed to pass both exams while utilizing the state math conversion sheet.
Participants will learn :

Where to secure study materials
Studying basics
Water distribution and water treatment basics
Water math skills

Recommended audience: drinking water operators, laborers and management.
Accreditation: 6 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded

EFCN: Regionalization and the Power of Partnership
2022-10-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Webinar Only
Running a small system can be challenging. Along with meeting regulatory obligations and satisfying customer expectations, you may have issues with aging infrastructure, lack of personnel, and limited financial resources. Furthermore, small systems often cost more to operate per capita than large systems because of economy of scale.
Two strategies to address these challenges is to work with other utilities or consider regionalization options. In this workshop, we will discuss various regionalization models and approaches to collaboration including:
• Informal information sharing
• Sharing personnel
• Leveraging shared purchasing power
• How to prepare your utility for knowledge or technology transfer
• Regionalization options
Attendees will be invited to ask questions throughout the webinar.

RCAC: Regulation Essentials: The California Safe Drinking Water Act
2022-10-11 08:30 - 12:30 | Webinar Only
Description: The primary mission of every public water system is to provide water that is safe to drink. There are upwards of 100 chemicals and microbials regulated under the California and federal versions of the Safe Drinking Water Act. In addition, the regulations mandate operational activities and infrastructure standards that help ensure the delivery of safe drinking water. These regulations have changed and evolved over the last 45 years.
The California drinking water regulations define “safe drinking water” and mandate operations that maintain water quality. Every operator, manager and board member is required to have a reconnaissance-level knowledge of California’s drinking water regulations and an understanding of how these regulations apply to the day-to-day operation of a public water system.
This training will be presented in two 2-hour sessions. In general, these sessions are non-sequential, meaning that the second session is not predicated on material in the first session.
Participants will learn:

Overview/history/purpose/structure of the Safe Drinking Water Act
California Drinking Water Regulations: Need-to-know/Nice-to-know/Where-to-go modules

Recommended audience: All water system operators and managers.
Accreditation: 4 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded

Achieve & Maintain Compliance with SDWA Series Part 1 of 3
2022-10-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
The Achieve & Maintain Compliance with SDWA 3-Part Series is being held in Pacific Time.
Description: After 30 years, the EPA has officially passed new regulations for the Lead and Copper Rule. These revisions are a major step toward keeping communities safe from lead. The new Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) will require the water systems and water system operator to rethink how they address lead and copper in their systems. These new requirements will require a thorough understanding of the LCRR’s requirements so you can effectively engage in short-term and long-term actions that will ensure compliance and safe water for all your customers.
This webinar will explain requirements for site selection and sampling plans the LCRR and will guide drinking water operators through the new Lead and Copper site selection process and sampling plans so that supplies maintain compliance for lead and copper under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Participants will learn:

The requirements of the new lead service line inventory
Lead service line replacement requirements
Monitoring childcare and school facilities
New monitoring requirements
Expanded communications programs
More stringent response to elevated lead levels

Recommended audience: operators, managers, and board members.

RCAC: Budgeting for Small Water Systems
2022-10-05 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
Description: In order to remain viable, all public water systems need to acquire and manage sufficient financial resources to achieve and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. One primary tool to become and remain viable is developing and maintaining a comprehensive budget. This workshop will show board members, managers and operators how to develop a budget, identify revenues and expenses, methods to balance the budget and how to review a budget comparison report on a regular basis.
Participants will learn:

How to prepare a budget
How to identify revenue and expenses
How to identify fiscal policies to assist in balancing the budget
How to review the budget comparison report on a regular basis

Recommended audience: directors, board members and managers of mutual water companies.

CalWARN 101 Webinar: The Basics for CalMutual Members
2022-10-05 09:00 - 10:00 | Webinar Only
CalWARN 101 Webinar: The Basics for CalMutual Members
SB 552 (Hertzberg) requires small water suppliers with 15 to 2,999 connections to maintain membership with CalWARN or a similar mutual aid organization by January 1, 2023 as part of an overall initiative to strengthen drought resiliency.
Join us for an informational webinar to learn more about this requirement and what CalWARN offers.
Register today: https://caomwc.wildapricot.org/event-4960892

RCAC: Groundwater Well Operation & Maintenance
2022-10-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Webinar Only
Description: Well equipment must be maintained to ensure long life and quality water within the system. Wells need to be monitored regularly to compile vital information on the health of the source. How is your well performing? What goes into the process of choosing a well site? Have you been monitoring your water levels in the aquifer? This workshop will address these topics and more.
Participants will learn:

Well site selection process
Well inspection
Well maintenance
Groundwater qualities
Measuring drawdown
Well sounders: Which one is right for me?

Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded
Recommended audience: operators, management, water system personnel or anyone with an interest in better understanding the value of operating a safe drinking water system.

RCAC: Groundwater Well Operation & Maintenance
2022-10-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
Description: Well equipment must be maintained to ensure long life and quality water within the system. Wells need to be monitored regularly to compile vital information on the health of the source. How is your well performing? What goes into the process of choosing a well site? Have you been monitoring your water levels in the aquifer? This workshop will address these topics and more.
Participants will learn:

Well site selection process
Well inspection
Well maintenance
Groundwater qualities
Measuring drawdown
Well sounders: Which one is right for me?

Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded.
Recommended audience: operators, management, water system personnel or anyone with an interest in better understanding the value of operating a safe drinking water system.

EFCN: Developing and Using Effective Standard Operating Procedures
2022-09-29 10:00 - 14:00 | Webinar Only
Description: Effective Standard Operating Procedures help to ensure that critical procedures are done according to accepted standards. SOPs are also useful for operator training and quality control. This class will cover the steps to create and implement effective SOPs.
Learning Objectives:

Describe how SOPs can be used for tasks, training, and quality control
Identify tasks that require an SOP
Explain the benefits of using SOPs
List the elements of an SOP
Update and track SOPs
Analyze and test SOPs

Presenter: Gregory Pearson, Water & Wastewater Trainer, Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center at Michigan Technological University
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

BAYWORK - Webinar 2, Digital Competency: How to develop the candidates you will need in the future and train current staff
2022-09-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
The second part in BAYWORK’s 3-part webinar series where experts discuss digital tools and implications for utility workers.
Webinar 2 – Digital Competency: How to develop the candidates you will need in the future and train current staff – Thursday, September 29th | 10AM to 12PM PST
How can community colleges and unions help us prepare candidates with the digital skills our industry needs? How do we provide relevant training to our current staff that will improve their use of digital tools?
Registration Information Coming Soon!
Download and share the flyer
Questions? Email Elizabeth Toups, BAYWORK Manager, at etoups@jvs.org
See other webinars offered in this 3-part series: Webinar 1 | Webinar 3
Who should attend?: For water and wastewater professionals, especially:

Managers and supervisors
Operations and Maintenance Staff
IT, Human Resources and others interested in implementing new technology

RCAC: Nitrates
2022-09-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Webinar Only
Description: Worldwide, Nitrates are the most common chemical contaminant in groundwater aquifers. In 1980, nine drinking water wells in California had unsafe levels of Nitrates. By 2007, this acute contamination had spread to more than 648 wells. Nitrates continue to impact the health of California residents and the problem is only getting worse. This workshop will help you make informed decisions about mitigating this contaminant.
Participants will learn:

What Nitrates are
How Nitrates get into drinking water
The acute health effects of Nitrate exposure
How to achieve compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements for Nitrates
An overview of the most used Nitrate treatment technologies
Practical considerations when choosing an Nitrate treatment system

Who should attend: operators, managers and board members that have an interest in providing nitrate-safe water to their customers.
Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded. Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program.

RCAC: Arsenic
2022-09-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
Description: Since the arsenic maximum contaminant level was lowered from 50 ppb to 10 ppb in 2001, water systems have been scrambling to comply with this more stringent standard. For many small water systems, compliance with the Arsenic Rule has been a significant technological, financial and operational challenge.
This online learning event is intended to provide a small water system with a “road-map” to Arsenic Rule compliance. We will begin with review of the requirements of the Arsenic Rule. We will then explore non-treatment options for compliance, which are almost always less costly than treatment. We will then assess the pros and cons of several of the most common arsenic treatment technologies.
Participants will learn:

The health effects of arsenic in water
Non-treatment options for Arsenic Rule compliance
An overview of the most used arsenic treatment technologies
Practical considerations when choosing an arsenic treatment system

Who should attend: operators, managers and board members that have an interest in providing arsenic-safe water to their customers
Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded. Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program.

RCAC: Water Quality Sampling
2022-09-27 14:00 - 16:00, 2022-09-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
Description: Public health is the primary concern of water providers and the only way to ensure your water is safe is to test for possible contamination. Water system sampling can vary from monthly bacteriological to radionuclide testing every nine years. This workshop will focus on water sample collection while also reviewing monitoring schedules, site sample plans, and reporting and public notification requirements.
Participants will learn:

Monitoring and reporting regulations under the California Safe Drinking Water Act
General and specific sampling procedures
The benefits of a timely water quality monitoring program

Who should attend: operators, managers, and anyone responsible for ensuring compliance with sampling regulations.
Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded. Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program.

RCAC: Do the Math 4-Part Series: Operator Math 301: Advanced Math Problems
2022-09-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
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 (multi conversion problems)
Chemical dosage problems (HTH and hypochlorite)
Pumping problems (horsepower)
Odds and Ends (supply, solution, SCADA, specific gravity)

Accreditation: 2 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded. Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program

BAYWORK - Webinar 1, Digital Workforce Challenges and Lessons Learned: Leaders tell their own stories
2022-09-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Webinar Only
Part 1 of BAYWORK’s 3-part webinar series where experts discuss digital tools and implications for utility workers.
Webinar 1 – Digital Workforce Challenges and Lessons Learned: Leaders tell their own stories – Thursday, September 22nd | 10AM -12PM PST
We know we need to use digital tools, but how can we use them well? Utility managers will share what they’ve learned about selection of digital tools, organizational culture, human resource issues, IT support, and staff training.
Registration Information Coming Soon!
Download and share the flyer
Questions? Email Elizabeth Toups, BAYWORK Manager, at etoups@jvs.org
See other webinars offered in this 3-part series: Webinar 2 | Webinar 3
Who should attend?: For water and wastewater professionals, especially:

Managers and supervisors
Operations and Maintenance Staff
IT, Human Resources and others interested in implementing new technology

CalWARN 101 Webinar: The Basics for CalMutuals Members
2022-09-22 09:00 - 10:30 | Webinar Only
CalWARN 101 Webinar: The Basics for CalMutuals Members
Per SB 552 (Hertzberg), small water suppliers with 15 to 2,999 connections will be required by January 1, 2023 to maintain membership with CalWARN or a similar mutual aid organization in an overall initiative to increase drought resiliency for water systems.
CalMutuals and the California Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (CalWARN) are hosting an informational webinar to discuss the resources CalWARN members are offered and SB 552 expectations.
CalMutuals encourages its members to attend our webinar for further information regarding the SB 552 mutual aid membership requirement.
Visit https://caomwc.wildapricot.org/event-4960892 to register.
To facilitate 100% compliance with this requirement by our members, CalMutuals is launching a CalWARN Challenge. Register with CalWARN by October 1, 2022 and click HERE and complete the CalMutuals CalWARN Challenge entry form to let us know you did so. Membership dues for 2023 will be waived for the first 15 mutual water companies to register. All others will be entered into a drawing for $500 to support your company’s needs.

RCAC: CIP & Funding Options
2022-09-21 08:30 - 15:30 | Sacramento Doubletree, 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
This is an in-person training.
Description: Developing your capital improvement plan is the first step in a complete asset management plan. As funders look at long term planning, a system with a developed asset management plan rises to the top of many lists. An important step in developing your asset management plan is to identify funding opportunities. This workshop will help you to know where to look for funding opportunities, tools to help determine eligibility and resources available to help your system prepare for submitting a funding application.
Participants will learn how to :

Identify system assets
Develop a sample CIP
Prioritize capital improvement
Develop an asset management plan
Look for funding opportunities
Use MHI as tool to determine eligibility

Who should attend: operators and managers.
Accreditation: 6 California Drinking Water Contact Hours awarded. Contact hours have been approved for the Registered Environmental Health Specialist Program.

EFCN: Asset Management and Financial Forecasting: Optimizing Asset Life for Sustained Operations
2022-09-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Webinar Only
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: CEU credits may be available to California drinking water Operators.
Who Should Attend:

Managers, owners, and operators of water systems serving less than 10,000 people
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
