The post What We Don’t Know We Don’t Know About Septic first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post What We Don’t Know We Don’t Know About Septic appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Interested in water reuse and reclamation? Learn from the ones who pioneered the process! Tucson Arizona’s Reclaimed Water System, which uses recycled wastewater for landscape irrigation, is celebrating their 40th anniversary this month.

Join Southwest EFC Project Director, Dr. joni m palmer, as she interviews City of Tuscon staff John Kmiec, Tucson Water Director; James MacAdam, Administrator; and Andrea Achilli, Associate Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Arizona (UA).

The interview discusses key components of the reuse program, including: what municipal wastewater is, public perception, safety, legal and policy challenges, what program staff are most proud of accomplishing, and the future of the program.

The post Using Recycled Wastewater for Landscape Irrigation. Celebrating 40 years: The City of Tucson’s Reclaimed Water System first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Using Recycled Wastewater for Landscape Irrigation. Celebrating 40 years: The City of Tucson’s Reclaimed Water System appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Where Does the Water Go When You Flush the Toilet? first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Where Does the Water Go When You Flush the Toilet? appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Public outreach always seems so simple: if we just tell people what they need to do, they’ll do it. If we just give them more information, they will change their behavior. But in reality, how’s that working out for us? Motivating people to change their behavior is an age-old conundrum, especially for wastewater experts who struggle to understand why their customers can’t just do the right thing. Whether it’s keeping the wrong things out of the drains and toilets, reducing water use, or repairing and replacing old septic systems, we often need to start at the beginning: building awareness.

Providing multi-page maintenance pamphlets to renters and homeowners does little good if there is no understanding of why these investments need to be made in the first place. For example, we have found elders who have been living with sewer and septic backups for so long that they have accepted this reality as part of their lives. We have learned from health departments that owners of cesspools and bad septic systems have not made the connection between their leaking waste and their children’s health problems. We have seen and smelled closed beaches in communities that are unaware that their own septic systems are the cause.  

So while the quickest answer may be a septic maintenance pamphlet, the long-term solution requires a step further, starting at the root of the problem.

In an example communications campaign in Hawaii regarding faulty cesspool impacts on water quality, homeowners and renters needed to understand:

1. The problem: leaking cesspool impacts the health of their ocean and streams,
2. How the problem impacts them (hint: you’re swimming in it, as shown in the t-shirt above) and finally,
3. What homeowners can do to solve this problem

People must feel personally impacted by water and wastewater health issues if we want them to care, especially if they need to open their pocketbooks to fund a solution. And once you start a communications campaign, wastewater managers should understand that effective campaigns are lengthy and must evolve over time. This effort is an ongoing process. Otherwise, true change is never realized and lessons learned are forgotten and the status quo quickly returns.

The post “What’s the Problem?” Building Awareness to Change Behavior first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post “What’s the Problem?” Building Awareness to Change Behavior appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Funding for water and wastewater projects can be confusing to navigate and it is generally provided by a variety of agencies in a state. Some states have made an effort to consolidate funding entities and partner agencies to provide a singular point of contact for assistance to communities in their region. In this blog series, you will learn about some of the existing Water Advisory Committees in the country, what they are, who they bring together, how they operate, and what assistance they provide to their state. In this blog, we will give an overview of the Texas Water Infrastructure Coordination Committee.

What is it?

The Texas Water Infrastructure Coordination Committee (TWICC) informs water systems facing infrastructure or compliance issues about funding eligibility and technical assistance.

The TWICC is a collaborative partnership between State and Federal government agencies and technical assistance providers. The committee’s goal is to promote an efficient process for affordable, sustainable, and innovative funding opportunities for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Committee Members

In the state of Texas, the TWICC members are:

• US Environmental Protection Agency
• Texas Department of Agriculture
• Texas Commission of Environmental Quality
• Texas Water Development Board
• Public Utility Commission of Texas
• Bureau of Reclamation
• US Department of Agriculture
• Texas Rural Water Association
• Texas American Water Works Association
• Communities Unlimited
• Water Finance Exchange
• North American Development Bank
• Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC)

Meetings

The TWICC offers 3 options for water system representatives to meet with the TWICC:

1) Attending a meeting: TWICC meets regularly to update members on projects, funding sources, and training opportunities, and to meet with water systems seeking assistance.

2) Scheduling a Conference Call: Water systems can schedule conference calls with TWICC members to discuss specific project needs and eligibility for many types of assistance.

3) Requesting a Regional Workshop: Upon request, TWICC members conduct and present regional workshops to address the area’s specific needs.

How To Receive Assistance

To receive technical assistance (TA) or eligibility information about financial and TA programs provided by TWICC members, complete the Funding Inquiry Form found here, and submit it to : TWICC@twdb.texas.gov.

When completing the Funding Inquiry Form, the system can request time on an upcoming TWICC meeting agenda, schedule a conference call, or request a regional workshop.

After submitting the form, the TWICC will provide feedback through letters and meetings to communicate funding sources and technical assistance available and recommend agency programs that can assist the system with financial, managerial, and technical capabilities, as well as regionalization or funding. In addition, TWICC has resources available on their webpage about funding programs, disaster response, water conservation and more. You can find those resources here.

Point of Contact

For more information go to:https://twicc.org/index.html

or contact:

Patrick Kading, Program Administration Manager, Texas Water Development Board

Phone: (512) 936-8149

Email: patrick.kading@twdb.texas.gov

In Summary:

The TWICC provides services to water and wastewater systems in Texas looking for assistance with funding eligibility or technical assistance regarding infrastructure or compliance issues. This Committee allows communities in Texas to have a singular point of contact for getting advice and aid from multiple state and federal agencies to solve their system’s problems. Through the submission of a Funding Inquiry Form, the TWICC offers systems the option to attend their meetings, schedule a conference call, or request a workshop to address their challenges. Texas is one of the few states that has a committee that integrates different state and federal agencies for the benefit of their water and wastewater infrastructure. If your system is in Texas, make sure to reach out to TWICC for assistance and advice.

The post Water Advisory Committees: One Group, Multiple Funding Agencies – Texas first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Water Advisory Committees: One Group, Multiple Funding Agencies – Texas appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Funding for water and wastewater projects can be confusing to navigate and it is generally provided by a variety of agencies in a state. Some states have made an effort to consolidate funding entities and partner agencies to provide a single point of contact for assistance to communities in their region. In this blog series, you will learn about some of the existing Water Advisory Committees in the country: what they are, who they bring together, how they operate, and what assistance they provide to their state. In this blog, we give an overview of The Water/Wastewater Advisory Committee for the state of Arkansas.

What is it?

The Water/Wastewater Advisory Committee (WWAC) was created in 1992 and is a partnership of four state agencies in support of water and wastewater projects. The WWAC aids with project development and recommends project financing to communities through its application process.   

Committee Members             

In the state of Arkansas, the WWAC partners are the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development, and Communities Unlimited.

Regular Meetings

Representatives from each agency meet the first Wednesday of every month to discuss and review pre-applications for water and wastewater projects. Projects funded by the WWAC include treatment plants, distribution lines, water and/or wastewater service extensions, elevated or ground storage tanks, and new water sources such as wells. These meetings are open to the public and applicants may attend them.

How to Receive Funding Assistance

Funding pre-application forms must be submitted to the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission at ANRC.WWAC@agriculture.arkansas.gov by the 15th of each month to make the agenda for the next meeting. Pre-application forms can be found here. The committee may request a preliminary engineering report, although it is not mandatory for the pre-application submission.

Once submitted, the review process typically takes a month. When information is missing or the committee has questions while reviewing the application, the Committee sends out a letter requesting additional information to continue with the process. Once reviewed, the WWAC provides a letter with comments, recommendations, and a list of the most appropriate funding sources for the project. The system or community ultimately decides which funding source to use.

Point of Contact

For more information visit: https://www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/natural-resources/divisions/water-development/the-water-wastewater-advisory-committee/

or contact:

Amy Theriac, Program Outreach Coordinator for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Division.

Phone: 501 682-0547

Address: 10421 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205

Email: ANRC.WWAC@agriculture.arkansas.gov

In Summary:

Arkansas provides systems with the opportunity to receive assistance regarding project development and funding from the Water/Wastewater Advisory Committee (WWAC). The committee meets every month to review applications and give suggestions for the projects in an efficient and coordinated manner. This entity allows communities in the state to go to one place and get advice on how to make their project succeed with the appropriate funding sources. Arkansas is one of the few states that has a committee that integrates different state agencies for the benefit of their water and wastewater infrastructure. If your system is in Arkansas, make sure to reach out to the WWAC for your next project.

The post Water Advisory Committees: One Group, Multiple Funding Agencies – Arkansas first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Water Advisory Committees: One Group, Multiple Funding Agencies – Arkansas appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Many of the rivers and streams our communities rely on for drinking water and recreation may appear to be clean. However, in some locations they have become dumping grounds for pollutants that pose a risk to public health and biodiversity of important ecosystems.

The Coosa River, stretching from it’s origins in NW Georgia through six lakes before convergence with the Tallapoosa River in Central Alabama, is a biologically diverse though increasingly threatened watershed. Early in the 20th Century, several hydroelectric dams were constructed on the Coosa to provide electricity to rapidly developing industrial centers in areas such as Birmingham, causing one of the largest mass extinction events (at least 30 species) in North American History.

Still home to amazing biodiversity, the Coosa’s lakes and tributary “skinny water” are popular destinations for outdoor recreation. Despite being listed in 2022 as 5th Most Endangered River in the United States, the watershed continues to receive pollutants from energy generation (dams and power plants), industrial development, and excessive nutrient loads from big agricultural operations. Siltation from road and building construction is one of the most visible pollutants, diminishing habitat and water quality for many uses.

The Coosa Watershed is a complex system. It can be easier to focus on the large, high-profile watershed impacts such as energy generation, industrial sources, and municipal wastewater treatment plants. However, there are many smaller dispersed pollution sources such as failing septic systems and overflows from overburdened municipal wastewater infrastructure. These point- and non-point sources can have big cumulative impacts — especially since they tend to go unnoticed before they become a problem. Communities along the lakes and river are now being rapidly developed as year-round residential communities where there used to be only a few seasonally-occupied vacation spots. Development in response to the attractive quality of life adjacent to these waterways must be planned carefully and adjustments to local policies for sewage management may be necessary to accommodate increasing pollutant loads — especially with the rapid onset of heavy storms driven by climate change. 

The Capacity Collaborative (formally EFCWest) is working with several small communities in the Coosa Watershed alongside Coosa Riverkeeper to educate local leaders about these issues and prepare them for what may be difficult discussions with their customers. We are helping these communities build capacity to protect their environment by providing workshops and mentorship, catalyzing community knowledge and engagement, and educating local leaders about wastewater management, as well as finding the resources and funding they need for a sustainable future.

Kathleen Kirkpatrick

Senior Associate, The Capacity Collaborative

kathleenk@thecapacitycollaborative.net

The post Catalyzing Community Wastewater Solutions in the Coosa River Watershed for a Sustainable Future first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Catalyzing Community Wastewater Solutions in the Coosa River Watershed for a Sustainable Future appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Getting Stakeholder Engagement Right: Conversation Mapping in Action first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Getting Stakeholder Engagement Right: Conversation Mapping in Action appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Stakeholder Engagement Matters: Conversation Mapping in Action first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Stakeholder Engagement Matters: Conversation Mapping in Action appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Moonshot Missions is a partner of the Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN), offering no-cost solutions to small communities that need technical assistance. Through boots-on-the-ground initiatives, we provide technical, managerial, and financial support to water and wastewater utilities in need.

Spins Process Control Method

In wastewater treatment, effectively managing the activated sludge biological process is critical to maintaining compliance with water quality regulations. The Spins Process Control Method stands out as an important and efficient tool for wastewater operators to employ as part of their daily rounds to effectively manage this process. Developed in the 1980s by Lynn Marshal, this method offers a rapid and reliable way to assess solids mass and their distribution throughout the wastewater treatment process. It’s a technique that offers tremendous operational efficiency and is easy to use and implement for all wastewater treatment plant operators.

Rapid Analysis for Real-Time Decision Making

At the heart of the Spins method is its ability to deliver actionable data within 15 minutes. Utilizing centrifuges, operators can quickly gauge the solids concentrations in sludge samples. This quick analysis, processing six or more samples at a time, turns process control from a guessing game into a precise science.

Implementing the Spins method doesn’t require complicated tools or instruments. With an initial investment of approximately $1,700, a treatment facility can be equipped with all the necessary tools: a centrifuge, six test vials, Settleometer and a sludge core sampler.

The Method in Motion

The spins method is focused on tracking the quantity, quality, and location of the solids in the process. It is a tool operators use to monitor the level of solids added and removed in the system to maintain the biological process. This balance is critical for both the separation and nutrient conversion phases of wastewater treatment, which are interdependent and important for achieving compliance.

The Spins method empowers facilities to adapt to the ever-changing environment of the biological process, offering strategies to monitor and adjust the treatment process effectively. Among these strategies is incorporating process control testing for ammonia-N along with the solids testing. The use of simple, non-reportable ammonia test kits can provide a cost-effective tool to test for the presence of ammonia-N in the process.

Empowering Operators

The ultimate goal of the Spins Process Control Method is to enhance facility performance, ensuring operators are in control of the plant and not the other way around. This method equips operators with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of wastewater treatment, encouraging a proactive rather than reactive approach.

Summary and Takeaways

The Spins method has been field tested and found to be an effective tool that produces rapid results (see Activated Sludge Manual of Practice, first edition). It is a tool that provides defensible data to help keep any plant in compliance. Consistent data relies on consistent operational methods. If you need help, give us a shout. We are here to help and if you feel like you have hit a wall and are unsure what to do next, don’t hesitate to contact me at any time.

Moonshot Missions is here to help and if you feel like you have hit a wall and are unsure what to do next, don’t hesitate to contact me at any time: 

Nathan W. Coey

Senior Utility Advisor

Moonshot Missions

nathan@moonshotmissions.org

740-817-2121

The post The Spins Process Control Method: An Introduction for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post The Spins Process Control Method: An Introduction for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.