What is the extent of this threat currently, and how will risks to septic systems shift in the future? What options exist for rural communities that face increasing septic failures? What are the costs and benefits of different solutions, and how can future conditions be factored into these decisions? Join us for this 1-hour webinar as we delve into challenges and solutions surrounding decentralized wastewater systems in a changing climate.

Presenter: Margaret Walls, Senior Fellow; Director, Climate Risks and Resilience Program; Director, Environmental Justice Initiative, Resources for the Future

Certificate: This webinar has NOT been submitted for approval of continuing education credit. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees, but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements.

Who Should Attend:

• Local government officials, staff, planners, state agencies, community-based organizations
• Small wastewater system operators, public health and water quality-focused entities

Partners:

The post MD Training | Septic Systems and Sea Level Rise in Maryland: Assessing the Situation and Potential Paths Forward first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post MD Training | Septic Systems and Sea Level Rise in Maryland: Assessing the Situation and Potential Paths Forward appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Trainer: Stephanie Dalke, Program Manager for Water Resources and Climate Adaptation, University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

CECs: This training is approved for 0.1 CEC (hour) of wastewater continuing education credit by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, owners, and operators of wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
• Decision-makers for 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 wastewater systems

Partners:

The post Online Training | Building Climate Resilience for Small Wastewater Systems first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Online Training | Building Climate Resilience for Small Wastewater Systems appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Description: In light of increasing development and ever-changing future conditions, increasingly stressed infrastructure, and growing financial pressures, integrating hazard mitigation and water quality-focused resource management is becoming more and more important to the success of water systems and other public-serving entities. While finance and budgeting are often considered a last step in developing a project or program, incorporating a financing strategy early on in any planning process can help ensure long-term project success. In this webinar, we will provide strategies for incorporating funding and financial strategies into integrated plans and explore various solutions for how local communities can pay for water resource projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Understanding current and future issues related to decentralized wastewater treatment systems
• Increasing knowledge of funding and financing strategies that are likely to apply to most jurisdictions, big or small, and move communities from planning to implementation.
• Understand how to develop a balanced funding and financing strategy that incorporates cost reducers and varied revenue streams.
• Learn from case stories of other communities that have adopted these strategies to protect source water, mitigate flooding, and tackle a number of other local issues. 

Presenter: Natalia Sanchez, Program Manager, University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Certificate: This webinar has NOT been submitted for continuing education credit approval. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements.

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

Partners: 

The post Webinar | Funding and Financing Strategies for Integrated Hazard Mitigation and Water Resource Plans first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Webinar | Funding and Financing Strategies for Integrated Hazard Mitigation and Water Resource Plans appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Description: This is an opportunity for you to speak with and hear from your peers. Has your water utility experienced emergency disruptions to service continuity? Are you facing long-term shocks to service from changing environmental conditions (drought, rainfall patterns, flooding), human-based threats (cyber attacks), or vulnerabilities (a shrinking workforce)? Do you plan for both emergency preparedness and longer-term resiliency?

We are inviting utility managers, operators, and decision makers to an online, interactive discussion of lessons and questions about resilience broadly defined.

USEPA has developed a substantial toolbox of free aids for risk and resilience planning. We have created a short document that provides a guide to all the tools from EPA and others and which briefly explains the broad resilience management approach we cover in our trainings. We’ll send you the current beta copy of the document and encourage you to review it before this session.

Our virtual 1.5 hour interactive discussion will aim to dive into these initial questions and beyond:

1. What tools and practices have helped you define risks to service continuity (beyond routine asset management and maintenance)? What lessons can other systems benefit from?
2. What are the chief obstacles to using risk-based resilience management tools? What supports can help (besides money)?
3. Where are the opportunities to strengthen resilience and service continuity through your day-to-day “normal” business functions as well as new practices?

Moderator:

• Dr. Jack Kartez, Emeritus Director, New England Environmental Finance Center

Cost: Free

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

Please Note: This Peer2Peer session has NOT been submitted for approval of continuing education credit. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees, but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements.

Partners:

The post Peer Exchange | Interactive Resiliency Discussion for Small Water Systems first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Peer Exchange | Interactive Resiliency Discussion for Small Water Systems appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Description: Wastewater systems across the country are increasingly at risk from the impacts of extreme weather events, aging infrastructure, lack of funding, and an unstable regulatory environment. The growing risk of failure in wastewater systems presents a critical threat to public health. Small wastewater systems are more likely to lack the funding, staff, and resources to adapt to these changes creating an added challenge to providing effective wastewater management. This presentation takes a look at how small wastewater systems can prepare for the effects of climate change such as higher intensity storms, sea level rise, more extreme temperatures, and reduced flows from water conservation efforts. First, the presentation discusses the key ways climate change affects the operation of wastewater systems, from collections systems to treatment plants. Additionally, an overview of available EPA resources is provided, from understanding the specific climate impacts a system can expect to developing a detailed plan to combat these challenges moving forward.

Presenter: Caitlyn Leo, Research Engineer, Environmental Finance Center at Sacramento State

Cost: Free

Please Note: This webinar has NOT been submitted for approval of continuing education credit. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees, but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements. 

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, owners, and operators of wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
• Decision-makers for 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 wastewater systems

Partners: 

The post Webinar | Building Resilience in an Uncertain Future for Small Wastewater Systems first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Webinar | Building Resilience in an Uncertain Future for Small Wastewater Systems appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Description: We hear about “resilience” a lot these days — given the many pressures and uncertainties felt by businesses, organizations and even individuals. For lifeline drinking water utilities, business continuity and performance is a matter of health and life safety. Resilience is often first thought of in terms of emergency response and hazard recovery preparations. It extends beyond that to how business is supported in all ongoing aspects. This one-day training for water utilities in South Carolina’s Pee Dee region is an introduction to this broad approach, and a gateway to free tools and assistance available from U.S. EPA and the Environmental Finance Center Network. Also included are updates on South Carolina’s resilience efforts and financial resources

Leaning Objectives:

• Understand resilience as an ongoing function at your utility
• Access risk and resilience assessment tools to identify vulnerabilities
• Prioritize risks and deal with uncertainty
• Learn about climate resilience, cybersecurity and other emerging needs
• Learn about South Carolina programs & funding opportunities supporting resilience.
• Engage in a tabletop exercise and set goals for further action

Trainer: Jack Kartez, Senior Advisor/Emeritus Director, New England Environmental Finance Center

Cost: Complimentary.

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

Continuing Education Units: Eligible attendees will receive a certificate of attendance that they may self-submit for Continuing Education Credit.

Partners:

The post SC Training | Resiliency Means Business: Preparing for Risks to Drinking Water Service in the Pee Dee Region first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post SC Training | Resiliency Means Business: Preparing for Risks to Drinking Water Service in the Pee Dee Region appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

View/Download | Resiliency Resource Handout

Description: We hear about “resilience” a lot these days — given the many pressures and uncertainties felt by businesses, organizations and even individuals. For lifeline drinking water utilities, business continuity and performance is a matter of health and life safety. Resilience is often first thought of in terms of emergency and hazard recovery preparations. It extends beyond that to how business is supported in all ongoing aspects. This webinar serves as an introduction to this broad approach, and a gateway to free tools and assistance available from U.S. EPA and the Environmental Finance Center Network. Topics include: How to scan risk broadly, including the uncertainty of a changing environment; Access to tools through a downloaded guided inventory document and discussion of examples during the webinar, and; Opportunities for further one-on-one technical and training assistance from the Network.

Presenter: Dr. Jack Kartez, Senior Advisor and Emeritus Director, New England Environmental Finance Center at the University of Southern Maine

Cost: Complimentary.

Please Note: This webinar has NOT been submitted for approval of continuing education credit. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees, but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements. 

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

Partners: 

The post Webinar | Resiliency Means Business! Preparing for Risks to Safe & Reliable Service first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post Webinar | Resiliency Means Business! Preparing for Risks to Safe & Reliable Service appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.

Description: With limited financial and technical resources, small water systems are particularly vulnerable to drought conditions. As longer and more frequent droughts become the norm, your system needs to be prepared. Senate Bill 552 introduces new requirements to help small suppliers be better prepared for future water use. This workshop will discuss key points of interest for small water operators who want to be proactive about drought planning.

Trainers: Erik Porse, Research Engineer; and Ella Ban, Environmental Specialist, Environmental Finance Center at Sacramento State

Cost: Complimentary.

Continuing Education Units: CEU credits are available for California Water Operators who attend this training. 

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

Partners:

The post CA Online Training | Drought Planning: Understanding the Impact of SB 552 on Small Water Supplies first appeared on Environmental Finance Center Network.

The post CA Online Training | Drought Planning: Understanding the Impact of SB 552 on Small Water Supplies appeared first on Environmental Finance Center Network.