News Leaks Fall 2023

www.inawwa.org

P.O. Box 127 Brownsburg, IN 46112 Office: 866-213-2796 Fax: 866-215-5966

2023-2024 Board of Trustees

CHAIR Jaimie Foreman 317-571-4144 jforeman@carmel.in.gov

CHAIR ELECT Cathy Lance 574-850-4561 cathy.lance@peerlessmidwest.com

VICE CHAIR Neal McKee 765-648-6420 ext. 4402 nmckee@cityofanderson.com

PAST CHAIR John Crider 260-589-2811 water@cityofberne.com

DIRECTOR Chris Harrison 574-377-4563 charrison@contactcei.com

SECRETARY-TREASURER

Larry McIntosh 812-358-3654 manager@jacksoncountywater.com

ASSISTANT SECRETARY-TREASURER

Josh Castor 765-602-6721 jcastor@cityofanderson.com

TRUSTEE – SMALL SYSTEM NORTH Justin Shaffer 260-692-6909 jshaffer@townofmonroe.com

TRUSTEE – NORTHWEST DISTRICT Chris Johnsen 219-221-3916 cjohnsen@mcwaterdept.com

TRUSTEE – NORTHEAST DISTRICT

Chad Plummer 574-274-1736 chad.plummer@peerlessmidwest.com

TRUSTEE – CENTRAL DISTRICT

Paul Dicken 317-710-0097 pdicken@citizensenergygroup.com

TRUSTEE – SMALL SYSTEM SOUTH Open

TRUSTEE – SOUTHWEST DISTRICT

Jon Craig 812-296-0103 jcraig@midwesterneng.com

TRUSTEE – SOUTHEAST DISTRICT Linda Sanders 317-753-4319

lindas@wesslerengineering.com

ElectroScan(FELL) LeakDetectionforSewers

Jaimie Foreman, Chair, Indiana Section Board of Trustees

We Appreciate You

So much of what utilities do daily may go unnoticed or unrecognized unless there is an issue that draws attention. I want to thank all our utilities and those that serve them for their continuous dedication to serving the communities of Indiana. YOU ARE APPRECIATED.

Many may not be aware of all the individuals that it takes to keep our organization moving forward. I have had the ability to learn more about our Indiana Section’s committees and the volunteers that are driving them. I am beyond appreciative to all that give something additional so that our organization can continue to grow and serve our membership.

These committees are working on ways to assist in mitigating and/or educating on topics such as workforce development, operator certification, emerging contaminants, and cyber threats, just to name a few. I encourage all our members to stay engaged through emails, newsletters, and the website for all upcoming events and opportunities.

Our District Officers have worked diligently to put together educational meetings across the State for this season and offer the opportunity for utility members to compete in the Meter Challenge Competition. If you have never competed, what are you waiting for? I competed for several years and had a blast.

I attended my first district meeting over a decade ago and it was a discussion with Jeff Morris and Tim Hill that started my engagement within our sector. If you are considering learning more about our organization and the available volunteer

opportunities, I strongly encourage you to register for your local district meeting and have a discussion with one of the officers.

Our ability to serve our members is because of all the “unknown” good people who are giving a little extra, secretly making us stronger.

Have a wonderful fall and I look forward to seeing you all at our December Water Institute & Equipment Expo in French Lick from December 5-7.

Water Source to

Tap Solutions

• Improving Chlorine Residuals

• Lowering high Lead and Copper #’s

• Sequestering Iron & Manganese

• Driving down TTHMs & HAAs

• Dealing with High Natural Ammonia

• Solving Waste Water issues

Now working in Waste Water and handling Gas Chlorine, Fluoride, Bleach and other chemicals.

Our ability to serve our members is because of all the “unknown” good people who are giving a little extra, secretly making us stronger.

“The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.” – Thomas Carlyle

Chris Harrison, INAWWA Director

Have You Started Your System Inventory?

My last article highlighted the requirement to complete a Lead Service line (LSL) inventory for your community. Many of you are engaged to meet the October 2024 deadline and I hope the few reluctant communities are contemplating starting the process shortly.

The LSL inventory is the cornerstone for communities to safeguard the health and safety of their water supply by providing a solid foundation and clear direction to make operational and financial decisions concerning the replacement of lead services. This basic information, although tedious to obtain, allows the water utility the ability to plan and strategize on the best financial and operational method to benefit the health and safety of their community.

Many of the water systems that I work with have developed an innovative approach to communicating with their customer base. Which educates them on the potential health risks of lead and identifying what a lead service line looks like. This would include the use of modern technology such as social media, billing insert links, and websites to educate the public. Several utilities are innovative in the use of GPS and GIS systems. As well as the use of cloud servers to store data which can easily be used by others.

At the heart of each community are utility staff who understand the necessity to assist individuals who do not understand what a service line is. Some homeowners could not tell you the difference between plastic and metal plumbing within their homes. These community leaders have developed a hands-on

approach to assisting the needs of these individuals in identifying the type of service material entering the building. This would include direct contact and investigation of the house service line. All of these approaches are successful. Each community has

unique requirements and blends the available communication tools to meet the needs of its customers. This innovative approach ensures that information is complete. Leading to a more accurate and thorough LSL inventory list.

The LSL inventory is the cornerstone for communities to safeguard the health and safety of their water supply by providing a solid foundation and clear direction to make operational and financial decisions concerning the replacement of lead services.

From Your Small Systems Trustee

Small Systems North

Justin Shaffer, Small Systems North Trustee

Where has the summer gone? Operator Boot Camp was again a great success. We have also been planning a couple of workshops for small systems as well as all systems who wish to attend. We had a successful training class in Edinburgh, IN this past August with another one scheduled to take place at the Utility Supply Company facility in Peru, this coming October. There was a big push on these workshops to get wastewater technical hours and IDEM has approved just that. If you are needing technical hours for water or wastewater, this is a great class for you to attend. If there are any other topics you would like to see us discuss, whether it is at a district meeting, workshop, or conference session, please let us know. We are eager to help or direct you in the right direction, so that

you may find the answers you seek. We are always here, ready to assist you however we can.

Please keep in mind that the Small Systems Committee is still looking for additional committee members. If you are interested in being involved and becoming a member of this committee, please reach out. We are also still in need of a Small Systems South Trustee. These opportunities require just a little bit of your time and your involvement can make a difference. If you are interested and would like more information, please reach out to either myself, Jeremy Hardy, Chris Johnsen, or your local district officers, and we would be glad to get you more information. Thank you all for all you do for the water and wastewater industry and we will see you at the Water Institute in French Lick, Indiana this coming December.

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District Reports

Upcoming District Events

Erich Nugent, Districts Committee Chair

Northwest District

September 29 Northwest District Fall Meeting, Location and time to be announced

October 3

Cyber Security Webinar Grand Funded by IFA, No fee to attend

October 24 Small Systems North Workshop, 11 Sherwood Square, Peru, Indiana

November 9 Cyber Security Grant Funded by IFA, No fee to attend

December 5-12 Water Institute Conference in French Lick, Get registered

Northeast District

October 3

October 11

Cyber Security Webinar Grand Funded by IFA, No fee to attend

Northeast District Fall Meeting, Auburn, Indiana

October 24 Small Systems North Workshop, 11 Sherwood Square, Peru, Indiana

November 9 Cyber Security Webinar Grant Funded by IFA, No fee to attend

December 5-12 Water Institute Conference in French Lick, Get registered

Central District

September 12 IWEA/INAWWA Utility Management Seminar, Bowen Engineering, Indianapolis

October 3

October 6

Cyber Security Webinar Grant Funded by IFA, No fee to attend

Central District Fall Meeting, Location and time to be announced

November 7 Central District Workshop, Location and time to be announced

November 9 Cyber Security Webinar Grant Funded by IFA, No fee to attend

December 5-12 Water Institute Conference in French Lick, Get registered

Northwest District

Northeast District

Central District

Southwest District

Southeast District

Southwest District

October 3 Cyber Security Webinar Grant Funded by IFA, No fee to attend

October 17 Southwest Fall District Meeting, Washington, Indiana

November 9 Cyber Security Webinar Grant Funded by IFA, No fee to attend

December 5-12 Water Institute Conference in French Lick, Get registered

Southeast District

September 21 Southeast Fall District Meeting, Greensburg Town Hall, Indiana

October 3 Cyber Security Webinar Grant Funded by IFA, No fee to attend

November 9 Cyber Security Webinar Grant Funded by IFA, No fee to attend

December 5-12 Water Institute Conference in French Lick, Get registered

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THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IT CARRIES? PEACE OF MIND.

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Committee Reports

Young Professionals Committee

Briyana Stewart, Chair

The YP Committee has been able to increase our involvement over the past few months by way of other professionals sharing our information or other committee members sharing committee updates with their colleagues. The Committee joined the IWEA Collection Systems Committee on July 14 at the Greenfield WWTP in Greenfield, IN to tour the plant and talk through all of their current and proposed system upgrades. We were able to connect with professionals from the Collection Systems Committee, as well as engage a couple of students who want to help us re-engage our Student Chapter involvement.

The Committee has been able to share ideas on Student Chapter engagement, talk through IWEA and INAWWA committee involvement, and gauge interest in additional volunteer opportunities within the Committee. There will be a YP Track and Social event at the IWEA Annual Conference in Ft. Wayne, IN in late August where we hope to continue to pique the interest of any young professionals who may be attending the conference but may not yet be involved. We are also coordinating a Peerless Pump facility tour.

The YP Committee is continuously working to get college and university Student Chapters re-engaged. We've had several ideas be shared amongst

the committee that would appeal to college students, as well as motivate them to remain connected with the YP Committee as they transition from school into the workforce. If you know any students, or professors, or have any college/university connections who would like to be involved with the YP Student Chapters, please have

them reach out at the email address listed below.

Lastly, if you are interested in joining or learning more about the Young Professionals Committee and are under 35 years old or have been in the industry for 10 years or less, please reach out to indianaawwaiweayp@gmail.com for more information.

The YP Committee is continuously working to get college and university Student Chapters re-engaged. We've had several ideas be shared amongst the committee that would appeal to college students, as well as motivate them to remain connected with the YP Committee as they transition from school into the workforce.

Committee Reports

Golf Committee

John Crist, MAC Golf Chair

Annual Golf Outing

A big THANK YOU to our volunteers and partners below for sponsoring 61 teams this year!

• EJ Prescott for sponsoring dinner this year.

• JCM Industries for sponsoring lunch and the Ugly Golf Shirt contest.

• Jack Doheny Companies for sponsoring our putting contest and Peerless Midwest for sponsoring the Water Ball contest this year.

• GRW Engineers and Utility Supply Company for sponsoring the par 3 contests.

Mickelson Sponsor

Citizens Energy Group

E.J. Prescott

M.E. Simpson Co

Peerless Midwest

Utility Supply Company

Nicklaus Sponsor

Beam, Longest & Neff

Ferguson Waterworks

GRW Engineers

National Water Services

Neptune Technology Group

Ortman Drilling & Water Services

Water Solutions Unlimited

Wessler Engineering

Palmer Sponsor

A.Y. McDonald

Advanced Rehabilitation Technology

American Flow Control

Bastin Logan Water Services

Commonwealth Engineers

Core & Main

EJ

FER-PAL Construction

Ford Meter Box

GPK Products

Jack Doheny Company

JCM Industries

Jones & Henry Engineering

Ladd Engineering

Layne Christensen

Lewis Municipal Sales

Lochmueller Group

M-Cor Marketing

McWane Ductile

Midwest Municipal Instrumentation

Midwest Utility Sales

Midwestern Engineers

Mueller Company

Preferred Pump

RJM Sales

SAMCO Underground Line Locating

Smith-Blair

Triad Associates

Tyler/Union Fittings

Westlake Pipe & Fittings

Winners!

Sycamore

First place – Utility Supply Co

Second place – Peerless Midwest

Last but not least – M.E. Simpson

Longest Drive – Kyle Riddle

Closest To Pin – Jamie Dillard

Longest Putt – Paul Wanner

Pines

First place – Lewis Municipal Sales

Second place –

Midwest Municipal Instrumentation

Last but not least – Layne Christensen

Longest Drive – Brady Phillippe

Closest To Pin – Jim Cook

• Ed Nugent won first place in the JCM Industries Ugliest Golf Shirt contest

• Citizens Energy Group won the Peerless Midwest Water Ball contest

• Mike Ricks and Aaron Flowers won the Utility Supply Co and GRW Engineers par 3 contests

• Mike Smith won the Jack Doheny putting contest

We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

Water For People Committee

Amanda Withers, Chair

Save the Date

CHRIS CAGLE

with local band WHISKEY ROW

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 AT 7:00 PM

Evansville, IN – The Indiana Section of the American Water Works Association will host their annual Water For People Benefit Concert, one of the most anticipated events of the year, on September 21st at The Victory Theatre.

Join us as Chris Cagle rocks the house with his country top 10 hits such as “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out,” “Laredo,” “What A Beautiful Day,” “Chicks Dig It,” and “What Kinda Gone.” Two of his albums Play It Loud and Chris Cagle are certified Gold. Our opening act will be local band Whiskey Row to get the evening started and warm up the crowd for Chis Cagle our featured artist.

Two great bands, one awesome night! You don’t want to miss the concert this year!

SPONSORED BY:

Proceeds from this event benefit the Water For People Charity. Corporate sponsorships are available, including tax-deductible ticket package options. The public is invited to contribute by making donations or by inquiring as to how they can become more involved. Tickets will be available at The Ford Center, ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 800-745-3000

Committee Reports

Technical Program Committee

Scott Dompke, Chair

Call for Conference Abstracts

Timeline for Abstracts for Water Institute & Equipment Expo

The Indiana AWWA Technical Program Committee is accepting abstracts for the 2023 Water Institute & Equipment Expo in French Lick December 5-7, 2023. The abstract and speaker biography submittal deadline is September 30, 2023. Selected speakers will be notified in early November. Abstracts are due by January 15 for our 2024 Annual Conference at the Marriott Downtown Indianapolis, April 8-11. Speakers will be notified by early March.

Submit Abstract w/ Speaker Biography and Length of Presentation to: abstracts@inawwa.org

Abstract & Bio Due Date: September 30, 2023

Please consider submitting a presentation of 30 or 60 minutes, a half-day or full-day workshop, an equipment demonstration (30 minutes), a panel discussion, or an operator training session. Topics to consider include:

• O peration and Maintenance

• A sset Management

• Case Studies

• S uccessful Projects

• Innovative Technology

• Treatment Technology

• Equipment Demonstrations

• Transmission and Distribution

• S ystem Rehabilitation

• S ource Water

• Water Quality

• Pumping and Storage

• Energy Management

• Rate Setting

• Project Funding

• C yber Security

• Project Planning

• Regulatory Compliance

• B oard Management

• U tility Business Practices

• Wastewater Treatment

• S tate of the Utility Industry Abstracts should be 100 to 200 words and define the main purpose and learning objectives of the session. For best results to be selected for the program, create a title that accurately describes the topic and what will be learned from attending the session. Include why it is relevant to specific attendees and identify specific learning objectives. For selection consideration, submitted abstracts must include the length of the presentation and biographies for all speakers.

The Technical Program Committee reviews the submittals, prepares the program, and notifies the speakers. Don't miss out on the opportunity to get in front of hundreds of utility decision-makers at the French Lick Resort while it is beautifully decorated for the Holiday Season.

For additional information, please contact:

Technical Program Committee Chair

Scott Dompke

800-255-1521 office or 812-972-0665 cell scott.dompke@mesimpson.com

Indiana AWWA Executive Director

Monique Riggs

866-213-2796 office or 317-372-9864 cell monique.riggs@inawwa.org

Don't miss out on the opportunity to get in front of hundreds of utility decision-makers.

is

Committee Reports

Competitions Committee

Justin Shaffer, Chair

I would first like to congratulate Isaac Brimmer from the Southeast District for representing the Indiana Section this year at ACE23, in Toronto, Canada. The winner was from the Pacific Northwest with a time of 41.78 seconds followed by Ohio and then Texas. As we look ahead to the Fall District meetings, anyone interested in competing in the Meter Challenge Competition should contact Section staff or go to the

Water Institute & Equipment Expo this December in French Lick, Indiana. The winner at Water Institute will go on to ACE24 held in Anaheim, CA next June 10 -13 to represent the Indiana Section at the National AWWA competition. I highly encourage all of you to consider getting involved in the competitions that the AWWA offers within your Section. Also, coming to the Water Institute in December for the very

I encourage you to fill one out and get in the action! There is no limit to the number of teams that can compete and we welcome teams from all sizes of utilities to enter this competition. There are entry forms on the INAWWA website for those interested in competing in the Hydrant Hysteria competition. The hydrant we will be using is the M&H hydrant. Please go to the website and fill out your entry form.

Committee Reports

Safety Committee

Brian Miller, Chair

The Safety Committee will be accepting applications for the 2024 Wendell R. Ladue Safety Award. This prestigious award will be granted to one winner in each of four classes (under 10 employees, 10-100 employees, 100-500 employees, and over 500 employees). The Indiana Section has been privileged to have had winners for this award in the past. Applications will be due to Monique Riggs by January 26, 2024. A link to the 2024 award application will be available under the Safety Committee page after the first of the year. Some of the information needed will be from the 2019-2023 OSHA 300 log. Indiana Section AWWA nominees will be announced at the Indiana Section Annual Conference in April 2024.

As Summer begins to wind down, it serves as a good reminder to always be

on the lookout for pedestrian traffic. As kids return to school, we must watch out for kids at bus stops and walking to school. Additionally, road and construction projects will be winding down in the next few months. Complacency among drivers tends to settle in on long-term projects. If you find yourself working in or near these construction sites, please be vigilant of your safety. As the days shorten, working around these sites during

the early morning and late afternoon can bring extra hazards as the sun rises and falls. Be aware that you may see drivers, but they may not see you. Finally, as harvest gets into high gear in the next month, be aware of increased farming equipment in our rural areas. Between the slow-moving equipment and the dust that gets kicked up from combines, this could add extra hazards to our commute.

Stay healthy and safe!

The Safety Committee will be accepting applications for the 2024 Wendell R. Ladue Safety Award.

Committee Reports

Water Loss Committee

Paul Dicken, Chair • Audi Findley, Vice Chair

Our committee has held monthly virtual meetings during the year. We most recently held a meeting on July 13. We have been planning for several initiatives for this year and team members recently presented at the Clerks/Treasures Conference in March (Sarah Hudson, Audi Findley, and Randy Jackson) and at the EPA Drought Workshop in June. We will be having several more virtual meetings in the future and the committee is also

planning to present at AIM’s Idea Summit in August.

The short-term goals that we continue to work on:

• Collaborating with IFA Educational Support – via examples of policies. operational and billing, code changes

• Training for Utilities – planning underway for quarterly webinars.

• Future Activity with IDEM – assisting with transitional processes and the Real Loss %.

Small Systems Committee

Jeremy Hardy, Chair

INAWWA’s Small Systems Committee continues to focus on our mission of serving and educating small to medium utilities and training associated with water treatment and utility management. It is the intent of our committee to facilitate and empower utilities to become effective stewards of our water resources.

The Small Systems Committee will help facilitate a workshop on October 24, 2023, in Peru, IN. This workshop will provide approved CEUs for Operators and Engineers.

As always, we would love to know your ideas on how we can better serve you and/or topics you would like to see

• Strategic Recruiting to obtain a few more members from the districts that represent the smaller utilities. We are currently at 10 members.

• Prepare for training presentations, workshops, webinars, and conferences. Please reach out to pdicken@citizens energygroup.com if you have an interest in getting involved on the Water Loss Committee. Thank you!

addressed in our newsletter, a conference session, or in the workshop setting. Feel free to contact any of our Small Systems Committee members (www.inawwa.org/about-us/committees/ small-systems) with your thoughts and ideas, or if you are interested in joining the committee.

It is the intent of our committee to facilitate and empower utilities to become effective stewards of our water resources.

Committee Reports

Emergency Preparedness & Security Committee

Dawn Keyler, Chair

Cybersecurity Training

The Emergency Response & Preparedness Committee has been continuing to provide Cyber Security Training for water and wastewater utilities municipalities in Indiana. To date, we have provided training to over 100 Indiana municipalities through virtual and in-person workshops. Upcoming webinar dates include October 3, 2023, with the possibility of more to be added.

In addition to the webinar date, upcoming in-person training dates are August 24, 2023 (in conjunction with the IWEA Annual Conference) and December 6, 2023 (Winter Institute). We hope to see you at an upcoming training!

Cybersecurity Rule Update

The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit granted a request from the AWWA and NRWA to stop the Cybersecurity Rule from going into effect until the current case challenging the rule has been decided. The court’s decision applies to all AWWA and NRWA members nationwide and means that the rule will not apply to members until further notice from the court. The stay allows the sector, states, EPA, and partner agencies the opportunity to work toward advancing cybersecurity while the court considers flaws in the rule and rulemaking process identified by the petitioners and the associations. AWWA and NRWA strongly support efforts to strengthen

cybersecurity in the water sector. The associates are advocating for adequate technical assistance, information sharing, and appropriate federal oversight. We will continue to keep our members informed and updated through this process.

SEVEN WAYS THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISION WILL IMPACT YOUR SYSTEM

BY MARIE OWENS, PE

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced the finalized Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR) in December 2021 after a concerted effort to collect public comment for over two years. The public comment period led USEPA to decide the implementation of the LCRR, as written, would not be delayed and that it does not go far enough to protect the public from the dangers of lead in drinking water. USEPA has announced it will work on the Lead and Copper Rule Improvement (LCRI) rule language in the next 18 months.

Don’t be fooled by the name LCRR; it hardly resembles the old Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) we have been complying with for over 30 years. There are new levels requiring action, different sampling protocols, new sample site selection criteria, stronger public notice steps, specific action plans, and new infrastructure inventory requirements. However, the biggest change is to the previously sacred boundary of the water

system’s responsibility at the meter. Ever since the beginning of drinking water regulations, water systems were required to ensure the quality of water delivered to the property line. This is the first time in history that public water suppliers will be expected to take responsibility for what is coming out of the tap inside someone else’s building and collect information on infrastructure that is privately owned. This single change affects every new aspect of the LCRR.

Service Line Inventories

If you only remember one thing from this article, I want it to be this: systems need to begin identifying the material of every service line in their service area now. This includes the service lines from the main to the meter or property line and the service lines from the meter or property line entering each structure.

If you have 5,000 connections, you need 10,000 pieces of information.

Inventories must:

1. Include location in some form.

2. Be publicly available and posted online depending on the size of your system.

3. Be submitted to the primacy agency by October 16, 2024.

USEPA has not given specific guidance on what will be required to document service line inventories, but some primacy agencies have already begun to develop reporting templates.

There is no longer time to wait to get this in your budget or to see if there will be some silver bullet that will make it easier. The longer systems wait to begin, the more "unknowns" will be included in your inventory. Unknowns will be classified as lead service lines under the LCRR and will increase your workload, cost, and complexity going forward. In addition, systems are required to justify the material entered for each service line. You will not be permitted to simply say the service lines are not lead – you will need to determine what the material is and how you know that.

If you only remember one thing from this article, I want it to be this: systems need to begin identifying the material of every service line in their service area now.

New Regulatory Levels for Lead

The LCR used the level of lead or copper to determine when a water system needed to investigate enhanced corrosion control. The LCRR lowers the level of lead triggering this action from 15 ug/L to 10 ug/L. It also makes a single sample occurrence of lead over 15 ug/L an acute contaminant requiring 24-hour notice to the residents within the premises with the high sample result. In addition, public water systems are required to give

notification to the entire service area within 24 hours if the 90 Percentile is above 15ug/L.

While the LCRR falls short of establishing a health-based maximum contaminant level (MCL), it still functionally lowered the point at which water systems need to respond. Water systems that were fully compliant under the LCR may not be compliant under the LCRR even if the sample locations and procedures were not changing, which they are.

New Sampling Plans

New sampling plans are required for the LCRR. The LCR had a three-tiered system to select sampling locations, and the same sites had to be utilized for each round of subsequent sampling. The LCRR has five tiers to select residential sampling sites.

• Tier One – Lead service lines with single-family residents.

• Tier Two – Lead service line homes or buildings with multiple family residents.

• Tier Three – Galvanized service lines.

• Tier Four – Single family homes with copper lines containing lead solder.

• Tier Five – Sites representative of the system, including non-residential buildings.

These sample sites are re-evaluated after each sampling event based on changes from the action plan discussed later in this article. In addition to the residential sites, all primary schools and childcare facilities, regardless of whether they are publicly or privately operated, are to be sampled over the five years between 2025 and 2029.

To create this new sampling plan, water systems will be required to identify all the schools and childcare facilities within the service area and use the information from completed service line inventories. I expect these sampling plans will be required to be submitted to primacy agencies near the end of the year in 2024.

Please note that you are required to continue sampling under the old sampling plan through the end of 2024 while you are preparing for the new sampling plan.

New Sampling Protocols

The LCR required first-draw samples from a consumable tap. The LCRR addresses the concern that the first draw is masking potential lead exposure from lead contamination that occurs from service lines or other buried infrastructure. The LCRR has

new sampling protocols for compliance and follow-up sampling.

Samples collected from sites representing Tiers one, two, or select Tier three are required to analyze both the first and the fifth-liter samples for lead. In addition, samples collected in schools and childcare facilities must be collected in 250-ml bottles instead of the one-liter bottles required for residential samples.

These changes will create unique challenges in working with the residents and facilities administrators who will likely take these samples on behalf of the water system since the six-hour stagnation requirement before a sample can be collected remains in place.

In addition, the three-year monitoring cycle that many water systems have become familiar with is reduced monitoring under the LCR. With the changes in the sample plans and sample protocols, water systems will be required to revert to standard monitoring for a time. Water systems will be required to monitor every six months until sufficient sample events have been conducted under the LCRR for the primacy agency to re-establish reduced monitoring.

Public Education Requirements

Part of the intent of the LCRR is to better inform the public of their risk of exposure to lead in drinking water. Water systems are required to inform residents if there is lead in the tap water and work closely with those who have a high sample result to determine the source of the lead.

The LCRR requires more information to be given to the public more frequently. There is a requirement to post detailed information online, depending on the size of the system. It is wise to embrace these new communication requirements and prepare early to address any concerns or questions that will arise. A thoughtful communication plan can not only alleviate difficult conversations, it can also strengthen your reputation within the community.

Action Plans

Water systems will be required to develop and submit a written action plan detailing how the system will respond to high lead sample results, potential changes to corrosion control programs, and how the replacement of lead service lines will be accomplished.

The LCRR requires a specific annual replacement rate of the lead, partial-lead, and galvanizeddownstream-of-lead service lines when the sampling trigger is reached. To have a service line replacement count towards compliance, it must be a full replacement including both the private and the public sections.

Service lines listed as “unknown” in the inventory are considered to lead service lines from a regulatory standpoint and will increase the actual

A thoughtful communication plan can not only alleviate difficult conversations, it can also strengthen your reputation within the community.

Working with our clients to provide better quality of life by improving and preserving water resources.

number of service line replacements that must be completed each year. However, if an unknown service line is later found to be non-lead, it does not count toward the required number of replacements.

Currently, the LCRR requires public water systems to start replacing the lead, partial-lead, and galvanized sections downstream of lead service lines once a sampling trigger is met. This is when the action plan comes into play. However, if a subsequent sampling event is below a triggering level, the system

could suspend the replacement plan –essentially creating an offramp to full replacement.

Under the LCRR, USEPA has indicated the intent to make the action plan section of the rule more assertive to achieve faster replacement of lead service lines. USEPA announced the intent to remove the sampling offramp to full-line replacement and to provide funding for low-income property owners so disadvantaged properties do not get delayed based on an inability to

afford the private side replacement. These changes are expected in the forthcoming LCRI.

Funding

There has been a lot of talk of money being made available to help water systems comply with the new LCRR requirements. Much of the funding has already been appropriated by the Federal Government but has yet to be passed on to the US that need to identify a plan to distribute it to water systems. The money is coming, but it will not arrive in time to help systems get started. The best thing systems can do to help secure their share of the funding is to identify what the system's cost will be as soon as possible. There won’t be enough money in the end, so do not wait to think about it until it is gone.

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Yes, this rule is going to be hard. Yes, it is going to take more work than can likely be done by the October 16, 2024 deadline. Yes, it makes water systems deal with infrastructure on the private side of the line. Yes, it will be expensive. Yes, the money that is supposed to help hasn’t materialized yet. Yes, there are still questions. Yes, there will still be changes. And yes, it will do more to protect your residents from the dangers of lead in their drinking water than any other previous effort has. Most importantly, yes, you can do this. And yes, AE2S can help.

If you have questions about the LCRR or LCRI, feel free to contact me at marie.owens@ae2s.com

The best thing systems can do to help secure their share of the funding is to identify what the system's cost will be as soon as possible. There won’t be enough money in the end, so do not wait to think about it until it is gone.

AWWA’s 2023 State of the Water Industry Reports Sector Optimism on the Rise

Despite climate change-related challenges, aging infrastructure, threats to water supply, and other obstacles, water sector optimism and preparedness are on the rise, according to the newly published AWWA's 2023 State of the Water Industry Report, which is available to download for free.

The 2023 report provides insight into top issues facing the water sector such as aging infrastructure, how utilities are addressing technology needs, which kinds of capital improvement projects are most prevalent, how utilities are financing projects, and more.

This year’s survey showed:

• Optimism is on the rise among water professionals.

• Aging infrastructure and long-term water supply are the top challenges.

• Utilities are prioritizing emergency preparedness.

• Public understanding of the value of water resources is a rising issue.

• Most utilities offer affordability programs to assist lower-income households.

• Utilities are developing organizational diversity programs and training.

• PFAS and point source pollution are the top compliance challenges. Since 2004, AWWA has published the annual State of the Water Industry report based on survey results to help water

utilities, service providers, regulators, and researchers identify and prepare for challenges, opportunities, and trends impacting the water community. This year's report, which was sponsored by Westlake Pipe & Fittings, marks the 20th edition of the survey.

Long-term drinking water supply availability, financing capital improvements, and watershed/source water protection are among the top-ranked issues facing the water sector in 2023. However, as utilities work towards more resilient, sustainable systems and operations, utility personnel are feeling more prepared about their ability to meet long-term water supply needs (54.7% are either very prepared or fully prepared and 29.5% are moderately prepared). Utilities also signaled that they are prepared for both standard and climate-related risks, with 88% of respondents indicating they have implemented or are in the process

of implementing emergency response plans and 60% have implemented or are considering implementing a climate action plan.

“AWWA members always amaze me,” said AWWA CEO David LaFrance. "It seems like the harder the challenges get, the more confident and optimistic our members become. It’s clear there are some significant hurdles in front of us – from infrastructure replacement to resource challenges to new contaminants to cybersecurity concerns – but water professionals never blink, they simply find ways to solve the problems in front of them and keep providing the world's most vital resource to their communities."

This year’s report captured feedback from 4,123 North American water professionals who were surveyed between October and November 2022, the highest response rate in the history of the survey.

Source: awwa.org

“Water professionals never blink, they simply find ways to solve the problems in front of them and keep providing the world's most vital resource to their communities.”

Upcoming Events & Activities

Please visit our website – www.inawwa.org – for details and registration information. Water and Wastewater Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to be approved by IDEM. Well Driller and Pump Installer hours to be approved by IDNR, as applicable. Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for engineers are available, as applicable. Other workshops are being planned, so please check our website regularly, or call our office at 866-213-2796 for updates.

DATE EVENT

September 12

Joint Utility Management Seminar –IWEA/INAWWA/AIM – Indianapolis

September 21 Southeast District Fall Business Meeting

September 21 Water For People Concert –Victory Theatre; Evansville

September 29 Northwest District Fall Business Meeting

October 3 Cybersecurity Webinar

October 6 Central District Fall Business Meeting

October 11 Northeast District Fall Meeting – Auburn

October 17 Southwest District Fall Meeting –Washington

October 24 Small Systems Workshop – Peru

Please contact Megan Fleming at 317-446-4237 or meganFleming@inawwa.org to host an event or suggest a topic for a workshop.

DATE EVENT

November 7 Central District Workshop

November 9 Cybersecurity Webinar

December 5 -7 Water Institute & Equipment Expo

December 5

Cybersecurity – In Person –During Water Institute - French Lick

concern for the environment is more than just talk

to our IWEA Leadership Development Graduates

The Indiana Section AWWA would like to proudly recognize the hard work and dedication of two of our utility members who, after a full calendar year of course work, graduated on August 23 from the IWEA Leadership Development Institute (LDI) for which commencement was held at the IWEA Fall Conference in Fort Wayne. Their attendance was funded through our legacy IRWA Gambold Education Fund. On the left is Justin Shaffer, from the Town of Monroe Utilities and right, Charles Gill from Greenfield Utilities. Congratulations to all of the 2023 graduates! Congratulations!

For more information on applying for an IRWA Gambold Education Fund Scholarship for our upcoming Water Institute in December, or to submit another educational pursuit for consideration, please visit our website or reach out to our office at 866-213-2796 for the application form.

LEAKSNews

To reach water quality professionals through News Leaks magazine and its targeted readership, contact Dave at your earliest convenience to discuss your company’s promotional plan.

Dave Gill, Marketing Manager Toll Free: 866-985-9791, david@kelman.ca

Marilyn and Jack Gambold, Champions for Operator Education; Fund Namesakes

Advertiser Product & Service Center

NewsLeaks is made possible by the companies below who convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of INAWWA and its publication and encourage you to contact them when making your purchasing decisions. To make it easier to contact these companies, we have included the page number of their advertisement, their phone number, and, where applicable, their website. You can also go to the electronic version of NewsLeaks at www.inawwa.org and access direct links to any of these companies.

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of Better Water

Peerless Midwest was founded in 1973 in a small shop in the then small community of Granger Indiana. We opened the doors with just 11 employees, a few pieces of equipment, and a belief that a commitment to utilizing the latest technologies would best serve our customers, and us, in the long run.

Fifty years later, we’re employeeowned (since 2021), and find ourselves employing over 100 water supply and repair professionals working out of 6 offices in 4 states. We’ll be forever appreciative of our success, and thankful to the special relationships we’ve enjoyed with our customers and employees that helped make it possible.

Water Supply Services

•Well Drilling

•Well & Pump Repair and Rehabilitation

•Water Treatment

•SCADA and Controls

•Hydrogeological Services