Quench 2023 - Issue 4

TECH CONFERENCE PHOTOS SUPPORT THE TEXAS WATER FUND OUR CHANGING INDUSTRY

Issue 4 2023 www.tr wa.org

TRWA Today Established in 1969, the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) is a statewide nonprofit trade association with an active membership consisting of nearly 900 nonprofit water supply corporations, water districts, small-town water departments and investor-owned utilities. In addition, more than 150 water industry suppliers participate in TRWA activities as associate members. TRWA members provide water and wastewater service to 3.5 million customers throughout Texas.

TRWA is dedicated to helping directors, managers, operators and office professionals provide efficient service and clean, safe drinking water to their customers. Through on-site technical assistance, education and information exchange, TRWA helps its members better meet their needs as well as the needs of their customers.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS President Bruce Alexander Medina (District 2) Vice-President Robert Nettles Walker (District 13) Secretary Mark Gardenhire Shackelford (District 1) Treasurer Steve Adams Brown (District 4)

DISTRICT DIRECTORS Dennis Donoho Denton (District 3) Roby Jekel Milam (District 5) Brian Macmanus Cameron (District 6)

Main Office Line

TRWA STAFF LEADERSHIP TEAM

Lara Zent Jason Knobloch Larry Bell Mary Alice Boehm-McKaughan Nichol Everingham Tom Shephard, CPA Eric Betts

Executive Director & General Counsel Deputy Executive Director Technical Assistance Director

ext. 101 ext. 137 ext. 138

Assistant General Counsel Professional Development & Training Director Finance Director Communications Director

ext. 106 ext. 134 ext. 102 ext. 115

Eli Aguirre Melody Bennett Destany Brown Pam Cantrell Lexi Conaway Jacquelyn Knobloch Chelsea Gomez Michaelanne Hurst Sarah Isbell Sarah Rosenberg Sonya Stocklin Ariane Walker Emily Young

Meeting and Event Planner Project Support Specialist Paralegal & Executive Assistant Accounting Support Specialist Administrative Assistant Apprenticeship Program Manager Training Support Specialist Membership and Outreach Manager Course Developer Instructional Designer Office Manager Training Manager Assistant Environmental Services Director

Don Barker Louis Booth Kenny Butler Nathan Cantrell Trey Daywood Kenneth Dykes Roel Gonzalez Justin Guerra Paul King

Technical Project Specialist Wastewater Technician FMT Specialist Wastewater Technician Water Training & Technical Assistance Specialist Instructor FMT Specialist GIS & Drone Technician Circuit Rider

cell: (737) 270-3181 cell: (512) 221-7477 cell: (512) 865-8809 cell: (512) 924-7158 cell: (512) 806-6171 cell: (512) 308-9567 cell: (512) 923-5812 cell: (512) 317-8992 cell: (512) 913-9753

Donald McKinney

FMT Specialist

cell: (512) 413-4308

Tony Moreno Charles Perkins Bruce Pearson James Smith Donnie Stanton Quentin Turner Jewel Uzquiano William White Scott Willeford

Water Quality Action Specialist Circuit Rider Instructor Circuit Rider FMT Specialist FMT Specialist Source Water Protection Specialist Assistant Technical Assistance Director Instructor

cell: (512) 924-4552 cell: (512) 964-2108 cell: (512) 922-4942 cell: (512) 964-9234 cell: (512) 774-9455 cell: (512) 517-9889 cell: (512) 354-0506 cell: (512) 924-4233 cell: (512) 657-8813

OFFICE STAFF

Allen Knight North Collin (District 7) Charles Beseda Hill (District 8) Pat Allen Guadalupe (District 9) Kyle Eppler Brazos (District 10) Rachel Webb South Rains (District 11) T. Chad Wilson Kaufman (District 12) Matthew Barrett Swift (District 14)

2 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

(512) 472-8591

ext. 105 ext. 130 ext. 321 ext. 139 ext. 860 ext. 107 ext. 103 ext. 108 ext. 459 ext. 109 ext. 104 ext. 111 ext. 132

FIELD STAFF

In Every Issue Letter from the President .........4 Letter from the Executive Director ........5 Keep it Legal .........6

Answers to your legal questions

Ask Larry .........8

Answers to your technical questions

From the Field Set the Standard.......16

Providing good visual aids for your construction standards can be key to project success

Looking Back...20

A veteran of the business marks the changes he's seen in his long career

Technical Assistance Spotlight...24

TRWA Briefs .........28

See what TRWA's Technical Assistance Department can do for you and your system

The Months Ahead .........31

TRWA News

Small pieces of association news TRWA’s Calendar of Events

Meet the New Staff...12

Features

Get to know TRWA's new staff members

Texas Water Fund Goes Before Voters...10

Training & Technical Photos..14

Learn how you can support the Texas Water Fund ahead of the November election

See photos from our Training & Technical Conference in Galveston

Student Scholarships...26

Apply for a TRWF Student Scholarship

Awards of Excellence...27

Submit someone for our Awards of Excellence

on the cover:

Components await assembly ahead of the Meter Challenge finals at the 2023 Training & Technical Conference photo by Eric Betts, TRWA Communications Director

CONTACT THE EDITOR

Editorial and advertising inquiries may be sent to Eric Betts in the Communications Department at editor@trwa.org.

Quench — 2023 — Issue 4 3

President's Message Hello Texas Rural Water!

Thanks again to everyone in our rural water community for what you do every day to provide a safe and reliable source of drinking water to rural Texas!

As we move to the end of another summer of extreme heat and dry weather, we realize the widespread shortage of water supplies many systems are faced with. Multiple systems, like the one I manage, are working now to ensure they have access to enough water rights to meet the needs of their customers for the remainder of this year and 2024. As a system that relies entirely on the Edwards Aquifer for our water supply, we are currently under a mandatory 40% reduction in the amount of water we are permitted to withdraw. Multiple small systems that do not have the financial resources to buy additional water rights will face over-pumping their annual permits and be subject to enforcement action by the Edwards Aquifer Authority. While controversial to some, I want to thank the San Antonio Water System for their work in reducing their demands on the aquifer through a diversified water supply that other systems do not have access to. Their management of the region's water supply has helped us avoid greater pumping restrictions and helped ensure we all continue to have access to water during this drought.

You may wonder why this is important to me and my system? I used to be less concerned when other parts of the state were in a water shortage. Not anymore. We all need to work together to ensure we have a safe and secure source of water for the future of our systems, our customers and everyone in the state of Texas. We need to stay focused on updating our systems, replacing aging piping and doing what we can to reduce water loss. We need to invest in new and improved water sources such as new reservoirs, desalination projects, water reuse for irrigation and many more. But how do we afford these things?

One big way is to support passage of the proposed constitutional amendment that sets aside $1 billion of the state's surplus funds specifically for water projects. The funds will be used to establish and develop new water resources and repair/replace aging infrastructure, with a portion of them set aside for rural systems. While much more is needed, we have to start somewhere. I am asking all of us in rural water to vote in support of this constitutional amendment.

Remember to reach out to Lara or a member of her team at TRWA if you have any questions or need assistance in the operations of your water system.

Be safe, Bruce Alexander President TRWA 4 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

Letter from the TRWA Executive Director Dear TRWA Members, I recently traveled to Washington D.C. to help train new rural water association executives from around the country with the National Rural Water Association.

It was an experience I found very rewarding, an opportunity to share the knowledge and experience I have gained working for TRWA with others. I also learned so much from the meeting, bringing home new ideas to implement at our association.

At TRWA, we currently have two programs where we utilize experienced water utility industry professionals to coach or mentor the next generation. The first is our Emerging Leaders Program, which we hold every other year, with the latest class starting at the beginning of this summer. Each of the participants is paired with a coach to work closely with them, meeting regularly through the duration of the Program. Past participants who got the most out of this Program credited this coaching relationship as crucial for facilitating their growth. I also often receive feedback from the coaches that they benefit greatly from the experience, learning from the participant they’re coaching while forging a

new lasting friendship.

The second is our Apprenticeship Program, which combines classroom learning with On-the-Job training.

This Program relies on a mentoring relationship between the apprentice operator and an experienced operator at their system. The mentor guides the apprentice through the skills they will need to master and provides career counseling and support along the way. I encourage our members to check out this Program. It's a great opportunity not only to recruit employees, but also to provide a comprehensive education to our future operators, including learning from our industry veterans.

I would like to give a special thanks to those who have been coaching or mentoring through these programs and recognize the contribution they’re making to the future leaders and workforce of our industry. I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to coach or mentor a less experienced individual in our industry to do so. It is rewarding in so many ways!

My best,

Lara Zent Executive Director & General Counsel TRWA

Keep It Legal Answers to Members’ Questions by TRWA Assistant General Counsel Mary Alice McKaughan

Q:

Can we amend our tariff to require RV parks to have a meter at each pad?

A: When it comes to billing RV Parks, TRWA strongly recommends against changing your tariff language to require individual metering of RV pads. An RV Park is a commercial operation under Texas Water Code Section 13.087 and should be metered accordingly with a master meter.

Q:

Can we change the number of our Board Members/Directors?

A: If you are a WSC: Yes, you can change the number of directors. The number of directors a WSC has is set by a WSC’s bylaws. A WSC cannot have less than 3 or more than 21 directors. A WSC can change the number of its directors by amending its bylaws. The process required to amend a WSC’s bylaws should be set forth in the bylaws. Usually, WSC bylaws can only be amended by a vote of the membership. However, while uncommon, I have seen/heard of WSC bylaws that allow the board of directors to vote to amend their bylaws without the necessity of a vote of the membership. The USDA sample bylaws required that amendments be made by a vote of the membership, and this may still be required to qualify to receive USDA funding.

If you are a Water/Sewer District (District): It is very difficult to change the number of directors in a District. The number of directors a District has is set by its enabling legislation or TCEQ Order. Districts that have not been 6 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

given the express authority to change their number of directors in their formation papers must have the change approved through the Legislature. This process involves having a bill passed that either changes the number of directors or explicitly grants this authority to your District.

The number of directors must also meet the requirements of Texas Water Code Section 65.101, which mandates that a District be governed by a board of not less than five and not more than 11 directors. The TCEQ has the authority to create a district when a water supply corporation seeks to convert to a Special Utility District (SUD), and the agency has the continuing right of supervision over district issues under the Texas Constitution, Article III, Section 52 and Article XVI, Section 59 and TCEQ Rule 30 TAC Section 293.3. However, they do not have the explicit authority to change the number of directors of a SUD.

Q:

We are a SUD. Can the SUD hire the Board President’s wife as the new office manager? Usually, the SUD Board approves the hiring of a new office manager.

If the Board delegates hiring the office manager to the SUD’s general manager does that make it OK?

A: No. This is illegal under Texas’ anti-nepotism laws.

Nepotism is favoritism shown to relatives by those in power, such as special treatment in hiring. The applicable statute is Texas Government Code Section 573.

If you are a Water/Sewer District (District), County or City: Nepotism laws apply to all types of governmental entities including cities, utility districts and MUDs. See, Op. Tex.

Att’y Gen. No. JC-184 (2000). In Texas it is illegal for a public official to hire, appoint or approve payment for certain relatives. A “public official” is defined as an officer of this state; an officer or member of a board of this state or a judge of a court created by or under a statute of this state.

The law outlines which relatives are ineligible to receive jobs or payment from public officials. This determination is made based on the degree of blood or ancestral relationship to the public official (consanguinity), or by relationship established through marriage (affinity). Only relationships within the third degree of consanguinity or the second degree of affinity are affected by nepotism prohibition. An adopted child is treated as a natural child in determining who is affected by the prohibition.

The degree of consanguinity is determined by the number of generations between the people involved. For example, an elected official cannot give a job to: his or her parent or child (first degree of consanguinity); his or her brother, sister, grandparent or grandchild (second degree); his or her great-grandparent, great-grandchild, parents’ brother or sister (his or her aunt or uncle), or siblings’ children (his or her nieces and nephews) (third degree).

The degree of affinity is determined by marriage. The first degree of affinity is the relationship between a husband and wife. A relationship by affinity extends only to blood relatives of an individual’s spouse. It does not include a relative-in-law of the individual’s spouse. Higher degrees of affinity are equal to the degree of consanguinity for the related spouse. For example, if your spouse is the sibling of a public official (second degree of consanguinity), you would also be considered related through affinity in the second degree.

Nepotism statutes only apply to the public official who is the final hiring authority or is a member of the governing body that has final hiring authority. If the District’s board of directors is the hiring authority, then nepotism limitations apply to close relatives of any members of the district’s board.

However, if an employee, such as the general manager, possesses the final hiring authority, then the nepotism limitations relate to persons who are close relatives of the general manager.

It should be noted that the determination of who is the hiring authority depends on whether the public officer can exercise exclusive control over hiring decisions. So, if the District Board delegates the hiring decisions to the system general manager (GM), then the nepotism laws still apply to the Board. However, if the hiring authority was vested in, and solely given to, the GM at the creation of the district then the nepotism rule only applies to the GM, not the Board. For example, the board would still be considered the district’s hiring authority if the District Board could exercise control over a hiring decision, or take back the authority to do so, even though such authority may have been delegated to another individual or entity.

A public official who violates the nepotism laws commits official misconduct and a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000. The official must also be removed immediately from office if they are convicted of violating the nepotism laws and the conviction becomes final. If the official is not removed within 30 days after the conviction becomes final, a proceeding by the local prosecutor may be brought to remove the official.

If you are a WSC: When it comes to WSC’s it is not technically illegal to hire relatives of the Board or General Manager. However, it is best practice not to.

Mary Alice McKaughan is TRWA's Assistant General Counsel.

TRWA Members can submit their legal inquiries by emailing legal@trwa.org or by using the form on the bottom of the Legal page. They can also search the archive at https://www.trwa.org/page/ KILHome.

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Ask Larry A Q&A column with TRWA Technical Assistance Director Larry Bell

Q:

We’ve recently been purchasing nearly all of our water from the city, and so have started taking bids to plug (or repair) one of our old wells. The quotes we’re getting seem outrageous, nearly $60,000 to do either job. Is there anything we can do to mitigate this?

A: These prices don’t surprise me too much since labor and materials costs have skyrocketed over the past couple of years. In the past, a well could be plugged from the bottom to the top for $20,000 or so. Now with the detailed reporting requirements and set-up charges, these prices have continued to increase.

I always caution systems that have a contract to purchase 100% of their water from other providers to remember that these contracts can also rise a startling amount over time. PWSs that have older wells and seem to not have any options other than purchasing water by contract might benefit from spending a little money to keep other water sources open for their system, so they can bring something to the table in terms of negotiating a reasonable price and contract provisions.

Yes, $60,000 to rehab an older well that has not been pumped for years sounds like a lot of money, especially because it might not be clear whether the end results of this work will give you a dependable water source or not. It’s a gamble. But treatment technology advances in the last decade have allowed several PWSs to take their sub-par wells and add membrane filters or even Desalination Treatment to remove brackish contamination 8 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

at a price about equal to a full Surface Water Treatment Plant’s cost per thousand gallons. Alternatively, you could look elsewhere to find water that doesn’t need as much treatment as the water from these wells.

Wholesale providers run into problems too. I’ve heard of several recent cases where providers notified their purchasers that contracts weren’t going to be renewed or that the price per thousand gallons would have to significantly increase to pay for improvements. Those systems that have tried to keep alternate water sources open seem to do better than those with no other options.

Q:

Someone in our system said they heard from another agency that our rates were going to have to be reported to TCEQ and the PUCT annually? Is that fact or fiction?

A: It’s fiction, but there are some annual reporting requirements and it’s important to understand the rules for different types of utilities.

First, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) no longer has jurisdiction over rates, which are now solely regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). However, the TCEQ does maintain jurisdiction over certain water district matters and districts are still required to file with TCEQ their annual audit or annual financial reports, if they meet the audit exemption (See Section 49.198 of the Water Code), Water Supply Corporations are required to have their latest tariff on file with the PUC, which includes their rates.

This means that they are required to file an amended tariff every time the board adopts a change to their rates or other policies contained in the tariff.

Investor-owned utilities (IOUs) are required to annually file a service, financial, and normalized earnings report with the PUC by June 1 (see Texas Water Code Section 13.136(b)). The PUC has adopted rules, guidance, and forms to implement this requirement.

Investor-owned utilities (IOUs) cannot raise rates without first applying to the PUC. They must first get approval from the PUC to set their initial rates upon formation; and thereafter, they may apply to raise their rates once every 12 months. Class D IOUs, or those serving less than 500 connections, may adjust their rates once per year up to four times by filling out a form with the PUC, but after that they also have to go through a comprehensive rate proceeding before raising rates.

The PUC has appellate review jurisdiction over rates for districts, water supply corporations and municipal customers who live outside the city limits. A petition of 10% of the customers filed within 90 days after the effective date of the rate change triggers a rate appeal, which is also a comprehensive rate proceeding. A single customer of a water supply corporation may also appeal the cost of obtaining service to the PUC.

Q:

About three years ago, we discovered one of our wells has iron bacteria. We spent thousands of dollars trying to eradicate it with no success. Now a test well that’s been drilled has also come back positive for iron bacteria. Is there any filtration system that would be practical and financially feasible for solving this problem?

A: There is no hard and fast answer to why some wells are susceptible to iron bacteria and other wells can be offline for months at a time and never have iron bacteria formed.

I’ve seen where iron bacteria was introduced into a new well via casing or other metal that was not disinfected prior to being placed into the new well being drilled.

Alternatively, it sometimes pops up when a well that had been in service for years was deactivated for a period of time and then restarted. One PWS had a well drilled and completed, but because the driller waited for eight months to install the pump and motor, iron bacteria infected the well in the interim.

As for removing it, the most common way seems to be use of an appropriate chlorination solution, allowing time for it to kill the iron bacteria, and then pumping the well to discharge the solution along with the iron bacteria which was killed. However, in my experience, this often needs to be done two or more times to get rid of the bacteria, though once it is gone, pumping the well on a regular basis usually keeps the iron bacteria from reforming until the well must shut down for servicing at some time in the future.

I don’t know of any filtration systems designed specifically to remove iron bacteria, though you may want to ask your engineer for recommendations or case studies to see if this is possible.

Larry Bell is TRWA's Technical Assistance Director, with more than 30 years experience at the association.

If you have a Technical Question, please email larry.bell@trwa.org or search the archive at https://trwa.org/qualityontap/

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Quench — 2023 — Issue 4 9

Features

Funding for Water Infrastructure on the Ballot in November

Voters to decide whether Texas will allocate $1 billion for water projects In May of 2023, the Texas Legislature voted to make a generational investment in Texas water by allocating $1 billion for the new Texas Water Fund, a dedicated source of funding for securing new water sources and replacing the state's aging water infrastructure. But there's one final step required before the Fund becomes a reality: a constitutional amendment that must be approved by Texas voters this November.

The amendment has broad statewide support. The legislation authorizing its placement on the ballot, Senate Joint Resolution 75, passed both the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives unanimously. The Texas Water Fund is supported not just

by TRWA, but also by the Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Association of Business, Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), Texas Water Infrastructure Network and many more.

10 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

However, due to the importance of this investment to the future of the state's water supply, Texas water stakeholders cannot afford to be complacent. We need your help to get out the vote and ensure this amendment passes.

Nonprofit water supply corporations and cities should stick to educational messaging only. By including pertinent information in your newsletters and on your website, you can make sure customers have the information they need to make an informed decision.

This may include:

What the amendment will do: The $1 billion investment will be used to secure new sources of water for Texas as well as for projects to replace aging infrastructure. TWDB has said that it plans to allocate at least $150 million of these funds to the Rural Water Assistance Fund.

When to vote: Election Day will be Tuesday, November 7. Early Voting will run from Monday, October 23 through Friday, November 3.

November 2023 is an off-year election in terms of big national, statewide and What to look for on the ballot: The legislative races, which means turnout is Texas Water Fund will be Proposition especially important. By keeping voters 6 on the ballot, entitled: "The consti- informed about the Fund and what it tutional amendment creating the Texas will do to benefit our rural water and water fund to assist in financing water wastewater systems in Texas, we can projects in this state." help ensure this amendment passes and the Texas Water Fund becomes a reality.

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TRWA News

Meet the new TRWA employees

TRWA has bolstered its staff ranks with marketing and more. She has prefour new additions to our rural water viously worked for the Wimberley team this spring and summer.

Valley Chamber of Commerce, The Texas Medical Association, and the Texas Automobile Dealers Association, among others, and brings a wealth of association knowledge to our staff.

Michaelanne graduated from St. Edward’s University in Austin with a BA in Organizational Communication and Marketing. Her 16-year-old daughter recently began her junior year at Westwood High School in Round Rock and is interested in becoming a lawyer. She also has a 14-year-old Dachshund/Corgi mix In May, TRWA hired Michaelanne named Lucy.

Hurst as our new Membership and Outreach Manager, replacing In her spare time, she loves being by Deborah McMullan after she retired. and in the water swimming, boating or camping, but not in 105-degree Michaelanne is an experienced as- weather. sociation professional with more than 20 years in member manage- As the Membership and Outreach ment, meeting and event planning, Manager, Michaelanne works business administration, fundraising, with TRWA members and potential 12 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

members in the field and at Area Meetings to educate them as to what services they have access to and which staff may be of best assistance.

She also works to recruit and assist the Associate Members that provide the many products and services that our members need on a daily basis.

In June, we were joined by Kenny Dykes as a new part-time Instructor, teaching our operator certification classes to systems throughout the state.

TRWA News Kenny spent the past 11 years in the Water Supply Division at TCEQ, helping troubleshoot and resolve problems in water treatment plants, distribution systems and cross connection control programs across Texas.

and spent five years on oil field road and site construction, as well as heavy equipment maintenance. When it came time to leave oil field life behind, he got a job at the City of Sonora as a While at TCEQ, he served as team Wastewater Superintendent, leader of the agency's Response eventually earning his Class and Capacity Development team A Wastewater and Class since 2014. Prior to his time at the B Groundwater licenses, Commission, Kenny worked as an among others. operator in the cities of Gonzales and While in Sonora, Don took great Seguin. pride in implementing devices and procedures to make the water and wastewater system more resilient after he was marooned at the wastewater plant without food for three days during the Sonora flood of 2018. He also led a small team through the extended hours of winter storm Uri to ensure no services were lost.

Jacquelyn comes to us with experience working for Coryell City WSD and as the office manager for Mountain WSC, where she worked since 2020.

Prior to her move into the water industry, Jacquelyn worked in real estate and banking. She is the holder of BPAT and CSI licenses.

Beyond her professional life, Jacquelyn cherishes her time with family. She enjoys traveling adventures but equally loves quiet time at home. Additionally, she finds solace and strength in her faith and actively incorporates fitness into her daily routine. She is dedicated to both personal and professional growth, and hopes to make a positive impact on Texas rural water systems in her new role with TRWA and in the lives of those around her!

Don started a Federal Surplus Program with the City of Sonora to assist in providing critical equipment on a small-town budget. His experiences At the end of July, we added Don have taught Don that he greatly enjoys Barker as a Technical Project helping operators through technical Specialist to help with our Asset and training issues.

Management Program for Small Systems (AMPSS) and USDA-RD In his free time, Don enjoys working Manufactured Homes Training & with generators, gunsmithing, applying simple solutions to everyday problems Technical Assistance Program. and helping other operators be the Don was born in San Antonio but best they can be.

J. F. FONTAINE & ASSOCIATES, INC. raised outside of Austin in Hutto, CONSULTING ENGINEERS back when it was a single flashing And finally, in yellow light town. He graduated from A u g u s t , T R WA RURAL WATER SYSTEM Texas Tech University in 2011, major- brought on our new ENGINEERING SINCE 1962 ing in Petroleum Engineering and Apprenticeship Mechanical Engineering.

P r o g r a m 700 N. Sycamore St. (903) 729-6005 M a n a g e r , P.O. Box 4187 jffontaine@jffontaine.com Palestine, Texas 75802 After a brief stretch working in J a c q u e l y n Wyoming, Don returned to Texas Knobloch.

Quench — 2023 — Issue 4 13

TRWA News

Get the Full Picture from the 2023 Training & Technical Conference

14 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

TRWA News

Thanks to our 2023 Training & Technical Conference Platinum Sponsors

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From the Field

Set the Standard

By Gilbert Ybarbo Does your system have detailed information concerning water distribution construction requirements? Do you know what guidelines to follow for new construction, replacement, repairs or modifications? How would you relocate a water main or sub-main if such a project required it?

As I’ve visited with public water systems (PWS) and looked at their water distribution maintenance and standard operating procedures, I often find that many of them use construction standards that have been passed down informally from one operator to the next through the generations.

Tariffs and O&M manuals may claim that systems must comply with AWWA standards for pipe material and construction methods and point to a rule/regulation reference, but they often lack the necessary detail to be truly helpful. Many of the standard 16 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

operating procedures are very general.

Occasionally you’ll get caught in an endless loop of citations, where one piece of guidance points you to another manual and that rule sends you to yet another rule citation and so on and so forth until you find yourself back at the original.

standards, unaware that your system requirements are more stringent.

You need an easy way for your crews working with contractors to see what the standards are, so they can know right off whether they’re meeting the proper construction codes or not, even if it’s just a three-ring binder they can look at for guidance. You can That’s helpful to nobody, except find examples on the following pages. maybe the people who want to write their own rules as they go, which is (Please note: In addition to AWWA and certainly not the way I’d advise tack- the International Plumbing Code (IPC) ling these projects. It’s invaluable that standards, water distribution pipe and fita system has good explanations of tings also have to abide by rules from the construction requirements, as well as American National Standards Institute detailed profile sheets with visual aids (ANSI) and the American Society of to support the pipe fitting and con- Testing and Measures (ASTM). More struction methods that a PWS may stringent requirements that your local system have on their codes and ordinances. would prefer to have in-place are allowed, as long as it is not less stringent than the Contractors, even good ones, work- ASTM, AWWA, ANSI and the IPC. ing on jobs in your area that call for Illustrations in this article may include all of modifications to or replacement of the above, in addition to some local requireexisting water lines may be used to ments preferred by a specific PWS.) meeting plumbing code and American Water Works Association (AWWA) Article continues on page 18

From the Field

Below is an example of a set of detailed specifications and profile sheet for a simple bend and tee with different angles: natural, undisturbed ground or thrust blocking used for different-sized pipe. These include the combination BendTee and Plug details.

Below is a typical gate valve and box assembly. Note the details for the valve box when in a driveway or road, as well as the ASTM material and testing requirement and the gray iron material preferred by the PWS.

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Quench — 2023 — Issue 4 17

From the Field

"You need an easy way for your crews to see what the standards are, so they can know right off whether they’re meeting the proper construction codes or not."

Article continued from page 16 These are just a tiny sample of the possible detail sheets your system might have. Think about the questions that might arise and what you’ve already found best practices to be. Do you have meters constantly being repaired due to heavy vehicle damage? Perhaps you need to address these installations with adequate backfill and encasement material to withstand the vehicle weight being applied.

Does your system have set specifications and standards for a water pipe offset assembly when another contractor or owner needs access?

Our industry has a whole host of potential scenarios, from back taps on existing lines to water line loops run around cul-de-sacs to larger double-check backflow preventors with Post Indicator Valves and Fire Department

Does your system have a detailed construction standard for water main incasement, such as this one in the diagram below?

18 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

Connections installed at schools or commercial sites.

We can’t be prepared for every eventuality, but we ought to work to be as prepared as we can for the ones we suspect we might see. Construction specifications with good visual aids can help do that for your water system and for the contractors and commercial owners you work with.

If you need any more information on how to put these type of plans together be sure to contact the TRWA Environmental Services Department FMT Assistance Program so that we can get you some help in this effort.

Gilbert Ybarbo recently retired as an FMT Specialist from TRWA. Happy retirement, Gil!

Are You the Person We’re Looking For? TRWA is now hiring for multiple positions.

Come work with us to support rural water utilities in Texas.

Visit trwa.org/trwajobs to learn more.

Quench — 2023 — Issue 4 19

From the Field

L

KING BACK

After more than 45 years in the industry, a veteran water professional examines where we came from and where we're going

By Quentin Turner A few months ago I realized I had been in this industry for 47 years, long enough to have seen generations of changes sweep in and then be replaced by the next new thing. We've solved some challenges that once plagued us, but we've discovered, or even created, new ones too. There are some parts of this job where I can’t believe how far we’ve come, and others where it still looks like we’ve got a long way to go as we move into the future.

Take testing. Prior to the 1980s testing in water and wastewater was based almost totally on sight. We used Secchi disks on the water and wastewater side to determine clarity/turbidity. We had the Jackson Candle Turbidimeter, which put a candle under a sample tube of water to measure the same thing. One of the big changes that hit the industry in that decade was the advancement of testing technology. We went from tried and true orthotolidine (OT) to another color comparison model – N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (most of us just call it DPD). What was once about comparing yellow to brown with the OT became parsing a light pink to a darker pink with the DPD. Even the pH tests of the day were color comparisons.

Trouble is, there were some real problems with these. My father was an operator for more than 40 years, but he was colorblind, which made it quite difficult for him to assess conditions in both water and wastewater testing with that era's technology. He was hardly the only one. Eventually, we started to get analog meters that gave us a scale to reference by shining light through samples with DPD added. Now we have digital displays. There’s a higher degree of accuracy, but also a higher cost. We’ve eliminated some of the potential for user error – my father would have had no problem with the numbers popping up on his digital 20 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

From the Field display – but the machines themselves must be calibrated to ensure accurate readings. The old ways had some benefits, comparatively. The new ways do too.

Testing the water is not the only thing that’s changed either.

Back then, to test for lead and copper, we had to identify residences for sampling and testing and give the customer the bottle along with instructions for how to get their sample, hoping they would be followed correctly. When the bottles were returned – if the bottles were returned – we’d fill out the chain of custody, ship the bottles to the lab and pray they got there within the 14-day time frame.

If you attended TRWA and TCEQ’s Lead Service Line Inventory workshops this summer, or if you’ve been paying any attention at all to our industry in the last several years, you know that things have changed on the lead and copper front due to new requirements from the Many water operators struggled to read pH tests and others federal government. No more selective sampling; next that relied on color comparison due to colorblindness. year systems will be required to provide an inventory of all service lines, their make-up and locations, with only a But, if I’m being honest, many of the biggest changes few exceptions. After October 16, 2024, systems will then I’ve seen during my time in this industry aren’t necessarbe required to start replacing 20% of the lead we have ily to do with the ways we test and treat water, but with identified per year. how we survey, manage and safeguard our systems. As systems grow in size and complexity and as old-timers As we’re all dealing with new lead and copper rules, retire and take their institutional knowledge with them, we’ve begun to hear more and more about something asset management has become a real priority. The techwe certainly weren’t talking about forty-plus years ago: nology to identify and catalogue every component of the forever chemicals such as PFAS. We’re still learning about system, tracking their life expectancies and helping plan methodologies for their treatment and renewal; I suspect for replacement timelines, is a game-changer. when someone else looks back from 47 years further on, they’ll be able to point out some big differences in the We’ve also spent the last 40-plus years learning new ways way we address PFAS.

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Quench — 2023 —Issue 4 21

From the Field that things can go wrong for our systems.

miss about the way we used to do things, and things I'm glad we've managed to get rid of. For me, taking time to The computers we use to connect and monitor our sys- remember what those are can be valuable guides both to tem are themselves vulnerable to outside actors, leading where we are today and where we're headed in the future. to requirements that we perform Risk and Resiliency Assessments. Emergency Response Plans ask us to have a broader understanding of the possible calamities that Quentin Turner is an FMT might befall our utilities, as well as a list of measures to Specialist with TRWA. be taken should they occur.

Most recently of all, the troubles spelling from the deep freeze and resulting power outages two years ago, which saw more than half the water systems in the state issue Boil Water Notices and brought about new Emergency Preparedness Plan requirements for systems to have a plan to deliver water at a minimum of 20 psi even in the event of a power outage that lasted more than 24 hours.

When you lay all these changes, and the countless more I didn't even get to in this piece, out together like this at once, it can feel a little overwhelming. Spread out over 47 years, it's been more manageable. There are things I

22 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

AUSTIN LIGHTLE, P.E. Project Manger

W 903.758.2010, X 24 C 903.720.0159 austin@hayesengineering.net

Keep Moving Forward

Make the next move in your career with training classes from TRWA • Live Classes • Instructor-led Virtual Classes • Self-Paced Online Classes

Visit trwa.org/training or call 512-428-5754

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SPOTLIGHT T RWA's Technical Assistance Department consists of nine staff members who provide free training and hands-on assistance to qualifying water and wastewater system boards, councils, employees and consultants. Areas of training and assistance include technical operations, regulatory requirements, managerial issues, financial issues such as rate and fee calculations and planning and energy efficiency assessments.

The Circuit Rider, Wastewater Technician, Energy Efficiency and Manufactured Homes Technical Assistance & Training Programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. TRWA's Environmental Services and Membership departments provide additional technical assistance to Texas water and wastewater systems. If your system is in need of technical assistance, you may contact one of the staff below or fill out a technical assistance request form at trwa.org/assistance and we will direct your request to the staff member best able to assist you.

CirCuit Riders James Smith Circuit Rider (512) 964-9234

William White Asst. Technical Assistance Director/Circuit Rider (512) 964-9234

Paul King Circuit Rider (512) 913-9753

* Please note that in addition to his assigned areas, William White will also be roving statewide to assist systems as needed. In TRWA's District 8, James Smith will assist with Hill, Limestone and Freestone counties, while Paul King will assist with Anderson and Cherokee counties.

24 Quench — 2023— Issue 4

Larry Bell Technical Assistance Director (512) 964-1833

Since 1980, the Circuit Rider Program has been funded by the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA–RD) to provide assistance to small communities for the operation of safe and clean drinking water supplies and compliance with water regulations. TRWA’s three Circuit Riders are in the field every day helping small cities with less than 10,000 population, nonprofit water supply corporations and water districts with a wide variety of technical assistance issues.

They provide hands-on training to board members, office staff and operators. They can help with all aspects of water utility operations, management, compliance and rates. They also assist utilities with evaluating alternative technological solutions and recommend operational improvements.

Circuit Riders can also provide leak detection and meter flow testing services upon request. If you would like a visit from your Circuit Rider, use our coverage map to determine who is assigned to your area, and give them a call!

Wastewater Technicians TRWA has two Wastewater Technicians in the field who assist wastewater systems across the state. They provide training workshops that address topics like wastewater operations and maintenance, testing procedures, rule updates, management, security and other topics as needed or requested that relate to wastewater. They also provide onsite technical assistance to small cities that have less than 10,000 population, non-profit wastewater systems and districts. This assistance deals with operations, maintenance, collection systems, treatment facilities, rates, management, rule changes, state laws and more.

Louis Booth Wastewater Technician (512) 221-7477

Nathan Cantrell Wastewater Technician (512) 924-7158

Energy Efficiency Charles Perkins Energy Efficiency Circuit Rider (512) 964-2108

TRWA has one Energy Efficiency Circuit Rider on staff who specializes in conducting energy efficiency assessments at qualifying small water and wastewater systems and making recommendations that will affect their bottom line. Through this program, our Energy Efficiency Circuit Rider will work with your system to compile a report of recommended energy savings. This program is available to Texas water production and water distribution systems, as well as wastewater treatment and wastewater collection systems serving a population of 10,000 or less.

EPA Training & Technical Assistance Through this EPA-funded program, TRWA is able to provide on-site and classroom training to cities with less than 10,000 population, investor-owned utilities, non-profit WSCs and districts. This training and on-site assistance covers all topics and rules addressed in the Federal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) rules relating to water systems, including Compliance with Disinfection Byproducts, Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, Board Member training, Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulations and more. These training sessions are approved by the TCEQ for water operator renewal credit hours.

Trey Daywood EPA Training & Technical Assistance Specialist (512) 806-6171

Manufactured Homes TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & TRAINING The Manufactured Homes Technical Assistance and Training Program (MHTAT) is designed to address the specific challenges faced by rural systems serving manufactured home communities through hands-on, on-site technical assistance and training; assistance with management, operations, maintenance and sustainability and assistance with the preparation of applications for water and wastewater disposal loans and grants. This project is headed up by Larry Bell and Technical Project Specialist Don Barker.

Quench — 2023 —Issue 4 25

TRWA News

Texas Rural Water Foundation Student Scholarships The application window for the 2024-2025 Texas Rural Water Fo u n d a t i o n ( T R W F ) S t u d e n t Scholarships opens September 19, 2023.

are interested in the water and wastewater industry. Mr. Frank Dwayne Jekel served on TRWA’s Board of Directors for 30 years from 1982–2012. He was a water industry leader who owned and Each year, TRWF awards high operated D&L Service Company in school seniors and current college Cameron, Texas. Mr. Jekel’s legacy or graduate students its student and mission will continue thanks scholarships, which recognize to the generosity of his family. In and assist qualified individuals in the 2023-2024 award year, this their pursuit of higher education recipient was awarded $3,000. in a field that supports rural Texas.

In addition, the TRWF Legacy The program is designed to help Scholarship received $2,500 for awardees offset the cost of tuition, the 2023-2024 school year. This fees, books and/or room and scholarship is funded by past/ board by awarding funds directly current board members of the to the student upon proof of enroll- Texas Rural Water Association, ment. The number of annual schol- including Kent Watson, Chris Boyd, arships and the amount awarded Charles Beseda, Allen Knight, Dave is based upon the number of quali- McMurry, Brian MacManus and fied applicants and the amount of Leahmon Bryant. It is awarded to funds available. In the 2023-2024 students who exhibit exceptional award year, eighteen scholarships leadership skills and potential. totaling $27,500 were awarded. Applicants wishing to be considWe appreciate the generosity of ered for this scholarship need to our 2022-2023 sponsors Hawkins, meet additional criteria and comHydroPro Solutions and RESPEC plete an additional essay focusing for their support of the Scholarship on leadership or volunteerism.

Program. We also appreciate the generosity of our members who Who Should Apply donate each year to our Foundation during their dues renewals, which The TRWF Board is particularly indirectly fund these scholarships. terested in supporting students who seek a career relating to the water Each year, the Dwayne Jekel and/or wastewater industry or a Scholarship is awarded to the high- career that will support rural Texas. est scoring applicant. Thanks to an They also encourage applications endowment set up by the Jekel fam- from veterans seeking higher educaily, the Dwayne Jekel Scholarship tion in an area that will benefit rural continues to benefit students who Texas. Former student scholarship 26 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

recipients are also invited to apply for a continued scholarship.

Recipients of student scholarships are required to provide proof of fulltime enrollment each semester for which the scholarship is awarded at an accredited institution of higher learning. Payment will be dispersed directly to the student upon proof of enrollment. Scholarships are dispersed in two installments over the course of the school year.

How to Apply The application and full eligibility requirements can be found on our online application platform.

Starting on September 19, you can access this platform by visiting our website. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, please direct them to www. tr wa.org/StudentScholarships All applications must be submitted in full by 5 p.m. on February 5, 2024. Email foundation@ tr wa.org with any questions.

We encourage you to share this opportunity with your peers and community members who may benefit from one of these scholarships!

A

E

E XCELL F O S D EN AR C W

TRWA News

Nominate your star performers for TRWA's Awards of Excellence Individual Awards Our individual awards were created to recognize the shining stars of our member utilities, honoring their spirit and commitment in support of their system and the larger community.

Individual awards are given in the following categories: The Excellence in System Management award recognizes any manager of a member utility who exemplifies exceptional leadership and oversight skills. Eligible nominees include general managers, superintendents, assistant general managers, system managers, etc.

We want to hear about what makes these leaders stand out!

The Excellence in Administration award is meant for office personnel whose dedication keep their utility’s office administration running smoothly on a day-to-day basis. Nominees for this award may include office managers, administrative assistants, bookkeepers, accounting clerks, customer service representatives, secretaries, receptionists, etc. Take this opportunity to appreciate the unsung heroes of your utility's office.

The Excellence in Operations award is designed to recognize

any personnel who are instrumental in the technical operations of your utility. Nominees may include any operator, instrument or maintenance technician, field manager, plant manager, utility service worker, etc. whose expertise and hard work are an invaluable asset to your system.

efforts to improve your system? Did you successfully launch a grassroots campaign or rural water political action activity? Tell us about it!

Submit today!

Get started on your nomination now Don’t miss your chance to recognize and submit it online at trwa.org/ an employee or coworker for awards for individual awards and for working tirelessly to help your system trwa.org/systemawards system awards.

While anyone can excel. nominate an individual or a system, please remember eligibility is System Awards limited to TRWA members and their employees. Former award winners We also give out two system-wide are not eligible. All entries must be awards each year. The Small submitted or postmarked by January System Excellence award honors 29, 2024 to be considered. a deserving system serving 1,500 or fewer connections, and the All award winners will be honored Large System Excellence award during the Awards Ceremony at recognizes a system serving more RuralWaterCon in March and will than 1,500 connections. be featured in the spring issue of this magazine. Individual winners Your nomination for either award is an will each receive a $500 prize opportunity to showcase whatever and a commemorative plaque. it is that sets your system apart and The system-wide winners will share your accomplishments with each receive a $1,000 prize and your industry peers who can learn commemorative plaque. If you have from your successful ideas. Are you any questions about the awards employing innovative technologies process, or if you are interested in or processes? Did you do something sponsoring an award, please contact special to engage with your membership@trwa.org. community? Did you make significant Quench — 2023 — Issue 4 27

TRWA Briefs Join TRWA for the Office Professionals Conference in Frisco October 5-6

Come learn ways to keep your system running smoothly and efficiently at TRWA's Office Professionals Conference, held October 5-6 at the Embassy Suites Frisco.

rate as well as complimentary breakfast. Use the link provided in your conference registration confirmation email to book your rooms in the conference block at the TRWA rate.

Get tips on working with TxDOT, GIS mapping, up- This year for the first time we're also incorporating dating your tariff and service policies, social media a Silent Auction at the event to raise money for the and more.

Rural Water PAC. Please bring unique or locally sourced items to donate at the event for inclusion in The Embassy Suites Frisco is located at 7600 John the auction. Supporting the Rural Water PAC helps Q Hammons Drive in Frisco. Conference attendees TRWA achieve its legislative goals in Austin and staying at the hotel will receive a discounted parking Washington, D.C.

Visit trwa.org/opc23 to register

Advertiser Index Axis Construction/Kasco.....................................9 Childress Engineers............................................21 CoBank..............................................................18 Hayes Engineering.............................................22 HydroPro..........................................................18

Join the conversation at: www.facebook.com/TexasRuralWaterAssn 28 Quench — 2022 2023 — Issue 1 4

J.F. Fontaine & Associates.................................. 13 Russell Drilling Co., Inc.......................................21 SAMCO............................................................ ..11 Smith Pump Co., Inc………………...…………………..17 Texas Aquastore.................................................19

Find us at @TexasRuralWater for industry and legislative news relevant to you!

Autumn Area Meetings Find a TRWA Area Meeting near you and join us for training, networking, lunch and door prizes.

All are welcome to attend, so feel free to invite systems that aren't members to come see what TRWA is all about.

For more information and to register for the meetings, please visit www.trwa.org/district-meetings.

September 14 Lindale September 19 Van Horn October 10 Frisco October 17 Lake Jackson October 24 McAllen November 14 El Campo November 28 Waco December 5 Abilene

Sign up for TRWA's e-newsletters!

Thank you for reading Quench! We strive to keep you informed about the multitude of trainings, programs and resources the Texas Rural Water Association has to offer our members that help them stay on top of our ever-changing industry.

But to stay up to date on everything TRWA offers, you need to make sure you and others at your system are receiving TRWA's two weekly e-newsletters, the Weekly Pipeline on Thursdays and the Training Pipeline on Tuesdays.

The Weekly Pipeline features all the latest TRWA news as well as upcoming deadlines, updates from TCEQ, the EPA, and NRWA. It's your source for everything TRWA is doing, as well as more insight into what's going on at both the state and national levels.

The Training Pipeline has a special focus on the wide variety of different continuing education opportunities available to water and wastewater professionals, from TRWA's own in-person and virtual training seminars to events put on by our partners or other groups that we think our members would benefit from.

To sign up for these, visit trwa.org/page/eNews and click the links to subscribe. (If you have signed up but aren't receiving these, check your spam folder to make sure they aren't getting sorted out.) Get the most out of your TRWA membership by making sure you don't miss anything.

Get in touch with TRWA Do you have a TRWA success story? Tell it to us by completing the short form at trwa.org/accolades. Your story about how TRWA has assisted you or your system will help us share with other utilities the benefits they can receive from TRWA. Plus, the state and federal agencies who help fund many of our programs use these types of letters in their evaluations of how our association is performing. By providing these for us, you help expand the services TRWA offers.

Alternatively, if you're looking for help for your water or wastewater system but don't know specifically who the best person to reach out to might be, send a message to us at trwa.org/assistance and we'll make sure it gets routed to the proper person or department.

Quench — 2023 — Issue 4 29

Additional LSLI Resources

TRWA's 2023 Apprenticeship Class

Our thanks go out to everyone who attended or helped us put on one of the TRWA and TCEQ Lead Service Line Inventory Workshops earlier this year. We blanketed the state this spring and summer, offering 25 different opportunities for water systems to discuss the challenges and best practices that come with completing their LSLI and get one-on-one help from qualified experts.

The last of these workshops was held in August, but if you're still looking for help with the LSLI or other Lead and Copper Rule Revision questions, you can visit our resource page at trwa.org/ lcr. Included there is a video of the virtual LSLI workshop, recorded in Georgetown on May 24.

If you missed out on the chance to attend any of the sessions statewide, you can watch the video to catch up.

If you need further LSLI assistance, contact TRWA at trwa.org/assistance or email TCEQ at FMT@ tceq.texas.gov.

So far this year TRWA has welcomed four additional operators into its Registered Apprenticeship Program. They include: • Noah Hinojosa, South Texas Water Authority • John Marez, South Texas Water Authority • Ronnie Rivers, City of Rockdale • Ryan Spencer, City of Rockdale These new apprentices will have the opportunity to combine on-the-job training with their employers with related technical instruction provided by TRWA to give themselves an accelerated start into their careers in the water and wastewater industries.

By the time the program is completed, participating apprentices will have earned their Class D Water or Wastewater and Class C Water or Wastewater licenses, as well as their CSI license.

Visit trwa.org/RAP to learn more about apprenticeship and how you can be a part of the next class.

Salvage Your Scrap to support the Texas Rural Water Foundation As part of America Recycles Day on November 15, TRWA encourages rural water and wastewater systems to join the Salvage Your Scrap initiative to raise money for the Texas Rural Water Foundation and TRWA's Student Scholarship Program.

level by collecting scrap from their community, engaging their customers and providing them with a valuable service. Last year, South Rains raised $1,100 and donated it to the foundation

All systems who donate a check to the Foundation’s ‘Salvage Your The Salvage Your Scrap initiative Scrap” by December 31 will be elichallenges utilities to tap into their gible to be entered into a drawing resources by cleaning up their sys- for a feature in Quench in 2024. tems, collecting as much scrap as they can to recycle with their local The Student Scholarship Program vendor and donating the proceeds was established to recognize and back to TRWF. Some systems, like assist qualified individuals in their South Rains SUD, take it to another pursuit of a higher education and 30 Quench — 2023 — Issue 4

a potential career in the water or wastewater industry. It helps offset the costs of tuition, fees, books, and/or room and board. The number of annual scholarships awarded, and the amount of each scholarship is based on the number of qualified applicants and amount of funds in the TRWF Scholarship Fund. Last year, 18 students were awarded scholarships totaling $27,500!

Visit trwa.org/page/scrap or email foundation@trwa.org for more information on the program, including how to participate and donate.

The Months Ahead Here's a look at a small sample of the events TRWA has scheduled for the next two months. To see more trainings, regional meetings, conferences and more, visit www.trwa.org/event_calendar

SEPTEMBER 2023

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Water Laboratory in Riverside & Groundwater Production in San Antonio

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September 19 Area Meeting in Van Horn Visit trwa.org/area-meetings to see full a schedule

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October 5-6 Office Professionals Conference in Frisco

October 17-19

Groundwater Production in Gainesville

Quench — 2023 — Issue 4 31

1616 Rio Grande| Austin, TX 78701-1122 Telephone: (512) 472-8591 | Fax: (512) 472-5186 www.trwa.org