T exas W ater U tilities
JOURNAL
VOLUME 27
JANUARY 2017
"Proudly Serving Education Excellence since 1918"
NUMBER 1
2017
UPCOMING TWUA REGIONAL SCHOOL Date
Event
Primary Contact
Exhibits Contact
February 7th-‐9th
Far West Texas Region Ft. Stockton
Norma Clark (432) 528-‐1608
Norma Clark (432) 528-‐1608
February 26th – Mar. 1st
TWUA Annual School Corpus Christi
David Moore 512-‐279-‐8125
Norma Clark (432) 528-‐1608
March 21st-‐ 23rd
Panhandle Regional School Amarillo
Cindy Moss (806) 378-‐3019
Ruben Arias (806 674-‐4834
April 24th – 27th
Southeast Texas Regional School Beaumont
Patrick Walters (979) 248-‐7012
Patrick Gray (713) 637-‐8835 Ext. 306
May 8th – 11th
Central West Texas Regional School Abilene
Kenny Hutchins (325) 676-‐6429
Mickey Chaney (325) 548-‐2237
May 15th – 18th
North Central Texas Regional School Arlington
Charly Angadicheril (817) 392-‐8299
Jon Mahoney (979) 721-‐2261
June 5th – 8th
Central Texas Regional School Killeen
Charlotte Doran (254) 750-‐8495
Peggy Smith (830) 598-‐2424 Ext. 309
July 10th – 13th
Southwest Texas Regional School Laredo
Tony Moreno (956) 795-‐2620
Lynn Short (361) 485-‐3381
August 1st – 3rd
Permian Basin Regional School Odessa
Norma Clark (432) 528-‐1608
Norma Clark (432) 528-‐1608
th st August 28 – 31 East Texas Regional School Tyler
Mike Norris (903) 939-‐8278
Mike Norris (903) 939-‐8278
November 6th – 9th
West Texas Regional School Lubbock
Matt Kerley (806) 775-‐2624
Bill Boyd (806) 775-‐3415
2 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
January 2017
In This Edition: President Message...............................4
TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL (ISSN 1051-709X) is published monthly by the Texas Water Utilities Association, located at 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 112 West, Austin, Texas 78723-1093, for engineers, operators, managers, laboratory technicians, customer service personnel, and other professionals employed in, or interested in, the water and/or wastewater industry.
I encourage you to stay or become active in your monthly district meetings. When you place a pencil to it, there is no more cost effective method for continuing education. Decision Makers, I want to challenge you to get your new hires involved in the monthly district meetings.
Five dollars of each annual membership dues payment to the Texas Water Utilities Association pays for a subscription. Non-Member subscription price: USA $50 per year; $4.20 per single copy; $60 per year outside USA. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, TX.
In The News .........................................8 How to build a strong succession plan for your workforce
The Texas Water Utilities Association is wholly independent, and is not affiliated with the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation, or any other National organization. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL, 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 112 W., Austin, TX 78723-1093. TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL is not responsible for facts and/or opinions expressed by contributors or in advertisements herein. Editorials and comments do not necessarily represent the official policy of the Texas Water Utilities Association. All inquiries should be directed to: Texas Water Utilities Association, 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 112 W, Austin, TX 78723-1093, phone 512/459-3124. Any material accepted for publication is subject to revision and editing at the discretion of the publisher. All advertising in the TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL is subject to approval of the publisher. Learn more about T.W.U.A. at our Web site: www.twua.org
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: Donny Carrasco, TWUA President Allen Schreiber, Chair of Management Chad Jameson, President Elect George Glispin, Vice President Tony Salinas, Second Past President Mario Zanelli, Ex Officio Russell Hamilton, Executive Director
_______________________________ Front Cover Photo Courtesy of: Johnson County FWSD, Texas December 2016
Field News...........................................26 Widespread Plastic Found in Great Lakes Tributaries
ADVERTISERS: Classified Ads..................................................................................... 24 Ana-Lab............................................................................................... 5 OEI................................................................................................... 19 Global Treat....................................................................................... 23 Hartwell Environmental Corporation..................................................... 19 Jim Cox............................................................................................... 7 LCRA................................................................................................... 5 Samco Leak Detection........................................................................ 23 Underwater Services, LLC................................................................... 29 RG3.................................................................................................. 30 Smith Pump Company, Inc............................................ Inside Back Cover Magna Flow...........................................................................Back Cover
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES: TWUA Training Schedule......................................................... 16
Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 3
President's Message by Donny Carrasco, City of Lubbock
My timing has never been the best. As I write this, we are between Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, my President’s letter will appear in the TWUA Journal after the New Year starts. Please forgive my tardy wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This time of year, always brings back warm memories of times gone by and love ones long gone. A simpler time when families were close. We shared one car, we shared one phone, black mounted on the wall with a rotary dial. We watched three channels on one television a 27-inch console. The tree was real and the decorations were glass. The meaning of Christmas wasn’t hidden under black Friday sales or listening to “seasonal” music starting the day after Halloween. There was no Elf on a shelf. Everyone said Merry Christmas. No one was offended by a nativity scene. Anyway, before I miss another one, happy Martin Luther King Jr. day. What I see as change(s) for the 2017 year. The Pre-Approval for TCEQ exams will require more effort from those who wish to obtain or advance a water or wastewater license. From my understanding, regardless of where the exam is administered, the APPLICANT MUST fill out the electronic forms and pay the $111.00 fee 60-days prior to the exam date. When the pre-approval discussions first began related to this change in application process, 30-days prior to exam date was thrown out. Then it was suggested that TCEQ staff would need more time to process, so 45-days prior became the target. Now with the program beginning it is felt that in some cases 45 days could become an issue so the suggestion is to push the 60-day prior timeline just so those who test at the conclusion of the TWUA Regional Training Events, will have ample opportunity to comply with all the submittal of paperwork and be approved to challenge a state operator’s exam. The word from the state is simply, we have enacted new processes for exam applications and beginning March 1, 2017 all applications must be electronic and applicants must be preapproved. The water and wastewater industry over the years has been one of last minute decisions. Budgets, supervisor’s approval, purchase orders, travel, and last minute substitutions has been the norm. TWUA encourages early registration and 4 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
take advantage of any discounts but we will always accept last minute registrations and even walks up for our educational offerings. The change we need to be talking about and assisting others with is the Electronic Preapproval process for challenging a state exam. Not all staff members have company email or even access to computers or the internet, let alone a credit card to pay the application fee. As a supervisor or decision maker, I ask you to become aware of this change. Go to the TCEQ website https://www.tceq.texas.gov/licensing and click on the “App for Licensing” and if you have any questions, call TCEQ Occupational Licensing at 512-239-6133. Other changes for 2017 – TWUA will have 3 new full time staff instructors beginning January 1, 2017. The association wants to continue to provide the best classroom instruction possible. We do not anticipate a significant change in our program or in the use of contract instructors. And we want to recognize and thank all those who have assisted in advancing the TWUA Training program. For those who have not been a part of the TCEQ Instructor Review Process, let me just say the state is looking at each instructor’s qualifications and each class they are identified to teach. Some of those who assisting with classroom instruction in the past, are finding documentation of “actual hands on experience” a challenge. TWUA wanted to be in a position where we would have instructors that are qualified and approved to teach the widest variety of subjects. If you have training needs and would be interested in scheduling classroom training at your work place, please contact David Moore at TWUA (512-2798125) The Association’s Computer Based Training is growing. The ability to obtain TCEQ operator training from a computer terminal in the daily work place is becoming more popular. The much anticipated “On Demand” or used paced version is being finalized and made ready for TCEQ approval, so be watching for that. Districts are a huge part of the association and I encourage you to stay or become active in your monthly district meetings. When you place a pencil to it, there is no more cost effective method for continuing education. Decision Makers, I want to challenge you to get your new hires involved in the monthly district meetings. They are a great source for sharing information and making contacts. Plus, the district is always looking for those who want to get more involved and become officers. Hope to see you in Corpus February 26th for the 99th Annual School.
January 2017
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January 2017
Contact Us: 888-367-8982
Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org We’reTexas Here to Help
5
Central Office News by Russell Hamilton, TWUA Executive Director Father for grace, forgiveness, and for all that you do and all that we take for granted, we pause and say thank you. For the rainfall that Texas has received we give you praise. The effects of this drought are far from over for some, while flooding for others, so we ask that you would redirect clouds and rainfall to these areas of need. Father, no task or obstacle is too great for you, so we ask that you fill our lakes and cause our streams to flow with abundance, while leading us to be a more appreciative society. One that does not take the precious gift of water or those who treat it for granted - Amen. As of December 5th, 2016 – In West Texas, Lake Ivie is sitting at 23.4 % (+ 0.3 %). Lake Spence is sitting at 13.4 % (-0.1 %). Lake Sweetwater is sitting at 21.5 % (+0.2 %). White River is sitting at 25.3 % (- 0.3 %). Panhandle, Lake Meredith is sitting at 23.3 % (-0.3 %) and Greenbelt is at 26.9 % (-0.1 %). If you want to get a complete look at lake levels, go to www.waterdatafortexas.org. Seems like such a short time ago, I was provided the opportunity for becoming the Executive Director for TWUA. That was 10 years ago. I must admit this has been a great opportunity and I am truly grateful and blessed. I have confirmed my belief – Water and Wastewater folks are just good people!! Proud to be associated with this group of professionals. Thank you to the management committee and the members who have offered their support and encouragement. The association continues to provide a variety of training opportunities for the water and wastewater operators and those desiring to be a licensed operator. Classroom and live interaction is no doubt the most effective and TWUA will continue to provide this type of training through the regional events and specific classroom events. For those who travel and time becomes a problem, we have the approved computer based training as an option. And the computer based training will be enhanced shortly to provide the user the ability to access approved training 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Watch you email and the journal, we will let you know when that option is approved and available. In my opinion the District Meetings continue to be the best and most economical source for continuing education hours. As you know it takes 30 hours to renew a license and the renewal window is 3 years. In a lot of areas, the districts are complying with meeting requirements and operators are able to obtain 2-hours for each meeting they attend. The greater benefit of district meetings for me, is the ability to associate with fellow operators and build contacts and share knowledge. You never know when a problem might arise that you need assistance. It is a lot easier to ask for assistance from a neighboring system when you have a contact or someone who shares the same duties. I would like to challenge the department heads and decision makers around the state to enroll the new hires in TWUA and encourage the participation in district meeting. If you have not been to annual school lately . . . well, I want to extend an invitation for you to come to Corpus and be a part of 6 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
the training and the business side of TWUA. There is a lot of information in the journal and available regarding classes offered, but if you have a question, please feel free to call Central Office. If you are attending Annual School and hope to challenge an exam at the conclusion of class – PLEASE GO TO THE TCEQ WEBSITE AND COMPLETE THE ONLINE PREAPPROVAL PROCESS. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/licensing/eapp TCEQ has enacted a new process whereby those challenging a state exam must electronically submit an application and pay the fee. This process needs to happen 60-days prior to the training event. For Annual School this means January 5th 2017 is the last day to submit the electronic application. The Far West Texas Region in Fort Stockton is back on the schedule and with the participation from this region, the school will happen February 7th – 9th. Since this is a small regional school and it happens prior to March 2017, there will not be a requirement to obtain preapproval in order to challenge an exam. In 2018 the preapproval process will include this regional event but not for 2017. Norman and Tom encourage those in the Far West Texas Region to come to Fort Stockton and take advantage. They will take last minute registrations for those who are just not sure about work obligations. The Panhandle Regional School in Amarillo is a little earlier this year. The school begins on March 21st – March 23rd. This means the last day to submit the TCEQ online exam application is January 26th. The Panhandle Board does a great job and the event always gets good feedback from the students and vendors. Just to be clear about the TCEQ preapproval. I have spoken to TCEQ and there will be NO wiggle room related to preapproval. If anyone fails to submit the paperwork as required, they will be denied access to the state exam, until such time when the information is submitted and approved. This will apply to all training providers and arguably the most effected will be the TWUA Regions. Before we go down the road of hating on TCEQ, let me just say, this process has been in place for years for those who have challenged the “A” exams. All information is submitted, verified, and approved prior to allowing access into the exam room. So yes, it is a little different from what has been happening in the past. But I do not see this preapproval process as an attempt to deny or restrict anyone who meets all the qualifications from obtaining an operator’s license. Will it mean there is a little more responsibility placed on the applicant? Absolutely. Will it mean that in some cases the supervisors will need to assist? Absolutely. Will it mean those who are attending training and hoping to test will need to watch deadline preapproval dates? Absolutely. If you have concerns, please forward those concerns to the TCEQ staff at 512-239-6133. Here’s to wishing 2017 is good to you and yours. Remember – We do not need all operators in Texas to be a member of TWUA – JUST YOU ! ! ! !
January 2017
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January 2017
Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 7
In the News
HOW TO BUILD A STRONG SUCCESSION PLAN FOR YOUR WORKFORCE by Nicole B. Johnson,GOV LOOP
To be clear, succession planning isn’t an HR issue; it’s a workforce issue for everyone, and it’s also hard work, said Karen Niparko, Executive Director of the Office of Human Resources (OHR) for the city and county of Denver.
happen. Niparko said one Denver agency could lose 16 percent of its workforce next year if all retirement-eligible employees decide to move on. That’s where data analytics comes in. Using analytics, Denver found that on average, people typically retire within two years of becoming eligible. Denver still needs to plan, but granular data is helping the city create a more effective readiness and workforce strategy.
It isn’t easy knowing that employees you groom for future roles could resign and pursue other offers. But managers can’t be paralyzed by that fear because employee development is one of the most important steps they can take to increase retention and make people feel like they are contributing.
Start preparing readiness candidates and work with leaders to see who could potentially fill positions before they become vacant. What type of development are those candidates receiving, and have you spoken with them about their aspirations, skills and skills gaps that would preclude them from moving into certain roles?
The question every manager, HR professional and senior leader must consider, Niparko said: Are they effectively planning for readiness candidates who are able to step in when someone retires or leaves the organization?
Create a competency-based learning and development model for individual contributors, supervisors and agency heads. The model should make clear what the competencies are for each role.
Succession planning is one of those critical tasks that organizations know they need to do. But few do it well — if at all.
But here’s part of the challenge: “In a private company, you can identify internal talent, place them on a development path for succession, and when the job opens you can promote them,” she said. “In the public sector, with competitive hiring, when you have an opening you commit to post it and make it available to everyone and select the most qualified candidate. If your leaders have been coaching for development and growth, they will have developed a pool of internal employees who can compete well for the position.” Although challenging, proper readiness planning is not impossible. Here’s how Denver gets the job done. First identify what Karen Niparko calls your exposure. What is the impact if key employees retire or resign? How would your agency respond to these events? What future plans are in place? For example, does your agency anticipate that the workforce will grow? Will new skills be required?
Expose employees to information that extends beyond their daily tasks. For example, Denver encourages employees to develop stronger skills by getting involved in city initiatives and committees outside their department. The city has a budget policy called dual incumbency that requires a partnership between agencies and the city’s budget office. Let’s say an employee decides to retire in the next month or two. To ensure knowledge is transferred and disruptions in operations are limited, an agency can use the competitive hiring process to hire or promote an employee who can work alongside the future retiree, glean expertise and prepare to fully take on the role when the retiree leaves. Succession planning is not a canned program, Niparko said. It is specific to an organization. Start the conversation with department leaders and partner with HR. It’s a collaborative process.
Determine what development opportunities are in place for employees. If your organization conducts employee engagement surveys, use that data to gauge sentiments about career opportunities and the ability to be promoted. The number of retirement-eligible employees isn’t the only data agencies must consider. Part of readiness planning is identifying how many people could leave and when that is most likely to 8 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
January 2017
2017 WASHER TOURNAMENT
HER TOS AS
S
W
Everyone is invited to come throw washers and have fun!
T WUA
Washer Tournament Monday, February 27th @ 7:00 p.m. 2 person teams - $10.00 per person entry Omni Hotel (location to be announced)
January 2017
Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 9
T.W.U.A.
Annual School
2017 CASINO NIGHT Prizes! Everyone No matter what skill level, all will have a chance to win! We will draw for prizes every 15 minutes throughout the event.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 7:00 p.m. Omni Hotel Bayview (1st Floor) For more information
Contact: Craig McCoy E-mail:@h2oclarifications.com (thats”o” not 0 in h2oclarifications)
10 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
January 2017
13TH
TEXAS WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION ANNUAL FAR WEST TEXAS REGIONAL SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 7-9, 2017 PECOS COUNTY CIVIC CENTER, 1574 AIRPORT DR., FORT STOCKTON, TX
ACADEMIC OFFERINGS WATER Basic Water Groundwater Production
WASTEWATER Basic Wastewater Wastewater Treatment
WATER/WASTEWATER Utilities Safety Special Topics (pending TCEQ approval) CCC/CSI (20 hrs water, 20 hrs CSI, 20 hrs BPAT
Minimum of 5 students per class required.
10 hrs wastewater)
REGISTRATION FEES
TWUA Member $250 $275
Pre-Registration (until January 27, 2017) On-Site Registration
Non-Member $320 $345
On-Site Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2017. Course Schedule: Tuesday & Wednesday – 8 am to 5 pm; Thursday – 8 am to 12 noon. TCEQ exams will be given at 1:00 on Thursday, February 9th. Anyone wanting to TEST at the conclusion of the training MUST Pre-register electronically with TCEQ 60 days prior to event and pay the $111.00 fee online at the TCEQ website. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/licensing/eapp Registration fees include course materials and refreshments. Lunch will not be provided.
HOTEL INFORMATION
The Candlewood Suites located at 2469 West IH 10 has offered participants of the school a special rate of $94.99 single or $104.99 double. Please contact them at (432) 336-7700 and mention the TWUA Water School when making reservations.
GOLF TOURNAMENT
A Golf Tournament will be held at 12:00 noon on Monday, February 6 at the Desert Pines Golf Course. Cost is $65 per person which includes green fee, cart, and prizes.
POOL & DART TOURNAMENTS
Pool & Dart Tournaments will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7 at Stixx, 1216 N Hwy 285 in Fort Stockton. Cost is $25 per person per tournament. Each tournament is a double elimination, blind draw team event. REGISTRATION FORM Name _________________________________________ Social Security or TCEQ License # ____________________ Address ___________________________________________City __________________ State _____ Zip___________ Daytime Phone _______________________
Representing _____________________________________________
Email Address _______________________________________ Course Selection _____________________________ TWUA Member ____Yes ____No Testing
Member of which TWUA District __________________________________
_____Yes ____No
Credit Card #______________________________________
Exp. Date ________
Security Code ______
Cardholder Name (Printed)______________________________________________________________________ Credit Card Billing Address______________________________________________________________________ Email Address for Receipt ______________________________________________________________________ Payment MUST accompany registration. No purchase orders accepted. No refunds will be made; however, substitutions are allowed. Credit card registrations may be mailed, or faxed to (432) 332-1965. Make checks payable to Permian Basin Regional School, P.O. Box 12604, Odessa, TX, 79768. If you have any questions, please call Norma Clark at (432) 528-1608.
January 2017
Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 11
2017 TWUA 99TH ANNUAL SCHOOL INFORMATION February 26 — March 1, 2017 January 5th 2017 - last dayday to electronically complete the exams!! December 27th 2017 – last to electronically complete theTCEQ TCEQpreapproval preapprovalprocess process for operator operator exams!!
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/licensing/eapp
TWUA Professionals:
We are proud to announce our upcoming 99th Annual School in Corpus Christi, Texas at the American Bank Convention Center. Please mark your calendars and take advantage of our training program and more. Please remember in some cases classroom sizes may be limited.
Hotel Reservation Information: Hotel: Group Code TWUA. Omni Hotel Bayfront will serve as our host hotel again this year. Room rate $161+taxes single rate. For direct information or reservation, please call (800)843-6664 or you can visit www.omnihotel.com for on-line reservations. This information is also located on our website at www.twua.org. Please note group discount reservation cut-off date is February 4, 2017.
Academic Offerings:
All classes are 20-hour training courses. We encourage everyone to attend the General Session on Sunday, February 28th at the Omni Hotel and visit the Exhibitor Area at the American Bank Center on Tuesday. Technical Sessions will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Monday and will end at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
TCEQ Examinations Information: All TCEQ Water and Wastewater exams will be given at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1st.. Class “A” exams and TWUA L.A.S. Voluntary Laboratory Analysts exams will be given Tuesday, F e b r u a r y 2 8 st, at 8:00 a.m. Applications for the “A” exam must be approved prior to Annual School. Approval for an “A” exam takes approximately 60 days. Call TCEQ Occupational Licensing Section for more information. (512)2396133. Payment must be made on-site or prior to testing. Please do not include testing fee with your TWUA registration. Please make check payable to: TCEQ and please allow (45) days for test results to be available on (TCEQ) website. Exam Fees: Water Licensing Exams............................$111 Wastewater Licensing Exams...................$111 TWUA LAS...............................................$105/$150 Pre-registration and payment is also required for the TWUA Voluntary Laboratory Analysts’ Certification Program. Contact David Moore at TWUA Central Office (512)279-8125 for more information. 12 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
MAIL REGISTRATION FORMS TO: Please submit all registration forms with a check or money order payable to: TWUA Central Office, 1106 Clayton Lane Suite #112 West, Austin, Texas 78723. Online registration is available at www.twua.org. All major credit cards are accepted.
November 1st - December 31st Fees: (MEMBER) Pre-Registration Fee: NON-MEMBER Pre-Registration Fee:
January 1st - February 17th Fees: (MEMBER) Pre-Registration Fee: NON-MEMBER Pre-Registration Fee: On-Site (Walk-up) Registration Fee (Member): On-Site Registration Fee (non-member): No Refunds: Attendee substitutions are acceptable if received in
Central Office prior to February 17th, 2017. In other cases, the funds can be used toward a future TWUA course. To receive the above discounts, all payments and registrations must be received by Central Office within the month of said discount. Following this date, on-site registration will be available at the school.
October January 2016 2017
2017 TWUA 99TH ANNUAL SCHOOL REGISTRATION FORM February 26 — March 1, 2017 WATER COURSES
WASTEWATER COURSES
WATER/WASTEWATER COURSE
Special Notes: **These (20 hour courses) are pending TCEQ Approval / All courses are 20 hour credit
Basic Water
Basic Wastewater
Special Topics for Lab Analysts**
Ground Water Production Water Distribution Surface Water II Water Laboratory
Wastewater Treatment Wastewater Collection Activated Sludge Wastewater Laboratory Advance Pretreatment
Water Utilities Management Calculations Chlorinator Maintenance Pump & Pumping Water Utilities Safety Special Topics for Managers** CCC/CSI CS-Utility Relations-No operator Credit
Special Notes: *** These (20 hour courses) are pending TCEQ Approval
TEXAS WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION MEMBERS FEE
Pre-Registration Fee until 12-31-16
Water and/or Wastewater Courses ................................................................$300.00 CSS Utility Relations Course ............................................................................$300.00 LAS Special Topics for Lab Analysts..............................................................$310.00
Non-member
After Jan 1st – Feb 17th
$360.00 $360.00
$325.00 $325.00
$370.00
$335.00
Non-Member
$385.00 $385.00
$395.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DISCOUNTS BEING OFFERED
NOTE: Substitutions ONLY - Refunds Cannot Be Made-Provide complete information for each registrant-(Please Print Legibly) Name:
SS# or License #:
Badge Name (Nickname):
_
Course Selection:
Employer __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:
Email:
City:
TWUA
State:
Member
YES
NO
_
Zip:
Representing
Phone:
(Region,
_
District,
Chapter
Method of Payment: Check (CK) # Cardholder Name: (MasterCard): # Authorizing Signature for Credit Card:
or
Section):
Credit Card: Bill my (Visa)
Exp. Date: _
Security Code:
Zip Code:
Please provide the following information if a receipt is needed:
Attn: Tickets for the following must be purchased individually:
Email:
School Registration Fees (See Above)……………………………………. ................................................................................... $ AA Club Luncheon Ticket - $35 (Monday) ……………………………………. ............................................................................ $ A Club Luncheon Ticket - $35 (Monday) ……………………………………..................................................................................$ Event Parking Pass - $15 (Mon.-Wed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ ____________ Total Enclosed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ ____________
January 2017
_
Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 13
DOUBLE "A" CLUB CALL FOR INDUCTEES
The Double "A" Club will conduct its annual induction of new members at their luncheon on Monday, February 27, 2017, at 12:00 p.m., at the Omni Bayfront Hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas. Membership in this prestigious organization is limited to those who (1) are members of the Association (2) hold an "A" License in both water and wastewater and (3) apply for membership. To apply for induction, simply complete the form below, and mail it to the T.W.U.A. Central Office at 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite #112 West, Austin, TX 78723-1093 or FAX it to 512/459-7124. Name: __________________________________________ SS#: License # ______________________________ Employer: _____________________________________ Daytime Phone Number: (
) __________________
Address: ___________________________________City: ___________________ State ______ Zip: _ "A" License Issue Dates: Water: __________________ Wastewater: _____________________
"A" CLUB CALL FOR INDUCTEES
The "A" Club will conduct their luncheon on Monday, February 27, 2017, at 12:00 p.m., at the Omni Bayfront Hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas. Membership in this prestigious organization is limited to those who (1) are members of the Association, (2) hold an "A" License in either water or wastewater and (3) apply for membership. To apply for induction, simply complete the form below, and mail it to the T.W.U.A. Central Office at 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite #112 West, Austin, TX 78723-1093 or FAX it to 512/459-7124. Name: __________________________________________ SS#: License # ______________________________ Employer: _____________________________________ Daytime Phone Number: (
) ______ -
Address: _____________________________________ City: ________________State________ Zip: "A" License Issue Dates: Water: ____________ Wastewater: _____________
TWENTY-FIVE YEAR CLUB/CALL FOR INDUCTEES
The Association will honor new members of its Twenty-Five Year Club, and present this year's recipients at the TWUA General Session on Sunday, February 26, 2017, in the Ballroom of the Omni Bayfront Hotel Corpus Christi, Texas. Membership is limited to those who (1) are current members of the Association, (2) have been a member for twenty-five or more years and (3) who apply for membership. Years do not have to be consecutive. To apply for induction, simply complete the form below, and mail it to the TWUA Central Office at 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite #112 West, Austin, TX 78723-1093 or FAX it to 512/459-7124. Name: _________________________________________ SS#: License # ______________________________ Employer: _____________________________________Daytime Phone Number: (
) _______ -
Address: _____________________________________ City: _________________State_______ Zip: Region, District, Chapter, Section or other Affiliations: 14 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
January 2017
Event
Annual School
60 Days Prior
1/5/17
Amarillo 1/26/17 Beaumont 3/2/17 Abilene 3/9/17 Arlington 3/23/17 Killeen 4/13/17 Laredo 5/17/17 Odessa 6/8/17 Tyler 7/6/17 Lubbock 9/14/17
Last Day to Submit Pre-approval Paperwork to TCEQ For Testing @ TWUA Regional Training Events. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/licensing/eapp for questions please contact TCEQ at: 512-239-6133
January 2017
Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 15
TEXAS WATER UTILITIES To register for any TWUA classes – simply complete the registration form and fax to (512)459-7124 or contact TWUA @ 888-367-8982 for additional details. *NOTICE: Due to recent increases for training materials, class costs have Increased. ***Pre-Registration Is defined to mean 14 Days prior to any scheduled event. All registrations received after the pre-registration cutoff date must pay on-site registration fee. We strongly encourage everyone to please pre-register by fax, e-mail, or calling. On-site registrations are welcome but not preferred.
Basic Water TCEQ 0092 Jan 9-11 Tyler Basic Water Jan 9-11 Wylie Basic Water Jan 23-25 Corpus Christi Basic Water Mar 7-9 Waco Basic Water Apr 18-20 San Marcos Basic Water Jun 20-22 Victoria Basic Water Jun 27-29 ON-LINE Basic Water Sept 11-13 Corpus Christi Basic Water Oct 24-26 Beaumont Basic Water Ground Water Production TCEQ 0223 May 1-3 Wylie Ground Water Production Oct 9-11 Corpus Christi Ground Water Production Distribution TCEQ 0605 Feb 1-3 Wylie Water Distribution Feb 6-8 Tyler Water Distribution Feb 13-15 Corpus Christi Water Distribution Mar 14-16 ON-LINE Water Distribution Sep 26-28 Waco Water Distribution Oct 17-19 San Marcos Water Distribution Oct 17-19 Victoria Water Distribution Oct 30-Nov 1 Corpus Christi Water Distribution Nov 14-16 Beaumont Water Distribution Surface Water Production I TCEQ 0942 Jan 10-12 San Marcos Surface Water I Jan 17-19 Victoria Surface Water I Jan 30-Feb 1 Abilene Surface Water I Feb 14-16 Waco Surface Water I Apr 11-13 Tyler Surface Water I May 1-3 Corpus Surface Water I Nov 1-3 Wylie Surface Water I Surface Water Production II TCEQ 0954 Jan 17-19 Waco Surface Water II Jan 24-26 Port Neches Surface Water II Mar 21-23 Victoria Surface Water II May 23-23 Tyler Surface Water II Jun 19-21 Corpus Christi Surface Water II Dec 4-6 Wylie Surface Water II Water Laboratory TECQ 0285 Jun 21-23 Corpus Christi Water Lab Aug 7-9 Wylie Water Lab Basic Wastewater TCEQ 0059 Jan 11-13 Tyler Basic Wastewater Jan 11-13 Wylie Basic Wastewater Jan 24-26 On-line Basic Wastewater Jan 24-26 Waco 16 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org Basic Wastewater Jan 25-27 Corpus Christi Basic Wastewater Feb 7-9 Port Neches Basic Wastewater
20 Hours 14792 CR 192
Water
949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 13101 Leopard 425 Franklin 170 Charles Austin Dr 2902 Bluff twua.org 2726 Holly 1305 Langham 20 Hours
Water
949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 2726 Holly 20 Hours
Water
949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 14792 CR 192 13101 Leopard twua.org 425 Franklin 501 E Hopkins 2902 Bluff 13101 Leopard 1305 Langham 24 Hours 170 Charles Austin Dr 2902 Bluff 4209 E Lake Rd 425 Franklin 14792 CR 192 2726 Holly 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 20 Hours 425 Franklin 1005 Merriman 2902 Bluff 14792 CR 192 2726 Holly 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 20 Hours 2726 Holly 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 20 Hours 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 TWUA.org 425 Franklin 13101 Leopard 1005 Merriman
Water
Water
Water
Wastewater
January 2017
Jun 19-21 Dec 4-6
Corpus Christi Surface Water II 2726 Holly Wylie Surface Water II 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 Water Laboratory TECQ 0285 20 Hours Water Jun 21-23 Corpus Christi Water Lab 2726 Holly Aug 7-9 Wylie Water Lab 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 Basic Wastewater TCEQ 0059 20 Hours Wastewater 20 HOUR CLASSES : (PRE-REGISTRATION) $250 MEMBER $300 NON-MEMBER (ON-SITE ) $300 MEMBER $350 NON-MEMBER - 24 HOUR CLASSES: Jan 11-13 Tyler Basic Wastewater (PRE-REGISTRATION) $310 MEMBER $360 NON-MEMBER ON-SITE) $360 MEMBER $410 NON-MEMBER You can register on-line at http://www.twua.org/ MANY VARY training.php training class. *ON-LINE COURSES PRICE Jan 11-13 for your nextWylie Basic Wastewater 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 Jan 24-26 On-line Basic Wastewater TWUA.org Jan 24-26 Waco Basic Wastewater 425 Franklin Jan 25-27 Corpus Christi Basic Wastewater 13101 Leopard Feb 7-9 Port Neches Basic Wastewater 1005 Merriman Feb Abilene Basic Wastewater 4209 Lake Rd Sept13-15 13-15 Corpus Christi 2726 E Holly Feb Carrollton Basic Wastewater 2711 Nimitz Dec 21-23 12-14 San Marcos 801 MLK Drive Aug 15-17 Victoria Basic 2902 Bluff Wastewater Treatment TCEQWastewater 0437 20 Hours Wastewater Jan 10-12 Port Neches Wastewater Treatment 1005 Merriman Mar 28-30 Tyler Wastewater Treatment 14792 CR 192 Apr 10-12 Corpus Christi Wastewater Treatment 2726 Holly Jun 28-30 Wylie Wastewater Treatment 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 Wastewater Collection TCEQ 0080 20 Hours Wastewater Jan 30-Feb1 Wylie Wastewater Collection 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 Feb 8-10 Tyler Wastewater Collection 14792 CR 192 Feb 15-17 Corpus Christi Wastewater Collection 13101 Leopard Mar 21-23 Carrollton Wastewater Collection 2711 Nimitz Sep 5-7 San Marcos Wastewater Collection 170 Charles Austin Dr Nov 1-3 Corpus Christi Wastewater Collection 13101 Leopard Nov 14-16 Waco Wastewater Collection 425 Franklin Wastewater Laboratory TCEQ 0081 20 Hours Wastewater Aug 14-16 Corpus Christi Wastewater Lab 2726 Holly Aug 28-30 Wylie Wastewater Lab 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 Activated Sludge TCEQ 0009 20 Hours Wastewater Oct 4-6 Wylie Activated Sludge 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 Utilities Management TCEQ 0550 20 Hours W/WW Mar 28-30 San Marcos Utilities Management 170 Charles Austin Dr Jun 26-28 Wylie Utilities Management 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 Jul 17-19 Corpus Christi Utilities Management 2726 Holly Sep 19-21 ON-LINE Utilities Management twua.org Oct 10-12 Waco Utilities Management 425 Franklin Dec 12-14 Beaumont Utilities Management 1305 Langham Rd Pumps and Pumping TCEQ 0430 20 Hours W/WW Mar 6-8 Wylie Pumps & Pumping 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 Apr 25-27 Carrollton Pumps & Pumping 2711 Nimitz May 9-11 Port Artur Pumps & Pumping 1101 HO Mills Jul 18-20 Waco Pumps & Pumping 425 Franklin Jul 19-21 Corpus Christi Pumps & Pumping 2726 Holly Nov 14-16, 2017 Victoria Pumps & Pumping 2902 Bluff Dec 11-13 Corpus Christi Pumps & Pumping 13101 Leopard Utilities Safety TCEQ 0426 20 Hours W/WW Jan 24-26 Carrollton Utilities Safety 2711 Nimitz Feb 21-23 Lindale Utilities Safety 212 N Commerce Mar 8-10 Wylie Utilities Safety 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 Mar 15-17 Corpus Christi Utilities Safety 13101 Leopard Continued on next page Apr 4-6 Waco Utilities Safety 425 Franklin Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 17 AprJanuary 11-13 2017 ON-LINE Utilities Safety twua.org May 9-11 Tyler Utilities Safety 14792 CR 192 Aug 15-17 San Marcos Utilities Safety 170 Charles Austin Dr.
TRAINING SCHEDULE
Utilities Safety TCEQ 0426 Jan 24-26 Carrollton Utilities Safety Feb 21-23 Lindale Training Schedule (continued from page 17)Utilities Safety Mar 8-10 Wylie Utilities Safety Mar 15-17 Corpus Christi Utilities Safety Apr 4-6 Waco Utilities Safety Apr 11-13 ON-LINE Utilities Safety May 9-11 Tyler Utilities Safety Aug 15-17 San Marcos Utilities Safety Sep 12-14 Beaumont Utilities Safety Sep 12-14 Waco Utilities Safety Oct 11-13 Corpus Christi Utilities Safety Valve & Hydrant Maintenance TCEQ 0961 Oct Wylie Valve Mar 2-4 13-15 Corpus Christi Valve & & Hydrant Hydrant Maintenance Maintenance Utilities Calculations TCEQ 0108 Apr 18-20 Victoria Valve & Hydrant Maintenance Feb New Braunfels Utilities May 14-16 23-25 San Marcos Valve & Calculations Hydrant Maintenance Apr 12-14 Corpus Christi Utilities Calculations May 16-18 Victoria Utilities Calculations Jul 25-27 ON-LINE Utilities Calculations Oct 24-26 Waco Utilities Calculations Dec 6-8 Wylie Utilities Calculations Chlorinator Maintenance TCEQ 0124 Aug 8-11 Wylie Chlorinator Maint/Disinfection Sep 19-21 Victoria Chlorinator Maint/Disinfection Customer Service Inspection/ TCEQ 0173,0043 Customer Service Inspection/ TCEQ 0173,0044 Mar7-9 Lindale CSI/CCC May 3-5 Wylie CSI/CCC May 31-Jun 1 ON_LINE CCC 10 Hrs Jul 25-27 Victoria CSI/CCC Aug 16-18 Corpus Christi CSI/CCC Aug 30-Sep 1 Wylie CSI/CCC Nov 28-30 San Marcos CSI/CCC Backflow Preventer Assembly Tester TCEQ 40 1200 Hr Jan 30 - Feb 3 Pampa BPAT Jan 16-20 TWUA Central Office Instructional Design and Evaluation (Instructor II) Oct 16-20 TWUA Central Office Jan 24-26 Mar 14-16 Apr 11-13 May 31-Jun 1 Jun 27-29 Jul 25-27 Sept 19-21 Oct 11-12 Oct 24-26 Nov 14-16 Dec 5-7
Basic Wastewater Water Distribution Utilities Safety Cross Connection Control Basic Water Calculations Management CSI Wastewater Collection Ground Water Production Chlorinator Maint/Disinfection
18 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
ON-LINE TRAINING On-Line On-Line On-Line On-Line On-Line On-Line On-Line On-Line On-Line On-Line On-Line
20 Hours 2711 Nimitz 212 N Commerce
W/WW
949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 13101 Leopard 425 Franklin twua.org 14792 CR 192 170 Charles Austin Dr. 1305 Langham 425 Franklin 2726 Holly 20 Hours 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 13101 Leopard 20 Hours 2902 Bluff 355 306 Austin Dr 170 FM Charles 2726 Holly 2902 Bluff twua.org 425 Franklin 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 20 Hours 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 2902 Bluff 20 Hours 21 Hours 212 N Commerce
W/WW W/WW
W/WW
W/WW/CSI/BPAT W/WW/CSI/BPAT
949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 twua.org 2902 Bluff 2726 Holly 949 Hensley Lane, Building 300 501 E Hopkins 40 Hours 822 E Foster 1106 Clayton Lane 40 Hours 1106 Clayton Lane 20 Hours 20 Hours 20 Hours 10 Hours 20 Hours 20 Hours 20 Hours 10 Hours 20 Hours 20 Hours 20 Hours
BPAT
No operator hours
Wastewater Water W/WW W/CSI/BPAT/WW Water W/WW W/WW W/CSI/BPAT Wastewater Water W/WW
January 2017
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January 2017
Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 19
Operator NEWS
"WHY MOST EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAMS DON’T WORK" by Paul White, Gov Loop
The word is out on the street — the vast majority of employee recognition programs aren’t working. In interacting with HR professionals and corporate trainers across the country, the report from both professionals and front-line workers is that employee recognition is generally not having a positive impact on employees or workplace morale. In fact, in many cases, the ways that most employee recognition programs are implemented are actually “backfiring” and creating negative reactions among team members. In many settings, the reactions from employees when they talk about “employee recognition” is sarcasm, cynicism, and even disdain. But as we looked more closely, the reasons become clear. Why? Because, as it is generally implemented, recognition is very different from authentic appreciation. Here is what we found: Recognition is largely about behavior: “Catch them doing what you want and recognize it”, the recognition books say. The sole focus is on the employee’s behavior and the manager’s behavior (observe and reinforce). The primary emphasis of recognition is improving performance. The goal is for employees do more (or better quality) work. As a result, the focus is on what is good for the company and/or the manager (they look good when their team performs well). The relational direction of recognition is top –> down. Recognition comes from the administration, managers and supervisors. It is occasionally communicated peer to peer, but rarely from worker to supervisor or manager. Recognition is really an organizational function. And, as a result, recognition at its foundation feels impersonal, contrived, and is rarely experienced as a genuine expression of appreciation for the team member as a person. Conversely, authentic appreciation has a very different “feel” and quality to it than recognition: Appreciation focuses on performance plus the character qualities of the team member and their intrinsic value as a person. As a result, team members can be valued and receive appreciation even when they don’t perform well.
20 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
(Anyone else made a mistake lately?) Appreciation has dual objectives: to improve performance but also to support and encourage the person. Team members often need a word or action of encouragement especially when they aren’t performing at their best because of other issues going on in their lives. The goal of appreciation is what is good for the organization and what is good for the person. If a colleague communicates authentic appreciation, it is based in a foundational concern for the individual (which may mean helping them find a position that is a better match for them than their current role.) Appreciation requires more than behavior; it requires “heart attitude”. This is really the difficult part of appreciation – it has to be genuine and from the heart. You can’t fake it. Appreciation can be communicated in any direction. One of the exciting lessons I’ve learned is that colleagues want to know how to encourage and support one another. Appreciation can be expressed from anyone to anyone else in the organization. Appreciation is based in a person-to-person relationship. We don’t believe that an organization (an entity) can truly appreciate an employee or team member – that is why so many employees react to recognition programs — they don’t feel “real”. Employee recognition programs work well when they are used for the purpose for which they were originally designed – to recognize and reward achieving performance goals. Recognition, however, does not work well when organizations try to use large organizational programs to make employees feel valued individually. In fact, this creates negative backlash within the organization (sarcasm and resentment). Authentic appreciation communicated personally in the ways that are meaningful to the recipient is what helps team members feel truly valued. Use the correct tool for the right purpose and you will experience positive results!
January 2017
TEXAS WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION
Individual Membership Application Use this form to: 1) Join TWUA "At Large" 2) Join TWUA and a District/Chapter 3) Renew your TWUA Membership Please Print Clearly Application for: o o o o o
Active Member Full-Time Student Retired Member Membership Renewal New Member
"At Large" or District/Chapter Name:____________________ Membership for year 20____ Name:____________________________________________________ SS# _______ - _______ - __________ Home Address:_____________________________________________ City:____________________________State:________ Zip:___________ Home Phone: (
)____________________________________
Work Phone: (
)____________________________________
E-Mail Address:_____________________________________________
Employer:_____________________________________ Job Title:______________________________________ Amount of Dues Enclosed: $_______________________ Signature of Member:_____________________________________ Today's Date:____________________________________________ A portion of your TWUA Dues is allocated for a subscription to the Texas Water Utilities Journal. Submit all dues to the TWUA Central Office: 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 112 W, Austin, TX 78723-1093 For more information, Ms. Adee at: 512-279-8129. Fax: 512-459-7124.
January 2017
Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 21
UNHAPPY AT WORK? HERE’S WHAT’S MISSING BY LAUREN LIEN, GOV LOOP
Are you unhappy at work? It’s okay to say yes. When you have a crazy boss or no work-life balance, it’s not always easy to know why you’re unhappy. It’s rarely that simple. It can be hard to pinpoint the root cause of unhappiness at work and harder still to know how to make that unsettled feeling go away. Michael Hyatt wrote that there are three components of job satisfaction: 1. Passion – loving what you do
2. Proficiency – being good at what you do
3. Profitability – ability to make money from what you do To have a satisfying career, you need all three. Hyatt says, “You can get by for a time with only two of the three elements… But that can’t work forever. If you want to succeed at the deepest level, you must eventually incorporate all three of these components.”
2015, only 32% of US workers considered themselves to be actively engaged in their jobs. Yikes. In Psychology Today, Douglas LaBier pointed out three common and debilitating reasons people are bored in their jobs. First, the job is a bad fit. There’s a mismatch between you and your work. The job functions don’t mesh with your talents, experience, or values – those things that define you. Second, you feel invisible. You’re underutilized because you have been sidelined, misused, or stifled due to a change in office politics. Third, you feel trapped or confined by a lack of opportunity to learn and develop. What can you do? LaBier suggests that you think about past situations where you rocked it at work. “Identify the resources or conditions you had going for you that supported your success. What kinds of people were your co-workers or boss? Did they help or hinder? From that information, identify the specifics of the career and work environment that you really need to be at your best, including which to avoid.” Then you need to pursue these types of opportunities either within your organization or somewhere else.
If you’re unhappy, are you missing one of these three pillars? If so, what can you do?
Missing proficiency means, in direct terms, that you’re failing. You’re passionate about your work and get paid for it, but you don’t have the skills to back it up.
Missing passion means you’re bored. If you don’t know what to do next and feel trapped by that feeling, you’re not alone. In
Luckily, you can work on proficiency. Break down your job into tasks and technical areas in which you need to grow. You
22 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
January 2017
can do the same with emotional intelligence or communication skills. Books and online quizzes can be helpful in determining growth opportunities. Make a plan for what you’d like to work on. Take as many classes as you can find. Websites like GovLoop Academy offer amazing free training. Seek out mentors that you can shadow. Ask others how they gained proficiency. Create an Individual Development Plan with your supervisor. Practice. Take charge of your learning and create the resources you need to succeed. Remember that mastery takes time. If you’re new in your job, you won’t know everything right away. It is important that you are learning, growing, and getting better. Missing profitability means you have a hobby, not a career. To have a sustainable career, someone must be willing to pay for your skills. Is there a gap between what you love doing and what you’re paid to do? If you spend your free time event planning and you do logistical planning at work, you may have
very little gap in the skills you like using and the skills you’re paid to use. If you like the creative part of event planning and logistics are a necessary evil, then there’s a huge gap between the skills you like using and the skills you’re paid to use. How do you close this gap? You must really understand yourself and why you like doing what you do naturally. In this example, you could figure out how to change your perspective so that handling logistics feels creative. You can find job duties and projects in which you can exercise your creativity. You can find a new role with different duties. You can find a different job. We all want to be fully satisfied in our careers. If you’re unhappy, are you missing passion, proficiency, or profitability? By understanding what’s missing, you can start taking steps to increase your long-term job satisfaction.
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January 2017
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Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 23
TWUA CLASSIFIED ADS GENERAL MANAGER Austin, Texas Responsible for all aspects of management of the Water District including water treatment, wastewater treatment, maintenance support operations, water quality, financial, stormwater control, effluent disposal, metering, information technology, security, legal, customer service and human resources. For more detail, please visit http://www. wcid17.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ GM-Posting-2016.1036.pdf Significant working knowledge of water and wastewater operations. Understanding of and experience with Texas local government, laws, rules and regulations. Demonstrated skill in successful multi-disciplinary project management including construction projects of $1,000,000 plus. Understanding of a wide variety of environmental issues, programs and regulations. Innovative and diplomatic managerial approach to problem-solving and team-building. Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills including ability to write operations and safety procedures as well as informational pamphlets and website material. Ability to communicate in a positive and friendly manner with coworkers and general public including media and public officials. Capable of strategic thinking and infusing new technologies into operations. The ideal candidate will be a proven leader and decision maker with both executive and field supervisory skills. The candidate will have experience with public finance and accounting as well as debt issuance. The candidate should be equally comfortable interacting with state and local officials, members of the public and field staff, and have good negotiating skills. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in engineering; civil, environmental, biological or physical sciences; or public administration required. Graduate degree in engineering, business or public administration preferred. Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a related engineering and/ or management field required with at least
three (3) years in the public sector/local government preferred. Five (5) years of supervisory experience required. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may substitute for education requirement. Salary: $94,200 Fax resume and salary requirements to: 5122662790 Email resume and salary requirements to: gmposition@ wcid17.org BACKHOE OPERATOR Spring Branch Area MVWA is currently seeking qualified Backhoe Operator. Responsible for operations and maintenance of collection system maintenance and water distribution system maintenance. Strong experience in the operation and maintenance functions required for Water/ Wastewater systems. Must be well organized and have strong interpersonal skills. Water/Wastewater Operator. Possession of a current Texas Class C or higher water operator's license; Collection system license in addition is a plus. Salary : DOQ Fax resume and salary requirements to: 713-465-8387 Email resume and salary requirements to: info@mvwa.org WASTEWATER SUPERVISOR Sonora, Texas 76950 The daily running of an Activated Sludge Plant less than 1MGD, including all required reporting and sample collecting along with taps and the maintenance of 4 lift stations with future growth expected. Three years experience with good social skills, self motivated, and able to work well with others. Some water experience would be a plus.
24 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
Would like to have someone with a C Wastewater license or able to obtain one within 6 months. Fax resume and salary requirements to: 325-387-5923 Email resume and salary requirements to: charlotte.mcelwian@ sonora-texas.com BACKFLOW COMPLIANCE PROGRAM COORDINATOR Pearland, TX The City of Pearland is seeking a competent individual to help develop and administer a Backflow Compliance Program. The successful candidate will be responsible for securing compliance with municipal and state codes and regulations governing cross-connection prevention equipment installations related to backflow prevention. Work involves responsibility for the determination of compliance with requirements and standards set forth in pertinent codes by checking plans and conducting inspections of plumbing installations/backflow hazard sites to determine compliance. To view the complete job description and apply visit pearlandtx.gov/careers. Salary : $ 21.59-$24.90 Hr –DOQ Fax resume and salary requirements to: 281-652-1703 Email resume and salary requirements to: jdent@pearlandtx.gov VARIOUS POSITIONS PEARLAND PUBLIC WORKS Pearland, TX Please visit pearlandtx.gov/careers to view and apply for various opening in the Public Works Department. Salary: Varies Fax resume and salary requirements to: 281-652-1703 Email resume and salary requirements to: jdent@ pearlandtx.gov
January 2017
TWUA CLASSIFIED ADS WATER OPERATOR Point Comfort, TX
Pay is negotiable upon experience and qualifications
The City of Point Comfort is seeking qualified applicants for Surface Water Treatment Plant.
Fax resume and salary requirements to: 361-987-2798 Email resume and salary requirements to: pcomfort@tisd.net
Candidate must have knowledge of water treatment plant operations, the handling and application of the chemicals necessary to maintain a safe water supply, water system operations, and laboratory procedure; have the ability to read, write and preform mathematical calculations at a level commonly associated with the completion of high school diploma; have sufficient experience to understand the basic principals relevant to the major duties of the position, oral and written communication, and the use of maintenance equipment is a must.
WATER / WASTEWATER OPERATORS Houston
Applicant must have High School Diploma or equivilant, posses a class C, B or A Surface Water Operator License issued by TCEQ; possess a valid D.L. issued by the State of Texas
January 2017
Environmental Development Partners provides contract water and wastewater services to multiple utility districts throughout the area of Harris, Fort Bend, and Brazoria counties. The company was founded in 2001 by three class "A" licensed operators, and is now one of the largest water utility companies in Houston. If you are someone who has a strong work ethic, the desire to learn, and appreciates the opportunity to build a career in the most stable and growing industry there is, WE WANT YOU! We are currently seeking TCEQ class “C” or higher licensed facility operators. EDP is recognized in the industry
for providing the highest level of professionalism, and practices a team-oriented business model that appreciates its employees. Benefits include competitive pay, a company vehicle, paid vacation/sick time, Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance, paid training/ license renewal, and a company matching 401k retirement plan. To apply please submit your resume and salary requirements to employmentopportunities@edpwater.com. We are currently seeking TCEQ class “C” or higher licensed facility operators. WATER/ WASTEWATER OPERATORS Houston/ Spring Area Hays Utility South is looking for experienced licensed water and wastewater operators with double “C” or higher issued by State of Texas. Applicant must have clear driving record in order to drive company vehicle. Please email resume to jbaker@haysutility. com or Fax to (281) 353-6105 ATTN: JQ Baker, Operations Manager.
Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 25
Field News
Widespread Plastic Found in Great Lakes Tributaries By USGS The findings of a new study indicate our problem with microplastics is only just beginning. Tiny pieces of harmful plastic, called microplastics, are prevalent in many rivers that flow into the Great Lakes, says a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Results are also illustrated on a new USGS microplastics website. Microplastics fall off decomposing bottles and bags, wear off of synthetic clothing and are manufactured into some toothpastes and lotions. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and State University of New York at Fredonia studied 107 water samples collected from 29 Great Lakes tributaries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and New York, and found microplastics in all samples. Together, these 29 tributaries account for about 22 percent of the total river water that flows into the Great Lakes. “These microplastics, which are harmful to animal and possibly human health, will continue to accumulate in the Great Lakes well into the future,” says Austin Baldwin, a USGS scientist and the lead author of the report. “Our findings can help water managers better understand the types and sources of microplastics in rivers, and which rivers are the most polluted with microplastics.”lated: Blog: And a Happy Meteorological Spring to You! Baldwin noted the study underestimates the actual microplastic concentrations in the rivers because scientists sampled large microplastics greater than 0.33 millimeters. Most microplastics are smaller than 0.1 mm. Key findings from the study include:
•
The highest concentration of microplastics was detected in the Huron River at Ann Arbor, Michigan, at 32 particles per cubic meter, or p/m3;
•
High levels of microplastics were also detected in the Buffalo River at Buffalo, New York (31 p/m3), the Ashtabula River near Ashtabula, Ohio (23 p/m3), and the Clinton River near Mt. Clemens, Michigan (21 p/ m3);
•
The median concentration of microplastics in all samples was 1.9 p/m3;
•
Urban watersheds had the highest concentrations of microplastics; and
•
Microplastics were also present in streams in forested and agricultural areas.
fibers, which come from items such as synthetic clothes, diapers and cigarette butts, were the most common type detected, at 71 percent of the total particles. The least common form found in the river water was microbeads, which are the only form banned by the United States Congress. This ban has not yet taken effect. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Algal Blooms “We were surprised by the small amount of plastic beads and high amount of fibers found in the samples,” Baldwin says. “These unexpected findings demonstrate how studies like ours are critical to better understanding the many forms and fates of microplastics in the environment.” Ingested microplastics can cause digestive and reproductive problems, as well as death, in fish, birds and other animals. Unhealthy additives in the plastic, including flame retardants and antimicrobials, have been associated with cancer and endocrine disruption in humans. Also, pollutants such as pesticides, trace metals and even pathogens can accumulate at high concentrations on microplastic particles. Scientists have found microplastics nearly everywhere. Aside from rivers, microplastics are also common in lakes and oceans, in freshwater and marine fish, oysters and mussels, and in sediment. They are deposited onto land and water surfaces from the atmosphere.: USGS Study Finds Pharmaceuticals in Groundwater The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funded the new study. For more information on USGS microplastics research, please visit the USGS Great Lakes Restoration Initiative website.
The scientists found various forms of microplastics in the river samples: fibers, fragments, films, foams, and pellets or beads. Plastic
26 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
January 2017
HYPOTHERMIA—DEFINITION, SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AVOIDANCE AND FIRST AID By: Ron Parker, STS, CHST Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature ( 98.6 degrees F. or 35.0 degrees C. ) significantly below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body function. While in the military I had the pleasure of living in Alaska for three years. If you like the beautiful outdoors and participate in sports such as hunting and fishing you would enjoy Alaska. However, along with the good comes the bad. Cold, and I mean cold, weather is a big part of living in Alaska you have to accept. At times when on maneuvers I lived in a tent ( with no heat ) for 30 days at a time. The temperature ranged from 10 to 40 degrees below zero. Below are some things I learned from this experience.
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Signs of hypothermia: Even though signs can develop slowly, people with hypothermia typically experience gradual loss of mental clarity and physical ability. They may not be aware that they need assistance or medical treatment. People who are very lean are at particular risk. People who has consumed a large amount of alcohol or people who have not eaten properly are also at risk.
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Symptoms of hypothermia: Uncontrolled shivering, slurred speech, abnormally slow breathing, cold pale skin, loss or coordination, fatigue, lethargic and confusion or memory loss.
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Avoidance: Dress warmly, in layers. Having an air space between the body and the outer layer of clothing will help retain body heat. Use clothing made of cotton or wool that will insulate your body and allow sweat to evaporate. If possible, keep dry. Wetness increases the chance of cold stress on the body. Eat right, don’t work alone and take breaks as needed.
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First aid: call 911 and while waiting for assistance to arrive, monitor the person’s breathing. If breathing should stop immediately start CPR. Move the person out of the cold. If no indoors are available, shield the person from the wind and insulate the person from the cold ground. If possible remove any wet clothing and replace with dry, warm clothing. Note: Don’t apply direct heat, i.e. hot water or a heating pad. Apply warm compresses to the center of the body, head, neck, chest and groin area. Do not apply heat to the arms or legs as this will force cold blood back towards the heart, lungs and brain. This could be fatal. Don’t rub or massage anywhere on the body because any portion of the body could be frostbitten. Rubbing frostbitten parts of the body can cause severe damage. Frostbite is caused when fluids around the body’s tissues freeze. This will cause coldness and tingling in the affected part. Numbness, changes in skin color such as grayish-yellow hue will become prevalent. There will be initial pain which will subside as the condition worsens. There is a chance blisters will occur. Frostbite can cause irreversible tissue damage which requires immediate medical attention.
This article was brought to you by: Warriors4Safety.com January 2017
Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org 27
TCEQ NOVEMBER LICENSES BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY TESTER
HARDING, KENNETH R
PEREA, ANTHONY J
CARDWELL, MICHAEL W
HUGHINS, STEVEN M
RANDALL, HARRY L
CARROLL, SHANE C
JACKSON, JOHNNY W SR
RUSH, ROBERT A
CARTER, DANIEL G
ALEXANDER, PATRICK G
KILPATRICK, MICHELE D
ARGUETA, ANDRES A
MEDINA, GIOVANI
ESTRADA, FRANCISCO J
OLIVER, ASHTON R
HERNANDEZ, DANIEL
RUSHIN, BRIAN L
ARRIAGA, ELEAZAR C
CLIFFORD, KENNETH WILLIAM
HOOPER, KENNETH W
SCOTT, DAVID L
BYLAND, RICHARD A
CLUNE, KARINA PAOLA
LOPEZ, DANIEL
URIEGAS, FRANK A
COMBS, JAMES W
CORBETT, TIM J
MARSISCHKY, JAMES C
WALTON, BILLY P
COX, RANDALL W
DAVIS, KENNETH H
WILSON, BRANDON M
WIDNER, JAMES P II
DEUTSCH, DEREK J
DAVIS, TERRY W
WORLEY, JEFFREY A
WIMS, TEJAY SHANNON
EMANIS, CHARLES D
DEES, ZACHARY A
GALVAN, DAVID
DESMOND, RAY G
GARCIA, RAMIRO
DIXON, RICHARD L
HIDALGO, NICHOLAS D
DOUGLAS, MICHAEL B
HINOJOSA, ARMANDO JR
GILCREASE, TRAVIS J
JONES, ODELL B III
GREENE, TROY C
LAZALDE, JUAN
HIDALGO, RAUL
CUSTOMER SERVICE INSPECTOR
SURFACE WATER TREATMENT OPERATOR
CHALOUPKA, FRANK J
CLASS B
CHRISTOPHER, CALEB N
CASTRO, LUIS A CLASS C
CHADWICK, QUENTIN W CLARK, CORY E
CHRISTOPHER, ROY W JR
PRIVITT, JONATHAN B
MEACHAM, MICHAEL D
INIGUEZ, CARMEN T
CLINE, CODY W
SANCHEZ, TOMAS JR
PERALES, ZENAIDO JR
JOHNSON, CLINTON W
CLINTON, JOSHUA L
SVANCARA, LAWRENCE C
POLLARD, JOHN B
LOPEZ, MANUEL D JR
EDDINS, RYAN B
TIONA, JAMES L
SIMENTAL, JORGE L
MARTINEZ, MARK A
HAYES, ZACHARY R
WYLIE, RICHARD TODD
SYED, QAYYOUM
MAYES, STANLEY M
VIDAURE, DAVID III
MCADAMS, ANTHONY W
VILLARREAL, ARNOLDO JR
MCBROOM, DUSTY C
MARTINEZ, MARTIN A CLASS C GROUND WATER TREATMENT OPERATOR
MCCLELLAN, LEWIS R BEACH, SEAN J
WATER OPERATOR
CHAPMAN, GLENN A CLASS B
CRIDDLE, WILLIAM E JONES, ETHAN P
LEE, JOHN A SUTTON, DAVID L JR TORRES, ALEJANDRO SR
KNOTTS, DALE L MARTIN, GREGORY D MARTINEZ, ERIC REID, ANTHONY I
CLASS C
BELL, RYAN M
WILLS, ROBERT L
BOCANEGRA, FABIAN CAESAR, JONATHAN E CARRASCO, RICARDO JR
WATER DISTRIBUTION OPERATOR
CLARK, LARRY NATHAN DOSSER, ARNOLD R JR
MITCHELL, BRENT A CLASS A
CLASS B
DURAN FUENTES, JESUS O GUERRA, JESSE JR
AYALA, GUSTAVO
HAM, GUY W
GONZALES, AARON L
28 Texas Water Utilities Journal www.twua.org
MUNOZ, MIGUEL R NUNEZ, MARK A
BAUGHMAN, JEFFREY A JR
OLSEN, BILLY R
KING, CAMERON L
OSEI, LEWIS
SCHROEDER, KEITH
PAGE, SHANE D
THIEME, EVA C
PEREZ, BRIAN R
SANTAMARIA, ELVIS A VAUGHN, RONNIE A
MENDEZ, TRAVIS J
PICKERING, WILLIAM E III CLASS D
PROVENCIO, DANIEL RAMIREZ, JUAN A
ALCANTARA, NIGEL A
RAMON, PABLO
APPEL, JAMESON S
SALAS, BLANCA A
BELMARES, JESSE
SIFUENTES, ALFRED
BELTRAN, JAMES A
SMITH, JASON
BIRDINE, SAMUEL KIJUAN JR
SPECTOR, ERIC S
BOREN, JOHN D
STARGEL, DUSTIN A
BROOKS, DELINDA A
TAYLOR, ALOGEE A
January 2017
TCEQ NOVEMBER LICENSES TAZAWA, ERIC R TIMMERMANN, JOSH A
WASTEWATER TREATMENT OPERATOR
VANDYKE, WAYNE B VINCENT, BRANDON J
CLASS A
CORN, RUSSELL T
RUIZ, JUAN C
DICKINSON, MICHAEL J
SALAZAR, RAUL
DOCTER, ROBERT M
SILVA, DALE W
DORRIS, ZACHARY
SLAPE, STEVEN J
FUSELIER, JOSEPH S
SOLIMINE, ANTHONY W
WOODSON, JERRY S
DALE, JONATHAN H
GEHRKE, ETHAN M
STANLEY, JONATHAN D
YANEZ, JEREMIAH C
DIAZ, RENE III
GIVENS, MICHAEL R
TERRY, JASON A
DUBIEL, BRUCE E
GRAHAM, CRYSTAL L
WALLACE, WESLEY W
MALDONADO, STEPHEN A JR
HOGGARD, MICHAEL S
WARREN, BENJAMIN M
MARIN, LINDA
KELLEY, MIKEL C
ZOELLER, BRANDILYN N
MOLINA, MAURICIO
LAFRANCE, COLTON R
REESE, DONALD C
LAMBERT, JUSTIN S
WILEY, KLEIN R
ZAMBRANO, MICHAEL A
WASTEWATER COLLECTION OPERATOR
MARTIN, JAMES E JR
COLLECTIONS I CLASS B
DELARIVA, JUAN M GAMEZ, CRESPIN JR HERNANDEZ, JULIO C LOPEZ, JULIAN JR LORRAINE, ROBERT D THOMAS, RYAN A
COLLECTIONS II
CREAMER, STEVEN C GRIGSBY, GRANT G HAND, CALEB B JACKSON, CURTIS A PEREZ, CHRISTOPHER L POLASEK, JUSTIN W ROKES, ROBERT A SHERWOOD, JASON M SMITH, MART A VIDAURE, DAVID III
COLLECTIONS III
DAVIS, JEFF D FLORES, RAUL A HELMICK, JASON R NESLONY, AARON M WOODFILL, JOSHUA D
GARZA, FILEMON
NICHOLS, CARL D
JOHNSON, JIMMY J
PICKERING, WILLIAM E III
OBRYANT, SCOTT D
QUEBODEAUX, HAROLD J III
RODRIGUEZ, JOSE A
RAMOS, MATIAS III
SUAREZ, ANSON M
RANDORF, JASON W
WOODS, CLIFFORD D
RATLIFF, BRONSON T
CLASS C
BARLOW, GLEN D GARZA, GEORGE L
U.S. Underwater Services, LLC (800) 860-2178
www.usunderwaterservices.com
HUNT, JESSE L JOHNSON, JOHN M JR MACWITHEY, SCOTT A MAHAN, JASON D ONTIVEROS, FRANSISCO PEREZ, ORLANDO B ROGEL, RAUL A ROSENBAUM, NEIL R RUBIO, JORGE F SMITH, ANDREW T YOUNG, RICHARD E
Inter-City Contract Option Available In-Service Diver Inspection In-Service Sediment Removal ROV Inspection In-Service Leak Detection & Repair In-Service Intake Inspection & Repair Dredging Fabrication of Interior/Exterior Ladders Fabrication of Custom Water Access Hatches Fabrication of Roof Ventilation Structures Fabrication of Intruder Protection Doors HAZMAT Services
CLASS D
AVILA, EULOGIO JR BEAUDOIN, SCOTT T BRUNO, MICHAEL N CALETZ, MARIO A
January 2017
MCCAMMOND, ALMA S MCCULLOUGH, LORA L
ABNEY, GREGGORY W
123 Sentry Drive Mansfield, TX 76063
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January 2017
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