MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR 2023

Dates

East Texas Regional School - Longview ........................

August 28-31, 2023

Far West Texas Regional School – Fort Stockton ..........

August 14-17, 2023

TWUA Annual School – Corpus Christi ....................

September 18-21, 2023

West Texas Regional School - Lubbock .......................

November 7-9, 2023

(Not all regions offer Surface 1 which is a 24 hour class these above dates reflect all regions starting on Monday and offering 24 hour classes. Once we receive all the schools fliers we will post if in fact the school begins on Monday at 1:00 or Tuesday at 8:00 )

Check the TWUA Website for the most up-to-date information related to TWUA Regional opportunities. If travel and being in crowds cause you concern or your employer has not approved travel, please look at the TWUA Computer Based Training options. (https://twua.org/online-class-dates)

Dates for Annual School 2023. The dates for the 105th Annual School in Corpus Christi, are September 18th – 21st 2023. This will be Monday thru Thursday. The events have been pushed forward a day. Opening Session and Awards will be Monday. The school will begin Tuesday and conclude with vendor move out at noon Thursday.

Texas Water Utilities Journal

( ISSN – 1051709X) is published monthly by the Texas Water Utilities Association, located at 210 E. Hwy 79, Hutto, Texas 78634 for Operators, Engineers, Managers, Laboratory technicians, Customer service personnel, Vendors, and other Professionals employed in, or interested in, the water and or wastewater industry.

Ten dollars of each annual membership dues payment to the Texas Water Utilities Association pays for a subscription. Nonmember subscriptions price: the USA $100.00 per year; $10.00 per single copy

$125.00 per year outside the USA. Periodicals

Postage Paid In Hutto, Tx. And Additional Mailing Offices.

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 Association – Journal 210 E. Hwy. 79, Suite 101, Hutto, Texas 78634.

The Texas Water Utilities Association 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, 210 E. Hwy. 79, Suite 101, Hutto, Texas 78634. Phone 512-459-3124. Any materials accepted for publication is subject to revision and editing At the discretion of the publisher.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:

Mike Norris - Chair of Management

Jim Siddall – President

Clarence L. Wittwer – President-Elect

Vicente Carrizales – Vice President

Bill Brown – First Past President

John Krause – Second Past President

Ric O’Conner – Vendor Rep. / Ex. Officio

Russell Hamilton - Executive Director

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

by Jim Siddall

Have you registered for the Annual School in Corpus Christi (September 18-21) this year? If you haven’t, time is running out. Take advantage of your TWUA membership and save money on the cost of registration. Register early and save money. Attend the school to enrich your resume. Connect with other operators to gain feedback and advice from peers to stay on top of the utility industry. Meet new friends. Take in the sights and attractions in Corpus Christi. Familiarize yourself with industry advances, new equipment for the water and wastewater industry.

Your membership has many benefits one of the most important is your eligibility to receive a scholarship from the V M Ehlers Foundation. The Foundation operates as a Texas non-profit organization and promotes its founding purposes by offering scholarship assistance which will further the water related education of TWUA members and their sons and daughters. In the last ten years Ehlers has awarded 528 students over $1,250,000, this year your association awarded $151,800 to 54 applicants.

The Endowment Representatives are always seeking methods to improve and increase the scholarship awards and application process. The foundation is happy to announce our first-year results of the enhancements made this year to assist our members and their dependents. In January 2023, two significant improvements were added to benefit the applicants directly.

First, the deadline for submitting applications for the 2023 - 24 academic year was moved back from July 1 to January 15 This was done to allow processing of applications, awarding of scholarships, and, most importantly, the earlier mailing of checks so students will have them in hand before they begin the fall semester. Instead of sending the checks in late September, checks were be sent in late June. All our 54 applicants this year should now have their check in hand to begin the 2023/2024 academic year. The application submission deadline will remain January 15 from 2023 forward.

With this new submission deadline, it is even more important for the applicants to get their information submitted on time. This will be even more important to those who are in high school. Best advice: don’t wait until after the Christmas/ New Year’s holidays to apply for a “State of Texas Academic Achievement Record.” Instead, it is recommended you request your records before December as early in the fall as possible. We have spoken with counselors and administrators in several school districts, and they indicate it is possible to get your records before the January 15 deadline, but they stressed that requests must be made early. We did not receive any reports of problems meeting the earlier submission date this year. Check with your high school counselor for advice on your specific situation.

The second improvement was the foundation’s method of evaluating the applications. In the past each application was assessed and awarded points for the number of years the applicant or sponsor of the applicant has been a member of TWUA, their major course of study, the applicant’s plans after completing their degree, household income, academic record, and extracurricular activities. This year extra (bonus) points were given to applicants who actively participate in TWUA events. Applicants were awarded one point for each district meeting the member attended during the previous five years, and 15 points was added for each year a member has served as an officer in a district, regional, or state organization. In the past the average score on an application was 35 points. This year the average increased to 53 points. We had nine applicants who scored over 90 and they each received an additional $1000 in scholarship funds. To receive these bonus points, applicants must attach a copy of their member’s TCEQ training record of meetings or have their district, regional, or state secretary provide a letter attesting attendance or verifying service as an officer during the last five years.

Your membership does have benefits that directly affect you and scholarship eligibility is just one! Good luck to all our applicants’ future endeavors. Don’t forget to register early for a regional school and/or the Far West Texas August 14-17, East Texas August 28-31, and Annual School September 18-21.

by Russell Hamilton, TWUA Executive Director

Father, we bow our heads in respect and humbly say thank you, as we acknowledge that you are the creator. We take comfort in knowing that You remain in charge and control of life as we understand it. We need You, and we welcome You in all we do. We come into Your presence seeking Your grace, calm, guidance, and forgiveness. Father, we pray for Your mercy and grace, and we ask that You guide, direct, protect, and bless TWUA and its members. Father, we thank you for your forgiveness as we offer praise in the name of Jesus. Amen

The drought is still concerning in parts of Texas. Parts of Texas are getting rain, but watersheds remain dry. In West Texas, Lake Spence is sitting at 16.8 % (- 0.9 %). White River is sitting at 21.2 % (-1.4 %). Panhandle - Lake Meredith is sitting at 47.6 % (+0.6 %), and Greenbelt is at 12.2 % (-0.7 %). If you want a complete look at current lake levels, go to waterdatafortexas.org. The drought has never left for some.

Annual School – Make your Omni Room Reservations before the block closes. The 105th Annual School will remain in Corpus Christi. The dates are September 18th – 21st, 2023 Tuesday, September 19th at 8:00 a.m., all training classes begin.

Are you looking for in-person classes – How about our remaining 2023 Regional opportunities – Fort Stockton (confirmed) will be August 14th – 17th, 2023. Longview will be August 28th – 31st, 2023. Lubbock will be November 7th – 9th, 2023. The entire regional calendar and links to all the fliers will be activated as soon as possible, so you can register for any region now, using budgets more efficiently.

Computer Upgrades – TWUA Central Office and our I.T. folks (Leon) have been busy migrating a new database and operational interfaces. The process has hit a few bumps, but we are plugging through, and the association will end up with a system that will serve our current and future needs. For those who have registered for training classes, thank you for your patience and understanding. For those unaware of the changes and upgrades, take a look and understand that this is a work in progress, and it will only improve.

If you experience problems, PLEASE call Central Office at 888-367-8982. The goal of Central Office is to provide 3 to 4 online training opportunities each week and support in-person events around the state.

THIS IS IMPORTANT – The new system will not allow multiple records for the same user. How are we able to do this ? Each account has a unique identifier, and that is your social security number. TCEQ requires a social until a license is issued, and we are using that same philosophy. TWUA has multiple layers of security, and socials are well protected. We share your fears about identity theft. We have confidence in the new encryption process and system design, and we ask for your trust.

The Story Goes Something Like This –

In the early 50s, a struggling country singer was on the road with his family visiting other relatives in Arkansan.

A stranger to local customs and social status, this visiting singer was surprised to learn that a nephew was told under no circumstances was the friend allowed in the family’s home. Under their breath, the relatives would make comments such as white trash, from the wrong side of the tracks, and future criminal every time the young boy would come over.

Nephew James had proudly, excitedly spread the word around school that his uncle was in town and that he was an up-andcoming country music star, and that he would play his guitar and sing in the evenings at James’s house on the porch for anyone who cared to stop by.

Naturally, this impressed James’s young friends, especially the quiet young man from the “wrong side of the tracks.”

James came home from school and was excited to report that many of his friends said they would come by to hear the music and meet a future star. James also said his friend had a guitar but knew little about playing or how to tune the instrument properly. James asked his uncle if he would mind giving his friend a few pointers or at least tune his guitar.

James’s uncle said he would be happy to help and asked when his friend might come by.

James said his friend did not have a phone, but he would ride his bicycle to his friend’s house and share the good news. James’s Dad said, I don’t like you hanging out with that boy, but he can come over as long as he stays out of the house.

James’s uncle was confused by this stipulation but grabbed his guitar and headed for the porch swing.

A few minutes later, the unwanted guest was seen walking with a battered guitar slung across his back.

As the young boy came closer, the uncle could begin to see the boy’s features and glances at the homes and the people of this better neighborhood. The young man was very polite and well-mannered. He quickly offered his hand and thanked him for any help or suggestions.

The guitar was weathered, and one could tell it was never of high quality. The young man had fashioned a braided string around the neck and base, and this young man was proud of the fact that his mother had worked extra to provide the instrument.

The uncle asked if they might swap instruments so that he might get the best tune out of the old battered guitar.

The young man said, no sir, but watched intently and asked many questions. After the guitar was tuned, the young man stood, offered his hand, thanked the uncle repeatedly, then turned to walk away.

James’s uncle knew what it was to be poor, and he could tell the young man was sincere in his thanks, so the uncle asked if he could show the young man how to position his fingers to make some basic cords and how to strum the strings.

James’s uncle sat and discussed music and how to play the guitar for hours, then the boy walked away, but now he was smiling and had a different swagger.

James’s mom said to her brother, I’m not sure why you spent so much time with that boy; he is bad news, and will probably be in jail before his 18th birthday.

The uncle thought for a moment and said, it costs nothing to be kind, and it wasn’t that long ago we were the family on the other side of the tracks.

This young man who was not invited into the house went on to become a motion picture star, sold millions of records, and his songs are still played. This was a true story, and the young man was none other than Elvis A. Presley.

Stay Safe, and Remember – we do not need all the operators in Texas to be a member of TWUA – JUST YOU ! ! ! !

The young man smiled and said gladly.

The uncle asked if anyone had ever taught him how to tune a guitar.