Issuu

Texas Water Utilities

JOURNAL

VOLUME 24

JANUARY 2014

2014 ANNUAL SCHOOL INFORMATION ONLINE TRAINING FAR WEST TEXAS REGIONAL SCHOOL INFORMATION

NUMBER 1

2014 TWUA REGIONAL SCHOOL SCHEDULE 2014 TWUA REGIONAL SCHOOL SCHEDULE: DATE

EVENT

PRIMARY CONTACT

EXHIBITS CONTACT

March 2-5

TWUA Annual School

David Moore (512)459-3124

Norma Clark (432)528-1608

February 4-6

Far West Texas Regional School Pecos County Civic Center Fort Stockton, Texas

Norma Clark (432)528-1608

Tom Ezell (432)553-1196

March 31-April 3 Panhandle Regional School Amarillo Civic Center Amarillo, Texas

Jessie Flores (806)378-3019

Ruben Arias (806)378-3019

April 29- May 1

Southeast Regional School Holiday Inn Centre Beaumont, Texas

Bobby Rogers (409)385-7355

Pat Gray (713)637-8835

May 6-8

Central West Texas Regional School Abilene Civic Center Abilene, Texas

Charlotte McElwain (325)226-3085

Mickey Chaney (325)548-2237

May 13-15

North Central Texas Regional School University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas

Selena Jackson (972)237-8377

Jon Mahoney (972)721-2261

June 9-12

Central Texas Regional School Killeen Civic Center Killeen, Texas

Teresa Bryant (254)750-8007

Peggy Smith (830)598-2424 x 309

July 14-16

Southwest Texas Regional School Holy Family Catholic Church Victoria, Texas

Donald Reese (361)485-3414

Lynn Short (361)485-3381

August 12-14

Permian Basin Regional School MCM Grande Hotel Odessa, Texas

Norma Clark (432)528-1608

August 26-28

East Texas Regional School Harvey Hall & R.T.D.C. Tyler, Texas

Mike Norris (903)939-8278

November 4-6

West Texas Regional School Lubbock Civic Center Lubbock, Texas

Neil Weems (806)775-2880

Please contact the person listed above for additional information about your regional school or call TWUA Central Office at (888)367-8982. Please visit our website at www.twua.org to register for one of these schools. Thank you for your support.

CONTENTS January 2014| Volume 24 | Number 1

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

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL

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. 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. 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.

ARTICLES: President's Perspective..................................................................6 by Roger Fussell, TWUA President TWUA Executive Director News......................................................8 by Russell Hamilton, Executive Director In The News: Fracking Without Freshwater........... ...........................................10 by Anna Driver and Terry Wade Customer Service News: Listening for Dollars-Customer Complaints Create Profit............18 by Mary Sandro, ProEdge Skills Safety News: Left Out In the Cold......................................................................20 By Christi J. Felice, MS Safety Committee Member

ADVERTISERS: Classified Ads.......................................................................................30 Ana-Lab...............................................................................................26 Dunham Engineering............................................................................19 Global Treat.........................................................................................11 Hartwell Environmental Corporation........................................................9 Jim Cox Sales........................................................................................5 Magna Flow Environmental.....................................................................3 Professional Cards................................................................................26 Samco Leak Detection..........................................................................26 Scoop.................................................................................................27 Smith Pump Company, Inc...........................................Inside Back Cover

TRAINING: .TWUA

Training Schedule..................................................................................14 Annual School Registration Information...................................................12 .TWUA Annual School Call for Inductees A/AA/ Twenty-Five Club..........................17 TWUA Webinar.................................................................................................22 TWUA Far West Texas Regional School Information..............................................7 Texas AWWA Webinar.......................................................................................25 TWUA

4 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

13 JANUARY 2014

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TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

President's Message Roger Fussell, Executive Director Lumberton MUD

hat is Your Attitude?

I hope everyone’s holidays have been filled with joy and I wish you a bright and prosperous New Year. Many of us have been blessed this year, but there are those who are less fortunate. As we pursue our quest to be Professional, let us be that person who makes a difference in someone’s life. Our continued discussion of the word Professional this month brings us to the letter “A”. The first letter of the alphabet provides us with many thoughts. I believe the “A” should stand for Attitude. Today’s water utility professional must endure many situations that go beyond everyday normal activities. Winston Churchill said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” As water utility workers we must be professional and possess a professional attitude. I encourage you to consider our daily challenges on the job as daily opportunities. We sometimes forget that the water utility professional’s main job is to provide a service to our customers. That service is vital to every person in our community. Remember the TWUA slogan we used a few years ago? “Water is Life!” Water utility professionals should have a positive attitude that promotes the industry and encourages the community to have confidence in us. I recently asked a young man in my office what he thought it meant to be professional on the job. His response was interesting. He compared being professional on the job to being a professional athlete. He stated professional athletes are paid (sometimes large salaries) to perform in their respective field. In order to perform well these athletes must continue to train, learn all they can about the sport, and balance professional and personal life to be at the top of the game. He pointed out that those who deviate from a positive professional attitude are the ones we see in the news who experience negative attention as a result of the behavior. The attitude of the professional athlete that exemplifies respect, courtesy, and humility is the basis for success. Water utility professionals should have the same professional attitude. Customer service and customer confidence is paramount in our industry. Professional attitudes in our industry can be the difference in making cuts and making do with what we have or pro-active capital programs and good preventive maintenance programs. W. Clement Stone said, “There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.” I challenge all of us to examine our attitude. Is it professional? If not, make an adjustment. I think you will be proud of the results.S

Roger Fussell TWUA President

6 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

JANUARY 2014

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION ANNUAL FAR WEST TEXAS REGIONAL SCHOOL

FEBRUARY 4-6, 2014 PECOS COUNTY CIVIC CENTER, 1574 AIRPORT DR., FORT STOCKTON, TX ACADEMIC OFFERINGS WATER Basic Water Groundwater Production Surface Water Production II

WASTEWATER Basic Wastewater Wastewater Collection

WATER/WASTEWATER Water Utilities Safety Special Topics (pending TCEQ approval)

REGISTRATION FEES

TWUA Member $230 $240

Pre-Registration (until January 30, 2014) On-Site Registration

Non-Member $290 $300

On-Site Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2014. 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 6. Exam fee is $111 payable by check made out to TCEQ. Registration fees include course materials and refreshments. Lunch will not be provided.

HOTEL INFORMATION

The Hampton Inn (2271 W. I-10) has offered participants of the school a special rate of $119/night. Please contact them at (432) 336-9600 and mention the Far West Texas Regional School when making reservations. Other hotels in Fort Stockton are listed below: MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS EARLY!! Quality Inn - (432) 336-5955, 1308 N. Hwy 285 Candlewood Suites – (432) 336-7501 – 2469 W. I-10 Comfort Suites – (432) 336-3224 – 3101 W. Dickinson Holiday Inn – (432) – 336-3421 – 2915 W. Dickinson LaQuinta Inn – (432)-336-9781 – 1537 N. Hwy 285 Super 8 – (432) 336-8531 – 3200 W. Dickinson

GOLF TOURNAMENT

A Golf Tournament will be held at 12:00 noon on Monday, February 3 at the Desert Pines Golf Course. Cost is $60 per person which includes green fee, cart, and prizes. REGISTRATION FORM Name _________________________________________ Social Security or TCEQ License # ____________________ Address ___________________________________________City __________________ State _____ Zip___________ Daytime Phone _______________________

Representing _____________________________________________

Email Address _______________________________________ Course Selection _____________________________ TWUA Member ____Yes ____No

Member of which TWUA District __________________________________

Bill my ( )Visa ( )Mastercard #_________________________________Exp. Date ________ Security Code ______ Cardholder Name (Printed)____________________________ Zip Code of Billing Address ___________________ Payment MUST accompany registration. No purchase orders accepted. No refunds will be made; however, substitutions are allowed. Credit card registrations may be made online at www.twua.org, mailed, or faxed to (432) 332-1965. Mail registration and payment 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 2014

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

.................

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NEWS: Russell Hamilton, TWUA Executive Director

.......................................................................................................................................................

Its hard to believe that 2014 is here. I sincerely hope that everyone is well and you had a very enjoyable holiday season. The Austin area has received more needed rain and we are extremely grateful. Unfortunately, most of it fell outside the watershed for Travis or Buchanan, but Austin is going to end up the year with a couple of inches above the seasonal average. It's not a drought breaker but we are thankful for the amount we did receive. As of December 1st – Lake Travis is at 35.6% capacity and Lake Buchanan is sitting at 36.5% capacity. In West Texas, Lake Spence is sitting at 4.2%, capacity Lake Ivie is sitting at 14.3% capacity and Lake Meredith remains at 0% capacity. I urge you to join me and continue to pray for a statewide significant rainfall event, and make us better stewards of this precious resource. If you want to get a complete look at lake levels, go to www. waterdatafortexas.org. As we start 2014, our calendar is full and there is much to do in preparation for Fort Stockton and Annual School. We also host the District Officer Training which is January 7th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm here in Austin at the Holiday Inn Mid-Town. This training is for those who are coming into leadership positions at the District Level and we want to encourage you to come participate. We are attempting to make arrangements to broadcast the training using our web based equipment but as we speak there is some concern about available bandwidth at the hotel. If you will not be able to attend, contact David Moore (512-279-8125) about receiving the broadcast at your computer. The Far West Regional School, held in Fort Stockton, will be February 4th – 6th and anyone in this area of the state is encouraged to make plans to come and be part of this regional event. More information and registration is available on the TWUA website or in the Journal. The 96th Annual School is set for March 2nd – 5th in Corpus Christi. If you have not registered and are planning on attending, I strongly encourage you to make your room reservations and sign up today. If you have influence in where you or your staff attends operator training, we truly hope you will make plans to come join us in Corpus and support your TWUA. The association assumes a significant amount of financial obligations to coordinate Annual School, so for those planning to attend, thank you for your support, and if possible, we hope you consider the Omni Hotel for your housing needs. There is a link on the association’s website, and there are phone numbers on the Journal 8 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

flier. If you have any issues, please do not hesitate to contact Central Office. An item relating to the Omni - if you will go to the link on the TWUA website and sign up for the Omni rewards program you will receive free Wi-Fi, newspaper, and other incidentals. It is free to register and there are no stipulations to minimum number of stays in order to qualify for the basic rewards program. We see this as a very positive value and hope that you will take advantage of it. We have turned the corner and TCEQ approved computer based distant learning is now a reality for TWUA. December 17th we had our first approved 20-hour online class. January 17th we will be offering Basic Wastewater as an online computer based training event. This electronic training is only meant to compliment the other training that TWUA offers. In a recent meeting, it was pointed out by a member that the District Meeting training option is still the most cost effective training for license renewal purposes. We agree and pledge to support monthly meetings to be best of our abilities. None of the phone numbers you may use for Central Office have gone away. I just wanted to make you are aware of direct numbers to specific staff. Russell’s - is 512-279-8122. Angela’s - is 512-279-8124. David’s - is 512-279-8125. Donna’s - is 512-279-8128. Henrietta’s - is 512-279-8129. Lastly, the Front Desk- is 512-279-8121 there is no one in that position at the present time. These numbers ring straight to TWUA staff. The story goes like this: Jim and Barbara had been arguing all day and into the night over the simplest of things. Who’s turn it was to go to the grocery store. There was no milk or bread or staple items in the house and Jim took the position that he was not backing down. If for no other reason, Jim was being stubborn and Barbara have had enough of the petty arguments. As the day wore on, neither party was willing to admit being wrong or give in to the other. Now, it had become a matter of principle and Jim was sure he was right and Barbara was sure Jim would eventually come around to her way of thinking. As bedtime approached, the disagreement had festered and neither party was speaking to the other. It was not unusual for the pair to continue this war of silence for two or three days. However, on this occasion Jim was concerned. He had a very important out of town meeting and needed to be awake at 4:30 am the next morning to catch a flight. JANUARY 2014

Jim suffered from sleep apnea and he was a very heavy sleeper. Although he set an alarm, he typically slept through the alarm and normally relied on his wife to wake him – with a loving elbow. Cleverly, so he thought, while his wife was taking her shower, he wrote on a piece of paper: ‘Sweetie - please wake me at 4:30 am - I have an important flight to catch’. He put the note on his wife’s pillow, then turned over and fell fast to sleep. Jim awoke the next morning in a panic when he looked at the clock. It was 8:15 am. Furious that he’d missed his flight, he was about to go in search of his misbehaving wife to give her a piece of his mind. Just as he was about to storm out of the bedroom, he spotted a large hand-written note on his bedside cabinet.

Most of the time you need to have a sense for which battles are worth fighting and when to simply swallow any pride and do what is needed. How many times has an employee said "You Said..." and when you question them more, you finally get the employee to admit that he or she knew what was needed or what action would produce the best outcome, but they followed your directions to the letter, all the while knowing there was a better alternative? Sometimes this action is out of spite. Sometimes out of belief that the boss is not always right. However, the boss is the boss and the boss said to . . . . S REMEMBER – We do not need all the operators in Texas to be members of TWUA – WE JUST NEED YOU ! ! !

The note said: ‘Honey - Its 4:30 your alarm is going off and it’s time to get up.’

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TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

IN THE NEWS:

Fracking Without Freshwater at a West Texas Oilfield By Anna Driver and Terry Wade

(Reuters) - At a dusty Texas oilfield, Apache Corp has eliminated its reliance on what arguably could be the biggest long-term constraint for fracking wells in the arid western United States: scarce freshwater. For only one well, millions of gallons of water are used for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the process that has helped reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil over the past five years by cracking rock deep underground to release oil and gas. In Irion County, where Apache is drilling dozens of Wolfcamp shale wells in the Permian Basin, the company is meeting its water needs for hydraulic fracturing by using brackish water from the Santa Rosa aquifer and recycling water from wells and fracking using chemicals. The company’s approach could have broader significance for areas prone to drought. Apache, which has the most rigs running in the Permian, the oil-rich region that spans 59 Texas counties, says the model can cut costs and truck traffic rattling small towns stretched by the country’s drilling boom. “We’re not using freshwater out here,” Lucian Wray, production manager for Apache’s South Permian region, said of the company’s Barnhart operating area, which is 10 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

run out of a former hunting lodge. “We are recycling 100 percent of our produced water. We don’t dispose of any of it.” “Produced water” is a byproduct of oil and natural gas drilling. “Flowback” water is the fluid pushed out of a well during fracking. Apache is recycling both types, which are typically trucked away and put into underground disposal wells. Apache’s ultimate goal is to develop a recycling system for use in its other oilfields. Fracking has revived the Permian after years of flat output and could be used there for decades to come - so long as its water problem is solved. Industry estimates say the Permian, which helped put the United States on the path to becoming the world’s largest crude producer, has recoverable reserves that exceed all oil and gas produced there over the last 90 years, according to the Texas Railroad Commission. Excluding outlays for its homegrown recycling system, Apache says it costs 29 cents a barrel to treat flowback water. That is a fraction of the $2.50 per barrel it costs to dispose of water using a third party. The IHS CERA consultancy said this month water costs can eat up 10 percent of a well’s capital budget. JANUARY 2014

“In these plays, every dollar counts,” said John Christmann, who runs the Permian for Apache and will become chief operating officer for North America in January. Other oil and gas companies in the Permian and elsewhere have started to use brackish water and recycle produced water, but the practices are not widely used and the types and accessibility of aquifers vary by region. Apache may be the only one to have eliminated the use of freshwater from one of its Permian fields. Texas lawmakers considered two bills this year that would require oil and gas companies to recycle oilfield wastewater, though neither became law. Much of west Texas is still very dry after a severe drought in 2011 and some water systems remain under stress, according to state regulators. Demand for water is rising as the state’s population grows. During the drought, Grand Prairie, a town in north Texas, banned using municipal water in fracking. The Texas Water Development Board projects that 46 million people will live in the state in 2060, an increase of some 80 percent.

Nearby sit a line of massive, specially made grain bins containing produced water that is treated with chlorine dioxide to remove iron and bacteria. Treated water is later piped to a nearby site, where it is used to frack a well. Foreman, who has some help for his project from Apache headquarters in Houston, is still tinkering with his water recycling process. He has experimented with different materials to line his grain-bin storage tanks and different sizes and locations of storage pools to limit evaporation. Vendors, hawking their latest technology to recycle water, frequently stop by for demonstrations. “We are ahead of everyone,” said Foreman. S (Reporting By Anna Driver and Terry Wade; Editing by Peter Henderson and Douglas Royalty)

Texas is not alone. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warned in 2009, before the widespread use of hydraulic fracturing, that water systems in the western United States were strained. A typical frack job can use 5 million gallons of water - about the amount used to water a golf course for 25 days. A frack job lasts several days and readies a well for production. FRACKING, NOT SWIMMING Apache started its in-house water experiment on its Barnhart properties about a year ago. It has drilled more than 50 horizontal wells there and expects have drilled about 70 by the end of the year. It treats water produced from wells with chemicals that take out unwanted minerals such as iron, as well as bacteria. The produced water is stored aboveground in giant bins that are lined with a thick waterproof plastic to prevent leaks. “Out here, it’s kind of like a lab,” said Wray, who said the company is also experimenting with ultraviolet light to remove unwanted bacteria from recycled water. Scooter Foreman, Apache’s head of water development, stands at the edge of a 24-million-gallon pool - complete with a “No Swimming” sign - dug into the earth. The pool is filled with water pulled from the Santa Rosa aquifer, waterbearing sandstone that runs 600 feet to 800 feet below ground in parts of the Permian Basin. The brackish water is located below freshwater aquifers.

JANUARY 2014

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

Texas Water Utilities Association 96th Annual School

March 2-5,2014 Corpus Christi, Texas

TWUA Professionals We are proud to announce our upcoming 96th 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 $147+taxes. For direct information or reservation please call (800)843-6664 or you can visit www.omnihotel.com for online reservations. This information is also located on our website at www.twua.org. Please note group discount reservation cut-off date is February 7, 2014.

Academic Offerings: All classes are 20 hour training courses. We encourage everyone to attend the TWUA General Session on Sunday, March 2nd, at the Omni

Hotel and visit the exhibitor area at the American Bank Center on Monday and 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:

Discounts, Fees and No Refunds Policy:

All TCEQ Water and Wastewater exams will be given at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5th.

By Mail or Online: 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 also available at www.twua.org. All major credit cards are accepted.

Class “A” exams and TWUA L.A.S. Voluntary Laboratory Analysts exams will be given Tuesday, March 4th, at 8:00 a.m. Applications for the “A” exam must be approved prior to Annual School. Approval for an “A” exam takes approximately 30-60 days. Call TCEQ Occupational Licensing Section for more information at (512)239-6133. 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 Collection I/II/III.........................................$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.

November 1st - 30th Fees: (MEMBER) Pre-Registration Fee:

NON-MEMBER Pre-Registration Fee:

$220 $270

December 1st - 31st Fees:

(MEMBER) Pre-Registration Fee: NON-MEMBER Pre-Registration Fee:

$245 $295

January 1st - February 21st Fees:

(MEMBER) Pre-Registration Fee: NON-MEMBER Pre-Registration Fee:

$270 $320

On-Site (Walk-up) Registration Fee (Member): On-Site Registration Fee (non-member):

$320 $370

l No Refunds: Attendee substitutions are acceptable if received in Central Office prior to February 14, 2014. 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. We are requesting all pre-registrations and payments by February 21, 2014. Following this date, on-site registration will be available at the school.

12 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

JANUARY 2014

TWUA ANNUAL SCHOOL REGISTRATION FORM

Texas Water Utilities Association 95 Annual School (February 24-27,2013) th

96th Annual School Registration Form American Bank Convention Center - Corpus Christi, Texas

ACADEMIC OFFERINGS: WASTEWATER COURSES:

WATER COURSES:

Basic Wastewater Wastewater Treatment Wastewater Collection Activated Sludge Wastewater Laboratory Advanced Pretreatment***

WATER / WASTEWATER COURSES:

Basic Water Ground Water Production Water Distribution Surface Water II Water Laboratory

Special Topics for Lab Analysts*** Water Utilities Management Calculations 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 ONLY

Pre-Registration Until 2-21-2014

On-Site & After 2-21-2014

Water and/or Wastewater Courses ................................................................................................................... $270 ................................................. CSS Utility Relations Course ............................................................................................................................. $280 ................................................. PES Advanced Pretreatment Course ................................................................................................................ $280 ................................................. LAS Special Topics for Lab Analysts................................................................................................................. $280 .................................................

$ 320 $ 330 $ 330 $ 330

NON-MEMBERS OF TEXAS WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION

20 hour Water and/or Wastewater Courses ...................................................................................................... $320 ................................................. $ 370

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DISCOUNTS BEING OFFERED

PRE-REGISTRATION FORM

NOTE: Substitutions ONLY - Refunds Cannot Be Made Provide complete information for each registrant

Name:_______________________________________________ SS# or License #: ________________________________________________________________

Badge Name (Nickname):__________________________________ Course Selection: _____________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________________________________

City: _________________________________________ State: ______ Zip: _______________ Phone: _________________________________________________

TWUA Member

YES

NO

Representing (Region, District, Chapter or Section): ______________________________________________________

Method of Payment: Check (Ck #__________________)

Credit Card: Cardholder Name:________________________________________________________

Bill my (Visa) (MasterCard):_____________________________________________ Exp. Date: ___________ Security Code: ________ Zip Code: _____________ Authorizing Signature for Credit Card: _____________________________________________

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……………………………………. ................................................................................................................. $___________

Please make checks payable to TWUA: Mail registration form with payment to: Texas Water Utilities Association Annual School 1106 Clayton Lane Suite #112 West *Austin, Texas 78723-1093 - Registration is available online at: www.twua.org For questions please call Central Office: (888) 367-8982 Fax: (512) 459-71249-7124 JANUARY 2014

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

TWUA TRAIN To register for any TWUA classes â€“ 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. Date

Location

Course

Address/Hours

Credit

Date Jan 27-29 Feb3-5 Feb 11-13 Aug 4-6

Basic Water Sinton Corpus Christi New Braunfels Corpus Christi

TCEQ 0092 Basic Water Basic Water Basic Water Basic Water

20 Hours 301 E Market 2726 Holly 355 FM 306 2726 Holly

Water

Jan 14-16 Jan 21-23 Jan 22-24 Apr 15-17 May 19-21 Nov 10-12

Water Distribution Carrollton Lindale Odessa New Braunfels Corpus Christi Corpus Christi

TCEQ 0605 Water Distribution Water Distribution Water Distribution Water Distribution Water Distribution Water Distribution

20 Hours 4750 Josey Lane 124 N Commerce 1100 W 42nd 355 FM 306 2726 Holly 2726 Holly

Water

TCEQ 0942 Surface Water Production I TCEQ 0954 Surface Water Production II

24 Hours 400 Rock Dove Ln 20 Hours 400 Rock Dove Ln

Water

Jan 14-16

Surface Water Production I Georgetown Surface Water Production II Georgetown

Jan 28-30 Feb 10-12 Feb 18-20 Feb 25-27 Aug 18-20

Basic Wastewater Sinton Corpus Christi Carrollton New Braunfels Corpus Christi

TCEQ 0059 Basic Wastewater Basic Wastewater Basic Wastewater Basic Wastewater Basic Wastewater

20 Hours 301 E Market 2726 Holly 4750 Josey Lane 355 FM 306 2726 Holly

Wastewater

Apr 7-9 Oct 6-8

Wastewater Treatment Corpus Christi Corpus Christi

TCEQ 0437 Wastewater Treatment Wastewater Treatment

20 Hours 2726 Holly 2726 Holly

Wastewater

Jan 7-9 Jan 28-30 Mar 18-20 Apr 1-3 May 26-28 Nov 17-19

Wastewater Collection Lindale Terrell Carrollton New Braunfels Corpus Christi Corpus Christi

TCEQ 0080 Wastewater Collection Wastewater Collection Wastewater Collection Wastewater Collection Wastewater Collection Wastewater Collection

20 Hours 124 N Commerce 400 Industrial Blvd 4750 Josey Lane 355 FM 306 2726 Holly 2726 Holly

Wastewater

Jan 6-8 July 29-31

Wastewater Laboratory Corpus Christi Terrell

TCEQ 0081 Wastewater Laboratory Wastewater Laboratory

20 Hours 2726 Holly 400 Industrial Blvd

Wastewater

Sept 9-11

Utilities Management Terrell

TCEQ 0550 Utilities Management

20 Hours 400 Industrial Blvd

W/WW

Pump and Pumping New Braunfels Carrollton

TCEQ 0430 Pump and Pumping Pump and Pumping

24 Hours 355 FM 306 4750 Josey Lane

Jan 7-9

14 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

Jan 14-16 Apr 8-10

Water

W/WW

JANUARY 2014

Wastewater Collection TCEQ 0080 Jan 7-9 Lindale Wastewater Collection Jan 28-30 Terrell Wastewater Collection Mar 18-20 Carrollton Wastewater Collection Apr 1-3 New Braunfels Wastewater Collection May 26-28 Corpus Christi Wastewater Collection Nov 17-19 Corpus Christi Wastewater Collection 20 HOUR CLASSES : (PRE-REGISTRATION) $200 MEMBER $250 NON-MEMBER

NING SCHEDULE

20 Hours 124 N Commerce 400 Industrial Blvd 4750 Josey Lane 355 FM 306 2726 Holly 2726 Holly

Wastewater

Wastewater Laboratory TCEQ 0081 20 Hours Wastewater 24Jan HOUR $260 MEMBER $310 NON-MEMBER 2726 6-8 CLASSES: Corpus(PRE-REGISTRATION) Christi Wastewater Laboratory Holly (ON-SITE) $310 MEMBER $360 NON-MEMBER You can register on-line at http://www.twua.org/training.php for your next training class. Terrell Wastewater Laboratory 400 Industrial Blvd July 29-31 (ON-SITE ) $250 MEMBER $300 NON-MEMBER

Sept 9-11

Utilities Management Location Terrell

TCEQ 0550Course Utilities Management

Jan 14-16 Apr 8-10 Apr 22-24 Jul 7-9

Pump and Pumping New Braunfels Carrollton Terrell Corpus Christi

TCEQ 0430 Pump and Pumping Pump and Pumping Pump and Pumping Pump and Pumping

24 Hours 355 FM 306 4750 Josey Lane 400 Industrial Blvd 2726 Holly

W/WW

Jan 27-29 Jan 28-30 Mar 11-13 Oct 13-15

Utilities Safety Mineola New Braunfels Terrell Corpus Christi

TCEQ 0426 Utilities Safety Utilities Safety Utilities Safety Utilities Safety

20 Hours 300 Greenville Hwy 355 FM 306 400 Industrial Blvd 2726 Holly

W/WW

Mar 11-13 Mar 17-19 Jun 17-19

Valve & Hydrant MaintenanceTCEQ 0961 New Braunfels Valve & Hydrant Maintenance Corpus Christi Valve & Hydrant Maintenance Terrell Valve & Hydrant Maintenance

20 Hours 355 FM 306 2726 Holly 400 Industrial Blvd

W/WW

Apr 14-16 Jun 3-5

Utilities Calculations Corpus Christi New Braunfels

TCEQ 0108 Utilities Calculations Utilities Calculations

20 Hours 2726 Holly 355 FM 306

W/WW

Sept 8-10

Chlorinator Maintenance Corpus Christi

TCEQ 0124 Chlorinator Maintenance

20 Hours 2726 Holly

W/WW

20 Hours

W/WW/CSI/BPAT

June 17-19

Customer Service InspectionI/ Cross Connection Control TCEQ 0173,0043 New Braunfels Customer Service Inspector/CCC

355 FM 306

Jan 13-17

Effective Instructional Tecniques (Instructor I) Amarillo Effective Instructional Tecniques

40 Hours 3701 S Osage

No operator hours

July 21-25

Instructional Design and Evaluation (Instructor II) Amarillo Instructional Design and Evaluation

40 Hours 3701 S Osage

No operator hours

Date

20 Hours Address/Hours

400 Industrial Blvd

(Instructor I) (Instructor II)

W/WW Credit

OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING CUSTOMERS: Beginning March 1, 2011, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will accept a credit card or electronic check transfer for payments for all new occupational license and registration applications. As a result, any person applying for a new Occupational License or registration will be able to pay their application fee online using the TCEQ’s ePay system. Note: All online renewals will continue to be processed through Texas.gov. The ePay system allows companies, cities, municipalities, and organizations to pay up to 20 employees at one time using this system. At the time of the exam a printed receipt will be required. The receipt is considered to be a copy of the email verifying your payment or a copy of the web page showing the Trace Number and Voucher Number(s). For additional information and instructions on how to use the ePay system, please visit http://www.tceq.texas.gov/licensing/exams/registration. If you have questions please contact the Occupational Licensing Section at 512-239-6133 or email us at licenses@tceq.texas.gov. Russell Gardner, Manager Occupational Licensing Section.

JANUARY 2014

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION 96th ANNUAL SCHOOL March 2-5, 2014 – Corpus Christi, Texas

TIME 12:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 a.m. 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

MEETINGS AND EVENTS SCHEDULE

EVENT Sunday, March 2, 2014 Pre-Registration Opens Pre-Registration Closes Management Committee Meeting 2013 Final Board Meeting Opening General Session TWUA Awards Reception Monday, March 3, 2014 Registration Opens Instructors/Proctors Meeting Exhibit Area Opens All Classes Begin Best Tasting Water Contest Lunch “Double A Club” Luncheon “A Club” Luncheon All Classes Resume Exhibit Area Closes All Classes Dismissed C.S.S. Board Meeting L.A.S. Board Meeting P.E.S. Board Meeting Casino Night Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Committee Chair Meeting Exhibit Area Opens “A” License Exams All Classes Resume Lunch Exhibit Area Closes Southwest TX Regional Board Meeting All Classes Resume All Classes Dismissed Wednesday, March 5, 2014 All Classes Resume First 2014 Board Meeting All Classes Dismissed TCEQ W/WW Exams L.A.S. Exams

16 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

LOCATION

Exhibit Hall A (Convention Center) Exhibit Hall A (Convention Center) Omni Hotel-Partnership Boardroom Omni Hotel-Corpus A/B Ballroom Omni Hotel-Corpus A/B Ballroom Omni Hotel-Corpus C Ballroom Exhibit Hall A Pre-Registration Area (Convention Center) Exhibit Hall A Convention Center Exhibit Hall A Omni Hotel-Corpus C Ballroom Omni Hotel-Corpus A Ballroom Convention Center Exhibit Hall A Convention Center Omni Hotel-Laguna Madre Room Convention Center Omni Hotel- Corpus B/C Ballroom Partnership Boardroom Exhibit Hall A (Convention Center)

Exhibit Hall A Selena Rotunda (Convention Center)

Omni Hotel-Corpus C Ballroom Omni Hotel-Nueces A / Nueces B Omni Hotel-Nueces A JANUARY 2014

DOUBLE "A" CLUB CALL FOR INDUCTEES

The Double "A" Club will conduct its annual induction of new members at their luncheon on Monday, March 3, 2014 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 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: ___________ "A" License Issue Dates: Water: ____________________ Wastewater: _____________________

"A" CLUB CALL FOR INDUCTEES

The "A" Club will conduct their luncheon on Monday, March 3, 2014, at the Omni Bayfront Hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas. at 12:00 p.m. 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 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: ___________ "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, March 2, 2014 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 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: _____________________________________________ JANUARY 2014

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

CUSTOMER SERVICE NEWS:

Listening for Dollars-Customer Complaints Create Profit By Mary Sandro, ProEdge Skills

Customer complaints are like medicine. Nobody likes them, but they make us better. Actually, they are probably more like preventative medicine because they provide advanced warning about problems. Financial statements, in contrast, provide a historical perspective. By the time problems manifest in the financial statements, forget the medicine. It’s time for emergency surgery. Studies from the Technical Assistance Research Program* in Arlington, VA suggest that the root cause of customer complaints can be traced back to one of three areas: individual employees, the company, or the customer, with 80% of complaints traceable to the last two categories. By listening carefully, we can identify opportunities for training employees, improving products and services, and educating customers. Individual Employees Business is becoming increasingly complex and fast-paced. Customer service professionals have to know their product or service, their company information, the technology that supports it, and how to communicate all of this to savvy, demanding customers. Even a small gap in knowledge or skill could cause huge repercussions in terms of lost business.

18 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

When I first started my seminar business, I received a few complaints about my individual skills as a speaker. Some customers complained that they didn’t like my Philadelphia accent, my hairstyle, the way I moved around the room, or the pace of my delivery. After I cried for a few hours, I decided to invest in voice lessons, an image consultant, and a video camera. These have been some of the best investments I have ever made. I never want to get in the way of my own success. Companies should not let their employees’ lack of knowledge or skill get in the way of their success. The Company More often, the culprit is the actual product or service we provide. There may be an inherent flaw in the design. There could be a glitch in the distribution channel that causes dissatisfaction. Even if everything is perfect, marketing pieces, advertising campaigns, and salespeople could inflate value and create customer expectations that are impossible to satisfy. Recently, I was providing a service that involved a series of facilitated sessions. I allowed the customer to choose the dates of our sessions. Even though there were very JANUARY 2014

............................................................................................................................................................................................................. few sessions, they occurred over a long period of time and the customer complained that the project took too long to complete. I made reparations to the client and decided to restructure the service and the pricing so that in the future I would control the timing of sessions. Now sessions always happen over a shorter period of time and the service has a higher value and is more profitable. I have fixed the delivery process of my service. The Customer As many of us have always suspected, customers actually cause most of the problems they complain about. It’s not our fault. It’s not our employees’ fault. It’s the customer’s fault. Yet even here there is profit to be mined. Customer education and innovation are the possible solutions. I always send out a preprogram questionnaire to customers in order to tailor their seminars. If customers have email, I send the questionnaire via email. Recently, I had a customer who did not know how to return the email

JANUARY 2014

questionnaire to me with responses filled in. I sent back brief instructions on how to work the email, which could be classified here as customer education. Afterwards, I started wondering if there could be a better, easier, cleaner way to collect information, in other words, innovate. From that complaint, I decided to create hidden web pages on my website, customized to each customer with their company logo and questionnaire. Customers just click a link from an email, type their responses into a form on the web page that appears, and hit a submit button. This approach is much simpler and more impressive. I do this with all of my customers now and advertise it in my marketing. Summary Customer complaints are never easy to hear. If we shift from being defensive to opportunistic, complaints can be our best friend. If we do not listen, rest assured, the financial statement will communicate the news eventually. S

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

SAFETY NEWS:

Left Out In the Cold By Christi J. Felice, MS Safety Committee Member

Cold stress can cause several types of injuries and illnesses. Hypothermia, cold water immersion, frostbite, frostnip, chilblains, and trench foot are just some of the injuries that are possible when low temperatures, wind speed and wetness combine. In my previous article we looked at preparing for and preventing cold stress. This article will focus on the symptoms of cold stress and how to treat workers. Temperatures between 30˚F and 40˚F account for the majority of cold stress related injuries and illnesses. If temperature extremes and high winds were not bad enough, water utility workers have to deal with wetness in all forms - precipitation, basins, leaks, spills, and line breaks. When possible, staying indoors, proper clothing, using the buddy system, scheduling work during the warmest part of the day and awareness can help prevent cold stress. OSHA has developed the Cold Stress Equation to help determine the danger level (see chart). As temperatures drop and wind speeds increase, the danger levels quickly rise. Wind removes the heat barrier around the body. Wetness not only removes that barrier but cools the skin 25 times faster than wind alone. Combine the effects of wind speed and wetness and it’s like taking a dip in the Arctic Ocean. The most deadly of the cold stress illnesses and injuries is hypothermia. Hypothermia is defined as low body temperature. Hypothermia is not just an illness in extreme cold but can occur in temperatures well above freezing. Hypothermia starts when parts of the body or extremities are in prolonged contact with water temperatures below 70˚F. As an example, a worker gets caught outside in a sudden rain 20 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

shower. He doesn’t think much about being wet because the temperature is 75˚F and there is very little wind. He continues on with his work. After the rain shower ends, he is soaked and the temperature drops to 60˚F and a small breeze picks up. The worker doesn’t feel any discomfort, and continues on with his work. As he continues to work, his body starts to lose the battle to maintain his internal temperature. All of his energy is expended trying to raise his body temperature. He begins to feel fatigued, experience shivering with pain and tingling in his hands or feet. His mental capacity becomes slow and he has difficulty concentrating. He doesn’t realize he’s in danger. Shivering stops and his lips and fingers start to turn blue and go numb. He loses consciousness and his core temperature is now at least 10 degrees below a normal of 98.6˚F, causing heart palpations, respiratory failure, and death. The severity of cold stress can change quickly, and the consequences can be fatal. When temperatures drop, workers have to be alert to signs and symptoms to prevent accidents and injury. Supervisors and buddy systems should remember to watch for the ‘umbles’. A quick rule of thumb is to make sure the person being watched is not “stumbling, mumbling, fumbling or grumbling.” The body has a great warning system, but we have to pay attention to the signs. Early symptoms include: •

Goose bumps

•

Pain or tingling in the hands and feet

•

Shivering

•

Fatigue

•

Loss of coordination JANUARY 2014

•

Disorientation and confusion

Later symptoms to watch for include:

If chilblains is suspected, slowly warm the affected skin and use a cortisone cream to reduce itching. Keep blisters covered until healed.

•

Shivering stops

•

Blue skin

•

Dilated pupils

•

Slowing of pulse and breaths

•

Loss of blood flow

•

Unconsciousness

•

Tingling, stinging, aching or numbing sensation

•

Discoloration of skin

First aid procedures are straight forward: •

Alert a supervisor to get medical attention on its way

•

Take the person indoors or to a warm shelter

•

Remove any wet clothing

•

Heat the core areas first. Chest, neck, head and groin area. Use electric blankets or chemical heat packs, if available, or body to body contact under loose blankets, clothes, or towels.

•

If the person is conscious, give warm nonalcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages

•

Start CPR if there is no pulse

•

Once the person’s temperature has risen, keep covered in blankets especially around the head and neck area.

Cold water immersion is a faster acting form of hypothermia. If you have ever watched Deadliest Catch, then you are familiar with cold water immersion. It is more of a hazard for maritime occupations, but a slip and fall into a basin, clarifier, or a hole filled with water makes it an occupational hazard for water utility workers. If the whole body is submerged in water, hypothermia will begin to set in immediately, the lower the temperature of the water the faster the effects. In the event of a cold water immersion, remove the worker from the water as quickly as possible and follow the first aid procedures for hypothermia. Trench foot is hypothermia that affects only the foot. It is caused by prolonged exposure to wetness surrounding the foot in temperatures 50˚F to freezing. Depending on the temperature, the onset of symptoms can be from hours to days, typically 3 days is the average. Symptoms include: redness, numbness, pain, blisters, swelling, and discoloration. Treatment is to remove boots and socks; dry feet; avoid walking until foot returns normal. Keep feet dry by changing socks and boots often. Hands can develop similar problems if workers continually use wet gloves; so it is important to change gloves often in wet environments. Chilblains are a mild cold injury. It is caused by prolonged, repeated exposures to air temperatures below 60˚F to above freezing. Repeated exposure can cause permanent damage to the capillary beds under the skin. Symptoms are redness, itching, and sometimes blistering. These symptoms can flare up every time a worker is exposed to cool environments. JANUARY 2014

Frostbite is probably the best known injury of cold stress. Hands, feet, ears, and the nose are the most common sites of frostbite damage. Frostnip is a milder form of frostbite. Frostbite is the only freezing injury caused by water freezing under the skin. Symptoms are:

Workers should be treated by: •

Getting into a warm room as soon as possible

•

Slowly warming the affected tissues with lukewarm water or other body parts.

•

Never rubbing the affected area as this can cause more damage

•

Never walking on feet or toes as this can cause more damage

•

Never using heating pads, heat lamps, stoves, or fireplaces since the area is numb and will not know when it has gotten too hot.

Frostbite can be a permanent injury depending on the depth of the frozen tissue and amputation may be necessary. Remember, with cold injuries, never rub the affected areas as this generally causes more harm than good. Unlike heat stress, cold stress injuries will have a lasting effect that adds complications and susceptibility with later exposure. With proper education and awareness, cold stress related injuries and illnesses can be minimized and treated promptly when they occur. Resources (Download and printable) OSHA’s Cold Stress Equation: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3156.pdf NIOSH’s Cold Stress Fast Facts: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-115/pdfs/2010-115. pdf Christi is a chemist with the City of Lubbock’s Southeast Water Reclamation Laboratory and a member of the Caprock District of TWUA. She works as the Safety and Quality Control Officer with the laboratory and has a level A Laboratory Analyst Certification. Christi is a graduate of Texas Tech University in Lubbock and holds a bachelor’s degree in Geology and Master of Science in Environmental Technology Management. If you additional questions regarding chemical management contact Christi at: cfelice@mylubbock.us S

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

connect. engage. educate.

BASIC WASTEWATER CLASS

LlVE ONLINE OPERATOR TRAINING S

When: January 14-16, 2014 Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm (CST) Member Fee: $370 / Non-Member Fee: $470 (20 Hours / TCEQ approval pending) (Registration deadline: January 10, 2014) (Space is limited) Reserve your seat now

TWUA is offering a 20-hour Basic Wastewater online course. We have not received the official approval to offer this training using the online process, it is in the TCEQ approval process. This course is approved wastewater credit. It can be used for core training. D and C operators may use this training for renewal hours. Collections operators may use this training for a collections license and renewal purposes. Attendees will participate in discussion of collection, characteristics, wastewater treatment, various treatment processes, pre-treatment, disinfection, safety, pumps and motors, calculations, permit compliance, and questions and answers. PRESENTER:

OBJECTIVES WITH THIS ONLINE TRAINING: Share knowledge and experience that will: • • •

Provide compliance with TCEQ for core training Provide compliance with TCEQ for continuing education credit Improve knowledge and understanding of skills used in the performance of wastewater pretreatment, collections, operational maintenance, permit compliance, duties and tasks associated

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: • • •

Anyone who is in the pursuit of starting a career in wastewater treatment Anyone who needs basic wastewater for licensing or renewal Anyone interested in acquiring more knowledge in basic wastewater

Online Training: • •

Cannot be substituted for hands-on training required to teach critical skills The same distance training repeated in the license renewal period will not receive training credit per 30 TAC 30.28 (p)(3)(c)

Requirements: • • • • •

Registrant will be required to complete TWUA’s identity verification process upon successful registration Identification verification and polling will be conducted during this training Comprehension and understanding will be tested throughout the course Passing an Exit Exam will be required for successful completion Guaranteed bandwidth of at least 1 Mbps downstream

DAVID MOORE Training Coordinator Texas Water Utilities Association

David is currently the Training Coordinator of TWUA with 28 years of experience in all aspects of pretreatment, collections, treatment, and disposal of wastewater effluent. David is a Double A Operator. He has presented the TWUA version of the Basic Wastewater in the traditional 20 hours classroom setting both at the regional and individual training events. David is a very hands-on person and possesses a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in wastewater collections and treatment as well as supervision of staff who were working in the wastewater profession. Join David and TWUA as they bring this basic wastewater course to the operators by way of your computer and the internet.

Visit: www.twua.org for more information or call 888.367.8982 Follow us on: 22 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

JANUARY 2014

connect. engage. educate.

NUTRIENT REMOVAL IN WASTEWATER January 29, 2014 Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm (CST) Member Fee: $40 / Non-Member Fee: $55 (2 Hours / TCEQ approval pending) (Registration deadline: January 28, 2014) Reserve your webinar seat now (Space is limited) There will be a discussion related to upcoming changes to wastewater discharge. TCEQ permits, phosphorus limits, nitrogen limits, treatment options, sludge disposal, stream quality, factors that determine biological or chemical treatment, retrofitting existing treatment facilities, planning for capital improvements, and questions and answers. PRESENTER:

OBJECTIVES WITH THIS WEBINAR: Share knowledge and experience that will: • • • •

Improve knowledge of upcoming changes to permits Improve knowledge on wastewater discharge limits Improve knowledge of treatment options Improve knowledge on advantages & disadvantages of treatment options

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: • • •

Wastewater operators who work in treatment Anyone in the wastewater industry who deals with permit compliance Anyone interested in acquiring more knowledge in the area of Phosphorus and nitrogen limits in wastewater discharge and or stream quality

RICHARD M. OLLER, PE, CPM Engineer West Texas Consultants

Webinar Training: • • •

Cannot be substituted for hands-on training required to teach critical skills Can only be used as training for renewal of a license The same distance training repeated in the license renewal period will not receive training credit per 30 TAC 30.28 (p)(3)(c)

Requirements: • • • •

Registrant will be required to complete TWUA’s identity verification process upon successful registration. Voice verification and polling will be conducted during this training. Guaranteed bandwidth of at least 1 Mbps downstream Any questions contact TWUA Central Office – 888-367-8982

Rich is a Professional Engineer with over 30 years experience in water and wastewater treatment, design, optimization, and problem solving. Rich is a very hands on person, and possess a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in wastewater treatment and collections. Rich will discuss the upcoming changes to the rules and regulations that govern the water quality of wastewater discharge and stream quality.

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY NEWS:

Mercury Levels Drop By EPA .............................................................................................................................................................................................................

EPA Study: Mercury Levels in Women of Childbearing Age Drop 34 Percent / Data suggest women making more informed seafood choices Release Date: 11/20/2013 Contact Information: Stacy Kika (News media only), Kika. stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355; En español: Lina Younes, younes.lina@epa.gov, 202-564-9924, 202-5644355 WASHINGTON — Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a study showing that blood mercury levels in women of childbearing age dropped 34 percent from a survey conducted in 1999-2000 to follow-up surveys conducted from 2001 to 2010. Additionally, the percentage of women of childbearing age with blood mercury levels above the level of concern decreased 65 percent from the 1999-2000 survey and the follow-up surveys from 20012010. During the survey period there was very little change in the amount of fish consumed. The decrease in the ratio of mercury intake to fish consumed suggests that women may have shifted to eating types of fish with lower mercury concentrations. For the peer-reviewed study, Trends in Blood Mercury Concentrations and Fish Consumption among U.S. Women of Childbearing Age, NHANES (1999-2010), EPA analyzed measurements of blood mercury levels from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. EPA found that blood methylmercury concentrations in women of childbearing age in the first survey cycle (19992000) were 1.5 times higher than the average concentration of the five subsequent cycles (2001-2010). The average of blood mercury concentrations changed only slightly from 2001 to 2010, and remained below levels of concern for health. EPA’s study provides a nationwide perspective on trends in mercury levels based mostly on consumption of ocean fish. It does not reflect trends in mercury levels in communities that depend on locally caught fish for subsistence. EPA and states recommend that people check local advisories before eating fish caught from local waterways.

24 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet because they are a source of high-quality protein, many vitamins and minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and are mostly low in saturated fat. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can be beneficial for heart health and children’s proper growth and development. However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child’s developing nervous system. The risks from mercury depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish. EPA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advise women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and to eat fish and shellfish that are low in mercury for the health benefits and to reduce exposure to mercury. EPA and FDA advise:

- Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish because they have high levels of mercury. - Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) per week of a variety of fish and shellfish low in mercury. - Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. - Another commonly eaten fish, albacore (“white”) tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week. - Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught in local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish caught from local waters, but don’t consume any other fish during that week.

JANUARY 2014

- Follow these same recommendations for young children, but serve smaller portions. EPA and the FDA issued national mercury advisories on fish consumption in 2001 and 2004. The agency conducted an extensive national outreach campaign, including distributing millions of advisory brochures; translating information into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Cambodian and Hmong; and providing materials to more than 150,000 doctors and healthcare professionals. EPA has also worked closely with state and tribal partners on developing and communicating risk and benefit messages related to consuming fish.

EPA has taken significant actions toward making fish and shellfish safer to eat. In June 2013, the agency proposed new effluent guidelines for steam electric power plants, which currently account for more than half of all toxic pollutants discharged into streams, rivers and lakes from industrial facilities in the U.S. In February 2012, EPA issued the Mercury and Air Toxics standards for fossil-fuel fired power plants. Compliance with this rule may take up to four years. S More information: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/ swguidance/fishshellfish/fishadvisories/technical. cfm#tabs-4

Developing a Consumer Outreach Program A Two-Part TAWWA Webinar Series

Part I January 14, 2014 12:30 – 1:30 pm

Part II February 28, 2014 12:30 – 2 pm

Interactions with stakeholders can help or harm a utility’s image. This webinar focuses on employees and staff who interface with the public and consumers, whether directly or indirectly. This webinar series is designed for all utilities, including those who don’t have full-time staff dedicated to public information or communications programs. It also benefits managers and operators who implement the public education programs required for water quality reports, water conservation plans, storm sewer system discharge permits and other regulatory, planning and funding agency requirements.

TAWWA member price: $45

Non-member price: $75

Registered attendees will also have access to special pricing on optional materials and discounted membership. This two-part webinar is APPROVED for 2.5 hours of TCEQ Continuing Education Credit when viewed live.

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

TWUA PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS CARDS:

Place your Bussiness Card here!

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Houston/Stafford/Gulf Coast 281-980-7448 Austin/San Antonio/South TX 512-288-8552 Dallas/Ft. Worth/Oklahoma 972-769-1993

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EXPERIENCE

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Water is a Precious Resource. How Much Are You Losing? l Full-service leak and water loss detection, meter evaluation, underground water system assessment and water theft detection l 25 years experience locating and eliminating damaging and costly water loss l

State-of-the-art acoustic leak detection equipment and expert staff

P. O. Box 9000 • Kilgore, Texas 75663-9000 903-984-0551 • Fax: 903-984-5914 www.ana-lab.com • email: corp@ana-lab.com Ana-Lab Corporation is an employee-owned organization which provides industry, government, consultants, and individuals with complete, timely, and accurate chemical analysis, including state approved total coliform testing. Amarillo 806-355-3556

Sam Godfrey 1308 Daytona Drive Austin, TX 78733 Office/Fax: 512-263-7043 Mobile:512-751-5325 sgodfrey@samco-leakservice.com

www.samco-leakservice.com

26 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

Dallas 972-620-8900

Brownsville 956-831-6437

Austin 512-821-0045

Houston 281-333-9414

T104704201

JANUARY 2014

DISTRICT OFFICER TRAINING Tuesday, January 7, 2014 Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm (CST)

TRAINING

Fee: NO CHARGE (Lunch Provided) RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW! REGISTER Today Online! (Registration deadline: January 6, 2014)

Location: Holiday Inn Midtown 6000 Middle Fiskville Rd. Austin, Texas 78752

This important Officer Training will be available to steam online. If you are unable to personally attend this training, please contact David Moore, for the process to stream live. Related Discussions: District meeting compliance, Current district officers contact information, IRS Compliance, TCEQ compliance, Meeting notices, Membership renewal, TCEQ presentation, Demonstration of database, and Questions and answers.

JANUARY 2014

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

LICENSES ISSUED BY TCEQ: NOVEMBER 2013

28 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

JANUARY 2014

Licensing Review Questions

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org Answers to Licensing Review: 1.C 2.C 3.C 4.B

JANUARY 2014

TWUA EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFIED ADS:

WASTEWATER OPERATOR Various Locations

SouthWest Water Company has opening for Water and Wastewater Operators in Austin, Baytown, Benbrook, Conroe, Mabank and Pottsboro, Texas. Performs routine checks of the facilities, maintenance and field customer service; helps ensure compliance with governing agencies regulations. Advanced skills and technical knowledge of water and wastewater treatment. High school diploma or GED; 1-2 years’ related experience; water/wastewater certification a preferred and backhoe experience a plus. Fax or email resume and salary requirements to: (832)2095007/jobs@swwc.com

GENERAL MANAGER Temple, Texas The Bluebonnet Water Supply Corporation is seeking applicants for its position of General Manager. The previous GM has retired after 17 years with the organization during which time a great deal was accomplished. The Board is seeking leadership to maintain and continue this significant track record of success. BWSC has become a leader in the industry being recognized by the TCEQ as a Superior Water System. The GM reports directly to the Board of Directors and acts as the Chief Administrative Officer for the corporation. A copy of the full Job Description may be obtained from the BSWC offices upon request. The position requires a B Surface Water License or must be able to

obtain a B Surface Water License within 1 year OR a B Surface Water License within 2.5 years per TCEQ for a bachelors or master’s degree, 3 years of OJT in management and finance or at the discretion of the board of directors. The BSWC offers a competitive compensation package negotiable depending on qualifications. Bluebonnet Water Supply Corporation: Fax resume and salary requirements to: 254986-2418 or Email resume and salary requirements to: donnie@ bluebonnetwsc.com UTILITY MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT Conroe, Texas Directs, coordinates and supervises preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, calibration and repair of Division hydraulic, mechanical, electrical, rotating and stationary equipment, buildings, structures, and/or other facilities related to water treatment, collection, supply, transmission or distribution. Please follow this link to view a more detailed job announcement: http:// www.sanjacintoriverauthority. com/careers/pdfs/2013/ Utility%20Maintenance%20 Superintendent_GRP%20 Division%20Conroe%20TX%20 12.5.13.pdf San Jacinto River Authority: Fax resume and salary requirements to: 936-588-7164 or Email resume and salary requirements to: acollins@sjra.net

30 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org

UTILITY OPERATIONS SUPERINTENDENT Conroe, Texas Directs, coordinates and supervises water treatment, supply, transmission and distribution systems, and/ or wastewater collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal system operations within the SJRA boundaries. Please follow this link to view a more detailed job summary: http:// www.sanjacintoriverauthority. com/careers/pdfs/2013/ UtilityOperations%20 Superintendent_GRP%20 Division%20Conroe%20TX%20 12.5.13.pdf San Jacinto River Authority: Fax resume and salary requirements to: 936-588-7164 or Email resume and salary requirements to: acollins@sjra.net WATER TREATMENT PLANT SUPERINTENDENT Paris, Texas Supervision of a 36 MGD surface water treatment plant staffed with 13 employees. A complete job description is available by contacting Doug Harris, Director of Utilities, 903-7842464, dharris@paristexas.gov , 10 years’ experience in surface water treatment, preferably in a supervisory capacity. Minimum of a high school diploma or GED, a Bachelor’s degree is preferred. Must have a valid Class “A” Water Operator license issued by TCEQ. Salary: $39,141.00 to $52,456.00/year DOQ

salary requirements to: 903784-4809 or Email resume and salary requirements to: dharris@paristexas.gov WASTEWATER OPERATOR State Wide Position consists of operating a .150 mgd extended air wastewater facility. We provide new living quarters at our locations and the work schedule is seven days on/off. We work in a great environment with the oil field industry treating domestic waste generated by the industry. Knowledge of extended air plant equipment and operations, process control and documentation, good people skills and the ability to manage their own time. Minimum of a “D” license with prior experience operating wastewater facilities. Salary: $40,000.00+/yr. QUAIL RUN SERVICES: Fax resume and salary requirements to: 713-783-6321 Email resume and salary requirements t o : L E E C O N AT S E R @ LMENVIRONMENTAL.COM OPERATOR Trinity, Texas Class C Water and/or Class C Sewer Valid Texas Driver’s License. High School or Equivalent, Plus benefits. Westwood Shores M.U.D.: Fax resume and salary requirements to: 936-594-0408 or Email resume and salary requirements to: kellere@ windstream.net

City of Paris: Fax resume and

JANUARY 2014

Committed to Texas

Now There Are TWO Stars Serving the Lone Star State Flowserve announces a partnership with Texas-based Smith Pump Company. With 50 years of experience, Smith Pump in its affiliation with Flowserve offers the benefits of vast expertise, product breadth and offerings for every essential water resource pumping requirement. Smith Pump offers five locations across the state of Texas to serve you: Waco, Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston.

Coverage Area Rely on Smith Pump Company and Flowserve for all your water resource pumping needs. www.flowserve.com

www.smithpump.com

Experience In Motion

(All counties in Texas, except El Paso) Pump Technology for Every Water Resource Application • Source Water • Water Transmission • Water Treatment and Distribution • Wastewater • Irrigation • Flood Control and Drainage • Industrial

flowserve.com

O N

C O R P U S

C H R I S T I

B A Y

The LEX is always a chilling experience. And now we have the A/C to prove it. That’s right! Hangar Bay II is now air conditioned so the USS LEXINGTON Museum now offers an exciting and unique one-of-a-kind venue for your next event. This unforgettable setting makes planning a breeze for your next cocktail reception, banquet, stage show or gala. Capacity varies with setup – from 25 to 750. LEXINGTON’S MEGA Theater, with comfortable stadium seating and state-of-the-art audio/visual technology, is perfect for presentations, product launches or awards ceremonies. (Capacity 193) This larger than life WWII aircraft carrier is right in the middle of Corpus Christi Bay so no matter how you look at it, the view is spectacular!. Call one of our friendly meeting professionals today! 1-800-LADY-LEX

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