September 2023

JOURNAL

"Proudly Serving Education Excellence since 1918"

Texas Water Utilities Association

Regional Training – 2023

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR 2023

DATES

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 for you and your dependents to receive a scholarship from the V M Ehlers Foundation. The Foundation operates as a Texas nonprofit 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 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 indicated 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 Annual School: 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 15.9 % (- 0.9 %). White River is sitting at 19.0 % (-2.2 %). Panhandle - Lake Meredith is sitting at 46.4 % (-1.2 %), and Greenbelt is at 11.6 % (-0.6 %). If you want a complete look at current lake levels, go to waterdatafortexas.org. The drought has never left for some.

Annual School – 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 opportunity – 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.

The Story Goes Something Like This –

All the Difference in The World

Every Saturday morning, I take a long walk around a park near my home.  There’s a small lake located in the center of the park.  Each time I walk by this lake, I see the same elderly woman sitting on a park bench at the water’s edge with a small metal cage sitting beside her.

This past Saturday, my curiosity got the best of me, so I stopped and walked over to her.  As I got closer, I realized that the metal cage was, in fact, a small trap.  There were three turtles, unharmed, slowly walking around the base of the trap.  She had a fourth turtle in her lap on a towel that she was carefully and gently scrubbing its shell with a spongy brush.

“Hello,” I said.  “I see you here every Saturday morning.  If you don’t mind my nosiness, I’d love to know what you’re doing with these turtles.”

She smiled.  “I’m cleaning off their shells,” she replied.  “Anything on a turtle’s shell, like algae or scum, reduces the turtle’s ability to absorb heat and impedes its ability to swim.  Over time this scum can corrode and weaken the shell.”

“Wow!  That’s really nice of you!” I exclaimed.

She went on: “I spend a couple of hours each Saturday morning relaxing by this lake and helping these little guys out.  It’s my own strange way of making a difference.”

“But don’t most freshwater turtles live their whole lives with algae and scum hanging from their shells?” I asked.

“Yep, sadly, they do,” she replied.

I scratched my head.  “Well then, don’t you think your time could be better spent? I mean, I think your efforts are kind and all, but there are freshwater turtles living in lakes all around the world.  And 99% of these turtles don’t have kind people like you to help them clean off their shells.  So, no offense… but how exactly are your localized efforts here truly making a difference?”

The woman giggled aloud.  She then looked down at the turtle in her lap, scrubbed off the last piece of algae from its shell, and said, “Sweetie, if this little guy could talk, he’d tell you I just made all the difference in the world.”

The moral: Maybe not all at once, but one person, one animal, and one good deed at a time.  Wake up every morning and pretend like what you do makes a difference.  It does.

Author unknown

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 smiled and said gladly.

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

EMPLOYERS MUST PROVIDE AND PAY FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) - OSHA.GOV

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that employers protect you from workplace hazards that can cause injury or illness. Controlling a hazard at its source is the best way to protect workers. However, when engineering, work practice and administrative controls are not feasible or do not provide sufficient protection, employers must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to you and ensure its use.

PPE is equipment worn to minimize exposure to a variety of hazards. Examples include items such as gloves, foot and eye protection, protective hearing protection (earplugs, muffs), hard hats and respirators.

Employers Must Pay for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

On May 15, 2008, a new OSHA rule about employer payment for PPE went into effect. With few exceptions, OSHA now requires employers to pay for personal protective equipment used to comply with OSHA standards. The final rule does not create new requirements regarding what PPE employers must provide.

The standard makes clear that employers cannot require workers to provide their own PPE and the worker’s use of PPE they already own must be completely voluntary. Even when a worker provides his or her own PPE, the employer must ensure that the equipment is adequate to protect the worker from hazards at the workplace.

Examples of PPE that Employers Must Pay for Include:

♣ Metatarsal foot protection ♣ Rubber boots with steel toes ♣ Non-prescription eye protection ♣ Prescription eyewear inserts/lenses for full face respirators ♣ Goggles and face shields ♣ Fire fighting PPE (helmet, gloves, boots,

proximity suits, full gear) ♣ Hard hats ♣ Hearing protection ♣ Welding PPE

All personal protective equipment should be safely designed and constructed, and should be maintained in a clean and reliable fashion. It should fit comfortably, encouraging worker use. If the personal protective equipment does not fit properly, it can make the difference between being safely covered or dangerously exposed. When engineering, work practice, and administrative controls are not feasible or do not provide sufficient protection, employers must provide personal protective equipment to their workers and ensure its proper use. Employers are also required to train each worker required to use personal protective equipment to know:

• When it is necessary

• What kind is necessary

• How to properly put it on, adjust, wear and take it off

• The limitations of the equipment

• Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the equipment

If PPE is to be used, a PPE program should be implemented. This program should address the hazards present; the selection, maintenance, and use of PPE; the training of employees; and monitoring of the program to ensure its ongoing effectiveness.

TEXAS WATER UTILITIES TRAINING SCHEDULE

To register for any TWUA Training Classes – the preferred method of registration is using the online computer based electronic process, activated by clicking on specific event(s). For those who do not have internet as an option you may complete the registration form and fax to (512) 459-7124 and additionally you may contact TWUA Central Office @ 888-367-8982. Please Note – Due to recent increases for training materials, class costs have changed. Early Bird preregistration is defined to mean 30-days prior to any training event. All registrations received after the Early Bird period must pay additional registration fee. Central Office strongly encourages everyone to take advantage of the Early Bird pricing and utilize the computer based (electronic) registration.

20-Hour Classes: (Early Bird Pre-registration) $325 member $425 Non-member Onsite $375 member $475 Non-member

24-Hour Classes: (Early Bird Pre-registration) $385 member $485 Non-member Onsite $435 member $535 Non-member

ONLINE CLASS DATES

TWUA LIVE, INSTRUCTOR LED - COMPUTER BASED TRAINING

https://twua.org/online-class-date

REGIONAL SCHOOL DATES

TWUA IN PERSON TRAINING

https://twua.org/regional-school-date

TRAINING CALENDAR ALL TWUA SCHEDULED TRAINING

https://tmts.twua.org/calendar

Active Listening Skills To Practice

John Monroe, GOVLOOP

Active listening takes practice to improve and maintain. The more you use these techniques, the more natural they feel. Here are a variety of active listening exercises you can use to help improve your Communication Skills.

• Verbal, Active Listening Skills – Paraphrase or Summarize the main point(s) of the message the speaker shared to show you fully understand their meaning. This will also give the speaker an opportunity to clarify vague information or expand their message.

Example – “So what you’re saying is, your current content management system no longer meets your team’s technical needs because it doesn’t support large video files.”

• Ask Open-ended Questions – Ask questions that show you have gathered the essence of what they’ve shared and guide them into sharing additional information. Make sure these questions cannot be answered with a simple yes or no.

Example – You’re right; the onboarding procedure could use some updating. What changes would you want to make to the process over the next few months?

• Ask Specific Probing Questions – Ask direct questions that guide the presenter to provide more details about the information they’ve shared or narrow down a broad subject or topic.

Example – Tell me more about your current workload. Which of these projects is the most time-consuming?

• Use Short Verbal Affirmations – Short, positive statements will help the speaker feel more comfortable and show you’re engaged and able to process the information they’re providing. Small verbal affirmations help you continue the conversation without interrupting the speaker or disrupting their flow.

Example – I see. I understand. Yes, that makes sense. I agree.

• Display Empathy – Make sure the speaker understands you’re able to recognize their emotions and

share their feelings. By showing compassion, rather than just feeling it, you’re able to connect with the speaker and begin establishing a sense of mutual trust.

Example – I’m sorry you’re dealing with this problem. Let’s figure out some ways I can help.

• Share Similar Experiences – Discussing comparable situations will not only show the speaker you’ve successfully interpreted their message, but it can also assist in building relationships. If the speaker has shared a problem, providing input on how you solved similar challenges is valuable to others.

Example – I had a tough time getting started with this program, too. But it gets much easier. After just a few weeks, I felt comfortable using all the features.

• Recall Previously Shared Information – Try to remember key concepts, ideas, or other critical points the speaker has shared with you in the past. This demonstrates you’re not only listening to what is being said, but you are able to retain information and recall specific details.

Example – Last week, you mentioned adding a more senior coordinator to help with this account, and I think that is a great idea.

• Nod – Offering the speaker a few simple nods shows you understand what they are saying. A nod is a helpful, supportive cue and doesn’t necessarily communicate that you agree with the speaker but rather you are able to process the meaning of their message.

• Smile – Like a nod, a small smile encourages a speaker to continue. Unlike a nod, it communicates you agree with their message, or you’re happy about what the speaker has to say. A smile can take the place of a short verbal affirmation in helping to diffuse any tension and ensure the speaker feels comfortable.

• Maintain Eye Contact – Whenever possible, keep your eyes on the speaker and avoid looking at other people or objects in the room, especially smart devices.

Prevent Heat Illness at Work

Ou tdoor and indoor heat exposure can be dangerous.

Ways to Protect Yourself and Others

Ease into Work . Nearly 3 out of 4 fatalities from heat illness happen during the first week of work .

New and returning workers need to build tolerance to heat (acclimatize) and take frequent breaks

Follow the 20% Rule. On the first day, work no more than 20% of the shift ’s duration at full intensity in the heat .

Increase the duration of time at full intensity by no more than 20% a day until workers are used to working in the heat

Drink Cool Water

Drink cool water even if you are not thirsty — at least 1 cup every 20 minute s.

Take Rest Breaks

Take enough time to recover from heat given the temperature, humidity, and conditions.

Find Shade or a Cool Area

Take breaks in a designated shady or cool location.

Dress for the Heat

Wear a hat and light- colored, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing if possible

Watch Out for Each Other

Monitor yourself and others for signs of heat illness.

If Wearing a Face Covering

Change your face covering if it gets wet or soiled. Verbally check on others frequentl y.

First Aid for Heat Illness

The following are signs of a medical emergency! Abnormal thinking or behavior ?? ? ? ? ? Slurred speech

Loss of consciousness

1 CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY

2 COOL THE WORKER RIGHT AWAY WITH WATER OR ICE

3 STAY WITH THE WORKER UNTIL HELP ARRIVES

Watch for any other signs of heat illness and act quickly. When in doubt, call 911.

If a worker experiences :

Headache or nausea

Weakness or diz ziness

Heavy sweating or hot, dry skin

Elevated body temperature

Thirst

Decreased urine output

Take these actions:

Give water to drink

Remove unnecessar y clothing

Move to a cooler area

Cool with water, ice, or a fan

Do not leave alone

Seek medical care if needed

TCEQ Occupational Licensing Exams are Going Paperless!

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Occupational Licensing section has been diligently working on revising and converting all licensing exams from paper to computer-based testing (CBT).

We are pleased to announce that beginning September 1, 2022, all TCEQ administered exams will be available at approved CBT centers. TCEQ will no longer conduct paper exam sessions, with exceptions for Americans with Disabilities Act requests.

The only two exams not offered via CBT are the OSSF Site Evaluator and the Landscape Irrigator exams, which are currently being administered by the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).

CYBERSECURITY

by Wanda Venter

The dos and don’ts of workplace social media policies

S ocial media has become part of most peoples ‘daily routines in the last few years. Many people use social media at some point in their day, either for personal use, or as part of their work, or both. In an ideal world, everyone would know exactly when and how to engage on Facebook, YouTube, or any other major social network. However, 15 years into the age of social media, the norms dictating what’s acceptable are still ill-defined. For employers, this lack of clarity can result in some sticky situations. That’s why it’s a good idea to spell out your company’s expectations and standards in a social media policy. But what is a social media policy, and what should be included and what should not? How can one make sure that the policy works?

What is a workplace social media policy?

A social media policy helps employers regulate how the

employees present themselves and reflect organization values online. It outlines clear, concise guidelines about how employees should behave online, and it can cover both their personal and professional activities.

Social media connects individuals and businesses through content sharing. Users can engage with each other, read customer opinions, and expand their professional networks. A social media’s employment policy’s most important function is to safeguard the company’s image and encourage employees to behave responsibly when posting online.

What should a policy include?

Define social media. Social media can mean different things to different people. Let employees know which social media sites your company uses and which ones your company’s social

media policy covers. You can include blogs, social networking platforms, forums, and other types in your definition.

Rules and expectations for personal social media use. Explain the rules for behavior on personal social media accounts and let people know they should delete accounts that don’t comply or change the settings to private so that customers can’t see them. Political material, comments about competitors or complaints about bosses or customers could be banned. Some companies have separate personal and corporate social media policies.

Give specific examples of inappropriate conduct. It’s not possible or legal to police all employee conduct on social media. However, employers can clarify that hate speech, bullying, retaliation, and discriminatory conduct on social media platforms may be cause for discipline or termination. Moreover, a poorly timed or worded social post could harm your organization’s reputation.

Be specific about what information cannot be shared and what constitutes a trade secret While blanket prohibitions against revealing confidential information are not generally enforceable, telling employees not to share information about proprietary formulas, customer lists, technological specifications, and other trade secrets on their social media accounts is okay.

The consequences of social media policy violations. Social media policies should also let people know what punishments they can expect for violating social media policies and who determines those consequences. People who post incorrect information or break minor rules often need to apologize and correct their statements. Those who reveal company secrets or post inappropriate content online could lose their jobs or pay monetary damages to the business.

What should it not include?

Restrictions against employees’ abilities to connect with (or “friend”) one another on personal social media pages.

Requirements that employees (or prospective employees) provide social media account information or passwords.

General prohibitions against discussing work. Employers cannot legally prevent employees from discussing their jobs, complaining about colleagues, or disparaging company decisions and policies on social media.

Any language prohibiting employees from using social media

to contact traditional media (local news reporters, newspapers, etc.) about work-related concerns.

How to make sure your policy works

Involve employees. It can be a good idea for corporate leadership to get employee feedback and buy-in when writing a social media guidance. Take the time to find out what limitations your staff finds reasonable and what would make them feel improperly restricted.

Keep it simple. The simpler the social media policy is to understand, the more likely your employees will comply with it.

Be consistent. In all aspects of deploying and enforcing your social media policy, ensure you are being as consistent as possible.

Make it an ongoing conversation. Cultural norms about social media usage are fluid, so your social media policy should be a living document. Make these standards a continuing discussion and an opportunity to train your staff rather than simply a policy they need to sign off on when they start at your company.

Cultivate a cybersecurity work environment. Cybercriminals frequently attack an organization using phishing emails and similar tactics, making employees the first line of defense that needs strengthening. Employees need training and guidance to avoid different types of cybercrime.

Wanda Venter is a co-founder of Aviaware Technologies Corporation. As an entrepreneur, she has been in the IT industry for over twenty years. Her background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Concordia University Texas. Aviaware specializes in custom software design and development, focusing on cybersecurity and disaster recovery to ensure the security and privacy of critical business data. Email: info@aviaware.com

About the author – Wanda Venter

•

•

Our $10M inventory means lead times in days, not weeks or months

Superior solids handling impellers to keep up with modern wastewater demands

HOMA’s PMR5 relay plugs into existing Mini-Cas Socket to simplify your retrofit

A wide range of competitor adapters allow for installation of your new HOMA pump without costly downtime

Looking for a BOOST in pH & Alkalinity?

A leading provider of Magnesium Hydroxide Powder and Slurry throughout the US.

Chemistry:

1 Dry # of MgOH2 = 1.70 Lbs of Alkalinity (CaCO3)

1 Dry # of MgOH2 = 1.35 lbs of NaOH (Caustic)

1 Dry # of MgOH2 = 1.27 lbs of CaOH (Lime)

Storage and dosing equipment for any size plant avaliable. Call today for a free sample and information. www.garrisonminerals.com

Benefits of Utilizing SAMCO Services

Reduce water production and distribution costs

Improve overall efficiency and gain knowledge of your distribution system

Improve water quality and assure adequate pressure to help safeguard public health

Improve public water system compliance with State and Federal regulations

There are 3 steps in the TCEQ exam process.

1. application/payment

2. approval/conditional approval

3. designate testing location

You are not through the process if you have not designated a testing location with TCEQ!

TWUA.org

Texas Engineering Firm #470

DISTRIBUTION & WASTEWATER COLLECTION | WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN | WASTEWATER TREATMENT DESIGN

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 Active Member

o Full-Time Student

o Retired Member

o Membership Renewal

o 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: TWUA Central Office, 210 East Hwy. 79, Suite 101, Hutto, Tx. 78634

For more information, Ms. Adee at: 512-279-8129. Fax: 512-459-7124.

BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY TESTER

AVILA, MATHEW

BADILLO AYALA, JESUS

BLACK, RYAN JORDAN

BRADFORD, TRACE C

BROCKWAY, ALEXANDER WALSTON

BROWN, ZANE ROBERT

CAMPOS, MARIO

CLARK, MATHIS JAMES

COX, CALEB

DEMBOWSKI, JOHN

DIAZ, ARMANDO

DONNELLY, JASON M SR

EDWARDS, ANDREA

FELICI, RIO DANTE

FISCHER, MARK A

FLORES, FRANCISCO JAVIER

FORTNER, JORDAN ELIJIAH

FREEZE, KRISTIAN B

GALINDEZ, CHRISTOPHER

GARCIA, RYAN

GARCIA-HERNANDEZ, GERARDO D

HAHN, DAVID

HALE, DALTON EDWARD

HASELOFF, KYNTON RILEY

HERNANDEZ, ISAAC

HERNANDEZ, RUBEN V

HERSEY, BILLY

HUDSON, ZACHERY

HUMPHRIES, JOHN COLBY

IGLESIAS, GEORGE JUNIOR

KLAPUCH, ZACHARY J

LANDRUM, CASSIE

LILLEY, CHARLES C

LISCANO, MARCO ANTONIO

LONGORIA, CHARLES D

MCDANIEL, JEFF

MEDINA, JAMES A

MOORE, BRANDON D

OLVERA, JAIR ABNIEL

ORTIZ, ERIC M

PEREZ, MIGUEL A

RIVERA, ERIK

ROBERTSON, LOGAN CADE

ROGERS, JAMES CASEY

RUIZ, TOMMY GIOVANY

RUIZESPARZA, ERIK

SCHERER, JAKE ALEXANDER

SCHLACHTER, SHAWN M

SESSIONS, JACKIE LEE

SEYMOUR, CHRISTOPHER COREY

SIRY, ROBERT

SMITH, CHRIS JOSEPH

SMITH, WILLIAM R

SPANGLER, SHANE GREGORY

TERUEL, MICHAEL

THOMAS, MICHAEL RICHARD

TRUJILLO-MARTINEZ, FRANCISCO

VANCE, CHARLES WYLIE

WALKER, KEVIN O

WARREN, EDMOND WAYNE

WHEELER, NATHAN SCOTT

WHITTLEY, DAVID B

CUSTOMER SERVICE INSPECTOR

BARTSCH, LAYNE W

DIAZ, GERARDO

HOWE, KANE A

JONES, ROCK L

JONES, ZAKARY

LACEY, MICHAEL EUGENE

MCGUINNESS, JAMES RICHARD

MILLER, JONATHAN E

NAVA, LUIS E

NIXON, KENNETH E

OLIVAS, SEBASTIAN

PATTERSON, RICKY

RAMIREZ, LUIS

RESKO, CHESTON LYNN

TAYLOR, CORALIN I

WALL, ANTHONY

GROUND WATER

TREATMENT OPERATOR

CLASS B

CAMPBELL, DUSTIN D

GARZA, ROBERT JR

HITT, COLEY R

HOLTSFORD, GREGORY A

MALDONADO, SAMUEL

CLASS C

CROWE, NATHANIEL

GOODWIN, JEFFERY K

HART, CHRISTOPHER AUSTIN

HENSON, NOLAN

HERNANDEZ, ROBERT

HYDEN, KALEB C

KLENK, GARRETT WILLIAM

MANN, STEVEN JAMES

MCGUIRE, STEVEN P

PARKER, LARRY

PRICE, JACK MICHAEL

REECE, AUSTIN DANIEL

REPKA, TYLER LEE

RICHEY, JESSICA LYNN

RIETCHECK, PATRICK

SMITH, AUSTIN COURTNEY

URQUIZO, JACOB

WHATLEY, ALLAN R

SURFACE WATER

TREATMENT OPERATOR

CLASS B

CARRIZALES, JULIO C

COPELAND, TRAVIS EMERSON

GONZALEZ, ELIBERTO JR

GRAHAM, MICHAEL CLAYTON

HAGEMANN, BRIAN K

PETRUSH, BENJAMIN T

RAUSCH, DAVID MICHEAL

STRICKLAND, JACOB W

TESSMER, CHRIS D

CLASS C

ALISON, OWEN W

EDENBURN, TYLER JOHN

FISCHER, ROBBY L

GILBERT, JOHN CHRISTIAN

GLOVER, STEVEN R JR

HOOD, JOHN SHANNON

HUMPHRIES, KEVIN MICHAEL

KAULFUS, AUSTIN KEITH

KRIVENSKY, MICHAEL J

MINGS, FRANCES

PEREZ, JOHN D

POPE, MARK BRADLEY

SMITH, MICHAEL

TURNER, TOMMY W

VALENZUELA, MELINDA

WEISER, ROBERT

WATER DISTRIBUTION

OPERATOR

CLASS B

ESSARY, NANCI CRISANN

FEDER, RICHARD C

HOBBS, SAMUEL C

MAYORGA, JUAN G

CLASS C

BEDFORD, REGINALD DWAN

BURNEY, JASON

CASTILLO, JULIAN

CHRISTIAN, STEFFANIE

COOPER, BLAKE

DAVIS, ROGER DEWAYNE

GARCIA, CHARLES A

GONZALEZ, JAVIER

GONZALEZ, TROY

HORTON, WESLEY RYON

HOWELL, LARRY A

JOHNSON, TRACER

JUAREZ, JOSUE ADRIAN

LOCK, CALVIN LEE

MAINORD, MICHAEL C

MCCLAINE, JUSTIN

MITCHELL, KENNETH

ONTIVEROS, ESTEBAN

PATTERSON, CHRISTOPHER J

REID, JEFF DEAN

RESKO, CHESTON LYNN

RICHTER, DAVID M

RODRIGUEZ, FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ

SANDERS, JOHN

SAUCEDO, MANUEL

YOUNG, KRISTOFER

WATER OPERATOR

CLASS A

CHICAS, SANTOS A

CRAWFORD, ROY D

GERMANY, CAYTON R

GODINEZ, MIGUEL A

GUZMAN, RUBEN D JR

KENNER, DAVID L

LAQUE, CHRISTOPHER

MCGEE, DAVID C

MILLER, DONALD L JR

REYES, PAUL J SR

RIVERA, THOR

ROHWEDDER, WILLIAM T

SEELKE, JONATHON E

CLASS D

ALLEN, HOLLY DEANNE

ANDERSEN, ADAM STEWART

ANDERSON, GARY

ANDERSON, JOHNNY DOUG

ARMSTRONG, DIANA ASHCRAFT

BAKER, ETHAN AUBREY

BANNER, THRESA JEAN

BARELAS, RENE

BARRON, DAVID

BELL, JOHN CLAY

BENNETT, JOHNATHAN

BERRY, BILLIE J

BOSWELL, LANE

BOTELLO, MATTHEW

BRAKEFIELD, MICHAEL

BRAWLEY, CRAIG DAMON

CARRANZA, TOMAS

CASTLE, CHRIS

CEDILLO, SUSANA

CHAIREZ, ALEXANDER SKYE

CORPUS, VINCENT ANTONIO

DANNA, LEO

DAVIS, DYLAN BLISS

DAVIS, SETH

DEBRUIN, KYRA

DEVERS, WESTON

DONLEY, JOSEPH THOMAS

DOVALI, ANAPAULA

DREW, JONATHAN

DUARTE, MARCOS

DUKE, LOGAN WAYNE

DUNLAP, DYLAN REESE

DURAN, ALEJANDRO

EIME, RYAN NEIL

ELLINGTON, COLTON LANE

ESCUINTLA, WILLIAM ALFREDO

FELLOWS, RYAN

GALINDO, DAVID MICHAEL

GARCIA, IVAN

GIBBS, BRANDON

GOMEZ, ROBERTO ISMAEL

GRAY, JACOAH ROWAN

GUERRERO, GILBERTO

GUZMAN, SAUL

HARVEY, XXAVIER

HERNANDEZ, RENE MAURICIO

HERRING, SETH MICHAEL

HOFF, TONY

HOFFMAN, STEFANY D

HOLLKAMP, MARK DOUGLAS

HOWELL, JACOB AARON

IBARRA, MARILYN

JOHNSON, HUNTER

JOHNSON, THOMAS BRIAN

JUAREZ, JOSE LUIS

KELLER, ERIC J

KUBICEK, ANTHONY

KWAN, JONATHAN

LABO, JAMES FRANKLYN

LAGNADO, EDEN LEAH

LANIER, MARSHALL

LIMON, JAMES BRYAN

MACIAS, ERIN A

MARTIN, CALEB JORDAN

MARTIN, HUNTER GAVIN

MCCLANAHAN, RYAN HEWITT

MCDONALD, COLIN L

MONSIVAIS, ARMANDO

MORALOPEZ, MATTHEW

NANCE, LYNDON PATRICK

NASH, MAURICE

OLIVA, VICTOR EDUARDO

OVERSTREET, WILLIAM

POOL, KENT B

PRESAS, DANIEL

REID, CARSON TUCKER

REYES, ERIC

RICCI, TREVOR SCOTT

ROWLAND, BRENDON

SANDERS, DALTON

SCHUBERT, EMMIE

SIEMER, LOGAN

SMITH, JASMYNE

SMITH, KORBIN REESE

SOEPANGAT, JANUAR

STRADER, SAMUEL

STRICKLAND, DANIEL

TALLANT, JOSHUA NICHOLAS

TATE, JARRETT WAYNE

TORRES, BRETT

TUBBS, LARRY H

TUCKER, JEREMY LEON

TURNER, MATTHEW SPENSER

VILLARREAL, JONATHAN A

WARREN, STEPHEN B

WELMAN, SHEA WILLIAM

WHITMIRE, JAMES ALAN

WOELKE, PATRICK

WOLFE, WYATT ANDREU

WOOD, CHARLES CODY

ZIEGELER, JOHN

WASTEWATER COLLECTION OPERATOR

COLLECTIONS I

BARRERA, JUSTIN CARL

BILBREY, ZACHERY A

BOGUE, JEREMY

CARDOZA, ULISES

COOPER, GRANT

CORONADO, JOHNNY ABEL

CUELLAR, CALEB

W ith Micro - Solve® microorganisms multiply. This reduces the grease that binds wipes together. Micro - Solve® reduces the risk of contact with disease.

Wipes when flushed and combined with other products and grease that is poured down drains, create "fatbergs". Once they enter the sewer lines, they can accumulate and cause backups, damaging the city's infrastructure.

DUARTE, MARCOS

FERNANDEZ, MARK

FILOMIO, CHRISTOPHER MARCUS

GRABEEL, NICHOLAS WAYNE

GRACIA, LUIS

HERNANDEZ, MICHAEL RAMON

HOWARD, CODY CHRISTOPHER

IVERSON, KIRK STEVEN

JIMENEZ, ALEJANDRO

KOCH, MICHAEL BRANDON

LAWS, TYRON TYREESE

MARKHAM, WESTON DURANGO

MILLER, JOHNNY M

MONTOYA, EDUARDO

MUNOZ, STEFAN MICHAEL

NATION, TIMOTHY O

NAVARRO, DAMIAN

ORTIZ, DANIEL

POTTER, RON

REGAN, CALEB TAYLOR

RIOS, ALFREDO

RODRIGUEZ, AVINGER

SHIPLEY, JASON

SHORTER, ELIGHA

SPRUIELL, LANDON

TORRES, MARK

UMPHLETT, ROBERT TODD

YANDELL, BLAKE TRAVIS

COLLECTIONS II

ANDERSON, DRAKE D

FAIRCHILD, STEVEN THOMAS

FOSTER, JOHN

GARZA, ROBERTO

HAWKINS, RANDY CHARLES

MORA, CALEB AARON

PALOMO, LUIS OCTAVIO

ROE, KELTON BRADY

ROJAS, ISIDRO III

WEST, COREY SCOTT

COLLECTIONS III

ESTRADA, MAX

FYFFE, CASEY S

HUGHES, ADDICUS Z

MARQUIS, MATTHEW LEE

NGUYEN, CUONG

VERA, DAVID J

WASTEWATER TREATMENT OPERATOR

CLASS A

BORNN, RYAN

DENG, JIANGANG

HIGGINS, JERRY J JR

LOPEZ, RICARDO O

MLAK, JEFFREY J

MONTANEZ, HECTOR G

OLD, CRAIG L

ROBERTS, DANIEL DAVID

RODRIGUEZ, RONALD K

CLASS B

ADAMS, GARY A

AGUILAR, CRUZ E

BOYD, CORDEL L

BROWN, MATTHEW J SR

CLARK, CRUZ

CLARK, TUCKER

DAVILA, ANDREW

DAVIS, SCOTT J

GARZA, DIONICIO JR

HAMAD, ZACHARY ANDREW

LOCK, JUSTIN T

MARQUEZ, EDGAR

OVIEDO, JESSICA M

SILCO, STEVEN J

SLONE, TIMOTHY W

VOLKMANN, CHRISTOPHER A

WEATHERALL, BENJAMIN S

CLASS C

ASHLEY, WILLIAM ARTHUR

BLANK, DUSTIN S

BROWN, BRYCE CODY

EASLEY, MICHAEL L

EAVES, JACOB CHARLES LEE

GARCIA, CARLOS

GONZALES, XAVIER

GUNTER, CLAYTON WESLEY

HERNANDEZ, JOHN

HOWARD, COLTON TAYLOR

JOHNSTON, WD IV

JORDAN, SHAWN PHILIP

JUSTICE, CAMERON

LETTRIES, KEVIN

MARTINEZ, OMAR

MCFAIREN, NOEL D

MOODY, JOHN TIMOTHY

MOONEYHAM, DAVID

MOZ, ALEJANDRA MARIBEL

MURPHY, CALEB JONATHAN

NOOR, YOUSEF

PINGENOT, RYAN

PULLEY, CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK

SAVOIE, DEREK W

SMITH, CAMERON T

SOLORIO, GIONNI

STRINGER, JEREMY D

VALADEZ, RICHARD

WEST, BILLY JOE

CLASS D

ALEXANDER, KAMRON MYLES

APODACA, NOE

BAKER, BRANDIE R

BALL, JERRY WAYNE

BEVILL, JACOB

BOGGESS, CHARLES I

BRAGGS, STAMON BENNARD

CANNADAY, RAYMOND NOAH

CARRILLO, ENRIQUE

COLE, CHRISTOPHER ANTWON

CONSTANTE, JESUS ANTONIO

CORNELIUS, JASON PATRICK

DAVILA, STEPHEN MICHAEL

DAVIS, TOBY

DONNELL, JACOB WILLIAM

DOVALI, ANAPAULA

DURAN, MICHAEL

FAREED, ATIF OMAR

FISHER, RANDALL LEE

FLOORE, BRYAN DALE

FLORES, JESSE

GALINDO, DAVID MICHAEL

GARCIA, ESEQUIEL

GARZA, JULIAN ANDREW

GARZA, RAMON

GREEN, AUSTIN

GUADIANA, GEORGE MICHAEL

GUILLEN, FABIAN VIDAL

HAMBERG, JUSTIN

HANSEN, TIMOTHY

HARRIS, MARTEZ

HUTTO, COLTON GLEN

JIRON, SIMON MICHAEL

JOINER, RONALD

KEENEY, KODY

LEACH, CHRISTOPHER MCKINLEY

LEE, MARK S

LITTLE, PAUL EDWARD

LLOYD, DONOVAN

LOCKEN, DAVID WAYNE

LOMBARDO, ALLYSON MARIE

MACKAY, DAVID ZANE

MADDEN, TYLER LAVELLE

MCGINNIS, WESLEY R

MCMILLAN, PATRICK WESLEY

MILLER, ASHLEIGH

MOFFETT, WAYLAND REX

NASH, ROBERT LEE

ONEILL, LARKIN

OVERSTREET, WILLIAM

PADILLA, RUBEN

PINHEIRO, JOHN P III

PIPPINS, ZSAPORA DEANA

REYNA, RENE

ROJAS, ALBERT

ROMERO, CRISTIAN

SANCHEZ, JESSE

SOWELL, VANDY TAYLOR

TACKETT, RICHARD

TAYLOR, CAMERON SPENCER

TAYLOR, SKYLAR

TELKER, SHELBY R

TOWNLEY, BRODY

VALLADARES, ANDREW

VALLADARES, CHRISTIAN

VEGA CARAZA, LUIS A

WALKER, DERRICK WAYNE

WILLIAMS, SANDRA K

WINSTON, CORBIN

With the onset of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the Governor’s Proclamation of a state of disaster in Texas, TCEQ intends to offer flexibility to licensees and applicants who were in the process of renewing or receiving an occupational license and were impacted by this outbreak.

With the onset of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the Governor’s Proclamation of a state of disaster in Texas, TCEQ intends to offer flexibility to licensees and applicants who were in the process of renewing or receiving an occupational license and were impacted by this outbreak

In the interest of safety, paper exams have been cancelled through 2020. However, there are some computer-based testing centers that remain open. To schedule a computer-based exam, please contact the CBT centers near you to verify if they are still operating. For other questions or concerns, please email licenses@tceq.texas.gov

Operators desiring to TEST, should contact TCEQ in regards to testing. There are some computer-based testing centers that remain open. To schedule a computer-based exam, please contact the CBT centers near you to verify if they are still operating. For other questions or concerns, please email licenses@ tceq.texas.gov.

West Texas (Lubbock ) Region

November 7th – 9th 2023

TCEQ Exam Application due 30 days prior to event Don’t forget if you are testing to Designate Test Location.