WaterNews for February 11, 2003

WaterNews is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water.

Inside this week’s WaterNews

• February is Wastewater Month
• EPA Honors Clean Water Partners For The 21st Century
• EPA Helps In Columbia Space Shuttle Recovery Operation
• EPA Offers Satellite Training to State Drinking Water Programs
• 2003 Clean Water Act Recognition Awards Competition Opens
• Technology Transfer Conference Attracts Over 200
• Subscribe to WaterNews

February is Wastewater Month

As part of the year-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, EPA’s Office of Water is focusing on Wastewater during February. This month's materials have been designed to help municipalities conduct their own outreach campaigns and raise awareness on important wastewater issues including proper septic system management and the importance of wastewater infrastructure in our daily lives.

Many of the materials in this month's collection can be customized by local governments. Local officials will find space where they can add their own contact information and inexpensively produce materials to use in their own outreach efforts.

The Year of Clean Water website can be found at www.epa.gov/water/yearofcleanwater/.

Electronic versions of these materials can be found at www.epa.gov/npdes/wastewatermonth/
or you can order the Wastewater Month CD and copies of materials from Nikos Singelis at: singelis.nikos@epa.gov.

Here are a few of the New materials available:

A Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems (short and long versions)-A helpful brochure that outlines proper septic system maintenance for the 25 million households using septic systems.
Utility Bill Inserts -One side for customers on sanitary sewers, the other for customers on septic systems. Partner with local utilities to raise citizen awareness!
Where Does All the Dirty Water Go?-An overview of wastewater treatment and helpful hints for homeowners.
Kid’s Posters: “How Do We Treat Our Wastewater” -Two versions with either middle or elementary school lesson plans on the back (black and white or color).
Wastewater Treatment Programs Serving Small Communities-Summarizes all the EPA programs that provide assistance to small communities.
Funding Decentralized Wastewater Systems Using the Clean Water State Revolving Fund - Fact sheet describing the latest activity.
Use of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to Implement Security Measures at Publicly-Owned Treatment Works- Fact Sheet which gives an overview on the CWSRF.

EPA Honors Clean Water Partners For The 21ST Century

Recognizing the critical role that local governments play in protecting our nation's waters, awards will be given to local agencies from across the United States in ceremonies at 9 a.m on Tuesday, Feb. 18, by EPA Administrator Christie Whitman and Assistant Administrator G. Tracy Mehan III.

As part of the celebration of the Year of Clean Water proclaimed by President George W. Bush, EPA's Office of Water is recognizing extraordinary actions taken by local governments to protect watersheds over and above the requirements of the Clean Water Act. This includes such actions as restoring lakes, protecting wetlands and reducing sewer overflows.

"We received about 200 applications from across the U. S. and after careful review 79 were chosen as Clean Water Partners," said Assistant Administrator Mehan.It is our belief that clean water begins at the local level. We applaud the efforts of all Clean Water Partners to improve the environment in the communities they serve.

Each applicant had to complete a compliance screen. Applications were reviewed by a panel including EPA, the Water Environment Federation, Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) and National League of Cities. For more information please visit the website at http://www.cleanwaterpartners.org.

EPA Helps In Columbia Space Shuttle Recovery Operation

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Dive Team is assisting with debris recovery operations from the Columbia space shuttle disaster. EPA's Region 7 Dive Unit was activated to assist in debris search activities at the Toledo Bend Reservoir, Texas. Region 7 is being assisted by divers from the EPA's Emergency Response Team out of Edison, New Jersey. Side scan sonar will be utilized to locate possible targets and divers will be utilized to investigate and retrieve debris. The current operation is scheduled for two weeks. For additional information email Potts.Kennard@epa.gov.

Satellite Training to State Drinking Water Programs

In response to a request from the State Drinking Water Administrators, the EPA’s Office of Water developed and conducted satellite training on the Arsenic and Surface Water Treatment Rules. The real time broadcast was transmitted to 150 designated downlink sites (and an estimated 1,500 people) throughout the nation on Jan. 29-30. This first attempt of satellite training, which offers an efficient and cost effective solution to the travel restrictions and budget constraints faced by EPA and state drinking water programs, has received very positive feedback. As a result, the Office of Water is exploring options for other training that can be given through the satellite format. Presentation materials are currently still available on the satellite training at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwa/satellite.html. For further information, please contact Holly Fleming at (202) 564-9909 or Ron Bergman at (202) 564-3823.

2003 Clean Water Act Recognition Awards Competition Opens

EPA's Clean Water Act Recognition Awards will recognize municipalities and industries for outstanding and innovative technological achievements through their waste treatment and pollution abatement programs, projects or activities. The program includes awards in five categories including outstanding operations and maintenance at wastewater treatment facilities, biosolids management, pretreatment, storm water management and combined sewer overflow controls. Nominees must be in compliance with appropriate water quality requirements (where applicable), and otherwise have a satisfactory record with respect to environmental quality. Interested parties should contact their state water pollution control agency or EPA Regional Water Management Division. Nominations are due to the Office of Wastewater Management by May 30, 2003. For further information please call Maria Campbell at 202-564-0628.

Technology Transfer Conference Attracts Over 200

EPA hosted a Technology Transfer Conference “Emerging Technologies, Tools, and Techniques to Manage Our Coast in the 21st Century” in Cocoa Beach, FL, during the week of Jan. 27-31. Over 200 people participated in the conference. The goal of the conference was to examine tools, techniques and strategies for protecting and managing coastal ecosystems in the face of new challenges and continued growth along U.S. coastlines. Conference proceedings will be available in early March at www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/. For more information, please contact Katherine Bruce, Oceans and Coastal Protection Division at 202-566-1280.

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