FRWA has now had Pilot Project Lead Service Line Inventories approved by DEP. The DEP Lead Service Line Inventory deadline is getting closer with only 6 months before submittal of the Inventories is required. FRWA has had 220 systems register for the Lead Service Line Inventory funding. 99 of those water systems have submitted all required documents and chosen a Worker to do the Inventories for them. That puts those 99 systems in the first come-first served funding and they are on track for completing their Inventories by the deadline. If you have registered for the FRWA funding, make sure you get your required submittals in as quickly as possible so you can be funded while money is still available.

Some water systems have responded that they can fill out the required EPA Spreadsheet without having field-checked many of the service lines installed before 1989. Remember that every customer with “unknown” service lines must be notified within 30 days of completing the Inventory and that notification has to let them know that the Utility did not determine their service line material and the notification must include Mandatory Health Effects language about health effects of lead. The Utility also has to provide a Lead Service Line Replacement Plan by October 16 that includes a strategy for determining the “unknowns”.  FRWA is recommending that Utilities fully determine all service line materials before the October 16 deadline and avoid confusion from their customers on why the Utility did not check their lines and concerns from the customers about the possibility that they could have lead lines.

Focus on Change Presentations Available Online Thanks to everyone that helped us to make this year's Focus on Change the most successful yet! For all those that may not have been able to attend, you can find the presentations on our website by clicking here.

FDEP Plant Excellence Awards The program celebrates Florida's drinking water and domestic wastewater facilities that demonstrate excellence in operation, maintenance, innovative treatment, waste reduction, pollution prevention, recycling or other special achievements. Systems are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals or facilities and submit their information to DEP. 

In addition, this year, they also encouraged nominations for individuals or teams whose quick actions, creative problem solving or process improvements have led to a facility’s success.  

The winners of the Plant Excellence Awards were presented at Focus on Change seminar that was held in their district. We would like to congratulate the winners. For a complete list of the winners, click here.

Plan now to join us next year for the 2025 Focus on Change and maybe you will be recognized for going above and beyond!

ATTENTION METER GURUS!

How quickly can you reassemble a meter? Test your skills against the best around as you join us for the Ultimate Meter Challenge at this year's Annual Conference. You could win $500 and a chance to compete in the National Event and take home the "METER MAN" title!

This event is sponsored by Zenner USA and designed specifically for Water Professionals to test and measure how quickly, totally, and accurately an individual can assemble a working meter in a bracket tournament.

To participate:

• Complete the signup form by clicking here and email the form to JPACHECO@ZENNERUSA.COM or come by the Zenner USA booth to register.
• Must be a 2024 FRWA Annual Conference attendee to compete.

Grand Prize: $500 Gift Card/2nd Place: $300 Gift Card/3rd Place: $100 Gift Card.

NATIONAL NEWS

How new federal regulations on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water impact Floridians The Miami area has had the highest documented levels of PFAS chemicals in Florida drinking water. Although the Tampa region is much lower, utilities will likely need to take action. more

EPA announces new drinking water regulations - YouTube The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday new regulations to limit the amount of "forever chemicals," known as PFAS, found in drinking water. more

Water Week 2024 To Focus On Critical Legislative, Regulatory Challenges Facing The Water Sector Issues Including PFAS, Federal Water Infrastructure Funding, Resiliency, and Cybersecurity to Take Center Stage During Water Sector Fly-In more

Millions Are At Risk Using High Arsenic Water For Cooking The use of water contaminated with higher than recommended levels of arsenic could pose a serious health risk to millions, a new study from the University of Sheffield has found. more

Researching The Spread Of Drought It is important for water management to understand how drought spreads. In a new study, researchers from the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF show that in every third case, atmospheric drought is followed by low water levels. more

National Weather Service Launches New Website For Water Prediction And Products NOAA’s National Weather Service launched a new website today: The National Water Prediction Service. more

EPA Releases Updated Guidance On Destroying PFAS Washington – Today, April 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released an updated “Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Materials Containing Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.” more

Statement from the National Rural Water Association Regarding EPA’s Final PFAS Rule The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) shares the goal of eliminating PFAS from America’s drinking water and environment more

High PFAS Levels Detected in Groundwater Around the World - EcoWatch  A new study on global surface water and groundwater has found levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” to exceed limits considered safe. more

Recently Discovered Bacterium Holds Promise For Improved Wastewater Treatment The recent discovery of the comammox bacterium might prove pivotal in a new and improved approach to wastewater purification that will be more efficient according to research carried out by Pieter Blom. more

AMWA Unveils 2023 Annual Report: Highlights Achievements In Advocacy And Knowledge-Sharing Washington, D.C. – The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) proudly announces the release of its 2023 Annual Report, showcasing a year of unparalleled accomplishments and strategic advancements in the water sector. more

STATE NEWS

Winter Springs working through 2-year backlog of fire hydrant inspections | WESH  SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Winter Springs is doing a thorough inspection of its fire hydrants. A potential major problem came to light when a hydrant didn't work during a recent fire. more

PC commissioners award $3.3 million bid for St. Andrews infrastructure upgrades | My Panhandle  PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) — Another section of St. Andrews is getting water and sewer upgrades. more

Preparing For Polk's Future Water Needs - Polk County Government  April is Water Conservation Month, which makes it a good time to talk about Polk County’s water forecast and the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC). more

City of Fort Myers to survey property owners to identify lead pipes in water system  City of Fort Myers will implement a three-step strategy to move toward compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. more

Warmup begins in Central Florida. Here's when storms are possible - ClickOrlando.com  ORLANDO, Fla. – Dry, warm and breezy weather continues for the next several days across Central Florida as a large ridge of high pressure remains in place over the western Atlantic. more

Recognizing champions for clean water | Florida Weekly  Calusa Waterkeeper honored people who are working to protect the Caloosahatchee more

FDEM Hurricane Idalia Grant Deadline Extended to June 7, 2024 Mitigation Application Deadline Extension more

FPUA Launches “Wastewater Wednesday” Blog for Sewer Treatment Plant - WQCS  Fort Pierce - Monday April 8, 2024: In celebration of the groundbreaking one year ago, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA) has launched a new social media campaign more

Utility issues in Sanford spark problems for the city - ClickOrlando.com  SANFORD, Fla. – A utility issue in the city of Sanford has plagued businesses and homeowners for the past couple of years, causing significant disruptions. more

JEA board acts on lessons learned from trial of former executives | Jacksonville Daily Record In hiring its own consultant, the board seeks a “second opinion” from a third party. more

Council to weigh $34 million sewer plant | Highlands News-Sun - Mid Florida Newspapers  The Lake Placid Town Council could vote Monday evening to give Poole & Kent Company of Tampa the job of building an advanced wastewater treatment plant. more

Florida to Remove 'Climate Change' From State Laws | FSU News The Florida House and Senate passed and sent a bill to the governor which would overhaul the state’s energy and environmental policy more

Sea Levels Rising, But is South Florida Also Sinking? What Research Shows | Advance Local MIAMI — In South Florida, sea levels have already risen several inches since the start of the century and could be around 6 feet higher by 2100. more

Lake Okeechobee Releases to Be Put On Pause | WINK It’s a good weekend to be by the Caloosahatchee River. more

Governor signs law directing gaming revenues to environmental purposes | WUFT Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed new legislation directing hundreds of millions of dollars to environmental initiatives more

NSC Issues New Letter to US Governors Requesting Water System Action Plans Following a March 21st convening between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the White House’s National Security Council (NSC), and state environmental, health, and homeland security representatives to discuss pathways to safeguard the water sector against cyber threats more

Water utilities must prepare now for 24-hour lead notification requirement  With only seven months until compliance deadlines for key elements of the revised Lead and Copper Rule, drinking water utilities must prepare to communicate effectively more

Steamy ocean means ‘a very, very busy season’ for hurricanes, early forecasts say For nearly three decades, researchers have been releasing early-season hurricane forecasts. more

Early Hurricane Season Outlook Hurricane experts at Colorado State University (CSU) – the group who pioneered seasonal hurricane forecasting 40 years ago and continues to be the gold standard -issued their first official forecast for the upcoming hurricane season earlier today. more

City awards $65M contract | Gulf Breeze News  The almost $65 million bid for the wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) expansion project in Tiger Point was awarded to Max Foote Construction Company, LLC, at the April 1 city council meeting. more

April 10, 1913: Engineering Newsarticle. Conditions of Small Water Purification Plants in Illinois. By Ralph Hilscher. "In Illinois there are about a dozen water purification plants with rated capacities of about 2,000,000 gal. per day, or less, which involve the use of coagulants, settling basins and filters. Of these, with possibly two or three exceptions, it can be said that none produce an effluent that attains at all times the standard of purity that any municipality should demand for Its public water-supply. Some of these plants yield an effluent during the major part of the time, which is of quite satisfactory quality, but fall far short of successful operation during periods of excessive turbidity and color in the raw water. Others produce an effluent at no time that is of good appearance and satisfactory from a hygienic standpoint. 

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