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September/August 2008 Press Releases
$1 Million for NESC's Drinking Water Clearinghouse
Grant Continues Service to America's Small Communities
Thanks to a million dollar grant provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Service, the National Environmental Services Center's (NESC) National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (NDWC) will continue to offer free and low-cost information and assistance to small towns and rural areas across the country. Based at West Virginia University, the clearinghouse is now entering its 17th year.
"We are pleased that Rural Development has once again recognized and supported our work assisting small communities with their drinking water issues," said Gerald Iwan, Ph.D., NESC’s executive director. "With more stringent regulations, rising fuel costs, and a host of water quality issues, the services we provide have never been more critical."
To help small communities address their drinking water needs, NESC's National Drinking Water Clearinghouse offers a free technical assistance hotline, the quarterly magazine On Tap, a comprehensive Web site (www.nesc.wvu.edu), and more than 400 free and low-cost educational products.
NESC's staff of engineers, water system operators, and specialists provide information about subjects such as: household wells, source water protection and conservation issues, water treatment technologies, treatment plant operation and management, updates about regulations, and funding sources for community water infrastructure.
"Over the past 16 years, we've expanded our services greatly," Iwan said. "What hasn't changed, though, is our commitment to providing assistance, solutions, and knowledge for solving small community environmental challenges. If you have a drinking water question or problem, we encourage you to contact us first."
Located at West Virginia University (WVU), the National Environmental Services Center (NESC) helps small and rural communities with their water, wastewater, utility management, and infrastructure resilience issues. To learn more about NESC, call (800) 624-8301.
Posted September 5, 2008
SMART Solutions for West Virginia- Workshop for Watershed Groups September 18 -19
Sponsored by the National Environmental Services Center (NESC) and the West Virginia Department of
Environmental Protection (WV DEP) the workshop will focus on fecal coliform reduction through better management of onsite/ decentralized wastewater treatment systems within the watershed context. Workshop participants will receive all the necessary tools and materials needed to establish management programs. Registration is free and lunch will be provided. For more information or to register download the registration form/agenda (pdf file, 354 KB) or contact the National Environmental Services Center at (304) 293-4191 ext. 5536.
Posted August 27, 2008
WVU's NESC Trains Source Water Specialists - Seminar Will Help Small Communities Address Water Quality
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| RCAP trains with the NESC. |
Morgantown, W.Va.—On August 5, 6, and 7, 2008, West Virginia University’s National Environmental Services Center (NESC) hosted a national training seminar about developing source water protection plans in America’s small communities.
The seminar—a key activity in the SMART About Water program, a $3 million, 18-month grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—featured NESC staff working with Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) trainers and source water specialists from around the country. These trainers will go on to assist small communities in their efforts to create their own source water protection plans, with a special focus on addressing untreated wastewater from failing septic systems.
“Nothing is more important than a clean, safe supply of water,” said Gerald Iwan Ph.D., NESC’s executive director. “
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| Gerald Iwan, NESC's Director |
Good water is the key to a host of other issues, including quality of life, public health, environmental protection, and economic development. And, because failing wastewater systems are the main water pollution problem in many communities, correcting this situation is a logical first step.”
The seminar focused on ways that community leaders can develop source water protection plans to improve water quality in their communities. The training also showed how social marketing techniques—an innovative approach that uses commercial marketing tools to stimulate community action—can be used to achieve source water protection goals. By next summer, NESC and RCAP expect to have offered training and technical assistance about source water protection in nearly 250 communities in each of the 50 states.
Located at West Virginia University, the National Environmental Services Center (NESC) helps small and rural communities with their water, wastewater, management, and infrastructure resilience concerns. To learn more about NESC, call (800) 624-8301 or visit www.nesc.wvu.edu. To learn more about the SMART About Water program, go to www.nesc.wvu.edu/smart/.
Posted August 8, 2008
The NESC Offers Drinking Water Operator Certification Information Online
We recognize the significance of operator training and education because the health of a community relies on having competent drinking water treatment operators. Drinking water operator certification requirements vary from state to state. Make sure you check with the primacy agency in your state to get accurate information about the requirements you will need to be familiar with. This Web page provides many resources about drinking water operator certification.