US EPA and USDA Create a Partnership to Improve Drinking Water Systems and Develop Workforce in Rural Communities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today, August 8, 2011, announced a national partnership to protect Americans’ health by improving rural drinking water and wastewater systems. Nationwide, small water and sewage treatment facilities with limited funding and resources face challenges due to rising costs and aging equipment and pipes. Today’s agreement will send federal resources to support communities that need assistance and promote job training to help put people to work while addressing the growing workforce shortage in the water industry.

“EPA and USDA have joined forces to leverage our expertise and resources to improve drinking water and wastewater systems in small towns across the country,” said Nancy Stoner, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “A critical part of this agreement is to ensure that we have a well-trained, professional workforce available to replace workers when they leave or retire.”

Under the agreement, EPA and USDA will work together to promote jobs by targeting specific audiences, providing training for new water careers and coordinating outreach efforts that will bring greater public visibility to the workforce needs of the industry, and develop a new generation of trained water professionals. EPA and USDA will also facilitate the exchange of successful recruitment and training strategies among stakeholders including states and water industries.

The agencies will also help rural utilities improve current operations and encourage development of long-term water quality improvement plans. The plans will include developing sustainable management practices to cut costs and improve performance. 

“The agreement we are announcing today represents an exciting partnership between USDA and EPA that will greatly enhance our investments in water systems and also in developing a skilled workforce to oversee them,” said Jonathan Adelstein, administrator for USDA’s Rural Utilities Service. “By working together, our agencies will strengthen their capacity to provide rural residents with safe, clean, well-managed water and wastewater systems for years to come.”

In June, President Obama signed an executive order establishing the first White House Rural Council, chaired by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack. The White House Rural Council will work throughout government to create policies that will help realize the administration’s goals for rural communities. Today’s agreement is part of that initiative.  

More about the EPA-USDA agreement:  http://water.epa.gov/type/drink/pws/smallsystems/partners.cfm#moa

More about EPA’s programs and tools for small water systems: http://water.epa.gov/type/drink/pws/smallsystems/index.cfm

More about USDA’s Water and Environmental Programs for rural communities:  http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWEP_HomePage.html

Note:  Free Training: Drinking Water Academy

The Drinking Water Academy provides online training and information to ensure that water professionals, public officials, and involved citizens have the knowledge and skills necessary to protect our drinking water supply.

Academy Training Files

Download PDF and PowerPoint training files for review according to your own schedule. 

• Introductory / Overview
• National Drinking Water Rule
• Public Water System Supervision Program
• Public Water System Operation
• Source Water Protection Program
• Underground Injection Control Program
• Slides from Past Webcasts
• En Español

If at any time you have a question regarding DWA materials, ask an expert by clicking here.

For additional information on the Drinking Water Academy contact:

Sean Daly (daly.sean@epa.gov)
(202) 564-1726
USEPA Headquarters
Ariel Rios Building 4606M
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.
Washington, DC 20460

This news is from the US EPA, 8 August 2011.