Water News
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2010 Proposed Revisions to the Total Coliform Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions to the 1989 Total Coliform Rule (TCR), a national primary drinking water regulation (NPDWR). The purpose of the TCR is to protect public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system and monitoring for the presence of microbial contamination. EPA anticipates greater public health protection under the proposed revised requirements, which are based on recommendations by a federal advisory committee. The proposed revisions to the TCR will:
- require public water systems that are vulnerable to microbial contamination to identify and fix problems, and
- establish criteria for systems to qualify for and stay on reduced monitoring, thereby providing incentives for improved water system operation.
For additional information, please visit the following website - http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/tcr/regulation.cfm
Comments on this proposed rule change are due to EPA by September 13, 2010. Comments on the draft of the "Proposed RTCR Assessments and Corrective Actions Guidance Manual" are due November 30, 2010.
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Accepting Public Comments on the 2010 Water Supply Rule Proposed Revisions 7/28/2010
The Agency of Natural Resources is proposing to revise the Water Supply Rule. The major purpose of the rule revision is to adopt and incorporate by reference federal drinking water regulations promulgated after the last Water Supply Rule Revision dated April 25, 2005 and make minor revisions to the rule. The new federal rules requiring adoption include the: January 4, 2006 Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule; January 5, 2006 Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule; October 10, 2007 Lead and Copper Short-Term Regulatory Revisions and Clarifications; and the November 8, 2006 Federal Ground Water Rule. Language has also been included at the request of the Ground Water Coordinating Committee regarding standing column geothermal heating systems. (This rule revision does not incorporate the requirements of ACT 199 Relating to Large Groundwater Withdrawal. Separate rules are currently being written for ACT 199).
The Water Supply Division is accepting written comments on the rule revisions until September 17, 2010. We are holding two public meetings to accept verbal comments on August 30th from 3:00 - 4:30 pm at the Pavilion Building Auditorium located at 109 State Street in Montpelier and on September 1st from 4:00 - 5:30 pm at the Rutland Free Library located at 10 Court St, Rutland.
Written comments may be submitted to Jean Nicolai at jean.nicolai@state.vt.us or addressed to the Water Supply Division at: Old Pantry Building, 103 South Main Street Waterbury, VT 05671-0403. For additional information please contact Jean Nicolai, Operations and Compliance Chief at jean.nicolai@state.vt.us or direct line at 802-241-3405.
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Clean Water State Revolving Fund Update - information from VT DEC
The Facilities Engineering Financial Management Division of VT DEC has released information in regards to the Clean Water State Revolving Funding Update. Details on the following information are now available,
- Funding for pollution control projects from May 2010 to June 2011,
- Proposed funding for pollution control projects from July 2012 to 2015,
- Early notice of next round of funding for next year
For additional information on this subject visit http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/fed/fms.htm
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Seeking Nominations for Board of Directors Position and Tony Torchia Award
The Tony Torchia VRWA Special Recognition Award honors a person affiliated with the water/wastewater industry for extraordinary effort or accomplishment during the previous year or over the course of a career. All members are invited to submit nominations.
VRWA will also have one seat on the Board of Directors up for election this spring. Our all-volunteer board meets quarterly to direct and oversee the association.
Directors are representatives of VRWA-member water/wastewater systems and they are elected to the board for three-year terms by the membership. Self nominations are common.
Nominations for the Tony Torchia Award or a board seat must be received by March 23, 2010.
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Notice of Public Hearing & Request for Applications for Funding Under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Request for Applications for Funding Under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Notice of Public Hearing on the Proposed State Fiscal Year 2011 Project Priority List and Federal Fiscal Year 2010 Intended Use Plan
Applications from municipalities will be received for projects requesting funding over the next five years. Funding request may include planning (preliminary or final design engineering) and construction. Municipalities requesting funding for construction in State Fiscal Year 2011 (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011) will be ranked for funding based on the priority points.
To submit an application please complete one of the following;
- Print either the excel form or pdf form and mail it to the address below,
- Fill in either the excel form or pdf form and email it to: Winslow.Ladue@state.vt.us
- Enter your project information on the online survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CWSRFPriorityList.
Please note, this year we are introducing an online survey option and request feedback from those who use it.
Projects eligible for funding include municipally owned wastewater treatment system projects including:
Refurbishment projects - Include improvements and renovations that are necessary to enable the treatment facility and/or pump stations to continue to operate efficiently and meet its present discharge standards for another twenty to twenty-five year design period.
Combined Sewer Overflow projects - These projects address problems caused by sewers that carry both wastewater and stormwater, and become hydraulically overloaded during rainfall events. This results in overflows to surface waters that are in violation of state and federal standards.
Phosphorus Removal projects - State statute prohibits most discharges to the drainage basins of Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog that contain a phosphorus concentration in excess of standards, and requires that phosphorus effluent limits be implemented in any drainage basin where needed to meet the requirements of a total maximum load document or attain compliance with water quality standards. These projects are needed to meet existing phosphorus discharge permit limits.
Dry Weather Flow projects - These are projects which abate pollution that occurs during dry weather periods, when systems are not stressed by rainfall events (see CSO discussion). Examples are the construction of a collection system and new treatment facility to eliminate direct discharges to surface waters, or the extension of a sewerage system to collect the flows from failing septic tank or leach field systems and convey them to an existing treatment facility.
Enlargement projects - Upgrades of current facilities to handle increased wastewater flows or organic loading resulting from existing or planned municipal growth.
Sewer Line Replacement projects - Upgrades of existing sewer lines to address aging infrastructure and limited capacities.
Sewer Line Extension projects - Construction of new sewer lines in areas previously not served by municipal sewers.
Stormwater/Green Infrastructure projects - These projects store and/or treat stormwater flows which impair surface waters. In addition, projects using natural landscapes and/or plantings to manage wet weather flows to maintain and restore natural hydrology may be funded. All projects in this type need to either be required by a draft or final NPDES permit or described in Vermont's nonpoint source management plan.
Water/Energy Efficiency or Environmental Innovative projects - These projects deliver equal or better services with less water, such as installing water meters, recycling water use, and/or addressing leaks. Energy efficiency projects reduce energy consumption at eligible water facilities or produce clean energy for these facilities. Environmentally innovative projects demonstrate new and/or innovative approaches to managing water resources in a more sustainable way.
Other - Represents projects that do not neatly fit into the categories above.
The Vermont Facilities Engineering Division will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 2:00 to 4:00 P.M., Skylight Conference Room in the Waterbury State Office Complex. The purpose of the hearing is to discuss the Intended Use Plan (IUP)/Project Priority Lists and solicit public input regarding the administration of the Vermont Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program. The Department anticipates receiving about 12 million dollars in additional funding to be made available for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects.
Copies of the IUPs and Project Priority Lists will be sent as email attachments and posted before the hearing on the Web site:
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/fed/fed.htm
For answers to questions or to make comments following the public hearing please direct emails and calls to:
Winslow.Ladue@state.vt.us
1 (802) 241-3404
The timeline for this year's priority list is:
| 2/5/2010 | Application and meeting notification |
| 3/12/2010 | Applications due |
| 3/23/2010 | Hearing in Waterbury |
| 4/2/2010 | Comments due |
| Mid May 2010 | Final Priority List |
This hearing will be held in a wheelchair accessible facility. Upon request, the agency will provide interpreters, listening devices, auxiliary aides or other assistance that may be necessary to make this hearing accessible to all interested parties.
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