The Water Spout. In This Issue

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1 The Purpose of PWS Operations: Assure an Adequate Supply of Safe Drinking Water on a Continuous Basis The Water Spout Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Volume XXVII SAFE DRINKING WATER IS WHAT WE SPOUT ABOUT November, 2015 Another License Renewal year By: Michael Wentink; Field Services and Training Another two-year license period is closing. All water operator licenses, grades I IV and VI, will expire on 12/31/2015. That means it will soon be time to renew that water operator license. This year s renewal process will differ slightly from previous years. A summary of those changes is discussed below. Continuing Education Historically, a record of continuing education obtained by licensed water operators was maintained by the Licensure Unit of Nebraska DHHS on the License Information System (LIS) database, and an individual could access that information on the public version of LIS. That is no longer available on LIS and the information is now being maintained solely by the Public Water Supply Program. To view the continuing education recorded for licensed water operators, visit the Public Water Supply Program webpage at On that page, a few lines down from the top, are two links indicated by pdf icons. The first contains Continuing Education for Active Grade I-IV Water Operator Licenses. The second pdf icon contains Continuing Education for Active Grade VI Water Operator Licenses. Click on the link for the license grade you want. When the document is open, there will be four columns. The first contains the license number, the second contains the license grade level, the third column contains the total hours needed to renew the license, and the last column contains the continuing education hours that the Public Water Supply Program has recorded for that license number. The information displayed is what has been recorded as of the date shown on the document. The continuing education hours data received by DHHS for recording is not necessarily in chronological sequence relative to when the training event occurred. The total hours needed to renew the license must be obtained by 12/31/2015. Notification to Renew the License The notification to renew your water operator license is anticipated to be sent out in early November. It will be mailed to the last known address on record of the license holder. If your mailing address has changed since the last renewal, please contact Patti Owens of the Licensure Unit at , or by at patricia.owens@nebraska.gov. Renewal Process This year, confirmation of continuing education will be accomplished through attestation by the license holder, that the required amount and type of continuing education has been obtained. Following renewal, an audit of attested hours will be performed. So, maintain your records continuing education. Renewal may be accomplished through an online process, or utilizing a paper renewal. Information regarding those specifics will be in the renewal notification. If you have any questions regarding license renewal, contact Michael Wentink at (308) or by at mike.wentink@nebraska.gov. 1 In This Issue Licensing Documentation Page 2 Growth of the SDWA Page 2 Continuing Education Page 3 Field Rep Map Page 4 Water Operator Training Page 5 Award Winners Page 5 Reminder Notices of Water Spout availability are sent to the address on record. If your address changes, please contact Jennifer Nguyen at jennifer.nguyen@nebraska.gov. Editor: Michael Wentink The Water Spout is published for public water systems and their operators by the Nebraska DHHS Division of Public Health, Drinking Water Program. Website address: Main phone number: (402) hour Emergency Phone: (402)

2 Documentation for Licensing One outcome of the 2007 Uniform Credentialing Act (UCA) passed by the Nebraska Legislature, is documentation of felony and misdemeanor convictions when making application for, or renewing, a credential issued by Nebraska DHHS. Issuance of a credential to practice a profession has a liability associated with it. Its issuance signifies that an individual has demonstrated through required education, experience and examination the skills and knowledge to practice the profession in a manner that does not put the public at risk. In addition, issuance signifies that the individual possesses character by adherence to recognized moral and ethical standards. The link below is a story of an incident involving a water operator in Nevada whose past conviction is not particularly conducive to operating a public water system. The Safe Drinking Water Act Trend Signed on December 16, 1974, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) created the first-ever mandatory national program to protect public health through drinking water safety. Over the years, the Act has matured into a comprehensive, integrated law that is the Safe Drinking Water Act of today. Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 provisions included: Established a national structure for drinking water protection activities. Authorized EPA to establish national, enforceable health standards for contaminants in drinking water. Provided for public water system compliance through a federal-state partnership (Primacy). Established public notification to alert customers to water system violations. Authorized the granting of variances and exemptions. The 1986 SDWA Amendments included: Required certain water systems using groundwater sources to use disinfection treatment. Required filtration of all surface water supplies, unless strict criteria are met. Requires EPA to regulate more than 80 contaminants in drinking water within three years, and, after that, at least 25 more by Prohibited use of lead solders, flux and pipes in public water systems. Federal authority to act against tampering with public water systems. The 1996 SDWA Amendments included: A federal-state partnership provides low and no interest loans to water systems to upgrade their facilities to ensure compliance. Community water systems must provide customers annual reports (Consumer Confidence Reports). Title 179 Latest Revision Dates of Regulations NAC November 15, December 22, September 22, December 22, December 22, December 22, March 22, April 4, December 22, March 22, June 21, November 15, December 22, December 22, December 22, December 22, November 13, November 15, November 13, March 22, March 22, June 11, June 11, June 11, 2013 These regulations can be viewed at: enh_pwsindex.aspx. 2

3 Water Operator Grades I - IV and VI Continuing Education 2015 Please contact the appropriate organization at the phone number provided for further information regarding these scheduled training activities. HOURS AVAILABLE FOR GRADE DATE LOCATION TOPIC(S) I II III IV VI CONTACT PHONE November 10 Neligh Wastewater NeRWA November 18 Mullen Water NeRWA November 18 Fairbury Water CCC November 19 Wahoo Backflow TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA December 1 Grand Island Water DHHS DPH December 8 Mitchell Backflow TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA December 8 Norfolk Water LoNM/AWWA December 9 Imperial Backflow TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA December 9 Columbus Water LoNM/AWWA December 10 Cambridge Backflow TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA December 10 Lincoln Water LoNM/AWWA December 15 Loup city Water TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA December 16 Wahoo Backflow TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA December 16 Utica Water TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA January 5 Falls City Water TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA LoNM/AWWA January 6 Nebraska City Water TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA LoNM/AWWA January 7 Blair Water TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA LoNM/AWWA January 12 Beaver lake Water TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA January Lincoln Utilities Conf. TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA LoNM January 14 Newman Grove Water TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA January 14 Grand Island Water TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA CCC January 20 Alliance Backflow TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA January 21 Sidney Backflow TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA NeRWA January 26 Kearney Water TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA LoNM NeRWA Nebraska Rural Water Association, Wahoo LoNM League of Nebraska Municipalities, Lincoln AWWA Nebraska Section American Water Works Association CCC Central Community College, Grand Island (When calling the 877 number, select extension #7527, or call 308/ ) DHHS Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health TBR - Total Backflow Resources; Salix, Iowa TBA Hours not assigned at time of printing 3

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5 Register Early! Registration required at least two weeks prior to the class. (Seating is limited) Call Jennifer at (402) The course registration form for grades I IV water operator training courses is available at PWS Regulation Review Encouraged for Grade IV Course Attendees Open to all; 3 hours of continuing education available for water operator grades I IV. Begins at 1:00 P.M. on the afternoon prior to the scheduled two-day Grade IV course Award Winners Two Nebraska licensed water operators were recently recognized for efforts in providing safe drinking water to their customers. Both received their Nebraska DHHS water operator awards on September 16, 2015, at the Nebraska Rural Water Association Western Conference in Gering. Serving as Utility Superintendent for the Village of Farnam and holding a grade IV water operator license since 2000, Rod Klein s work in the water system has, for many years, defined the characteristics of a very good water operator. Congratulations Rod. December 1 Grand Island Grade IV Cost is $80.00 for the class and $98.00 for the two textbooks if needed. December 2-3 Grand Island (Next Grade IV course tentatively scheduled for February 3-4, 2016 in Norfolk,) Grade III Class is Full Cost is $ for the class and $98.00 for the two textbooks if needed. (Next Grade III course tentatively scheduled for April 18-22, 2016 in Grand Island.) From Left: Tony Martinez, Nebraska DHHS; Rod Klein, Village of Farnam; Andy Kahle, Nebraska DHHS. Licensed as a grade III water operator since 1989, David Smith has seen numerous changes in the City of Bridgeport water system. He has displayed a conscientiousness in his work over the years that has long been recognized by his both his friends and peers. Congratulations David. Grade I & II Cost is $ for the class and $98.00 for the two textbooks if needed. (Next Grade I & II course tentatively scheduled for February 22-26, 2016 in Blair.) Grade VI Training Courses (Next Grade VI course tentatively scheduled for January 11-15, 2016 in Wahoo. Contact the Nebraska Rural Water Association at (402) ) 5 From Left: Doug Woodbeck, Nebraska DHHS; David Smith, City of Bridgeport; Andy Kahle, Nebraska DHHS.