Join us on September 9th from 1-3PM for this webinar presented by Shannon Rodriguez of Nighthawk.

Drinking water utilities are continuously searching for ways to proactively monitor the system while improving resiliency. This presentation is designed to give a high-level overview of drinking water systems which includes the basics of hydraulics and pressure and an explanation of different technologies being developed to benefit drinking water utilities.  It discusses how utilities can easily install and use remote pressure monitoring to identify hydraulic anomalies and events while reducing water loss and repair response time. This presentation also includes discussion on utilizing technology for the development of the EPA Emergency Response Plan and Risk and Resiliency Assessment, available industry resources from various organizations, funding opportunities and using technology to develop and calibrate water hydraulic models. 

2 CEU hours available for Water Distribution only.

Click here for more information and to register.

Iowa's Drinking Water and Wastewater operators, pre COVID19, took proctored, standardized certification exams either at DMACC Southridge Computer Lab or, by appointment, at one of the IDNR Regional Field Offices.   Due to the ambiguity of when, and if, these venues will again be open to the public, Iowa is switching to "remote proctoring".  In early August an operator will be able to take their Drinking Water or Wastewater certification exam on any computer that has a camera and microphone. 

Once they log in on the link and put in their unique number assigned upon eligibility, their browser is frozen; a proctor from the company we are using can see them through the camera; their surroundings are monitored for extra materials or cheating; and the test session is recorded for future reference if there is any cheating suspicions or accusations. The testing company will provide a YouTube Video and live customer support for any technical issues arising during a "remote" session. Once we are up and running all our backlogged exams should be cleaned up pretty quickly, potentially within a couple of days, and if we have to shelter in place again down the road there will be no interruption in examination services. Post Covid19 our operators will have two options for exam delivery: "remote proctoring" and our traditional method of on-line at an IDNR Field Office or Community College computer lab. 

How do operators get signed up for a remotely proctored exam? IDNR will send out letters; utilize the DNR listserves and post on our website all information relative to an operator's new testing options when we have a more finite start date. Potential examinees should monitor our OpCert Static Webpage https://www.iowadnr.gov/environmental-protection/water-quality/certification/water-wastewater-operators; all information will be posted here the minute it is finalized.  Also, if you are not signed up for the Drinking Water or Clean Water listserve, you should be. Drinking Water Listserve contact is  Diane.moles@dnr.iowa.gov and Wastewater is courtney.cswercko@dnr.iowa.gov. All you do is send them an email and they will add your email address to the distribution list. Stay tuned for more info!!! 

Under the 1996 reauthorized Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the State of Iowa is required to publish an annual report of the status of its public drinking water program.  The 2019 report is available electronically at the following address: http://www.iowadnr.gov/WS-Annual-Compliance-Report.

The report was compiled by the staff of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' Water Supply Engineering and Operations Sections, using data collected in 2019 from all active public water supplies in the state.  The report contains a summary of the program, a description of the requirements that systems must meet, the year’s violation statistics, and the list of the systems with each health-based standard or major monitoring or reporting violation incurred during the year.  

The photographs in the report are from Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund projects, primarily those that were completed during the year.  The maps depict the public water supply system universe in Iowa and the locations of the systems that incurred the health-based standards and major monitoring and reporting violations.  The maps are also separately listed on the website.

Iowa had 1,855 active public water supply systems in 2019. Of those systems, 95.5% were in compliance with all health-based drinking water standards, and 82.8% were in compliance with all major monitoring and reporting requirements. There were no waterborne disease outbreaks or deaths attributed to the drinking water at any active public water supply in Iowa during the year.