United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(4606)
EPA/816-N-99-003C
August 1999
°EPA Drinking Water
Academy Bulletin
DRINKING
WATER
ACADEMY
In This Issue:
• Welcome From Bill Diamond
• Pilot Test Training Sessions
• Training Course Schedule
DWA Web Site
Other News - 5-Year Plan and More on
Sanitary Survey Training
DWA Contacts
Welcome From Bill Diamond
Dear Readers:
I am pleased to be writing to you as the
newly appointed Director of the
Implementation and Assistance Division
(IAD). As the former Director of the
Standards and Risk Management Division. I
oversaw the development of drinking water
regulations. Now, I am looking forward to
working with Regions and States on SDWA
implementation. I hope that my experience
with the Standards and Risk Management
Division will allow us to work more closely as
new regulations are developed.
IAD is in high gear as the program
continues to implement the 1996 SDWA
Amendments. I believe that the Drinking
Water Academy (DWA) is a critical
component for the successful implementation
of the 1996 SDWA Amendments. The DWA
will assist EPA Headquarters and Regions
and States to increase the productivity of
newly hired or reassigned personnel,
strengthen implementation efforts, and
increase productivity of limited personnel
resources at both the state and federal level.
I was recently briefed on the progress of
the DWA since its inception last November
and I am pleased with the accomplishments
to date. As we move forward with this
comprehensive training support program, I
look forward to working closely with the
Regions and States and finding out more
specifically how we can help meet your
needs. I hope that you find this issue
informative and I look forward to hearing from
you.
Sincerely,
Bill Diamond, Director
Implementation and Assistance Div.
Office of Ground Water and Drinking
Water
Pilot Test Training Sessions
The DWA held two successful pilot test
training sessions in June and July. Pilot
tests in June were conducted for the
modules titled "Introduction to the Safe
Drinking Water Act" which serves as an
overview of all of the OGWDW programs
and the SDWA, and "Introduction to the
Source Water Protection and Ground
Water Programs" which builds on the
overview module to provide more specific
technical information on the Source Water
and Ground Water programs. In July, pilot
test were conducted for modules titled
"Introduction to the DIG Program" and
"Introduction to the PWSS program."
These modules also build on the overview
module providing more specific program
and technical information. Approximately
20 participants from EPA Headquarters and
Regions participated in each of the pilot
training sessions. Participants completed
evaluation forms which are currently being
used to revise and improve the modules. In
general, the pilot test evaluations were
extremely positive. More than 93 percent
of participants said that they would
recommend that new EPA employees take
the course!
The DWA will hold one final pilot test
September 15-16, 1999 in Denver, CO.
Two modules, "Introduction to SDWA" and
the "Introduction the UIC Program" were
modified aferthe being piloted and will be
pilot tested again. Participants at this pilot
test will include State representatives for
the first time. In addition, DWA workgroup
members and Region 8 employees are
encouraged to attend. If you are interested
in attending the pilot test, contact Denny
Cruz at (202) 260-7776 or
cruz.denny@epa.gov.
All four modules will be posted on the
DWA web site once revisions are
complete.
(http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwa.html)
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TRAINING COURSE SCHEDULE
Course Title
M/DBP Rule Implementation
SWPA Delineation and Susceptibility
Assessment: Technical Training
SDWIS/FED Data Entry/Trouble
Shooters
CCR Rule Implementation
SWPA Delineation and Susceptibility
Assessment: Technical Training
Sanitary Survey Training
Sanitary Survey Training
SWPA Delineation and Susceptibility
Assessment: Technical Training
SWPA Delineation and Susceptibility
Assessment: Technical Training
Sanitary Survey Training
DWSRF Basic 101 & Financial
Sanitary Survey Training
DIG Inspector Certification
Sanitary Survey Training
Sanitary Survey Training
Introduction to Comprehensive
Performance Evaluations (CPEs)
Progressive CPE Training
Audience
EPA/State/Tribal
Regional/State
technical staff
EPA
EPA/State/Tribal
Regional/State
technical staff
EPA/State
PWSS staff in in
Region IV States
Regional/State
technical staff
Regional/State
technical staff
Region V Tribal Dl
staff and Region V
States have
priority.
Tentatively full.
EPA/State/Tribal
(Region VII EPA,
States, and Tribes
have priority)
Region V Tribal Dl
staff and Region V
States have
priority. Tentatively
full.
EPA
States
States
States
States
Location
Washington, DC
Denver, CO
Atlanta, GA
Washington, DC
Philadelphia,
PA
Washington, DC
Atlanta, GA
Dallas, TX
Kansas City, KS
Keshena, Wl
Kansas City, KS
Toledo, OH
Columbus, OH
Region IV
Region VI
Region VI
Region VI
Date
8/16/99-8/17/99
Week of 8/1 6/99
8/17/99-8/19/99
8/18/99-8/19/99
Week of 8/23/99
8/24/99-8/27/99
9/14/99-9/17/99
9/99
10/99
10/19/99-10/22/99
10/20/99-10/21/99
11/2/99-11/5/99
11/99
Upon request
Upon request
Upon request
Upon request
Contact
Kathy Williams
(202) 260-2589
Marilyn Ginsberg
(202) 260-8804
Michelle Stoner
(202) 260-2798
Kathy Williams
(202) 260-2589
Marilyn Ginsberg
(202) 260-8804
Murlene Lash
(202)260-7197
David Parker
(404) 562-9460
Marilyn Ginsberg
(202) 260-8804
Marilyn Ginsberg
(202) 260-8804
Charles Pycha
(312)886-0259
Harold Owens
(913)551-7371
Charles Pycha
(312)886-0259
Steve Platt
(215)814-5464
David Parker
(404) 562-9460
Bill Davis
(214)665-7536
Bill Davis
(214)665-7536
Bill Davis
(214)665-7536
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DWA Web Site
The DWA web site has been up and running since May
1999. The DWA web site is located at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwa.html. In late July, a new
section—the Electronic Workshop— was added to the web
site. Available for download from this page are the
implementation training materials for the Consumer
Confidence Reports Rule and the Microbial/Disinfection
Byproducts Rule. These materials may be downloaded in
power point or in pdf format. If materials are downloaded in
power point, they may be modified to suit the particular
needs of a Region, State, or Tribe. If materials are
downloaded in pdf, they can be used exactly as they are. In
the future, these materials will be available for viewing on-
line.
The DWA plans to significantly increase the Electronic
Workshop page on the DWA web site in the coming year. As
additional training materials become available, they will be
posted on the web site for on-line viewing and download.
The web site also currently includes a regularly updated
calendar of course offerings, course descriptions, the DWA
Fact Sheet, a list of the DWA workgroup members, and other
pertinent information. The web site continues to be a work in
progress, and we would appreciate hearing from you about
ways to improve the usefulness of the web site.
Other News - Looking to The Future - A 5-Year
Plan for the DWA
EPA is currently developing a 5-year plan for the Drinking
Water Academy. The plan contemplates an increasing role
for Regions in the DWA and regularly scheduled DWA
courses and sanitary survey training. The plan is intended to
meet the increasing training needs of EPA and states based
on projections for employee turnover and new FTEs.
The DWA workgroup, consisting of EPA Headquarters
and Regions and States, will review and refine the 5-year
plan in the coming months. Information on the training
needs in your State, Tribe, or Region is critical to make the
projections for training needs as accurate as possible.
Please contact the appropriate Regional representative listed
on the last page of this Bulletin to provide input on your
training needs.
Other News - More on Sanitary Survey Training
Opportunities
Sanitary Survey Training (training to develop the
capabilities of individuals to conduct an effective and
comprehensive review/investigation of a public water
system) is an increasingly critical component of the program
due to the increased emphasis placed on sanitary surveys by
the Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and the
upcoming Ground Water Rule. These new requirements
intensify the preexisting need—sanitary survey training has
consistently been one of the most frequently requested
training needs by States and Regions.
Sanitary Survey Workgroup
The increased need for sanitary survey training prompted
the formation of the Sanitary Survey Workgroup. This
workgroup is being led by the Association of State Drinking
Water Administrators (ASDWA). The workgroup's primary
mission is to formulate a five year plan to increase the
availability of sanitary survey training. The composition of
the workgroup has strong emphasis on State participants and
has representation from EPA and private sector members
who have extensive experience with sanitary survey training.
Upcoming Training
EPA is holding a sanitary survey training for EPA and
State employees on August 24-27, 1999. EPA Region 6 will
lead this training session. The training will be held in
Washington, D.C. and participants will visit a ground water
and surface water system in Maryland.
The course applies basic scientific information and a
working knowledge of the operation, maintenance,
management and technology of a water system to train the
field staff to identify sanitary risks which may interrupt the
multiple barriers of protection at the water system and
adversely affect its ability to produce a safe, reliable and
adequate quality and quantity of potable water to the
consumer. The participants will be exposed to the activities
of a sanitary survey and will learn to identify the appropriate
information to gather and conditions to assess during the
activities. Course participants will receive a Learner's Guide
containing all the presentation material from all the units in
addition to other, more detailed, reference material; a
Drinking Water Inspector's Field Guide for Surface plants
containing reference material and questions to ask in the
field at a surface water plant; and a Drinking Water
Inspector's Field Guide for Groundwater Systems containing
reference material and questions to ask in the field at a
ground water System.
Space for the session is limited. If you are interested in
receiving more information about this training, or to be
placed in a waiting list for future training sessions, contact
Murlene Lash at (202) 260-7197.
Additional Training Upon Request
As noted in the April 1999 Bulletin, Region IV and VI offer
sanitary survey training upon request. If you are interested
in making arrangements for the course in your State or
Region, call David Parker at the EPA Region IV office in
Atlanta at (404) 562-9460, or call Bill Davis at the EPA
Region VI office in Dallas at (214) 665-7536.
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DWA Contacts
James Bourne (HQ) (202) 260-5557 bourne.james@epa.gov
Denny Cruz (HQ) (202) 260-7776 cruz.denny@epa.gov
Murlene Lash (HQ) (202)260-7197 lash.murlene@epa.gov
MaryJo Feuerbach (Reg 1) (617)918-1578 feuerbach.maryjo@epa.gov
Leonard Torrey (Reg 2) (212)637-3846 torrey.leonard@epa.gov
Rick Rogers (Reg 3) (215)814-5711 rogers.rick@epa.gov
Janine Morris (Reg 4) (404) 562-9480 morris.janine@epa.gov
John Taylor (Reg 5) (312)886-4299 taylor.johnc@epa.gov
Bill Davis (Reg 6) (214)665-7536 davis.williamh@epa.gov
Stephanie Lindberg (Reg 7) (913)551-7423 lindberg.stephanie@epa.gov
Dan Jackson (Reg 8) (303)312-6155 jackson.dan@epa.gov
Bruce Macler (Reg 9) (415)744-1884 macler.bruce@epa.gov
Mike Cox (Reg 10) (206) 553-0483 cox.mike@epa.gov
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