v>EPA America's Water Infrastructure Act: Promoting Asset Management via the Capacity Development Program Project Approach Purpose: The purpose of this factsheet is to outline the amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as mandated by the American Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018 Section 2012: Asset Management. This provision protects America's continued DWSRF investment in drinking water infrastructure by requiring the promotion of asset management. This provision aligns with the EPA's strategic measure of reducing the number of public water systems with health-based violations by ensuring long term sustainability of public water systems. By states amending their capacity development strategy to include a description of asset management, public health protection is expanded by supporting the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of public water systems. Background: AWIA amends the SDWA and requires: • That the states amend their state capacity development strategy to include a description of how the state will encourage, as appropriate, the development of asset management plans that includes best practices and any training, technical assistance, and other activities to help implement asset management plans. • That the states include an update of these activities to encourage asset management practices in the Governor's report. • The EPA to review and update, if appropriate, asset management documents and trainings every five years. Implementation Timeline: May - June 2019: the EPA has been working with an ASDWA subcommittee (9 state volunteers) to discuss approaches for AWIA Section 2012 implementation. August 2019: the EPA will host a Listening Session for Stakeholders to review approach and gather feedback from state drinking water programs and technical assistance providers. September 2019: the EPA will release the implementation guidance for state and the EPA Regional capacity development state coordinators. October - December 2019: the EPA will host a roll-out webinar for state capacity development coordinators on guidance and available asset management tools and trainings. Implementation: To address AWIA Sec. 2012, the EPA plans to: • Develop an Implementation of Capacity Development & Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Programs to Reflect A WIA Sec 2012 memorandum. • Update the Report Criteria for Annual State Capacity Development Program Implementation Reports memo to include AWIA requirements. • Update the Handbook for Capacity Development: Developing Water System Capacity Under the SDWA. • Revise the EPA Regional Coordinator Capacity Development Strategy Review Checklist. Asset Management 1 Current State of Assets 3 Critical Assets 2 Level of Service 4 Minimum Life Cycle Cost 5 Long-term Funding Plan For more information, please visit: www, epa. aov/safewater/a wi a OFFICE OF WATER EPA # 815-F-19-005 1 July 2019 ------- &EPA J AWIA Sec. 2012 Asset Management Language: "SDWA 1420. Capacity Development (c)(2)(F) a description of how the State will, as appropriate- (i) encourage development by public water systems of asset management plans that include best practices for asset management; and 0i) assist, including through the provision of technical assistance, public water systems in training operators or other relevant and appropriate persons in implementing such asset management plans. (c)(3) Report. Not later than 2 years after that date on which a State first adopts a capacity development strategy under this subsection, and every 3 years thereafter, the head of the State agency that has primary responsibility to carry out this subchapter in the State shall submit to the Governor a report that shall also be available to the public on the efficacy of the strategy and progress made toward improving the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of public water systems in the State, including efforts of the State to encourage development by public water systems of asset management plans and to assist publics water systems in training relevant and appropriate persons in implementing such asset management plans. (d)(5) Information on Asset Management Practices. - Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and not less often than every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall review and, if appropriate, update educational materials, including handbooks, training materials, and technical information, made available by the Administrator to owners, managers, and operators of public water systems, local officials, technical assistance providers (including nonprofit water associations), and State personnel concerning best practices for asset management strategies that may be used by public water systems." OFFICE OF WATER EPA # 815-F-19-005 2 July 2019 ------- |