On Earth Day this year, the USDA Rural Development team announced $183 million in funding for 60 rural water and wastewater projects across the nation. The money is earmarked for building and upgrading water and wastewater systems in communities with fewer than 10,000 residents. 

	Photo credit: 123RF.com

Funding will help rural areas prevent environmental contamination, improve drinking water and provide better overall public health safety. USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack underscored the importance of maintaining safe water and wastewater systems in a recent press release.

"Safe drinking water and sanitary waste disposal systems are vital not only to public health but also to the economic vitality of small communities," said Vilsack. "Helping rural communities build and upgrade their water infrastructure is one more way the USDA strengthens rural areas. Building and maintaining water infrastructure creates jobs, boosts the economy, and provides rural families with safe, reliable water and wastewater facilities that improve the environment."

USDA funding and technical assistance will help:

• Build and upgrade wastewater treatment plants
• Construct and restore pump stations
• Rehabilitate water distribution systems
• Extend water and sewer service lines
• Replace deteriorating pipes
• Prepare environmental and engineering reports for facility upgrades

Data and reports from the Mission system can be useful in grant applications by pinpointing areas that qualify for improvement funding. The Flow vs. Runtime report can be used to show inflow and infiltration issues. The SSO/CSO report for the Manhole Monitor can illustrate high level and surcharge events as they compare to rainfall documented by local National Weather Service stations.

The USDA Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program is open year-round to communities in need that meet funding requirements. Applications for the program are accepted through local state offices.

Flint, Michigan has become a classic example of what not to do when managing a municipal water supply. Much can be learned from the alleged actions and inactions of state and municipal officials during 21 months of lead contamination that led to class action lawsuits and criminal charges against Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) officials and the utility administrator.

Flint drinking water pipes exhibit different kinds of corrosion and rust. Photo credit: Min Tang and Kelsey Pieper.

In 2011, Michigan assumed emergency management of Flint in an attempt to reverse a $24 million deficit. After a series of cost-cutting measures in 2014, state officials decided to switch the municipal water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River. This change went into effect despite a history of industrial contamination in the Flint watershed. A Virginia Tech study later confirmed Flint River water to be 19 times more corrosive than Lake Huron. The water was so acidic it caused a reaction that dissolved the mineral layer on the inside of the lead service pipes. Drinking water then came in contact with the lead pipes. Thousands of children registered blood lead levels seven times higher than the 5 micrograms the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies as "elevated."

What we can learn from Flint:

1. Conduct thorough testing and risk evaluation when assessing major changes or improvements. Michigan officials failed to conduct proper testing and evaluations to ensure water quality before the switchover. The only concern was money. MDEQ and Flint officials did not add anti-corrosive agents to bring drinking water up to federal standards after lead began leaching from aging water supply lines.


2. Create a strategy to rehabilitate aging infrastructure and equipment. Identify and plan to replace aging service lines and infrastructure most at risk for lead exposure. Consider all sources of contamination. Third-party consultants offer unbiased investigative assessments that can detail problem areas when seeking government grants or special millage assessments.


3. Implement standard monitoring, testing, and reporting procedures to simplify compliance with federal and state regulations. Responsible reporting and proper water sampling methods allegedly did not exist in Flint. Corruption was reportedly rampant and federal laws were broken. Enforce best practices to ensure accurate reporting of MORs, chemical, and microbiological sampling. The EPA finalized the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule in September of 2015 to replace paper-based reporting with electronic submissions. This new standard saves time and resources while increasing transparency and accuracy for utilities and state regulatory offices. Mission offers the Safe Drinking Water Act Report and a chlorine residual report which are useful in preparing state regulatory reports. This article offers an example of how Mission simplifies compliance mandates for utilities.


4. Be transparent with the community. Report contamination to the public and announce a solution. Fecal coliform bacteria and trihalomethanes (TTHM) were detected in Flint River water four months after the changeover in 2014. At the same time, significant blood lead levels (BLL) spikes were discovered in tests of area children. State officials never notified residents of the lead danger and reportedly refused to revert to Lake Huron after bacteria was found. Lead remediation did not occur for months after an area resident called the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in July 2015.


5. Implement controls for management accountability and whistle-blowing. MDEQ officials allegedly falsified BLL reports to show no spikes in lead levels. There was no effective way to report corruption. Management was unaccountable and a cover-up ensued for over a year. Standard operating practices should include safeguards against mismanagement and blatant corruption.

What municipalities can do:

• Utilities should adhere to state and federal water quality requirements including the Federal Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Water Quality Association standards.
• Ensure management accountability with policies that sanction corruption.
• Engage outside consultants to conduct testing and collection systems analysis. Be proactive in maintaining and replacing aging infrastructure.
• Seek funding alternatives. The EPA offers funding guidance.

Mission streamlines reporting compliance with comprehensive data that assists in reporting submissions. Contact Mission Technical Support at (877) 993-1911, option 2 to find out more about reporting options.