ORWA - Home

Rural Lorain County, Ohio Finishes Second out of 26,000+ for America's Best Tasting Drinking Water!

(Washington, D.C.) – If you’re looking for the some of the best tasting water in the nation, move to Rural Lorain County, Ohio. In this rural community, all you have to do is turn the faucet for pure “Quality On Tap!”

Rural Lorain was one of the top five finalists (Second Overall) at the 9th Annual Great American Water Taste Test winning the silver medal in the national competition. The taste test is held each year on Capitol Hill in conjunction with the National Rural Water Association’s Annual Rally in Washington, D.C.

NRWA represents over 26,292 rural and small utilities so it is quite a big deal to make it to the final competition where Rural Lorain competed against the top water systems from across America. The town finished in the top five with the winner being Southampton, Massachusetts.

The judges for the event were, EPA's Ben Grumbles, USDA's Teresa Lasseter, and

Melanie Rhinehart-VanTassell with U.S. Rep. Pomeroy’s office (ND). Each judge 
evaluated glasses of water from the five finalists measuring them on clarity, bouquet 
and taste.

The other finalists included North Kingstown, Rhode Island; Lewes, Delaware; and 
Avilla, Indiana.  State Rural Water Associations conduct preliminary competitions 
selecting the best water from small and rural systems to represent their state at 
the national finals.

Every April, the National Rural Water Association sponsors the Rural Water Rally 
and Great American Taste Test on Capitol Hill to give utility and state officials an 
opportunity to visit one-on-one with their Congressional representatives and discuss 
key water and wastewater issues.

To all members: Do not forget to sign up for our annual golf outing !!

The association has provided a opportunity for you to attend a premier golf venue with your friends or clients.

Like last we are having the event at the Longaberger Golf Course and providing breakfast 18 holes of golf at a champion caliber course with prize drawings and exceptional lunch banquet and awards ceremony

Do not miss this chance for you or your business associates, clients, friends and system personnel to enjoy the best golf experience of the year. We have the course for the day when else will you have four hundred acres of golf to yourself. Registration forms are available online here or call the office (740-455 -3911).

Got Water?

We've had a lot of rain recently, and that is always a concern for those in the Water and Wastewater Industry. These pictures were taken at the village of Laurelville’s wastewater treatment plant after a 2” rain which flooded the road in and out of the plant.

$C:\Users\Scott\Pictures\2008-03-19\016.jpg$	$C:\Users\Scott\Pictures\2008-03-19\015.jpg$	$C:\Users\Scott\Pictures\2008-03-19\018.jpg$
$C:\Users\Scott\Pictures\2008-03-19\009.jpg$ This is what 2” of rain did to Cedar falls, Hocking County, Ohio.	$C:\Users\Scott\Pictures\2008-03-19\013.jpg$

Other Issues for the Rural Community

Click Here for a short PSA on the digital TV conversion that will occur in

early 2009. This change stands to affect rural residents more than urban

residents and we are asking for your help in informing the public of the

need to get converters. A limited number of coupons are available to

help with the cost and the sooner TV viewers obtain them, the better. A

very informational website has been setup (www.dtv2009.gov) to assist in

the effort.

2008 ORWA Conference & Exposition

To: All ORWA Members

From: Ohio Rural Water Association

Date: March 19, 2008

As you all know, the ORWA Annual Conference & Exposition is scheduled for April 7-10, 2008. Information for the conference was sent to the printer a little later than we would have liked and thus we are experiencing a delay in getting the information to you. Our brochure is completed and you can find it on our webpage Here

There are several things that you should know:

The room block at the Hilton IS SOLD OUT. The hotel still has rooms at regular rates, but the pre-reserved discounted block is now full. If you need to make your reservations you can do so by calling 614-414-5000.

We are offering several new classes. There will be a CPR certification course by the Columbus Fire Department as well as a Board Training Course by Paul Strope of National Rural Water Association.
The conference times have changed a little with the conference now starting on Monday and ending with an Awards Breakfast on Thursday morning.
We have a full house of exhibitors scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
We have having a Coffee Mixer on Monday night to welcome everyone.
Tuesday Night from 5-8 is our Social Mixer with a live band, cash bar, snacks and our cornhole tournament.

If you would like to register for the Annual Conference, just complete the registration form located in the conference brochure and fax it to the Ohio Rural Water Association office at 740-455-3899.

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call.

See you in Columbus!

Request for Member Assistance!

The Association needs your help by contacting your congressperson and request that they support the funding of Rural Water initiatives by signing the Dear Colleague letter being sponsored by congressmen Pomeroy, Shimkus and Etheridge. Click Here for the letter.

Your Congressional representatives need to hear from you about the necessity of this funding to their constituents in small communities and rural areas to protect the quality of their drinking water and to comply to federal mandates. Contact Your Congressman

Only with help from members like you can the Ohio Rural Water Association can continue with its mission of improving the quality of life in rural Ohio. Pleas feel free to call the office with any questions @ 800-589-7985

The Ohio Rural Water Association’s Annual Golf Outing

How far we have come, when we first got started you were promised a hot dog and a can of pop. Today we are offering the chance to play at The Longaberger Golf Club, boasting an 18hole championship course on 450 acres with a sixty thousand square foot club house. We have managed to do this without greatly increasing the price from all those years ago thanks to our generous sponsors. We at ORWA are pleased to announce that through our sponsors we will have over $1000 in prizes and giveaways, with our goal of everyone who participates winning a prize. For $99 participants will receive a round of golf, cart rental, breakfast, buffet lunch, set of golf balls, a Longaberger bag tag, and a set of Longaberger monogrammed golf tees. We will have two holes designated for closest to the pin, two longest drive holes, and two longest putt contests, along with 1st and 2nd place team awards, and more than enough door prizes and giveaways that everyone should win something.

Help us at the Ohio Rural Water Association kick off our 2008 conference with a wonderful day of golf, food, and prizes at the Longaberger Golf Club. Click Here to download the registration form.

USDA Rural Development Funds Village of Verona’s Sewer System Expansion

COLUMBUS, OHIO, March 12, 2008 – Randall Hunt, state director for USDA Rural Development announced today approval of a $300,000 grant to the Village of Verona to build a sewer system in Preble County, Ohio. The funding comes from Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Grant Program. The project also received $837,000 in Rural Development grant funding during Fiscal Year 2007.

“We’ve found that working cooperatively with other funding agencies is the most efficient way to get long-term projects like this one completed,” said Hunt. “When community leaders face decisions about how to improve their water quality and sewage concerns we want to be the organization they call for assistance.”

The funding will be used for the construction of a gravity sewer system and treatment plant which will serve 225 users in the Village of Verona. The total cost of the project is more than $4.5 million and includes previous funding of $2.5 million from Rural Development; more than $474, 000 from the Ohio Public Works Commission and $350,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in

home ownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.

Further information on rural programs is available by calling 614-255-2400, visiting a local USDA Rural Development office or by viewing USDA Rural Development’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

Report of Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water

The Rural Water industry takes this seriously and is in the process of reviewing the report. It appears the report primarily focuses on large metropolitan areas that obtain their water from surface water sources. The majority of systems in the nation, 94%, serve less than 10,000 population and 60% of those serve populations of 1,000 or less. These systems primarily use ground water sources and are affected at a much lesser degree. We are fortunate that in this country we have the technology to detect these types of products in ultra small amounts of parts per trillion or the equivalent of one second in 32,000 years. Being able to detect these types of compounds at the onset will allow for the development of water and wastewater treatment processes for the future. Meeting these future demands will require major infrastructure funding. The Rural Utilities Service which funds the majority of water and wastewater treatment plants for small communities and rural areas has a backlog of applications totaling $2.5 billion and another $1.5 billion of pre-applications on file.

Members of the National Rural Water Association and their customers can be certain that NRWA will work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further the scientific analysis and knowledge of these compounds in our nation’s water. NRWA shares the goal of our rural water family of sound science that will protect the consumers of our nation’s drinking water as well as the environment from which we draw our drinking water. We are very serious about protecting our nation’s water. For the last Fifteen years, NRWA and its state associations have been the nation’s leader in protecting our nation’s sources of water assisting over assisting 9,958 communities in assessing their environments and putting in place local source water and wellhead protection plans.

The public should rest assured that their drinking water is the safest in the world and is continually tested to meet the quality control parameters of the Safe Drinking Water Act. If those parameters are exceeded the consumer is notified and corrective action is taken.

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT INVITES APPLICATIONS

FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY LOANS AND GRANTS

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2008 - Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced during an international renewable energy conference that USDA will accept $220.9 million in loan and grant applications within USDA’s Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program.

“As demand for energy rises, these renewable energy loans and grants help farms and rural small businesses increase their investment in renewable energy initiatives,” said Schafer, speaking at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC). “Energy efficiency wisely applies our resources, and energizes wealth-creation opportunities with more jobs throughout rural America.”

Loan guarantees and grants are available to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.

Eligible applicants may seek loan guarantees to cover up to 50 percent of a project’s cost, not to exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to 25 percent of a project’s cost, not to exceed $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems. USDA Rural Development has invested $674 million in more than 1,763 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects since 2001. These investments include ethanol, biodiesel, wind, solar, geothermal, methane gas recovery systems and biomass.

The Bush administration’s Farm Bill proposal recommends a $1.6 billion increase in renewable energy funding. Were Congress to agree, cellulosic ethanol development proposals would receive a $2.1 billion loan guarantee program, while $500 million would be available for bioenergy and bioproducts research programs, as well as another $500 million for renewable energy development and energy efficiency grants. Details are available at www.usda.gov/farmbill .

USDA will issue one grant solicitation for two separate competitions in FY 2008. For the first competitive window, grant-only applications must be submitted no later than April 15, 2008. For the second competitive window, grant-only applications must be submitted no earlier than April 16, 2008, and no later than June 16, 2008. Applications for loan guarantees, as well as those for loan/grant combinations must be completed and submitted to the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than June 16, 2008.

Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov .

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested nearly $91 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.7 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

Final Brochure Published
Please Click Here for a copy of our 2008 Expo Brochure.

If you plan on attending and want to see all the latest information regarding the 2008 Expo, Click Here

2008 Expo Exhibitor Booths Sold Out
It's still two months away and space is all used up! We even added four more booths! Out of a possible 71 booths, every one of them is filled.

If you plan on attending and want to see all the latest information regarding the 2008 Expo, Click Here

**IMPORTANT FEDERAL EPA DEADLINE REMINDER**

If you are a water system that is on Schedule 4 of the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR), a Standard Monitoring Plan (SMP) must be submitted to Federal EPA by April 1, 2008 unless a waiver has been granted. Schedule 4 is for those systems serving less than 10,000 population or are part of a combined distribution system serving less than 10,000 population. The SMP must include the locations and dates for one year of monitoring total trihalomethanes (TTHM) and five haloacetic acids (HAA5) during the peak historical month or the month with the warmest water temperature.

As of 01/02/08, these systems have not yet sent their Standard Monitoring Plans to Federal EPA, which must be done by April 1, 2008.

For general information on this rule, visit the EPA Safewater website at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/stage2

For questions regarding Standard Monitoring Plans, please contact:

Miguel A. Del Toral 312-886-5253 deltoral.miguel@epa.gov

Ronald D. Kovach 312-886-1441 kovach.ronaldd@epa.gov

As usual, feel free to contact the ORWA office or staff for additional information.

ORWA Board of Directors Election Forms
2008 List of Incumbents
Candidate Qualification and Registration Form

Voting Delegate and Alternate Delegate Form

2008 Great American Taste Test
It’s that time of year when many of you are selecting the best tasting water in your state. Please feel free to register your state’s entry on line at the link below. Be sure to be registered before 11:00 am on Monday, April 21.

http://www.nrwa.org/nrwamems/mtggawtt.htm

USDA Rural Development Finances

Construction of Huron Water System

COLUMBUS, OHIO, February 6, 2008 – Randall Hunt, state director for USDA Rural Development announced today approval of a $6,364,000 financing package to Northern Ohio Rural Water for construction of a new water distribution system for Huron and surrounding counties. The funding comes from Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.

“Funding construction and upgrades to water systems in Ohio’s rural communities remains a priority for Rural Development,” said Hunt. “Our efforts ensure local residents have access to clean, safe water and certainly help the community’s leadership address both health and quality of life issues.”

The funding will be used for the construction of a water distribution system which will serve 377 new customers located in Seneca, Sandusky and Huron counties. The project will include construction of waterlines and an elevated storage tank.

Total funding for the project is $6,929,500 and includes $565,500 from Northern Ohio Rural Water.

home ownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE LOANS AND GRANTS

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2008 – USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Thomas C. Dorr today invited applications for six programs to help small towns and rural residents finance infrastructure improvements.

“These loans, grants and loan/grant combinations will help communities provide essential services and maintain the infrastructure necessary for businesses and residents to enjoy a high quality of life in rural areas,” Dorr said.

The six programs under which applications are being accepted are:

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program
Public Television Digital Conversion Grant Program
Community Connect Grant Program
High Energy Cost Grant Program
Revolving Fund Grant Program
Household Water Well Grant Program

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant program was created to improve access to education and medical services through the use of technology.

The Digital Public Television grant program provides funding to help rural public televisions stations install the digital transmission equipment that must be in place by February 17, 2009. Digital Public TV grants also may be used for engineering and environmental studies associated with the transition to digital television.

The Community Connect Grant Program provides grants to telecommunications providers and municipalities to finance the installation of broadband service in rural communities where broadband is least likely to be available. The High Energy Cost Grant Program provides grants for the acquisition, construction or improvement of energy generation, transmission or distribution facilities in communities where the average residential cost for home energy exceeds 275 percent of the national average. The Revolving Fund Grant Program provides funds to non-profit entities for loans to finance predevelopment costs for water and wastewater projects, or for short-term capital projects that are not part of the regular operation and maintenance of current water systems. The Household Water Well System Grant Program helps individuals finance the cost of household water wells. Funds can be used to upgrade or replace water well systems and to increase the awareness of substandard drinking water systems in communities.

Program	Application Deadline
Public TV Digital Conversion Grant Program	March 28, 2008
Community Connect Grant Program	March 28, 2008
High Cost Energy Program	March 28, 2008
Revolving Fund Grant Program	March 28, 2008
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan & Grant Program	April 14, 2008
Household Water Well Grant Program	May 31, 2008

For further details about eligibility rules and application procedures, see the January 28, 2008, Federal Register.

Hardin County Water District No. 1

From Deficient to Efficient: A Rural Utility’s Metamorphosis

Hardin County Water District No. 1 (HCWD) was formed on July 15, 1952 to serve the needs of Northern Hardin County, Kentucky. Over its 50 year history, HCWD has grown from serving 125 water taps to over 10,000 in Northwest Hardin County, including the City of Radcliff. On July 1, 2005, HCWD began operations of the Fort Knox Sewer and Stormwater Systems. Today, HCWD maintains 33 employees, 268 miles of water main, approximately 90 miles of wastewater mains and 39 miles of stormwater mains. HCWD also supplies wholesale water to the City of Vine Grove, Meade County Water District, City of Hardinsburg and Hardin County Water District #2.

Six years ago, HCWD was just like many other small-to-medium sized water utilities across the United States. (click here for entire article)

HB 422 Info and Analysis

HB 422 WATER RESOURCES (Setzer) To create the Water Resources and Economic Development Study Committee. Full Text (1st Hearing-Sponsor)

The proposed study committee would evaluate Ohio's water resources and recommend ways to use water "as a mechanism for economic development," Rep. Setzer said in sponsor testimony.

The measure was inspired by the situation in Farmersville, where residents "had the foresight to consider selling water for economic and employment growth," she said. The village sits atop an aquifer that could generate 100-500 gallons a minute.

"If this small village has such vision, I believe that water resources for economic development throughout our state should be studied independently from our other natural resources," she said.

Rep. Chandler asked whether the study committee would also consider the environmental impact of transferring water out of the area. The focus on economic development "may be neglecting the idea that we have a precious resource that maybe should be protected as well."

Rep. Setzer said the composition of the committee would be broad enough to consider all aspects of the issue and could recommend protections for water resources.

Referring to a past incident in his dry district where a private company purchased land to export water to neighboring areas, Chairman Collier said the committee would have to analyze all aspects of the issue. "I would think they would have far more to study than just economic development, and who's economic development."

Steve Dimon
Capitol Insights, LLC
www.capitolinsights.net

Just Introduced...
HB 436 WATER TANKS (Stewart, J.)
To authorize municipal and other political subdivision contracts for maintenance and repair of a water storage tank to be awarded without competitive bidding under specified conditions.

Am. & En. 307.86, 6101.16, 6103.10, 6115.20, 6119.10 and 735.054

Testimony on HB 103 - Click Here for PDF

BILL WOULD SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY FOR TENANTS' UNPAID WATER BILLS FROM LANDLORDS TO WATER COMPANIES - Gongwer News Service

Grappling with the question of who should cover unpaid water bills left behind by tenants, a House panel adopted a new version of legislation Thursday that would limit landlords' liability for the delinquent accounts.

The House Local & Municipal Government & Urban Revitalization Committee adopted a substitute version of legislation (HB 103 ) that would leave landlords liable for up to $200 worth of their tenants' outstanding accounts. However, water companies and local governments oppose the measure, saying it would drive up consumer rates.

Click Here for the entire article on our Legislative Page...

Rural Development’s Homeownership Program Being Tapped at Record Levels

COLUMBUS, OHIO, Jan. 8, 2008 – While the sub-prime mortgage crisis has limited available credit to some low to moderate income families in Ohio, the USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Rural Housing (GRH) Loan Program has recently seen a dramatic increase in loan volume. At the close of the federal fiscal year on September 30, 2007, Ohio obligated 1,112 loans totaling more than $99 million - a 24 percent increase over the 2006 loan volume. And, during the first three months of this fiscal year, Ohio has seen an 88 percent increase in the number of homeownership loans.

“We’ve always offered a reliable, fixed-rate product so homeowners can have total predictability about their mortgage payments,” said Rural Development State Director Randy Hunt. “With the current instability in mortgage financing products we think Rural Development’s guaranteed home ownership loan program offers homeowners the best option available.”