Jigar Patel, Circuit Rider, has over 20 years of experience in the water industry. The Circuit Rider program provides technical, managerial and financial assistance to water utility personnel regarding the daily operations of a drinking water distribution system and/or water treatment facility. The Circuit Rider program helps provide rural and small municipal water systems of 10,000 or less with "hands-on" on-site training and technical assistance to ensure cost-effective operations and sustainable utility management within Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Jigar is a certified water operator and ASSE Backflow tester. He also assists with leak detection, cross-connection control and various other water systems needs. Do not hesitate to get in touch with Jigar at cell: (302) 462-0466 or email: jigar@nrwa.org.

Diane Johnson, Wastewater Specialist, has worked for the Atlantic States Rural Water & Wastewater Association (ASRWWA) for the past 13 years servicing small rural and tribal wastewater facilities in CT and RI as a Wastewater Technician. The National Rural Water Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant provides funding for the NRWA Wastewater Program. This program utilizes wastewater technicians to deliver on-site technical assistance and training to wastewater systems to 10,000 and under population. These experienced wastewater professionals deliver effective strategies to small communities and rural areas that provide affordable solutions and long-term waste management and discharge.

Prior to joining ASRWWA, Diane worked for over 15 years in private practice as a transportation/structural engineer and as town engineer for Narragansett RI. She graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering from UCONN and is a professional engineer. Please reach out to Diane at her cell: (401) 626-6574 or email: djohnson@asrwwa.org. 

Conor Lally joined ASRWWA in 2020 and holds the EPA Training and Technical Assistance Program position and the SourceWater Protection Planning for Rhode Island.

EPA Technical and Training Assistance Program provides accredited operator certification training, board member training and on-site technical assistance that supports the specific needs of small water system personnel, tribal systems and overburdened systems. Training Specialists have experience working with small systems and possess expert knowledge regarding their compliance challenges. Classroom sessions are designed to meet state-specific compliance challenges.They are geographically located in areas to reach the most significant number of small system operators. This is important because many small public water systems lack the financial resources to allow operators to travel to central or urban areas for training. These operators have no backup to respond to emergencies while they are absent. The Training Specialists provide technical assistance in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act to small public water system personnel by working directly with them on-site at their system.

Matt Allen, Connecticut Source Water Protection Specialist, came to the Atlantic States in 2018 with a background in watershed science and land use planning. The Source Water Program is designed to assist, educate and facilitate local entities and the agriculture community through a five-step volunteer planning process. This process consists of:
•  Formation of a local planning team
•  Identification of the land area to be protected
•  Identification of land uses and potential sources of contamination
•  Identification of common sense volunteer protection methods
•  Development of an Emergency Response Plan

Through cooperation with State FSA Offices and other governmental entities, this local effort has a profound positive impact on protecting water sources for the future. It creates positive public relations between local governments and the agriculture community. 

Preparing the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is available for CT members and non-members for a fee. The Consumer Confidence Report was due to the CT Department of Public Health on or before July 1, 2021. If you have missed the deadline, please contact Rita Clary, rita@nrwa.org, or call 580-252-0629.

 

 

ASRWWA is accepting applications for a Water Operations Circuit Rider position. The Water Circuit Rider implements the USDA Circuit Rider program throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island by working with public water systems as a technical expert in water operations representing ASRWWA. The position is a full-time hourly position with a minimum of 40 hours per week and occasional overtime. Extensive travel to small systems throughout the Connecticut and Rhode Island for on-site visits to small systems is required.

The Atlantic States Rural Water and Wastewater Association (ASRWWA) is currently seeking a qualified individual for a full or part-time position in Connecticut. ​The position will require travel within the state of Connecticut. This position is funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and may provide an opportunity for growth within the association.