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As many of you know, each year the NYRWA distributes one-time grants to five students across New York State valued at $500.00 to help defray the cost of tuition, books, or room and board at an accredited institution of higher learning approved by the NYRWA.

This is a member benefit and we appreciate your assistance in ensuring students from your area have this opportunity to apply. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must complete the application form in its entirety and return it to the NYRWA by the entry postmark deadline, February 5, 2020. All pertinent information on applying are within the official rules, including the requirement to include an essay and student transcripts to be eligible.

The application is published in Aquafacts as well as on our website. Please be sure to share this application with anyone that will be attending college in the fall of 2020.

NYRWA is calling on our membership for urgent assistance. We need you, our valued members, to start planning now to reach out to your elected officials and ask that they write a letter to your NYS Assembly and Senate Leaders asking for their support of the Safe Water Infrastructure Action Program (SWAP) when the next legislative session begins.

This bill is very similar to the successful Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs).  The SWAP would provide municipalities with an annual SWAP allotment for local water, sewer and storm water infrastructure.  We are all aware that insufficient operation and maintenance (O&M) funding is a major contributor to our infrastructure issues.  This SWAP would provide a permanent source of funding, one that addresses and supports O & M activities.

The NYRWA is proud to announce that our 2 apprenticeship program titles: 1) Water Systems Operation Specialist; and 2) Wastewater Systems Operation Specialist, have been approved by the NYS Department of Labor. We will begin our program on November 1, 2019, with 7 water and wastewater apprentices from across the state. We will be actively recruiting the next group of systems and apprentices for the second class we anticipate starting on May 1, 2020. 

NYRWA further hopes to develop some type of Youth Pre-Apprenticeship Program as well, allowing us to reach out to high schools, BOCES centers, etc…to attract interested students into our industry.  These processes will take time to develop, and we look forward to working with our System & Associate Members as we progress.

09/30/2019

Contact Information: 

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON (September 30, 2019) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $15 million in funding for technical assistance and training providers to improve the water quality of small and private water systems that are often located in rural communities across the United States. Ensuring everyone has access to clean and safe water, no matter the size of the water system, is a top priority for EPA.

"Small water systems, especially those in rural communities, face unique challenges, and the Trump Administration is helping them address these challenges and provide clean, safe drinking water for their residents,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "These grants will help ensure that smaller water systems have the knowledge, training and technical assistance needed so they can continue to provide clean drinking water and safeguard public health.

Funding will be used by nonprofit organizations to provide small public drinking water and wastewater systems with training and technical assistance to achieve and maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, improve operational performance and help inform private drinking water well owners about protecting their drinking water supply. Small water systems often face unique financial and operational challenges including aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, increasing costs and declining rate bases. EPA is committed to helping these systems protect public health and provide reliable drinking water and wastewater services that meet federal and state regulations.

Eligible applicants for this competitive agreement are nonprofit organizations and intertribal consortia that are incorporated as nonprofits. The application period for these competitive grants is now open. Questions about applying for EPA funding for training and technical assistance must be received by November 4, 2019, and applications must be received by November 14, 2019. EPA expects to award these cooperative agreements by Spring 2020 and encourages all eligible organizations who have an interest in these projects to apply.

For more information visit: https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity 

• Athens, Village of
• Fitzer Homes Inc.
• Galway Central School
• Hartwick Heights MHP
• Medina, Village of
• Pine Valley Acres MHP
• Smiley Brothers Inc/Lake Mohonk Mt. House
• Wawarsing-Naponach, Town of

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