Please save the dates for our 44th Annual Workshop in Lake Placid, May 22-24, 2023!

Associate Members and Exhibitors: Booth space will open on our website only beginning February 22, 2023 at 10:00 am (Eastern Time) until sold out. Space is limited, so don't miss out! Payment is due at time of registration.

Last call for available Sponsorship opportunities, review the letter. If interested, please complete the sponsorship form and payment with your selection and email to our office nyrwa@nyruralwater.org no later than February 1, 2023, to be included in the list below.

Thank you to our current paid sponsors:

Premier Sponsors
Koester Associates, Inc. - Siewert Equipment

Gold Sponsors
AES Northeast - EJ Prescott - General Control Systems - Naylor Association Solutions

Silver Sponsors
Surpass Chemical Company

It is that time of the year again, time to apply for our scholarship program. 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 3, 2023. 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 can be found here: https://nyruralwater.org/downloads/downloads-index, the link is on the right hand side. Please be sure to share this application with anyone that will be attending college in the Fall of 2023.

JOB ANNOUCEMENT & FULL DESCRIPTION

Drinking Water Technical Assistance Specialist (DW Circuit Rider)

GSRWA, a nonprofit statewide membership organization, is dedicated to supporting water and wastewater utilities through onsite technical support, training classes, and legislative representation. GSRWA was incorporated in 2005 and is a member of National Rural Water Association. 

Position: Drinking Water Technical Assistance Specialist

Title: Drinking Water Circuit Rider

Location: New Hampshire.  Work from home with travel throughout the state.

Hours: Full time, exempt, 40 hours per week

Schedule: Monday – Friday; some flexible hours

Compensation: Salary starting at $65,500 commensurate with experience. This is a combination of $56,000 merit pay plus $9,500 in lieu of health insurance. Benefits include 7% matching 401K plan, paid time off, and life/disability insurance. Health insurance is not offered.

Function: This position will support GSRWA’s mission: "To provide its water and wastewater members with professional technical assistance, training, legislative representation, and liaison with agencies through its state and national programs” by providing technical assistance to New Hampshire’s public drinking water utilities. The purpose of the Circuit Rider Program is to protect the Nation’s multi-billion dollar investment in rural and small municipal water systems by providing on-site technical assistance that ensures cost-effective operations and adequate income for both operations and debt service within each state/jurisdiction.

Leadership: Reports to the Executive Director.

Anticipated Outcomes: Ensure efficient and effective coordination, management, and implementation of the GSRWA Circuit Rider Program.

1. Provide technical assistance to personnel associated with New Hampshire’s public drinking water systems including superintendents, operators, board members and town officials. Technical assistance will be provided by visiting systems onsite, making phone calls, sending emails and through other forms of communication. Technical assistance may include, for example, topics relating to operations and maintenance, management, compliance, health and environmental issues.

2. Assistance should be provided to rural, unincorporated small municipal systems, tribal systems and incorporated municipal systems under 10,000 population.

3. Train water system personnel (as opposed to fixing system issues).

4. Prioritize requests to ensure coverage of water systems with serious health/or economic problems first.  Priority will also be given to persons or groups who do not have access to high quality drinking water or proper treatment.

5. Conduct projects and studies, prepare reports and other documents for and with public drinking water system personnel.

6. Evaluate and explain findings, for example, of surveys, studies, reports, to water system personnel and managers.

7. Coordinate and maintain a cooperative working relationship with public, state, and federal agencies.

8. Give presentations, teach and facilitate training classes, present information at meetings in order to accomplish Association’s mission.

9. Responds to inquiries from facilities, consumers, governmental agencies, and others regarding technical matters.

10. Attend meetings, trade shows, and other functions relative to the water industry as a representative of GSRWA, as necessary.

11. Participate in activities to retain, promote and expand Association membership and services.

12. Prepare or provide information for association publications as requested by management.

13. Provides a minimum of 30 technical assistance contacts with water systems per month, at least two (2) of the thirty (30) contacts shall be with systems not previously visited in the past six (6) months where applicable.   These will be reported on the daily log as part of the reporting requirements.  Visit USDA Rural Development officials at least quarterly. More frequently is preferred.

14. On-site assistance must geographically represent the state/jurisdiction during the program period.

15. Twice annually, attend National Rural Water Association (NRWA) in-service training and annual conference in locations outside of New Hampshire in order to benefit from professional development and networking opportunities. 

16. Provide accurate and timely administrative reporting (logs, timesheets, expense reports) and grant/contract reporting as required.

17. Take responsibility for all Association issued equipment. Ensure proper care and maintenance as prescribed by the manufacturer. Maintain an equipment inventory which includes maintenance records as appropriate.

18. Perform other related duties assigned by the Executive Director.

Working Conditions: Travels extensively throughout New Hampshire. Field Position often working long hours exposed to outdoor elements. Establishes field office in home.

Qualifications
Education/Experience: Should possess, some continuing education beyond high school, and over 3 years of experience working for, operating, maintaining, or managing a public drinking water system. Must have a well-rounded technical knowledge of public drinking water system needs and methods for meeting those needs. Should possess, or be able to obtain within six months, a New Hampshire Water Treatment and/or Distribution Operator License. Experience with spreadsheet, word processing, powerpoint, and email. 

Requirements: Proven competency in identifying and troubleshooting drinking water system issues related to physical infrastructure, financial, and human assets.  A positive attitude, superb customer service skills, and a professional and courteous manner. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work effectively with other Association staff, operators, decision makers, regulatory agencies and other professionals. Knowledge of state and federal regulations, monitoring, and reporting requirements which pertain to public drinking water. Proven ability to work independently with little supervision and as part of a team. Reliable transportation, good driving record, automobile insurance, valid license and willingness to travel throughout New Hampshire are required. Pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen. Pass "Fit for Duty” screening.

Skills, Traits and Characteristics Necessary for Success: Applicants who enjoy helping others, take pride in their work, and take ownership of their career will thrive at GSRWA. Must be hard working, self-motivated and energetic and have the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

Physical Demands: To perform the essential functions of the position, the following applies: requires standing, stretching, bending, walking, lifting and transporting a minimum of 45 pounds. Must be able to climb stairs as well as be physically and mentally capable of performing multiple tasks under extended heavy pressure and be able to function in a fast paced environment.

To Apply: Please send cover letter and current resume to:

GSRWA Attention: Human Resources
PO Box 596.
Walpole, NH 03608

Or E-mail to: info@granitestatewater.org

Full Announcement updated 7/27/22

Have you received water and/or wastewater technical assistance from NYRWA? Have you attended NYRWA in-person or web-based training? Has your system benefited from a Source Water Protection Plan or Energy Efficiency Assessment from NYRWA? If so, WE NEED YOUR HELP!  NYRWA is respectfully asking our system members to draft and submit letters of support for the services you have received. These letters are crucial so we can deliver your message to our elected representatives that more needs to be done to fund water and wastewater infrastructure. Please, we need as many members as possible to draft the support letters on your letterhead and mail to our office at:

NYRWA, Inc.
PO Box 487
Claverack, NY 12513

Let's make this letter writing campaign a huge success, please participate. We thank you in advance for your consideration.

This year, many of our one-day training sessions are free to attend. We ask that when you are submitting your pre-registration forms that you complete them in their entirety, as we need all the information to process your registration. We appreciate your time and effort in submitting fully complete registration forms. There will not be an invoice sent for these free classes. We would like to ask that if you are unable to attend a training session, even the free classes, that you email our office (nyrwa@nyruralwater.org) to cancel at least three business days prior to the date of the class you are registered to attend. This will allow us to contact another student so they can attend and receive their needed contact hours. 

Don't have time to spend traveling to sit in a class all day? The best place to receive renewal web based training is at home or work, whichever your schedule allows. You can work at your own pace. SunCoast Learning Systems offers some great topics that will fit your certification requirement needs. Online courses are New York State approved and offer the flexibility and convenience you are looking for. For more information call 1-800-269-1181 or visit https://www.suncoastlearning.com/courses/ny.

The New York State Department of Health is pleased to announce the availability of funding for

Drinking Water Fluoridation RFA #20171 – Rolling Submissions

Component A: Planning and Feasibility Projects (DOH01-DWFAR-2023)

Component B: Implementation and Maintenance Projects (DOH01-DWFBR-2023)

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Division of Family Health (DFH), Bureau of Child Health (BCH) announces the availability of funding through this rolling Request for Applications (RFA) to maintain and expand New York State (NYS) residents’ access to optimally fluoridated water. The purpose of this RFA is to identify eligible NYS municipalities that want to work with NYS to increase the number of communities with access to fluoridated water.

This RFA has two components:

Component A: Planning and Feasibility Projects support municipalities seeking to pursue an Engineering report to:

· Study the feasibility (technical and economical) of starting fluoridation; OR

· Develop a technical plan for initiating fluoridation; OR

· Upgrade existing fluoridation system, including projects that have structural, chemical, or process modifications, that requires professional design services.

Up to $50,000 may be requested for Component A projects, with approximately $500,000 available to award each State Fiscal Year (SFY).

Component B: Implementation and Maintenance Projects support all the following:

 · Purchase/repair and installation of fluoride equipment including equipment used for fluoride feed, personal operator safety and laboratory/analysis; AND/OR

· Construction/modification of building for the storage of fluoride additive and/or equipment; AND/OR

· Upgrade of building and/or fluoridation equipment to address/meet the codes and standards outlined in the Recommended Standards for Water Works, 2018 Edition (Ten State Standards).

Up to $1 million may be requested for Component B, with approximately $2 million available for award each SFY.

Eligible Municipalities can only submit an application for one Component (either Component A or B) of this RFA at a time. If both Components are required for a project, it is advised that the eligible municipality submit an application for Component A (Planning and Feasibility Projects) first. Once a successful eligible municipality has completed its Component A project (Engineering Report developed and final voucher and progress report submitted to NYSDOH), an eligible municipality may then submit a separate application for Component B (Implementation and Maintenance Projects).

Eligible municipalities will be selected on a first-come first-served basis if their project is complete and meets the requirements of the RFA. When funding has been depleted to a level such that a project’s total requested funding amount cannot be met, the eligible municipality will be offered a reduced award amount. If the eligible municipality accepts that amount, no further awards will be made. If the eligible municipality declines that amount, the next eligible municipality will be offered an award until funds are completely exhausted.

If funding becomes limited for any reason during the 6-year period of this RFA, the project will be suspended with adequate notice in the NYS Contract Reporter.

Written questions will be accepted continuously until September 25, 2028. All substantive questions must be submitted electronically to DFHDWF@health.ny.gov. All questions should be submitted with the subject line "Drinking Water Fluoridation Grants.” Questions and answers, as well as any updates and/or modifications, will be posted on the Grants Gateway. Responses to questions will be posted continually and until September 27, 2028.

To obtain more information and stay informed of this new funding opportunity, please sign up and register for an account with the Contract Reporter at https://www.nyscr.ny.gov/. It can also be found at https://www.health.ny.gov/funding/rfa/20171/.

• Cedarwood Engineering Services PLLC 

• Glens Falls, City of

• JCM Industries, Inc.

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