The director of the Alabama Rural Water Association said training and partnerships are key to modernizing and ensuring a safe drinking water supply.
ARWA Director Rob White testified at a recent Senate Ag hearing led by Sen. Tommy Tuberville.
“I would say the most critical element would be your trained operators who have to oversee these systems,” said White. “Actually, put in place [and] abide by all the regulations, and create the plans, and assess the system to make sure its rehabilitated when necessary and has a plan to move forward.
“It remains in compliance and within the regulatory bounds every day.”
Tuberville (R-Auburn) asked White what could be done to strengthen program operations and services for small system operators.
“One thing I would like to comment on is what is working now. What’s available under the Farm Bill and the resources that are being utilized, at least in the state of Alabama,” White said. “We have three water circuit writers. We have two wastewater specialists, an energy efficiency technician, numerous training staff, all working together, [and] a source of water assessment person.
“They all work together every day within all of the rural communities in Alabama to put in place all of these resources and technical assistance.”
White also gave credit to the various entities working with the association.
“Our partnerships with USDA, locally within the state, are strong,” he said. “We meet quarterly with USDA, SRF, ADECA, other funding partners and provide technical assistance reports. And we really get around the table and hammer out all of the concerns for the water and wastewater systems in Alabama.
“Those partnerships are critical, and they really help bring everybody to the table and reduce work; we don’t duplicate work,” he said. “That way we can find the targeted resources for those areas.”
To make those improvements, White said, would allow the USDA to be more flexible, especially with low-interest loans.
“The financing options … that would be critical in helping some of the rural, poor areas in Alabama, being able to have the 0% and 1% loans; refinancing options that would help ones at Uniontown that we’re working with on the west side of Alabama now,” said White. “If we have that opportunity, additional authorities for addressing cybersecurity and more resources for emergency response would also be helpful.”
Tuberville asked White about leveraging all of the solutions that are available.
“Well, I would say training and partnerships,” White said. “We need to continue to train. It’s ongoing. There are new resources and regulations that come around, you know, each year.
“So, making sure that, plus the workforce is changing, so new folks get into those administrative positions, making sure they are aware of what’s available to them. And then partnerships with, not only federal and state agencies and resources, but do you know your neighbor’s system? Do you have mutual aid agreements with those?
“Do you know your access to resources for our associate members, companies that are in the state that can maybe go ahead and prepare a contract for service during an emergency, so you can lock in prices and ensure that you have a number of items available to you during that time.
“So, that’s what I would say, training and partnerships.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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