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| Educational Programs
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| Training Specialist |
| The KRWA/EPA Training and Technical Assistance Program is the original contract that enabled KRWA to begin providing training and technical assistance to rural water systems across the Commonwealth nearly twenty-two years ago. The program is a national grassroots effort that assists systems in solving compliance problems as opposed to a program of regulatory enforcement. The KRWA/EPA program began as a vehicle to assist Kentucky's rural water systems in meeting all state and federal regulations with particular emphasis on the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, the major thrust of the program remains the same, but it has been expanded to provide more training assistance than in past years.
Program Requirements: KRWA is required to prepare an Assistance Plan annually, which addresses the state's unique training and on-site technical assistance needs for rural and small water systems. A minimum combined total of 300 training and on-site assistance hours is to be provided by the Training Specialist annually. The 300 hours must include the following:
A minimum of 50 hours are devoted to formal training. Training sessions must be offered to non-members, as well as members, and must geographically cover the state. The training sessions must be offered without charge.
A minimum of 100 hours will be devoted to on-site technical assistance. The on-site assistance should be directed toward rural water systems and municipal systems serving less than 10,000 population, both member and non-member. Activities such as research, travel and planning are not allowable toward the on-site hour requirements.
The balance of 150 hours will be directed to any combination of formal training, training seminars, and on-site technical assistance that best meets the needs of rural and small utility systems in the state. The Assistance Plan defines how the 150 hours will be directed for the program year. |
| Education Services |
| High quality technical training has always played an important part in providing safe drinking water and in protecting our water resources. One of the Kentucky Rural Water Association's foremost goals is to provide these types of training opportunities to all water and wastewater utility decision makers, managers, operators, clerks and other individuals who are interested in staying abreast with the latest developments in the water and wastewater industries. From compliance with state and federal laws and regulations to the proper operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment facilities, KRWA strives to provide a wide range of useful information to its membership and beyond.
Through its various programs, KRWA has provided a large amount of training, face-to-face. We have also been tremendously successful with training seminars presented in the classroom setting. These training seminars give the participants an opportunity to become aware or be reminded of new and more effective problem solving methods. Being able to discuss problems with other managers, commissioners, operators, office personnel, and manufacturer representatives can save systems both time and money. A simple lack of awareness is oftentimes the only barrier between a successful and non-successful water and wastewater system.
In order to meet the needs of individual systems, KRWA has developed customized, on-site training programs that meet the continuing education requirements of the state certification programs. For a reasonable fee, systems may have the specific training it needs brought directly to its personnel, using their own equipment and facilities. This approach to recertification training is popular with systems that are looking to provide quality specialized training for their personnel without the costs associated with traveling to other areas of the state. |
| Wastewater Trainer |
| The Wastewater Trainer program combines formal training, hands-on training and on-site technical assistance services to the small wastewater systems of Kentucky with funding from USDA-Rural Development. This program was begun in July 1999 and the position has allowed KRWA to expand our training in specific areas related to wastewater treatment, collection, and system management. For 2001, eight two-day wastewater training seminars are scheduled to be held jointly with our drinking water training seminars. In addition, a series of eight water and wastewater math training sessions are scheduled throughout the state. The wastewater trainer is also able to perform customized, on-site certification training sessions when personnel from four or more systems are in attendance.
Objectives:
- Provide professional on-site technical assistance and training to rural and small wastewater systems.
- Provide training to system personnel and boards through on-site assistance and training sessions.
- Upon request, provide assistance to systems in acquiring financing to build, expand, and upgrade wastewater system infrastructure.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Travels extensively throughout the state to offer on-site technical assistance and training.
- Provides assistance and training in all areas of operations, maintenance, management, and health and environmental issues.
- Plans and facilitates training sessions for decision makers, managers and operators at no charge.
- Provides the type of on-site assistance that offers "training" rather than "fixing."
- Reads new technical standards set and proposed by public and private organizations.
- Develops informational articles for dissemination.
- Responds to inquiries from facilities, consumers, governmental agencies, and others regarding technical matters.
- Obtains a minimum of 35 on-site wastewater contacts/training hours per month.
- On-site assistance and training must geographically represent the state during the program period.
- Visits the appropriate state Rural Development officials at least monthly.
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| Utility Management Institute |
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The Utility Management Institute (UMI) was created to provide utility managers, and other utility personnel, with the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and earn a university-based, professional designation in the field of management. These goals can be accomplished through the successful completion of six modern, practical management courses, specifically developed for public water and wastewater utility personnel.
The UMI offers training to managers-and those interested in becoming managers-though a set of courses designed to be practical and applicable to water and wastewater utilities, regardless of size. The curriculum includes many appropriate course subjects that do not change substantially from year to year. For example, courses include:
- Long-standing accounting and budgeting principles;
- Basic state and federal legislative and regulatory provisions;
- Tried-and-true methods for improving customer relations; and
- Sections on the challenges of managing personnel.
However, the coursework was also designed with flexibility in mind. This freedom allows the instruction to remain topical be updating materials and presentation to reflect any changes occurring in the water and wastewater industry.
The Utility Management Institute rewards its participants with the prestigious Utility Management Professional (UMP) designation after completion of all six courses. The UMI program maintains an official registry of participants and awards UMP certificates sanctioned by Western Kentucky University and the Kentucky Rural Water Association. The UMI is also recognized by the Kentucky Division of Water-Drinking Water Branch. |
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