Public Water System Assistance Programs

Keeping Rural Water Systems Afloat

Paige S. Manning

Extension Associate

Community Resource Development

(662) 325-3144

paigem@ext.msstate.edu

http://msucares.com/water

Community Water Systems

Category Population ServedPercentage of

Community Water Systems

Very Small 500 or less 57%Small 501-3,300 27%Medium 3,301-10,000 9%Large 10,001-100,000 7%Very Large >100,000 1%

Source: EPA 2004

Public Water System Assistance Programs

Public Water System Board Management Training Program

Peer Review Program

Public Water System Board Management Training Program

Section 41-26-101, Mississippi Code of 1972

Each member elected or reelected after June 30, 1998, to serve on a governing board of any community public water system, except systems operated by municipalities with a population greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) shall attend a minimum of eight (8) hours of management training within two (2) years following the election of that board member. If a board member has undergone training and is reelected to the board, that board member shall not be required to attend training as provided by this subsection.

Partnering Organizations

Board Training Curriculum

Laws and Regulations Duties and Responsibilities Ethics Operation and Maintenance Management and Finance Rate Setting Public Relations and

Customer Service

Community Resource Group

Mississippi Rural Water Association

Mississippi Water & Pollution Control Operators’ Association

Cox Consulting Group

Mississippi State University Extension Service

Training Session Locations

Results

Over 200 training sessions have been held.

Over 4,100 board members have been trained.

Peer Review Program

Technical Capacity Source water adequacy

Infrastructure adequacy

Technical knowledge and ability to implement it

Water System Capacity

Managerial Capacity Ownership accountability

Staffing and organization

Effective external linkages

Financial Capacity Revenue sufficiency

Credit worthiness

Fiscal management and controls

Peer Review Program

Designed to strengthen the operations of Mississippi’s water systems and increase Capacity Ratings.

Designed to assist:– Operators– Bookkeepers/Clerks/Secretaries– Board Members

A Peer Review is an evaluation of the water system conducted by other operators.

1 2

3 4

56

87

9

Peer Review Regions

Technical

Managerial

Financial

Peer Review

Technical

Managerial

Financial

Peer Review

Technical

Managerial

Financial

Peer Review

Water System Initial Capacity Rating

Capacity Rating following Peer

Review

Capacity Rating Increase

1 2.3 3.3 1.02 1.7 3.0 1.33 2.0 3.0 1.04 1.0 3.0 2.05 3.0 3.0 0.06 2.3 3.0 0.77 2.0 2.3 0.38 1.0 2.0 1.09 2.7 4.0 1.3

10 2.7 4.3 1.611 2.7 4.0 1.312 3.0 4.7 1.713 2.7 3.0 0.314 2.7 3.3 0.615 1.5 4.0 2.516 2.7 2.7 0.017 3.0 4.0 1.018 2.3 3.0 0.719 2.0 3.3 1.320 2.0 2.0 0.021 2.5 4.5 2.022 1.7 1.7 0.023 3.3 3.3 0.0

AVERAGE 2.3 3.2 0.9

Peer Review Results

Current Developments and Studies

“Managing Difficult Customers” Video.

Improving Financial and Managerial Capacity of Water Systems Study.

WIN Program.

Questions ?