A minimum of six to seven years is typically needed to develop a new water supply from conception to delivery of water to consumers. If you can’t afford to wait, what do you do? The use of varied and diverse water sources can make the difference between meeting consumer demands and falling short. Utilities should consider diversifying their water supplies. This course focuses on three options: surface water supplies, water reuse, and aquifer storage and recovery.
0.2 CEUs*/2 PDHs/2 Hours
Determining rates, even in a healthy economic climate is challenging, and industry professionals need to stay current on rate-setting practices, tips and techniques to stay ahead of the curve. Experts in rate-setting teach students about the key technical and political issues associated with establishing rates in the current environment.
0.2 CEUs*/2 PDHs/ Hours
Water treatment plants and most other sources are of the highest quality, but often water quality deteriorates as it is distributed to customers. Optimizing all aspects of storage and delivery can enhance the quality of water and improve customer satisfaction. In some cases these steps reduce the chance of contamination and thus, improve public health protection. This course reviews the many opportunities to optimize distribution system operation and maintenance procedures. Topics discussed will cover: reducing water age to achieve water quality improvement, water quality risks associated with repairs and replacement activities, and mitigating practices based on risk tiers.
Simple steps can be taken early to improve and maintain overall distribution system quality while minimizing staff time and effort. This course presents important distribution system issues such as: proper pipeline installation planning, a sound fire hydrant maintenance program, including tank cleaning and valve inspections, and a strategic flushing program to alleviate future problems.
Hydraulic models are now used by utilities to enhance system understanding and to efficiently operate by integrating information from many sources. Hydraulic modelers are now able to include data from a variety of sources to provide system operators with powerful analysis tools. This webcast illustrates how GIS, AMR, and SCADA systems can enhance the value of hydraulic models.
This course provides an introduction to water distribution system operations by detailing the types of piping, valves, and fire hydrants commonly used in water systems. It is suitable for entry-level operators.
0.3 CEUs*/3 PDHs/3 Hours
Water utilities worldwide are installing automated meter reading (AMR) systems to fund infrastructure improvements, decrease water loss, and reduce operations and maintenance costs. In this course, three water utilities present case studies outlining how the utilities have benefited from advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and the options available to utilities.
The primary purpose of a public water system is to supply water directly to the residents of a community. An individual’s water service pipeline is connected between the water main and the plumbing in each residence or building. The quantity of water used by each water service is usually metered so that each property owner is equitably charged for water used. Because most of a water distribution system is buried, it is essential that detailed records be kept of all installations, maintenance, and improvements.
0.3 CEUs*/3 PDHs/3Hours
Water bills can be difficult for consumers to understand, and may prompt customer complaints and angry calls to your utility’s customer service department. Register for this course to get tips from the experts on dealing with unhappy or irate customers. This course provides communication strategies to help customers reduce their water bills through improving utility-customer communications, leading to a greater understanding of water rates in your community.
0.2 CEUs*/2PDHs/2 Hours
State and regional regulatory agencies have begun requiring the use of AWWA’s methodology for water loss accounting introduced in the report “Applying Worldwide Best Management Practices in Water Loss Control.” The report identifies water loss as a serious problem in North America. This course gives an overview of current North American water loss accounting, provides updates on regulatory agency issues, describes accounting procedures and software, and introduces industry manuals for evaluating and controlling water losses.