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Newsletter #135 for November 6, 2014

WEF Hosts Webinar Addressing Ebola Concerns

Earlier this week WEF/WERF jointly sponsored a webcast addressing concerns that the Ebola virus poses on wastewater worker safety. Discussion topics included:

The webcast was also co-sponsored by APHA, AWWA, ACWA, AMWA, CASA, NACWA, NRWA, WaterISAC, and WateReuse.

Click here to view a recording of the webcast.

Vulnerability Self-Assessment Now Easier to Use

USEPA's water security program has updated their Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (VSAT) to make it easier to use.

"To assist small systems and new users in building an assessment, VSAT now includes a New Analysis Wizard with abbreviated lists and default assignments for common utility assets, countermeasures, and threats."

VSAT assists water and wastewater utilities of all sizes with determining vulnerabilities to both man-made and natural hazards and with evaluating potential improvements to enhance their security and resiliency.

Click here to learn more about and download the tool.

Reading Selections

Election 2014 Recap: Voters Mostly Say ‘Yes’ to Water Spending
Measures to spend public money for water infrastructure, pollution control, and environmental protection scored more victories than defeats Tuesday at the ballot box.

Working with Municipalities and Communities to Bring New Solutions to Old Problems
EPA team helped to break down bureaucratic silos and historic barriers to advance wastewater treatment plant project in Louisiana.

USDA Announces Funding to Improve Rural Water Systems Nationwide and Upgrade Water Infrastructure in Rural Alaska Villages
The projects funded will not only help ensure rural places have access to clean water, but will also create jobs and help communities retain and attract new businesses and families.

Spending on Wastewater Treatment for Fracking May Triple by 2020
U.S. hydraulic-fracturing companies may triple spending on water treatment and reuse over the next six years as drought in the West threatens supplies and regulators enact stricter waste measures.

For Rural Communities, It’s More than Just a Library
Libraries are increasingly important for rural communities. They have expanded their role from lending books to offering meeting spaces and providing high-speed internet connections, the latter often being difficult to obtain away from urban centers.

A Heart Risk in Drinking Water
Johns Hopkins researcher is studying linkages between arsenic in drinking water and heart disease in Native American populations.

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