Water System Assistance
WVBPH uses capacity development to efficiently target the
technical, financial, and managerial needs of small systems and then
address those needs through assistance programs, helping systems
achieve and maintain compliance. Assistance may be provided through state agencies
(e.g., WVBPH, PSC, etc.) or professional or trade organizations (e.g., RWA, AWWA, etc.).
Since the overwhelming majority of all public water systems are
small, capacity development activities
will have their greatest effect on small systems,
particularly on those small water systems currently,
or in the future likely to be, out of compliance.
Examples of assistance to owners of water systems include:
- Assistance preparing plans and system budgets
identifying future technical and financial needs
- Operator and manager training
- Helping water systems determine the true
cost of providing safe water
- On site operational and managerial assistance
How did the concept of capacity development
arise?
Since the crafting the SDWA in the early 1970's, the US
Congress has recognized the unique challenges facing small drinking
water systems. The original 1974 Act, and the 1986 major amendments,
focused on developing and implementing a strong regulatory program based
on monitoring and treatment. The general sentiment was that, in the face
of a strong regulatory program, systems would make the changes necessary
to comply. The Act authorized training and technical assistance to help
systems and provided exemptions for systems with compelling
economic circumstances. These exemptions could be extended for very small
systems.
By the late 1980's and early 1990's, it was clear small systems
were having difficulty keeping up with the rapidly expanding
SDWA mandated regulations. There was also a growing recognition of a
significant need for basic infrastructure repair and replacement,
separate from any regulatory mandates. A few States began implementing
"viability" initiatives, seeking to promote small system compliance,
and address small systems problems by ensuring these systems had
the necessary underlying technical, managerial, and financial capabilities.
These programs showed great promise and the concept of "small system
viability" emerged as a major consideration in the early discussions about
SDWA reauthorization.
However, as the debate on SDWA reauthorization progressed it became
clear the term "viability" had at least two significant shortcomings.
First, it promoted an unproductive focus on classifying systems as
"viable" or "nonviable." Second, it implied a static endpoint. The debate
was really about finding a way to create a process for systems
to enhance their technical, managerial, and financial capacity to
ensure consistent compliance with the SDWA. Thus, the concept became known
as "Capacity Development." Capacity development implies a process,
not a static endpoint, and does not promote a focus on rigid
classification of systems as "having it" or "not having it."
How does capacity development fit together
with other elements of the Safe Drinking Water Act?
The 1996 SDWA Amendments became law on August 6, 1996. The Amendments create a new
focus on preventing contamination and noncompliance.
From a small systems perspective, the major components
are the West Virginia Drinking
Water Treatment Revolving Fund (DWTRF), capacity development, source water protection, operator
certification, consumer confidence, and variances and exemptions. These
provisions are closely interrelated. Capacity development, source water
protection, and operator certification are directly linked to the DWTRF. WVBPH uses
set aside funds from its DWTRF to develop and implement
programs addressing these three provisions. Capacity development and
operator certification are also tied to the DWTRF through withholding
requirements.
Capacity development alone weaves together all existing drinking water program activities into
a focused effort to help troubled, small systems. WVBPH has used DWTRF set aside funds to
prepare a West
Virginia Capacity Development Strategy. The strategy focuses on identification of water
systems (such as significant noncompliers or systems out of compliance or likely to be out of
compliance in the future) and developing programs to provide assistance to these systems.
What are the components of capacity development under the 1996
SDWA?
Capacity development under the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking
Water Act consists of the three major components outlined in the table below:
| Capacity Development and the 1996 Safe Drinking
Water Act |
| Section 1420(a) New Systems |
To avoid withholding of DWSRF monies, West Virginia was required to establish
a program to "ensure
that all new community water systems and nontransient, noncommunity
water systems commencing operations after October 1, 1999
demonstrate technical, managerial, and financial capacity with
respect to each national primary drinking water regulation in
effect, or likely to be in effect, on the date of commencement of
operations." |
|
Section 1420(c) State Capacity Development
Strategies |
To avoid withholding of DWTRF monies, West Virginia was required to develop and
implement a "strategy to assist public water systems in acquiring
and maintaining technical, managerial, and financial
capacity." |
|
Section 1452(a)(3) Assessment of Capacity |
WVBPH may not provide DWTRF loan assistance to:
- systems lacking the technical, managerial, and financial
capability to ensure compliance; or
- systems in significant noncompliance with any drinking
water standard or variance.
|
However, WVBPH may provide assistance if:
- the assistance will ensure
compliance; and
- the system has agreed to make the necessary
changes in operation to ensure it has the technical,
managerial, and financial capacity to comply over the long term.
|
For more information about the West Virginia Capacity Development Program
please contact the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health by calling 304-558-2981,
e-mailing CDP staff, or writing to:
Bureau For Public Health
Office of Environmental Health Services
Capacity Development Program
350 Capitol Street, Room 313
Charleston, WV 25301-3713
