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Assistance Programs |
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Association Products |
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On-site Technical Assistance |
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Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool |
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Training |
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Public Relations & Awareness Tools |
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Source Water Protection |
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Safety Program Material |
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Regulatory & Legislative Advocacy |
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Training Materials |
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Association Services |
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Membership Benefits |
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News & Information Service |
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Association Membership |
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Monthly Newsletter |
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Membership Discounts |
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Quarterly Magazine |
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Association Training |
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Consumer Confidence Reports |
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Lending Library |
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Financial Impact Analysis |
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Equipment for Loan |
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Professional Services |
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News & Information Service: |
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Security Evaluations |
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Monthly Newsletter: |
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Capacity Development Assessment |
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Quarterly Magazine |
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Lending Library |
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Equipment for Loan |
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Assistance Programs
On-site Technical Assistance: Certified water and wastewater professionals provide technical assistance for ASUA. On-site technical assistance may include, but not limited to, development of operational and equipment preventive maintenance plans, identification of operational deficiencies, corrective maintenance plans, system enhancement project planning and financing and water quality sampling for analysis. ASUA work plans provide for flexibility to allow technical assistance professionals to assess surfacing needs with a requirement for immediate attention. This program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On-site technical assistance is provided at no cost to small municipal, rural and tribal water and wastewater systems in Arizona.
Training: Competent professionals plan, organize, facilitate, and deliver training. These certified water and wastewater individuals organize a group of the most qualified trainers having expertise and knowledge of the water and wastewater industry. In partnership with state agencies, system operators and managers and other applicable parties, ASUA develops and implements training plans. These plans have the flexibility to focus on critical training needs. This program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. EPA. Training sessions prepared for this program are provided at no cost to small municipal, rural and tribal water and wastewater in Arizona.
Source Water Protection: 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act established the Wellhead Protection Program (WHP). ASUA professionals work with water systems to develop WHPs. The program is five-step processes involving local planning, identifying protection areas, inventory potential sources for contamination, develop appropriate management strategies and provide for ongoing protection. The implementation of WHPs is voluntary in Arizona, however, incentives make it an appealing program. Protection of good quality drinking water and monitoring relief incentives are generally enough to encourage most systems to develop WHPs. Protection against contamination is a much less expensive alternative to treating contaminated water or locating and developing alternative drinking water sources. This program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. EPA. Wellhead Protection Plans can be created with the help from ASUA at no cost to small municipal, rural and tribal water and wastewater systems.
Regulatory & Legislative Advocacy: With the help of member systems, ASUA will develop positions on legislative and rule making activities. Legislative representatives will work with Congress, the State Legislature and state departments to communicate positions. Small municipal and rural systems all over the State of Arizona can benefit from the Association's participation in this activity. Frequent updates are provided to their members by fax, monthly newsletter and the Association web site.
Association Services
News & Information Service: Association members that provide their fax and email addresses have the opportunity to receive the timeliest information affecting utility governance, management and operations. This service also affords members the opportunity to participate in legislative and rule development activities.
Monthly Newsletter: The Association publishes a newsletter eight times a year called the Connections included with the cost of membership. The focus of the newsletter is to provide Association membership with the most recent legislation and rule making developments. Utilities can also find discussions on the latest developments impacting water and wastewater operations.
Quarterly Magazine: The Association publishes a magazine four times a year called the Last Drop included with the cost of membership. In each issue the president of the Association will include a timely leadership message. Association staff also contributes articles that focus on the activities of the Association giving utilities an opportunity to learn from others experiences. Writers will also include information on the latest methods, technologies, product and services available to assist utility operations and management.
Consumer Confidence Reports: The Safe Drinking Water Act requires water systems to provide an annual publication that provides information about the utility's drinking water source and quality. The Association's talented office personnel are available to help water systems prepare and publish their annual Consumer Confidence Reports. ASUA has experience in preparing the reports for systems and tailoring them to meet specific desires and needs. Water systems that have taken advantage of this opportunity have found this fee-based service to be very competitive.
Financial Impact Analysis: The Association and its partners provide fee-based services to assist utilities to prepare financial forecasts for system management, system valuations, capital planning, economic impact analysis, cost of service & rate studies, and bond feasibility studies. In these utility assignments we seek to ensure the development of user fee structures that enable the utility to meet its current and future operating expenses. The service can include analysis of cost data patterns of usage for the entire system and for specified customer classes. The association and its partners are uniquely qualifies to assist in the creation and management of special water & wastewater taxing, and utility districts.
Professional Services: These fee-based services were developed to assist in utility management, administrations and operations. The Association has assembled a professional, knowledgeable work force with people who actually have the experience of dealing with the management, operations and maintenance of small municipal, rural and tribal utilities. Much of the Association's work force has come from rural and small system operations. They know first hand the problems that continually burden the majority of these systems throughout the state. Because of their daily contact in solving problems they are able to transfer this knowledge more efficiently by "real world" experiences and communication.
Security Evaluations: Water systems are critical to every community. Protection of public drinking water systems should be a high priority for local officials, utility owners and operators to ensure uninterrupted service, which is essential for the quality of life in the community. In 2002, congress enacted the PUBLIC HEALTH SECURITY AND BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE ACT. This Act requires community water systems serving populations greater than 3,300 and fewer than 50,000 to complete a Vulnerability Assessment no later than June 30, 2004. The Association employs competent professionals with the training and knowledge necessary to perform security assessments. This fee-based program will provide water & wastewater utilities with the information they need to complete to satisfy the federal requirement and deliver recommendations needed to improve emergency management programs that include system security.
Capacity Development Assessment: Trained and experience Association field representatives will assist boards, managers and operators in assessing a system's capacity for providing service. ASUA uses a capacity development tool that was prepared by individuals across the country and has received comment from regulatory agencies in its ability to accurately assess technical, financial and managerial capacity.
Lending Library: In the Association office, there are columns of literature that can be borrowed by membership at no cost. There are many titles to choose from. Members can access operator-training manuals prepared by the California State University. AWWA Standards to assist members in establishing specification for materials to be used in water systems. State Statutes and the Arizona Administrative Code are available. Once could even read from some of the top selling self-improvements or leadership materials that feature such individuals as Stephen R. Covey. For a more detailed list of what is available contact ASUA Office at 1-800-895-0426.
Equipment for Loan: The Association has a growing inventory of equipment that is available to members at no cost. We all face times when it is necessary to locate leaks. However, because leaks seldom occur, it is not always practical to purchase a leak detector. Take advantage of the equipment in inventory at the Association office. The inventory ranges from sonic leak detectors to video equipment. Call the office at 1-800-895-0426 to see what is available.
Association Products
Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool: This security self-assessment guide is designed to help water systems determine vulnerable components and identify security measures that should be considered in order to protect the drinking water system and the customer it serves. In 2002, congress enacted the PUBLIC HEALTH SECURITY AND BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE ACT. This Act requires community water systems serving populations greater than 3,300 but fewer than 50,000 to complete a Vulnerability Assessment and deliver the assessment to the Administrator of the U.S. EPA no later than June 30, 2004. The self-assessment questionnaires a simple design. Answers to the assessment questions are "yes" or "no". Space is provided on the questionnaire to identify needed actions to improve security. For "no" answers, you can refer to the comment column for suggested security improvement measures. This tool is available at no cost to water and wastewater systems.
Public Relations & Awareness Tools: During the reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act, many special interest groups were involved in water quality campaigns. It became obvious that water systems needed to improve their customer awareness programs. Quality on Tap materials have been created to assist water systems in their marketing and public relations efforts. The QOT logo appears on cups, water bottles, pencils, stencils, shirts, and much more. Members can purchase items that have been prepared promoting water quality with the Association logo. Members may also with to take advantage of having their own name and logo imprinted on water quality awareness materials.
Safety Program Material: According to the National Safety Council, many serious accidents occur each year in the transportation and public utilities industry. A variety of safety manuals, training tapes and posters are available to utilities through the Association. WRWA and Advance Safety Technology have teamed up to Rural Water Safety Products that included videos, emergency plan templates and tail gate safety meeting topics.
Training Materials: The Association has developed training materials to be used as one prepares for certification examinations. There are a variety of training manuals that will assist utility personnel in learning in learning theories, concepts, and methods of system operation. Most of these materials are available by participating in the Association's training seminars but can be obtained from the Association office for a modest fee plus shipping.
Membership Benefits
Association Membership: Perhaps the greatest benefit of membership is being associated with peers that have a common interest. Through membership, opportunities are available during the course of a year for board members, managers, operators, and administrative personnel to come together to discuss related issues. During these times we can learn from others experiences and on occasion share resources to accomplish a common goal.
An additional benefit of membership is being affiliated with the largest water utility organization in the country. ASUA is a member of the National Rural Water Association whose utility membership exceeds 23,000. As a state affiliate, ASUA has access to all of the resources available to water utilities including their legislative office in Washington D.C. ASUA also works in partnership with other state rural water affiliates to develop the best available products and services.
Membership Discounts: It is true that many of the Association's programs and products are available to utilities at no cost. Membership fees collected supplement the grants to insure the Association has the capacity to provide the excellent service that water and wastewater system personnel have come to expect. Some of the products offered by the Association are developed through the assistance of membership fees. Membership fees also go to support the legislative and regulatory advocacy effort where no funds are received for this particular program. In addition, utility personnel can realize as much as 30% discount on conference registration, products, services, and for fee training.
Association Training: Can't get away? One of the unique benefits with the Arizona Small Utilities Association is that training is taken to you rather than having you go to the training. One of our secrets of success is that we are mobile to the point that utilities can request training topics specific for their needs and training sessions can be held on-site. On-site training saves the cost of travel, meals and lodging not to mention personnel can be close to home in the event of emergencies.
Lending Library: In the Association office, there are volumes of literature that can be borrowed by membership at no cost. There are many titles to choose from. Members can access operator-training manuals prepared by the California State University. AWWA Standards to assist members in establishing specifications for materials to be used in water systems. State Statutes and the Arizona Administrative Code are available. Once could even read from some of the top selling self-improvements or leadership materials that feature such individuals as Stephen R. Covey. For a more detailed list of what is available contact ASUA Office at 1-800-895-0426.
Equipment for Loan: The Association has a growing inventory of equipment that is available to members at no cost. We all face times when it is necessary to locate leaks. However, because leaks seldom occur, it is not always practical to purchase a leak detector. Take advantage of the equipment in inventory at the Association office. The inventory ranges from sonic leak detectors to video equipment. Call the office at 1-800-895-0426 to see what is available.
News & Information Service: Association members that provide their fax and email addresses have the opportunity to receive the timeliest information affecting utility governance, management and operations. This service also affords members the opportunity to participate in legislative and rule development activities.
Monthly Newsletter: The Association publishes a newsletter eight times a year called the Connections included with the cost of membership. The focus of the newsletter is to provide Association membership with the most recent legislation and rule making developments. Utilities can also find discussions on the latest developments impacting water and wastewater operations.
Quarterly Magazine: The Association publishes a magazine four times a year called the Last Drop included with the cost of membership. In each issue the president of the Association will include a timely leadership message. Association staff also contribute articles that focus on the activities of the Association giving utilities an opportunity to learn from others experiences. Writers will also include information on the latest methods, technologies, product and services available to assist utility operations and management.
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