TEEX delivers Safe Drinking Water training and assistance across the nation

COLLEGE STATION – Small water systems in 41 states and three U.S. territories have benefited from TEEX training and expertise in drinking water and wastewater operations in the past year, thanks to a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. Nearly 2,500 water system personnel received no-cost training in how to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) as of Dec. 31, 2013.

The training and assistance is aimed at protecting public health and the environment and targets public water systems serving fewer than 10,000 people. The program also promotes sustainability of the water systems by providing training and tools to improve operations and management practices.

In the past year, TEEX instructors and experts in water and wastewater have offered training in all but nine states, from Alaska to Maine and Hawaii to Montana, and in American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The training and assistance is customized to the needs of a specific water system, with the state’s regulatory agency choosing from some 20 training topics that range from water distribution and safety to surface water production and the SDWA chemical contaminants rule. Classes are conducted by a team of 10 full-time TEEX employees and eight adjunct instructors.

The TEEX Water and Wastewater Program also reaches out to water systems across the nation through its “Ask the Experts” button on the website and with training videos.

Robert P. “Bob” Britts, P. E., recently commented on a Safe Drinking Water class held at Midlands Technical College: “I got a lot of up-to-date tricks of the trade from the class and the (training) manual….Having conducted two- or three-hour classes on SDWA and CWA for governing bodies like town councils for 10 years, you were challenged to present all this material in an eight-hour session….Thank you again for a job well done.”

About TEEX

The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, or TEEX, makes a difference by providing training, developing practical solutions and saving lives.
World renowned for its hands-on, customized training, TEEX offers a wide range of technical and skills training programs aimed at employed workers and those entering the labor force. TEEX provides training and technical assistance to people from all 50 states, five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia and 79 countries. TEEX is also the sponsoring agency for Texas Task Force 1.