Fulfilling the Mission
by David Mueller, KRWA President

While you may not have to face the challenges of space travel, solve the mystery of the monolith or overcome a psycho-computer named HAL like the characters in the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey," the staff and decision makers for water systems are facing ever increasing hurdles in succeeding at their mission. No longer is it sufficient to work toward the goal of "keeping the water flowing and rates cheap."

Today, we must satisfy customers and a government that demands more information, sets exceedingly high quality standards and places more restrictions on our processes.

Our mission as providers of drinking water and processors of wastewater has changed. It has become much more complicated. While technology has raced forward at a phenomenal rate, rules and regulations have become more complex. Yes, we continue to strive to provide the best quality and quantity of water possible at a reasonable rate. However, we must also be alert to use the most efficient technology, best financing option, competitive consultant fees, abide by all rules and regulations, and much, much more.

Doing what needs to be done

My experience with KRWA shows that your Association "does what needs to be done" to help systems. Maybe that's part of the reason the number of staff has doubled in the past five years. Even so, it seems there is more work that needs to be done now, than ever before!

The official mission of KRWA is to: "provide education opportunities and leadership to enhance the effectiveness of Kansas' water and wastewater utilities." There is a lot of responsibility packed into that statement. Your board and staff take it very seriously. Let's take a look at how that mission is changing.

Three T's: Training, TA and testing

Training and on-site technical assistance will continue to be the heart of your Association. Every year there are new staff and board/council members. Every year there are new requirements for utilities. Every year there is new technology to make processes faster, safer and more efficient. Every year KRWA's mission is to hold more sessions in more locations on more topics to keep you better informed.

The best learning experiences are on-site and hands-on. Technical assistance to water and wastewater systems will also continue to be one of the most valuable resources of KRWA. Water loss is revenue loss. KRWA's staff will help you learn leak detection methods in the field and in the office. Smoke testing is the most efficient way to locate infiltration into wastewater systems. Lagoon sludge measuring is another invaluable service available from your association.

Surface water treatment has always been a challenge. Increasing standards are making it even more difficult. KRWA has a technician armed with the experience and knowledge to help you face those problems and find solutions. Systems dependent on groundwater also can request specialized help with water rights in a program initiated by KRWA in 2000. A water rights review can get your paperwork in order, assuring that your system has the authority to meet future demands.

Useful information. The Kansas Lifeline continues to be a popular source of in-depth articles on issues that affect systems. A new addition this past year, the clarifier, is a compact, informative newsletter aimed at boards/councils that brings you the latest information quickly. For instant information, 24 hours a day, you can use the Internet to access krwa.net. KRWA's bulletin board -- the "Watering Hole" -- along with a new "Trading Post" are constantly accessible and highly visited. There's the added convenience of online registration for training. KRWA will always be known as "the" central clearinghouse on information and data concerning our state's water and wastewater utilities. Thanks to membership cooperation in completing surveys, data on virtually all aspects of operation are available to help in comparisons and in defending legislative positions. Curious as to rates, salaries or expenses in similar sized systems? Call, write or email KRWA for the information.

Advocating with decision-makers. Your Association is also a recognized and highly respected voice for water and wastewater utilities in Topeka and Washington, D.C. Staff are in daily contact with agencies and others working for "common sense" in rules and requirements. They distribute new information as soon as it is available.

Dollars and cents. As infrastructure continues to age and more stringent standards demand investment in new treatment facilities, competitive financing becomes increasingly vital. The Kansas Rural Water Finance Authority provides assistance in finding the right funding mechanism to get your system the "best deal" for financing improvements. The efforts by agencies to use a "One-Stop Shop" have made the financial alphabet soup more appetizing than ever before! Rate reviews are also available to keep your system on firm financial ground.

Mapping, on the horizon

It has long been recognized by KRWA that one of the greatest needs of many rural water districts and small towns is to have a good mapping system. Updating maps is often considered too expensive or time consuming and simply is not done. Then when the operator or original board/council member retires, no one knows where the lines or valves are located. KRWA is excited that the latest global positioning system hardware and software is now more accurate and affordable enough to be a real asset to systems.

With legislation pending that will require all public water and wastewater utilities to become members of a two-tiered Kansas One-Call, KRWA is concerned that a common platform be developed for mapping water and wastewater utilities. That platform is obviously the GPS format. Now that proven technology is available, your Association hopes to obtain the resources to help systems create and update maps.

This will not be an overnight project, but will be one that provides invaluable benefits when completed. The product will be consistent across the state and can be shared by agencies and planners alike. But first and foremost, it is one that will benefit your rural water district or city.

Technology and change

In an age when technology seems to pass us every six months, it is critical that we make the effort to adapt to the changes around us. But it is equally critical that we do not lose sight of the things around us that do NOT change. Paramount among those is the need for people to work with each other, big or small city, rural water districts, agencies, and customers. Computers and other technology produce information, not judgments. Technology can provide the tools to make decisions, but when it comes to fairness, courtesy and integrity -- these are characteristics that each of us, our systems, our companies, our agencies and your Association must seek. There is no free ride to success. Only through dedicated efforts can any of us fulfill the mission.

Please join me in attending the 2001 annual conference. This is THE opportunity to meet people from all aspects of the water and wastewater industry under one roof. See the new technology in the exhibit hall. Participate in the learning and fellowship. And do have some fun, too!

From March 2001 issue of The Kansas Lifeline © 2001 KRWA

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