AWWA ACE92044

Small water systems are at a crossroads and visibility is poor. There are three paths. One road leads to reliable provision of water on a sustainable basis. The second road leads to disaster. And the third road leads to restructuring. This paper provides some travel advice and navigation aids based on a small system viability initiative being launched in Pennsylvania. First, the inherent difficulty of navigation is explored through an examination of the roots of the small system problem. Then, the Pennsylvania strategy to improve visibility is described. In addition to an overview of the problems small systems face, the author discusses acquiring data to assess the financial viability of small systems, screening small systems, requiring small systems to create a business plan, facilities plan, management plan, and financial plan. Pennsylvania's interagency viability initiative involves coordinated action by the state drinking water regulatory program, the state infrastructure financing authority, the state public utility commission, and the state water allocation program. Pennsylvania's viability initiative forces small systems to face tough questions about their ability to sustain SDWA compliance over the long term and to consider alternatives before committing to expensive investments in filtration.

Product Details

Published:

01/01/1992

ISBN(s):

0898676495

Number of Pages:

21

File Size:

1 file , 1000 KB