--- JANUARY 2022 ---
Welcome to our first e-Newsletter of 2022! 

We send out one of these each month to keep you engaged and up to
date on the latest news in the Water and Wastewater industry. 
We'd like to thank all those who attended our 41st Annual Conference and Trade Show last month, we couldn't have
done it without you!
COMING SOON - We will be offering our conference sessions as On Demand
classes! The sessions are 90 minutes long and worth 1.5 TCHs each.
We are proud to present our 41st Annual Conference
award winners!
Maine's Best Tasting Drinking Water - Overall Winner
Kingfield Water District
Maine's Best Tasting Drinking Water -
Disinfected Division Winner
Boothbay Region Water District
Award for Outstanding
Water Operations
Livermore Falls Water District
The Andrews L. Tolman
Source Water Award
Boothbay Region Water District
(Not Pictured)

Award for Outstanding
Wastewater Operations
Dexter Utility District
(Not Pictured)

Award for Outstanding Very
Small Water System Operations
The Meadows at Fieldstone Landing
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
A General
Update

By Brad Sawyer
The Legislature is back in session and hitting the ground running! There have been numerous hearings in our committees and jurisdiction with more important bills to follow. Among the new bills of interest is L.D. 1911 which deals with PFAS in soils and compost. Please take a look at the bill (click here) and let Brad Sawyer know your questions or concerns. He can be reached at 207-737-9014 or [email protected].

If you are interested in serving on the Legislative Policy Committee, or want to chat about other legislation you’re interested in, please reach out to Brad.
--- MRWA INTERNAL ---
Our New Workforce
Development Training Series 

By Shaun Yeatts
Are you new to the water industry? Do you already have your license but want to advance your career? Does the thought of sitting in a classroom being talked at with hour-upon-hour of boring slides put you to sleep? Do you want more out of your training experience?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you are not alone.
Statistically, people remember: 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, 30% of what they see, 50% of what they see and hear, 70% of what they say and write, and 90% of what they do.

Maine Rural Water Association (MRWA) has been listening to your training reviews and is proud to announce its new Workforce Development Training Series (WDTS). 
The WDTS is sponsored by MRWA and USEPA and will be offered at no cost!

The WDTS is a progressive training opportunity that will allow students to build upon their knowledge as both Water Distribution and Water Treatment operators. The WDTS follows the ABC’s Need-to-Know Criteria in identifying the core competencies and essential job tasks for water system operators.

Over the course of six weeks, students will be provided with training resources and review activities and will participate one morning per week in instructor led, roundtable training sessions. Participation in the roundtable sessions may be in-person or remote.

Roundtable sessions will be led by industry professionals in order to provide the training support needed for each student. These student-focused sessions will depart from traditional “Exam Prep” courses by engaging active learning. Over the six-week period, each student will read, hear, apply, practice, review, and seek feedback on new concepts, knowledge, and skills. Following each roundtable discussion, students will receive hands-on study sessions to include Exam Preparation, Rules, Math, and Hydraulics. One-on-one tutoring is also available.

To register or learn more about the WDTS courses please visit MRWA’s training website, or contact Shaun Yeatts directly at 207-380-3623 or [email protected].
NEW STAFF AT MRWA

Tyler Pruett
Training Administrator
Tyler offers a diverse set of skills and experience to Maine Rural Water Association. He taught composition and communications at Kaplan University and served on the school’s Faculty Curriculum Committee for several terms.
He is also a published writer and has placed his creative writing in many journals, magazines, and small presses. He seeks to use his knowledge at every opportunity, and to help MRWA through training coordination and administrative work. In his spare time, Tyler enjoys swimming and spending time outdoors.
--- FROM THE COMMUNITY ---
New Head of USDA Rural Development in Maine;
A Friend to Rural Water

By Brad Sawyer
We are thrilled to share with you that Rural Development in Maine has a new leader. We have worked with Rhiannon Hampson for years to strengthen and highlight the Maine Water and Wastewater community and are excited to continue working with her, and her team, in this new capacity.

When reached for a quote USDA Rural Development State Director Rhiannon C. Hampson said, “I am looking forward to working with our longtime partner Maine Rural Water Association and alongside Maine communities to invest in critical water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades. Properly working utilities are at the forefront of maintaining a high quality of life in rural communities. These important upgrades provide reliable wastewater systems and safe, clean drinking water. They also help to mitigate climate change and protect our nearby waterways, preserving Maine’s pristine environment. The Maine Rural Development team and I understand the great need to assist aging and underperforming systems and we are standing by to help.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Congratulations Rhiannon!
Want to be featured in our monthly newsletter?

Whether it's a new update at your system, a new product from
your company, or simply an announcement you would like to share,
we would love to hear from you!

To be featured in our newsletter, reach out to our Marketing
Specialist, Amanda Brill via email at [email protected].