Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (SERCAP)

347 Campbell Ave. SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 - 540-345-1184 - www.sercap.org



SERCAP Waterways

January 17, 2025

SERCAP Assists Stone's Throw, North Carolina with Identifying Aging Infrastructure in Wastewater Plant

Tony Dvorak, SERCAP North Carolina Technical Assistance Provider, assists communities primarily in western North Carolina with compliance issues.

Dvorak toured the Stone's Throw wastewater plant and found that it suffered from aging infrastructure and maintenance issues, which are common problems in North Carolina. During the inspection, they identified rust and corrosion, leading to compliance issues and violations. Tony also uncovered additional problems with the tanks. Ultimately, the plant will need to be replaced.

Stone's Throw has a Homeowners Association (HOA) responsible for making decisions and agreeing on procedures and the condition of the infrastructure. The plant is operated primarily by one person, demonstrating the need for more assistance in operation and the difficulty in resolving maintenance and operating conditions.

SERCAP will assist in meetings and outreach to the Homeowners Association to continue collaborating to find solutions for the community's needs.

SERCAP’s assistance is extremely valuable to this community and other small communities. As these communities are being served by SERCAP, new training, consultations, and guidance will continue to help improve conditions for the future.

SERCAP State Basket Raffle Tickets On Sale Now!

Raffle tickets for SERCAP's popular state-themed raffle baskets are now for sale online and through SERCAP board of directors and staff members!

Each SERCAP state office created a specially themed basket for the raffle. This week we are featuring the Delaware basket!

Do you have a sweet tooth? Then the Delaware basket is for you! This basket offers many delicious delights, including Margaritaville non-alcoholic margarita mix with two decorated margarita glasses, Brown & Haley Cashew Roca, Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Cocoa, Lindt Lindor Milk Truffles, Walkers Pure Butter Shortbread, St. Germain Palmiers Pastry, Tom Clark Brown Butter Kettle Corn, Gateau Celeste Chocolate Sauce Souffle Cake, Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Square with Caramel Filling, Hamilton House Tartlets with Chocolate Flavored Filling, Liddy's Confections Cocoa Coated Wafer, The Midtown Room Cut Glass Decanter and Stopper Infusion Bottle Strawberry Daiquiri Mix. 

Winning tickets will be drawn at the Water Is Life Celebratory Banquet at the Hotel Roanoke on April 10, 2025. You do not need to be present to win! Raffle baskets will be delivered to winners who are not attending the banquet in person.

Please click here to purchase raffle tickets today!

Thank you!

SERCAP Provides Private Well Testing in Millsboro, Delaware

By: Josh Millner, SERCAP Delaware

The SERCAP Delaware office is embarking on a private well testing project in one Millsboro community as a result of a call for help from the legislative representative for the area.

Residents in the area believe that there are water quality issues that may be contributory factors to poor health being experienced by some in the community. In order to characterize the water quality, and determine whether or not it is implicated in poor health outcomes, SERCAP will collaborate with the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) to collect water samples from the homes and ship them to the Delaware Public Health Laboratory for testing.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) has funding in place for the purchase of treatment systems to remove contaminants identified, and SERCAP will assist residents with the completion of funding applications. Additionally, the SERCAP Delaware office will assist DHSS with its Healthy Homes Initiative by distributing radon kits to homes where the water sampling will be conducted.

Webinar: Lessons Learned - Decisions Needed from Community Leaders during your Decentralized Wastewater Project



Date: January 21, 2025

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST

Decentralized wastewater projects are challenging on many fronts. The technical challenges are a given, and probably a large part of why a community has not addressed the problem. When a community decides to begin planning for a solution, environmental and engineering consultants advise them with the technical aspects, and may seek help from an independent project manager or volunteer "task force" to assist with administering the project. However, the "owner" of the project will still have many decisions to make along the way.

This webinar will review the types of decisions that community leaders will be required to make (and when), even with professional advisors helping along the way. The presenter will share experiences with how engaged leaders can help to build support for the project, address uncertainty, deal with misinformation and possible organized opposition, and keep positive momentum throughout. This webinar is funded under RCAP's EPA Treatment Works 4, 23 - 26 grant.

Our presenter will be John Kiernan, Vermont State Manager, Community & Environmental Resources, RCAP Solutions

Click here to register.

Webinar: Asset Inventories and Capital Planning for Small Wastewater Systems

Date: February 11, 2025

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST

This webinar will provide guidance for wastewater operators, managers, and decision-makers on asset inventory and capital planning that enhance your ability to plan for future infrastructure needs while minimizing risk and optimizing financial resources. Participants will learn how to identify, document, and assess critical infrastructure assets, and prioritize them for future repair or replacement. The course will cover best practices in developing comprehensive asset management plans and creating a capital improvement strategy to ensure long-term sustainability. This webinar is funded under RCAP's EPA TW-1 23 - 26 grant.

Our presenter will be Ty Leydig, Regional Field Manager, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC).

Click here to register.

Webinar: Principles of Ratemaking for Water Systems

Date: February 13, 2025

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST

Appropriate water rates are one of the important factors that water systems need in order to operate systems efficiently. This training is designed to help technical assistance providers understand what factors contribute to determining proper rates for a water system. It will entail looking at water system revenues, current and future expenses, assets, and how they determine what rates a water system should be charging. This webinar is funded under RCAP's EPA EFC 23 - 25 grant.

Our presenter will be David Foster, Senior Rural Development Specialist, Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP).

Click here to register.

SERCAP is providing free math tutoring for individuals interested in becoming Water Operators. If you are interested, please contact Joey Hiner at jhiner@sercap.org.

SERCAP Mission Statement

To improve the quality of life for low-income individuals by promoting affordable water

and wastewater facilities, community development, environmental health, and

economic self-sufficiency.