NCIRWMP Water & Wastewater Service Provider Outreach & Support Program
REGIONAL NEED
The North Coast region has nearly 200 water supply and wastewater treatment service providers, many of which are impacted by inadequate, failing or non-existent infrastructure. Many of these facilities were built decades ago to serve much smaller communities. These providers are geographically isolated, serve economically disadvantaged communities, are under staffed and lack current technological advancements, making infrastructure improvements difficult to finance. The North Coast IRWMP is implementing a voluntary approach to address these challenges, contacting small, rural service providers and establishing regional working groups to identify unmet project needs, provide technical support, and create a framework for stakeholders to share resources, experience and information.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Water supply and wastewater service provider (WSWW) working groups are being established throughout the North Coast region and will provide a support framework for small providers to exchange information, pool resources such as qualified operators, specialized tools, equipment and technical consultants, target funding opportunities, identify infrastructure improvement projects, develop relevant training programs, establish standardized procedures for routine and occasional managerial responsibilities and act as a forum for regional coordination. The NCIRWMP welcomes participation from all of the region's water and wastewater service providers that serve small, economically disadvantaged communities. To connect with a regional working group near your district, please contact John Miller at the Humboldt County Economic Development & Natural Resources Department: (707) 268-3781 or jpmiller@co.humboldt.ca.us
TRAINING and WORKSHOPS
In partnership with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation and Cal Rural Water, the NCIRWMP will be offering the workshops for staff, board members and operators of North Coast water supply and wastewater treatment districts based on identified need.
Each workshop will include a discussion of upcoming State water bond funding; assistance in identifying projects; opportunities to discuss system needs and the sharing of resources with neighboring service providers; and computer workstations to facilitate upload projects into the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. Please note that all of the workshops are free and lunch is provided.
For more information and to register for these free workshops please visit: http://www.calruralwater.org/ under Training Schedule or http://www.rcac.org, under Trainings & Events, or call 707-268-3781 or send an email to jpmiller@co.humboldt.ca.us.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
The program will utilize peer evaluated sub-regional project assessments to identify and prioritize WSWW projects for potential funding through the NCIRWMP and other funding sources. Project development may include feasibility assessments, preliminary design, environmental review, and final designs for up to six projects.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
A funding catalog will be developed and disseminated identifying appropriate federal, state, and local funding opportunities for WSWW providers. Some of the program workshops and meetings will serve as funding fairs where funding proposal templates and training sessions will be made available. Selected WSWW providers will receive technical assistance preparing grant and loan applications for up to six applications.
STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES and TEMPLATES
The program will provide standardized technical, managerial, and financial procedure templates:
- Capital improvement program procedures and templates
- Rate setting procedures, templates, and timelines
For more information contact John Miller at the Humboldt County Economic Development & Natural Resources Department: (707) 268-3781 or jpmiller@co.humboldt.ca.us
