As previously reported, each year Community Water Systems across the Commonwealth of Virginia are required to complete and distribute a Water Quality Report, or Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which provides utility customers with information about their drinking water. The federally mandated reports contain information, including: 1) the source of the utility’s water, and the type of treatment it receives, if any, 2) the results of all required chemical analysis, including lead and copper results, and an explanation of them, including their probable sources and potential health effects, if any, 3) violations, if any, of state or federal waterworks regulations, and what has been done to address them, 4) a cross-connection control survey, 5) information on water conservation and source water protection, and 6) contact information for the system owner/operator.
In 2018, SERCAP assisted just under 50 community systems with these reports, nearly doubling the agency’s output from 2017. This year, 2019, SERCAP has once again increased its output by assisting 57 small water systems throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia to prepare their Annual Water Quality Reports. Most of these small water systems do not have the capacity to prepare the reports, and must rely on engineering firms or technical assistance providers to prepare the reports for them. SERCAP’s assistance enables these utilities to maintain compliance with state and federal regulations. While engaged in the preparation of these reports for several communities, a number of additional challenges came to light, providing SERCAP with even more opportunities to support these communities and their water systems. As a result, SERCAP is planning to provide Technical Assistance (TA) to trouble shoot obstacles, and give guidance on possible solutions, further supporting these small, rural communities.
Without SERCAP’s Technical Assistance (TA) and other similar programs and services, many communities, low-income individuals, and families would be forced to go without such necessities as water and wastewater infrastructure solutions, community infrastructure needs, indoor plumbing, properly functioning wells and septic systems, safe and affordable housing, and more. It is important to remember that even in the United States in the 21st Century; there are those who do not have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water, environmentally sound septic facilities, and affordable housing. In order to help SERCAP continue to provide assistance to both the individuals and communities in need, please consider making a donation to SERCAP’s Water Life! Fund!
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*Funding for SERCAP’s Regional Department is made possible by the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Community Services’ (OCS) Grant, USDA RD’s Technitrain Program, the Drinking Water Compliance Grant through the EPA, and the EPA Private Well Grant. Additionally, all of SERCAP’s programs in Virginia, are leveraged by a Budget Appropriation from the Virginia General Assembly, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD).