Programs

First a little bit about LRWA: We are governed by a membership-elected board of directors. We are a non-profit organization established in 1978 to aid small water and wastewater systems through training and on-site technical assistance. Our assistance is geared toward the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems and to aid them in understanding the rules and regulations of said operation. For years, Louisiana Rural Water Association has been the driving force, providing water and wastewater training and technical assistance to the small towns and rural areas in all 64 Louisiana Parishes.

Louisiana Rural Water Association promotes water conservation and protection through public awareness campaigns. We produce and mail over 30,000 information pieces each year to keep industry and government leaders up-to-date on issues important to the rural water and wastewater industries, thus aiding in the development of effective regulations. LRWA operates what the Environmental Protection Agency officials call "the most successful ground water protection program in the country."

In short, Louisiana Rural Water Association has a documented record of accomplishment at providing the highest quality training, technical assistance and informational products and services necessary for promoting public health and environmental protection.

Louisiana Rural Water Association offers many programs throughout the state of Louisiana.

RURAL WATER ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM	FUNDED BY THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT. Louisiana Rural Water Association offers specialized training and technical assistance to small water and/or wastewater systems with three (3) field technicians in the State of Louisiana. The program is designed to reduce energy consumption and increase the efficiency of operation with emphasis on the following: Leak Detection Infiltration Survey (Smoke Test) Source Metering Program Consumer Metering Program Sewer Video Camera Rate Structures Leak Correlation Equipment Training
WATER CIRCUIT RIDER PROGRAM	FUNDED BY NATIONAL RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION THROUGH RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE. Louisiana Rural Water Association has three (3) Water Circuit Riders covering the state providing technical assistance to water system personnel on the daily operations of their system. These services include on-site visits and information on Safe Drinking Water Act rules and regulations, water quality analysis, disinfections and chemical feed, treatment processes, distribution maintenance, line and valve locations, pump and motor maintenance and rate structures.
WASTEWATER TECHNICIAN PROGRAM	FUNDED BY NATIONAL RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION THROUGH RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE. Louisiana Rural Water Association provides on-site technical assistance throughout the State of Louisiana with three (3) wastewater technicians. Technical assistance provided includes treatment plant operations, maintenance, finance, management, regulatory requirements (EPA and DEQ permits), health concerns and operator certifications. The wastewater technician can also offer assistance for systems that will be constructing new treatment plants. One of the wastewater technicians provides training sessions throughout the State of Louisiana on a small scale. This small scale enables him to have more of a one-on-one with the operators, managers, etc.
EPA PROGRAM SPECIALIST PROGRAM	FUNDED BY NATIONAL RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. Louisiana Rural Water Association has one Program Specialist covering the state. This program provides technical assistance to systems throughout the state with a population under 10,000. The program also provides training sessions across the state to keep systems updated on Safe Drinking Water Act rules and regulations. The training hours received is used to comply with state re-certification requirements.
WELLHEAD/ GROUNDWATER PROTECTION PROGRAM	FUNDED BY NATIONAL RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. Through this program, LRWA provides on-site technical assistance and training to small communities and rural water systems in the development of their Wellhead Protection Plan. This program is done throughout the State of Louisiana with one (1) Groundwater Technician. The objectives of this plan are to identify areas that need protection, plot potential sources of contamination, and develop a plan of procedures to respond to a crisis should one arise.
LOUISIANA COMPLIANCE INITIATIVE PROGRAM	FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HOSPITALS. Louisiana Rural Water Association has in place the Louisiana Compliance Initiative (LCI) Program that employs one (1) technician covering the State of Louisiana. LRWA has offered the program since August 1992, to assist very small water systems in returning to compliance with EPA and DHH Regulations. This assistance is provided through in-field technical assistance visits and periodic one (1) day training sessions taught in conjunction with DHH Enforcement Officials. This program concentrates on the very small water systems (restaurants, mobile home parks, RV parks, industries, country stores, etc.). This program also offers assistance to larger public water systems that have received Administrative Orders from DHH. The LCI program is designed to help the system operator return to compliance through operator initiative rather than by continued enforcement action from Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health and Hospitals.
SRF SMALL SYSTEM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM	FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HOSPITALS. Louisiana Rural Water Association has in place a SRF Small System Technical Assistance Program that employs one (1) circuit rider to cover the State of Louisiana. LRWA has offered the program since May 1999, to assist very small water systems in returning to compliance with EPA and DHH Regulations. This assistance is provided through in-field technical assistance visits and periodic one (1) day training sessions taught in conjunction with DHH. This program concentrates on the very small water systems (restaurants, mobile home parks, RV parks, industries, country stores, etc.).
VERY SMALL WATER SYSTEM PROGRAM	FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HOSPITALS. Louisiana Rural Water Association offers the Very Small Water System (VSWS) Training Program to all water and wastewater systems throughout the State of Louisiana. LRWA provides three (3), two (2) day training sessions located throughout the State of Louisiana annually. The VSWS Program targets the small systems (systems under 500 population: mobile home parks, subdivisions, etc.). The training is done by the LRWA staff in conjunction with DHH and other sources available through LRWA.
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM	Funded by National Rural Water Association, LRWA has two Source Water Protection Programs, one through the Environmental Protection Agency and another through the USDA Rural Development. The goal of these programs are to assist rural and small communities served by public water systems to reduce or eliminate the potential risks to drinking water supplies through the development of Source Water Protection Plans and provide assistance to entities for the implementation of contamination prevention measures using one technician per program to cover the state.
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT MANDATORY MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS	FUNDED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HOSPITALS: This training program is designed for responsible parties (decision-makers) of public water systems that are not trained in proper management of a public water system and are not familiar with rules and regulations governing such systems; but yet are the ones with the authority to affect the day-to-day operations of the system. LRWA in conjunction with DHH will provide the adequate training for these responsible parties. The requirement for this Capacity Development project is to ensure that the public water systems obtain and maintain appropriate managerial capabilities to sustain themselves over the long-term and have the ability to comply with all applicable rules and regulations, which in turn furthers the health protection objectives of SDWA. One way to provide this particular aspect of capacity development is by requiring and providing management training to the responsible parties of the public water system who are the decision-makers (management).
RURAL WATER BOARD DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING	This training will focus specifically on providing training to governing officials and utility managers of small rural water and wastewater systems. This training will emphasize topics that will enhance knowledge of basic governing skills and responsibilities. This training will also offer guidance in specific areas such as setting goals and policies, hiring and managing managers, ensuring adequate financing and accountability and board self-evaluation. It will also work with board members and upper management in expanding their system's financial, managerial and technical capacity through the use of self-assessment. Training in areas of budgeting, policy-making, customer relations, and board member's legal obligations will assist each system with their capacity development process.

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