SmallWaterSupply.org Loves: USEPA's Energy Use Assessment Tool 

These days we're hearing a lot about the intersection of water issues and energy issues. It is no doubt the challenges are intertwined, especially for small communities. 

The US Environmental Protection Agency has developed a Microsoft Excel-based tool that helps small-to-medium water and wastewater systems conduct a utility bill and equipment analysis to determine their individual baseline energy use and costs.

This type of simple assessment is the first step a system should take before conducting a full-scale energy audit. Looking at your energy usage is one way to reduce operational costs and improve the financial sustainability of the system.

Before you get started using the tool (or attending the training below), you might want to check out this handout on Understanding Your Electric Bill. 

Learn How to Use the Tool
Join USEPA for an instructional webinar on Thursday, May 31 at 1:30pm Eastern. Find out how your system can become more energy efficient by using this simple tool. 

At SmallWaterSupply.org we have a strong appreciation for resources that are truly helpful, especially the ones that break it down and make your job a little easier. This chart from HDR is not brand new, but it might be new to you. Below is just one of the two huge pages with great tips for operators. 

With this chart, you can learn how to perform water loss account, how to prevent contamination and how to calculate just about everything. It is the perfect go-to reference to hang in the office at your water system.  

If you don't have an easy way to print it out, you can even order a poster directly from HDR.

Since we first pitched the idea of a website for small system operators more than five years ago, we've been met with some resistance and sketicism. What is the value in a website like ours? Would operators even use it?

We've known from the start that we're early adopters. We were among the first to use and promote interactive Internet technologies for communication, training and technical assistance for small water and wastewater systems. Our philosophy has been pretty simple: SmallWaterSupply.org will be here when you're ready.

From those nearing retirement to the super-connected younger generations, we're seeing SmallWaterSupply.org serving and supporting operators. Nearly every monthly we receive visitors from all 50 states, DC and Guam.

We're working with Idaho's drinking water program to be the hub for listing their training courses, helping to streamline state government. We assisted a small system in successfully convincing a landowner to implement source water water protection measures, using downloadable materials sourced from across the country. 

SmallWaterSupply.org was designed specifically to complement all of the wonderful activities of federal, state and local entities. Without everyone else, we're nothing!

We're excited, nearly three years after our initial launch, to see even more of our friends and colleagues online. ASDWA and Kentucky DEP are blogging. Utilities are tweeting. Map, Inc is using webinars for remote assistance. The best part? We're all early adopters - the best is yet to come! 

Today we had a SmallWaterSupply.org reader call us up with a specific request. He was looking for information on the potential consequences of grazing and stabling livestock, in this case horses, too close to a well. 

We found a USEPA document on protecting drinking water from horse waste as well as several more general resources he could use to educate the livestock owner and other community members on this topic. 

• A poster on how farms can protect drinking water sources
• A video on the basics of groundwater 
• A factsheet on groundwater misconceptions
• An article on how water supplies become polluted
• 5 video PSAs on source water protection
• A 15 minute video on source water protection (part 1 | part 2)
• A 9 minute video on source water protection and understanding sources
• An 8 page "Good Neighbor Guidelines" for Livestock Management

 Do you know of other resources on livestock and source water protection?