ASDWA 2021 Virtual Member Meeting Continues

This week, ASDWA held the first three sessions of the Annual ASDWA Member Meeting. The opening session featured Radhika Fox, EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water, who spoke about the important State-EPA relationship, covered priorities for this Administration, and provided updates on the highly anticipated Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. The session also included addresses from Alan Roberson, ASDWA Executive Director, and Cathy Tucker-Vogel of Kansas, ASDWA President. The opening session was followed by presentations from Utah and Oklahoma on pandemic work from home adaptions and breakout sessions covering topics like remote sanitary surveys, overcoming barriers to electronic plan reviews, and managing workforce while remote – onboarding and retention.

Day two took a deep dive into program metrics for utilities, state water programs, and EPA oversight. States used the breakout groups to reflect on existing metrics used by states and EPA and discussed how future metrics could be more meaningful in measuring program success.

Day three focused on SDWIS and data management with EPA providing an update on SDWIS modernization. The session also provided states and EPA the opportunity to discuss LCRR support in SDWIS State. ASDWA also hosted social sessions in the evening for ASDWA members to chat and interact informally.

Next week’s sessions include PFAS – Updates, Resources, and State Perspectives, and the State-Only and State/EPA-Only Roundtables.