@help4smallwater

Free online resources for water operators in small, rural communities. A service of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (@RCAPInc).

 Champaign-Urbana, IL
wateroperator.org
Joined November 2010
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With the advent of AI, cybersecurity is now more critical than ever at water utilities. To learn more about the intersection of utility cybersecurity & AI, join @WEForg’s “Building a Secure Foundation: Cybersecurity & Responsible AI for Water Utilities” webinar on November 5.
The logo of the Water Environment Federation.

ALT The logo of the Water Environment Federation.

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The session will bring together federal agencies, water security experts, & utility practitioners to examine the cybersecurity landscape utilities are navigating as systems become more digital. The discussion will center the question of how to adopt AI tools safely & responsibly.
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Come prepared with your perspective! Find out more and register with WEF here: wef.org/events/building-a-se… #Cybersecurity #UtilityCybersecurity #WaterUtility #WastewaterUtility #ArtificialIntelligence #AIAdoption

Building a Secure Foundation: Cybersecurity and Responsible AI for Water Utilities - Water Enviro...

As water utilities explore the potential of AI-enabled tools, cybersecurity is no longer a technical requirement but the foundation to any responsible AI

wef.org
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🚨 Registration for VirCon 2027 is open! We're excited to announce that the Virtual Operator Conference will return in 2027. Over three days — February 2-4, 2027 — participants can earn up to 12 CEU hours applicable to their drinking water operator license renewal.
Promotional graphic for the 2027 Virtual Operator Conference. Text reads: "WaterOperator.org presents the 2027 Virtual Operator Conference. February 2-4, 2027, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm CST."

ALT Promotional graphic for the 2027 Virtual Operator Conference. Text reads: "WaterOperator.org presents the 2027 Virtual Operator Conference. February 2-4, 2027, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm CST."

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We are currently seeking approval in all relevant operator certification jurisdictions and will provide updates on the event registration page and in this newsletter. Session topics will include water chemistry, asset management, PFAS, emergency response, and more.
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Each session is delivered by a technical assistance professional from @RCAPInc. Register ASAP to save your spot! Click this link to register on the GoToWebinar platform: event.gotowebinar.com/event/… #VirCon #DrinkingWater #WaterOperators #WaterTreatment #WaterTraining #RuralWater
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Hopefully, we have all spent Cybersecurity Month beefing up on our cybersecurity practices! If it’s still something you’re working on, you may want to make sure you’re family with @NRWA’s new Water Watch Center (WWC), which they launched in August!
Hands using a laptop and smartphone overlaid with gear icons—padlock, fingerprint, cloud, credit card and device symbols—representing cybersecurity, authentication, and secure online transactions.

ALT Hands using a laptop and smartphone overlaid with gear icons—padlock, fingerprint, cloud, credit card and device symbols—representing cybersecurity, authentication, and secure online transactions.

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The WWC is designed to help small water and wastewater utilities defend against cyberattacks by strengthening defenses, improving threat detection, and helping in response to security incidents.
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Read more about the WWC and other cybersecurity resources offered by NRWA at our blog: wateroperator.org/blog/nrwa-… #CybersecurityMonth #Cybersecurity #UtilitySecurity #WaterUtilities #WaterSecurity #WaterOperators

WaterOperator.org Blog | NRWA Launches the Water Watch Center to Strengthen Cybersecurity for Rural...

WaterOperator.org collects the best resources on the web for small system operators in one free, user-friendly location. More than 11,000 trainings are indexed annually!

wateroperator.org
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This week’s episode of Tap Talk ends the conversation we began last week with Dr. Andy Jacque, the founder & chief scientist at Water Quality Investigations! In Part 2, we cover more biofilm-related topics like lead & copper, oversized pipes, water hygiene, stagnation, & beyond.
The promotional graphic for Tap Talk episode #91, featuring a photo of guest Andrew Jacque; and a quote from Andrew: "Once the chlorine goes away, then we know the biofilm will come out and play. The chlorine or disinfectant is nothing more than a lion tamer, and it's keeping the biofilm in its cage. Once chlorine goes away, there's nothing there to repress it, and it'll come out and play.".

ALT The promotional graphic for Tap Talk episode #91, featuring a photo of guest Andrew Jacque; and a quote from Andrew: "Once the chlorine goes away, then we know the biofilm will come out and play. The chlorine or disinfectant is nothing more than a lion tamer, and it's keeping the biofilm in its cage. Once chlorine goes away, there's nothing there to repress it, and it'll come out and play.".

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Listen at the Tap Talk website, linked here, or find the show on audio platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Audible. Find the episode on our website here: drinkingwaterpodcast.org/tt0… #TapTalk #Biofilms #WaterQuality #WaterSystems #PrivateWells
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Don’t miss yesterday’s WaterOperator.org newsletter #445! In it, you can get updates about the 2027 @RCAPorg SRF Workshop in Seattle; our own 2027 Virtual Operator Conference; a new American Water training facility in Gary; preparing for a drier future in the West, & more.
Promotional graphic for the WaterOperator.org newsletter. Text reads: "Inbox Alert! The next WaterOperator.org newsletter is here!"

ALT Promotional graphic for the WaterOperator.org newsletter. Text reads: "Inbox Alert! The next WaterOperator.org newsletter is here!"

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Check your inbox, or click here to see the newsletter at our online archive: wateroperator.activehosted.c… #WaterOperators #WaterTreatment #WaterNews #WaterUtilities #RuralWater

WaterOperator.org Newsletter - October 20, 2026

Newsletter #445 - October...

wateroperator.activehosted.com
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Our program leaders Steve Wilson and Hideyuki Terashima are in Cincinnati this week, representing WaterOperator.org at the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (@ASDWAorg)’s Annual Conference!
The WaterOperator.org informational booth on display at the exhibition floor for the 2026 annual conference of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators.

ALT The WaterOperator.org informational booth on display at the exhibition floor for the 2026 annual conference of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators.

The WaterOperator.org informational booth on display at the exhibition floor for the 2026 annual conference of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA). WaterOperater.org program director Steve Wilson chats with a group of people in front of the booth, including ASDWA executive director Anthony DeRosa.

ALT The WaterOperator.org informational booth on display at the exhibition floor for the 2026 annual conference of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA). WaterOperater.org program director Steve Wilson chats with a group of people in front of the booth, including ASDWA executive director Anthony DeRosa.

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If you happen to also be at the conference, find our booth on the exhibition floor to chat with Steve and Hideyuki about our program and the resources we offer to operators and others in the water industry.
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And if you’re not familiar with ASDWA, head to their website to read about their mission and find out how the organization serves drinking water administrators! Find ASDWA’s website here: asdwa.org #WaterIndustry #WaterConference #WaterOperators #DrinkingWater

ASDWA

The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) is the professional Association serving state drinking water programs.

asdwa.org
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Last month, we held the webinar “Resilience and Emergency Preparedness Resources for Wastewater Utilities,” where we introduced viewers to publicly available resources for wastewater utilities that support emergency preparedness and resilience.
Promotional graphic for the WaterOperator.org webinar recording "Resilience and Emergency Preparedness Resources for Wastewater Utilities."

ALT Promotional graphic for the WaterOperator.org webinar recording "Resilience and Emergency Preparedness Resources for Wastewater Utilities."

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Head to the WaterOperator.org blog to find the video of the webinar recording, available to watch for free: wateroperator.org/blog/resil… #WaterWebinar #EmergencyPreparedness #WastewaterUtility #WastewaterTreatment #WastewaterOperators
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This week on Tap Talk, we welcome a returning guest back to the show: Dr. Andrew Jacque, founder and chief scientist at Water Quality Investigations. Andrew previously guested on episodes TT069 and TT070 along with his colleague Emily Hefty-Dieckhoff.
The promotional graphic for Tap Talk episode #90, featuring a photo of guest Andrew Jacque; and a quote from Andrew: "What we find is biology is always present. Biofilm is always present. We want to find out if it's the symptom or the problem.".

ALT The promotional graphic for Tap Talk episode #90, featuring a photo of guest Andrew Jacque; and a quote from Andrew: "What we find is biology is always present. Biofilm is always present. We want to find out if it's the symptom or the problem.".

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In those episodes they covered the basics of biofilms and their impacts in household water systems. In Part 1 of this new two-part episode, Andrew dives deeper into the water quality issues that biofilms cause in all kinds of water systems from private wells to public supplies.
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Listen at the Tap Talk website, linked here, or find the show on audio platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Audible. Find the episode on our website here: drinkingwaterpodcast.org/tt0… #TapTalk #Biofilms #WaterQuality #WaterSystems #PrivateWells
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