The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Village Safe Water Program will hold an invitation-only conference in September to discuss the issue of providing running water and sewer services to remote Arctic and sub-Arctic communities and how to make those services more reliable, affordable and sustainable. The Conference on Water Innovations for Healthy Arctic Homes (WIHAH) will be held in Anchorage Sept. 18-21. Experts from around the world will speak or demonstrate innovative technologies. Three teams in the Alaska Water and Sewer Challenge will showcase their prototype systems in the research and development program seeking alternative and more affordable methods for delivering drinking water and sewage disposal services to rural Alaska. More than 3,300 rural homes lack running water and a flush toilet.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is working on a rule change that could require septic tanks to be pumped dry prior to an inspection to determine their integrity. MPCA hopes to have the rule finalized in time for 2017 fieldwork. In working with stakeholder groups, the agency says there is widespread support for the rule since most onsite professionals are already pumping tanks dry for inspections. Some have said, however, it is not always necessary, such as if there is a tank integrity report that shows the tank passed inspection within the last three years.
Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals Appreciation Day was held throughout the state June 30. Both houses of the Virginia General Assembly unanimously passed their versions of the bill (HJ 88) earlier this year to recognize the importance of clean water and the contributions of those who work in the field.