Through the Appalachian Community Technical Assistance and Training (ACTAT) project, we are able to offer free technical assistance and training to small water and wastewater utilities in east Tennessee. See below for more information about the project and how to get involved.
About the Project
The Tennessee Water Resources Research Center (TNWRRC), affiliated with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has partnered with West Virginia University, the University of Kentucky, and Virginia Tech to help small Appalachian communities improve the level of service provided by their water and wastewater utilities. Improvements in the operation and maintenance of these systems will improve the quality of life for the community and lay the groundwork for future development and economic growth.
We use multiple methods of assistance to support utilities including regional- and utility-specific workshops, tailored educational materials, and hands-on technical assistance. After initial conversations with utility staff, board members, or local decision-makers, ACTAT staff can provide personalized training and/or technical assistance upon request.
Workshops and technical assistance are offered free of charge.
Where We Work
The ACTAT project is focused on serving small utilities in economically distressed or at-risk Appalachian counties. We use the Appalachian Regional Commission’s annual County Economic Status maps for this determination. Tennessee’s Appalachian counties are highlighted by the most recent county economic status information in the figure below.
Technical Assistance
When TNWRRC receives a request for technical assistance or training, an initial meeting with utility staff, board members, or local decision-makers is scheduled to discuss the system’s needs. Depending on the specific need of the utility or community, TNWRRC staff may offer assistance directly, request assistance from other university staff with the appropriate area of expertise, or help solicit external assistance. Technical assistance opportunities are limited based on both contractual requirements and staff availability, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request assistance, please click here.
Workshops Offered
We are prepared to conduct the following workshops for your utility:
| Workshop Title: | Description: |
|---|---|
| Sustainable Management of Small Utilities | This workshop provides an overview of 10 areas of effective utility management. Participants will be guided through a self-assessment of their systems’ performance and encouraged to develop an action plan with specific performance measures that address their most critical management areas. |
| Fundamentals of Asset Management for Water and Wastewater Systems |
This workshop provides an introduction to asset management plans. This training provides historical context for asset management and then guides participants through the 5 standard components of asset management plans: 1) Asset Inventory, 2) Level of Service, 3) Risk Analysis, 4) O&M and Capital Improvement, and 5) Financial Planning. |
| Introduction to GIS for Small Water and Wastewater Systems | This workshop provides an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Participants will learn what GIS is and how it can help them manage their systems. The training will also provide more in-depth, technical information on topics such as GIS data types, coordinate reference systems, and how to manipulate data symbology and attributes. |
| Introduction to Hydraulic Modeling for Small Water Systems (coming soon) | This workshop provides an introduction to hydraulic modeling of water distribution networks. Participants will learn about the history of hydraulic modeling and how it can be used to improve daily operations. This training will also cover some basic concepts in hydraulics, information needed for model development, and free software to get started with hydraulic modeling. |
Additionally, we may be able to facilitate workshops on other topics through our partnerships with Virginia Tech, West Virginia University, and the University of Kentucky. Additional workshop topics include: AWWA M36 Water Auditing (offered by UKY); Basic Mathematic Skills for Operators (UKY); Emerging Contaminants of Concern (UKY); Overview of the Safe Drinking Water Act (WVU); Overview of the Clean Water Act (WVU); and Stakeholder Engagement (WVU).
Continuing education units (CEUs) are available for each workshop upon request.