Small Systems

Resources for Small Systems

Operating costs, aging infrastructure and increasing regulatory compliance are just some of the difficulties that utilities have to face on a daily basis, and smaller systems often have to face these issues with fewer resources. Our goal is to provide assistance and resources to help ease the burden.

We’re a small rural system with limited resources, so trying to stay on top of where the water and sewer industry is going can be tough. AWWA does the leg work for us. When we use their standards and other tools, we know we’re in line with the industry and not off-base. AWWA materials allow us to train our people to be good operators and stewards of the water system. AWWA membership is critical to our operations.

Derek W. Starkety, P.E. City Engineer, City of Fernley-Public Works Department

Free Small Systems Training

Technical, financial and managerial training is available to help small public water systems maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Training is available for small public water systems, either community or non-community, serving a population of 10,000 persons or fewer.

Online Courses

AWWA offers several online courses to Small Systems at no charge. Below is a list of available courses.

To access these courses, please follow these steps:

Login to your AWWA Account
Select Your Name in the top right of the page to go to My Account
Click on My Courses in the left-hand menu
Under Small Systems Course Access, Enter Code: SMSYS20 and select Redeem and then Go
All of the available free courses will be placed in your enrollments
To access one of the courses, click on the course title or select Go next to the title.

Regulatory Review - EL271
This eLearning course covers drinking water regulations and equips operators to properly operate and maintain water treament facilities and distribution systems, thereby protecting public health. After completing the course, the learner will understand the origins and process for development of drinking water regulations and their importance in protecting public health, identify the meaning of commonly used terms and abbreviations in drinking water regulations, and be able to describe the multi-barrier approach to drinking water and its benefits to public health. This course is made possible through an USEPA grant for small systems training in conjunction with AWWA's training partner, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)
1-hour, self-paced

Financial Sustainability for Small Systems - EL226
This eLearning course focuses on 3 major areas needed by small systems to achieve financial sustainability, including understanding enterprise funds and their revenues, and an overview of what is needed to protect public health through safe water. This course is made possible through an USEPA grant for small systems training in conjunction with AWWA's training partner, the Environmental Finance Center.
2-hour, self-paced

Maintaining and Achieving RTCR Compliance for Small Systems - EL219
This eLearning course focuses on 4 major areas needed by small systems to maintain and achieve compliance with the Revised Total Coliform Rule, including when and how to conduct the RTCR assessment, evaluation of sampling procedures, sources water treatment assessments, and evaluation of distribution system operations, and maintenance practices on coliform occurrence. This course is made possible through an USEPA grant for small systems training in conjunction with AWWA's training partner, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP).
3-hour, self-paced

Setting the Right Rates for Your Water System - EL251
This eLearning course consists of three modules to help you set the right rates for your water system. It is intended for people who make finance and management decisions on behalf of water systems, including board members and top managers. This course is made possible through an USEPA grant for small systems training in conjunction with AWWA's training partner, the Environmental Finance Center.
2-hour, self-paced

Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Training

More trainings coming soon!

Optimization and Funding Training

More trainings coming soon!

Small Systems Resources

AWWA Small Systems Field Guide, Water and Wastewater

Operators of small water systems do it all. This handy field guide provides all the day-to-day information needed to operate small water and wastewater systems.

M54 Developing Rates for Small Systems

M54 gives you the step-by-step guidance you need to determine your revenue requirements, analyze your rates for different customer classes, develop a financial plan, and design a better rate structure.

A100-15 Water Wells

This standard covers the minimum requirements for vertical water supply wells, including geologic and hydrologic conditions and water quality and well construction. Application of this standard is not limited by well depth.

G100-17 Water Treatment Plant Operation and Management

This ANSI-approved standard describes the critical requirements for the effective operation and management of drinking water treatment plants.