Introduction to Rural Development Apply (RD Apply) - EL281
In this eLearning course, students will learn how to apply for the Loans and Grants for Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Programs by becoming familiar with the RD Apply online application process. The RUS program provides affordable financing to construct or improve water, sanitary sewer, solid waste disposal and storm wastewater drainage systems. This course will provide step-by-step guidance through the RD Apply application process from starting an application, uploading data, application review and verification.
Course Learning Objectives:
- To Apply for the Loans and Grants for Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Programs in the fastest, easiest and most secure way
By applying you will be able to construct or improve water, sanitary sewer, solid waste disposal and storm wastewater drainage systems through affordable financing
Upon completing all 7 courses listed below you will be eligible for a certificate.
Controlling Non-revenue Water in Small Water Utilities, Course 1: Water Supply Operations and Non-Revenue Water - EL290
This course introduces the topic of Non-revenue Water, which occurs in all water utilities to some degree. Water often leaks from primary supply infrastructure and never reaches customers. Inaccurate customer water meters and billing errors result in uncaptured revenue. Such failures and data lapses are explained as sources of Non-revenue Water, which have multiple negative impacts to utility operations and finances, as well as disruption to reliable customer service.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Recognize sources of Non-Revenue Water in their system
- Define the components of Non-revenue Water using AWWA’s Water Balance
- Calculate the associated costs of Non-Revenue Water
- Analyze the operational, financial, and customer impacts that result from Non-revenue Water.
Controlling Non-revenue Water in Small Water Utilities, Course 2: the AWWA Standard Water Audit and Free Software Tools - EL291
In this eLearning course, students will learn how to track the water that they manage using the Water Balance diagram, and how to place data in the AWWA Free Water Audit Software to compile the annual water audit. Guidance is given both on the use of the Software and the ways to get a representative quantity of the water audit components. Participants will also see how to transfer their water audit data into the AWWA Compiler Software Tool which allowing year-by-year trending.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Track the water you supply from source to customer using the Water Balance diagram.
- Download the AWWA Free Water Audit Software and the AWWA Compiler Software Tool
- Compile your annual water audit using the AWWA Free Water Audit Software
- Analyze your year-by-year water audit data using the AWWA Compiler Software Tool
Controlling Non-revenue Water in Small Water Utilities, Course 3: How to Track Your Progress at Controlling Non-revenue Water for Small Water Utilities - EL292
This course is part of an eLearning program made possible through the collaboration of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Partnership for Safe Water.
Course participants will learn about the Non-revenue Water performance indicators calculated by the AWWA Free Water Audit Software. The use and interpretation of these important performance indicators is explained, and reliable comparisons of utility performance are illustrated. AWWA’s performance indicators provide an improved way to target your water loss control efforts and track your performance in controlling Non-revenue Water.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Explain what performance indicators are and how they are used.
- Distinguish between the different types of performance indicators.
- Recognize that traditional percentage indicators are misleading.
- Define the AWWA Non-revenue Water performance indicators and their benefits.
- Assess the volumes and costs of Non-revenue Water in your water system reliably.
- Compare the performance indicators of your water system with other systems that compile an AWWA Water Audit
- Formulate the actions to take to address the greatest sources of Non-revenue Water in your system.
Controlling Non-revenue Water in Small Water Utilities, Course 4: Accurate Metering of Water Production Flows - EL293
This course is part of an eLearning program made possible through the collaboration of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Partnership for Safe Water.
Course participants will learn that accurate metering of production flows is highly important, in terms of managing water supplies, but also in providing accurate data to the annual water audit. Production flows are the largest annual volumes of water measured in the water utility, and they are measured by the largest flowmeters in the water system. It is critical that water utilities manage these assets reliably to produce accurate data, and this course provides detailed guidance on this activity.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Identify those water flows that are classified as production flows
- Recognize the critical importance of accurate production flow data to water accountability
- Distinguish the primary types of production flowmeters used in drinking water supplies
- Recall the basic ways to test production flowmeter performance and calculate the accuracy rating from typical testing data
- Recognize that production flowmeters are important assets that must be maintained, repaired, and replaced on a regular basis as part of good asset management
- Tabulate and Analyze production flowmeter data to observe flow trends and identify data errors and data gaps
Controlling Non-revenue Water in Small Water Utilities, Course 5: Effective Leakage and Pressure Management to Contain System Leakage - EL294
This course is part of an eLearning program made possible through the collaboration of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Partnership for Safe Water.
Course participants will learn about the harmful impacts of leakage on system operations and the excessive costs it creates. The rapidly advancing technologies of proactive leakage control and pressure management are giving water utilities the tools they need to keep leakage contained. It is critical that water utilities control leakage in their water distribution systems and this course provides detailed guidance on this activity.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Explain how leakage occurs in water distribution systems and the problems leakage causes
- Describe how leakage imparts direct and indirect costs on water utility operations
- Define proactive leakage management and its key activities
- Identify the ways to detect leaks and pinpoint them
- Assess your system’s pressure levels and potential for improved pressure management
- Determine the best actions to monitor and control leakage in your system
Controlling Non-revenue Water in Small Water Utilities, Course 6: Customer Metering and Billing Operations for Optimized Revenue Capture - EL295
This course is part of an eLearning program made possible through the collaboration of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Partnership for Safe Water.
Course participants will learn about the necessity of accurate customer metering, meter reading, and billing operations to ensure a reliable revenue stream. Utility policy on meter and billing can result in Apparent Losses just as inaccurate water meters and billing system errors can. It is important for water utilities to stay current with metering and meter reading technology and employ rational policies to optimize their revenue capture.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Explain the value of water and need for revenue
- Describe how utility policies can affect financial stability
- Explain how utilities meter customer water consumption and bill for this service
- List common water meters in use and types of meter reading systems
- Detail good meter management practices – accuracy testing and meter replacement
- Identify potential for billing errors and unauthorized consumption that siphon away revenue
- Tabulate consumption and billing data reliably to track revenue capture and flag errors
- Determine ways to improve metering & billing operations in your system
Controlling Non-revenue Water in Small Water Utilities, Course 7: Keeping an Effective Non-revenue Water Management Program Going - EL296
This course is part of an eLearning program made possible through the collaboration of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Partnership for Safe Water.
Course participants will learn the ways to launch and keep their Non-revenue Water management program going for the long haul. This final course in the series brings together concepts from the first six courses and provides program management guidance including compiling the water audit every year and using its results to assist the planning, budgeting, implementation, and sustainability of the program. Creating a vision for the next five, ten, or more years is important to keep the program going and keeping Non-revenue Water controlled.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Demonstrate how Non-revenue Water will rise unless action is taken to contain it.
- Recall that the water audit allows you to track your loss volumes and costs each year.
- Assess Non-revenue Water levels and system conditions each year to set priorities.
- Identify technologies and methods that are effective in addressing losses in your system.
- Envision their system 5-10 years from now, and how they would like to see them operate then.
- Execute their planned loss control activities, monitor their progress, and adjust their actions as needed if losses are still excessive.