Category: Federal/State Legislative News

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department in Florida reports that on Feb. 5 a hacker accessed the water treatment system in Oldsmar, Fla. AWWA Chief Executive Officer David LaFrance issued the below statement regarding the cyberattack. The Feb. 5 hacking incident on a Florida water utility is a jarring reminder that the threat of cyberattacks on…

PA Department Of Health Launches “Your Turn” Vaccine Eligibility Tool To Aid In Vaccination Process Across Commonwealth 1-877-PA-HEALTH Available To Answer Questions, Provide Help 02/09/2021 Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today launched a new tool called Your Turn to help Pennsylvanians understand where they fall in the vaccine prioritization effort and to be alerted when…

AWWA Resources for Cybersecurity Cybersecurity is an important part of America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018, which requires community water systems serving a population of 3,300 or more to assess cybersecurity threats as part of a risk and resilience assessment and incorporate strategies that address cybersecurity in emergency response plans. AWWA’s resources for cybersecurity, including small…

Important Information for PA Water Utilities: Summary on the revisions to the LCR Special thanks to Steve Via, AWWA Federal Relations LCR Comparison Information  

Proposed Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) EPA announcement today – FYI EPA Webpage: https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/fifth-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule The proposed fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) was signed on January 14, 2021. UCMR 5, as proposed, would require sample collection for 30 chemical contaminants between 2023 and 2025 using analytical methods developed by EPA and consensus organizations. This proposed action would provide EPA, states, and communities with scientifically…

DEP: AVAILABILITY OF TECHNICAL GUIDANCE The Department of Environmental Protection has issued updated technical guidance documents (TGDs) with clarified management of fill policy and other wording changes. The new guidance is available on the department’s website. MANAGEMENT OF FILL.PDF 258-2182-773 (NEW) Questions regarding this TGD can be directed to Ali Tarquino Morris at [email protected] or (717) 787-7381. Additional information may be…

Pennsylvania American Water Launches Online Emergency Reporting Report outages and water emergencies 24/7 with new web-based functionality   Mechanicsburg, Pa. (Jan. 14, 2021) – Pennsylvania American Water announced today that customers can now report a water outage, leak, or other water emergency online. Eliminating the need to report an emergency by phone, customers can now notify…

Very Important regarding PA Department of Health (DOH) regarding their updated Interim Vaccine Plan…Water and Wastewater Sectors PA Dept of Health Interim Vaccine Plan I heard back from the PA Department of Health (DOH) regarding their updated Interim Vaccine Plan (We had requested that water/wastewater treatment plant operators specifically be included and given priority for…

PA Department Of Health Confirms First Case With The COVID-19 Variant 01/07/2021 Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7, in Pennsylvania. The confirmed case is in Dauphin County. This variant is the same one that was first discovered in England in December.…