The purpose of the remote maintenance worker (RMW) program is to assists rural alaska communities (beneficiaries) in building drinking water and wastewater systems operations and maintenance…

This Cooperative Agreement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 provides $2,903,716 under the Congressionally Mandated Projects program (CFDA 66.202) to support the Remote Maintenance Worker (RMW) Program. The purpose of the RMW Program is to build drinking water and wastewater systems operations and maintenance capacity in rural Alaska communities to protect human health and the environment. Key deliverables include on-site operations and maintenance support and operator training. Specifically, the funding will support 11.5 remote maintenance workers to provide technical assistance, training, and emergency response services to 128 villages in five regional service areas. This will help rural operators and communities properly operate treatment facilities and distribution/collection systems. The sub-awardees, five regional health organizations, will each receive funding to support the RMW Program in their respective service areas through September 30, 2023.

The purpose of the remote maintenance worker (RMW) program is to assists rural alaska communities (beneficiaries) in building drinking water and wastewater systems operations and maintenance capacity in order to protect human health and the environment. Deliverables and activities include on site operations and maintenance support and over the shoulder operator training resulting in the outcomes of establish technical capacity and promote compliance with the safe drinking water act (sdwa) and the clean water act (CWA)activities:the RMW training and technical assistance to rural operators and communities includes; 1) on site over the shoulder job training in proper operation of water and wastewater treatment facilities and water distribution and wastewater collection systems; 2) on site on the job training with the local operators to improve trouble shooting, maintenance, and mechanical repair skills for the equipment specific to each community water and wastewater systems; 3) with the local operator developing, revising and or verifying operation and preventive maintenance plans to extend the life of the equipment and reduce operational costs; 4) working with the local governing body to provide information and the actual operation and maintenance requirements and cost of the utility; 5) assisting the operator in developing and presenting operation, maintenance, sampling, monitoring, and testing reports to the governing body concerning status of the utility; 6) assisting local operator during emergency situations which may include freeze-UPS, floods, leaks, sewage discharges or any other situations that if not attended to immediately could result in extended service disruption or threat to human health; 7) training operator to keep accurate and timely records of operation and maintenance within the systems, and; 8) facilitating regional workshops for operators and providing classroom instruction to prepare operators for state certification. Subrecipient:five RMW service areas have been established, coinciding with existing regional health organization boundaries. Grants will be made available to fund 11.5 rmws, providing service to the 128 villages located within these five regional service areas.outcomes:the recipient's efforts will protect the environment from the discharge of untreated wastewater to ambient waters (rivers, lakes, stream and oceans). In addition, these efforts further the delivery of safe drinking water to the public.