Project Grant 02D58623

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,042,991 TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE. THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE RECIPIENT TO HELP SMALL AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN TENNESSEE ACCESS AVAILABLE LOANS AND OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR WASTEWATER SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MEETING WITH TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION (TDEC) FIELD OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS SYSTEMS WITH ONGOING ISSUES THAT COULD BE TARGETED FOR FOCUSED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS WILL VISIT IN PERSON TO MEET THE MANAGERS AND OPERATORS TO UNDERSTAND AND DOCUMENT THEIR NEEDS, RECOMMEND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND OFFER THE MOST APPROPRIATE FORM OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL ALSO SUPPORT EACH SYSTEM/COMMUNITY IN CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND (CWSRF) APPLICATIONS TO MAKE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.SUBRECIPIENT:SUB AWARD TO TENNESSEE TECH UNIVERSITY. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH DR. TANIA DATTA ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AT TENNESSEE TECH UNIVERSITY, WHO IS REQUESTING A TOTAL OF $138,861 FOR COMPLETION OF THE PROPOSED TASKS. DR. DATTA WILL SERVE AS THE TECHNICAL LIAISON FOR THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE REGION. AS TECHNICAL LIAISON DR. DATTA WILL ASK A PRE-DETERMINED LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT INFORMALLY WALKS THE OPERATORS AND MANAGERS THROUGH 10 KEY MANAGEMENT AREAS FROM THE RURAL AND SMALL SYSTEMS GUIDEBOOK TO SUSTAINABLE UTILITY MANAGEMENT, PUBLISHED BY THE USDA AND EPA, USDA AND U.S. EPA, 2019. THIS WILL PROVIDE A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO IDENTIFY THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS OF EACH SYSTEM, AND TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL ROADBLOCKS FOR SMALL SYSTEMS FROM ACCESSING CWSRF FUNDS. AFTER NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED, EACH SYSTEM WILL BE OFFERED INDIVIDUAL NEEDS-BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT FOCUSES ON THE TWO PREREQUISITES NEEDED TO START THE PROCESS TOWARD CWSRF FUNDING: ASSET MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL CAPACITY SEE TASK 4.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE REDUCING WATER SYSTEMS IN NON-COMPLIANCE BY 33%, AND PROVIDING SMALL, RURAL, OR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITH TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL, OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS OF THEIR DRINKING WATER OR WASTEWATER SYSTEMS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE ACCESS TO FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL AND RURAL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE AND IMPROVED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING IN FUTURE YEARS AS A BROADER IMPACT. COMMUNITIES THAT WORK CLOSELY WITH UNIVERSITY STAFF/STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIPS THAT CAN LEAD TO FUTURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. MORE SMALL AND RURAL SYSTEMS WILL BE READY TO APPLY FOR CWSRF LOANS AND BE ADDED TO THE STATE'S INTENDED USE PLAN, WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE STATE OF THE WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, REDUCE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS OVER TIME, AND IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY BY ENSURING ADEQUATE CAPACITY. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE SMALL, RURAL, AND/OR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF TENNESSEE.