Jan '11 Texas H2O

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

TEXASH2OThe Official Newsletter of the Texas Section AWWA • THE Water Professionals

Texas Section in spotlightat AWWA Board meeting

See Page 3

Always a popular venue, Fort Worth is again welcoming the annual Texas Waterconference, April 5-8, at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

For many Texans, Fort Worth is like a second home. You can find the folksy charmof East Texas, the cosmopolitan feel of North Texas and the rugged fun of WestTexas, combined to offer the generous hospitality that welcomed South Texasranchers and cattle to build an industry.

Dozens of volunteers have been at work since last year’s event to prepare for theLargest Regional Water Conference in the U.S.TM More than a hundred will eventu-ally be involved from the shotgun blast that begins the golf tournament on Tuesday,

INFO for TW11Conservation and Reuse Division

Awards Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Golf Registration Form . . . . . . . . . 10Attendee Registration Form . . . . . 11Water Conservation and Stewardship

Award Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13TW11 News and Notes . . . . . . . . . 15Watermark forms . . . . . . . . . . . 16,17

Herdthenews?

Texas Water 2011SM is on the trail to Fort Worth

PLEASE SEE TW11, PAGE 16

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RICHARD TALLEY, CHAIR

817-392-8203DAVE SCHOLLER, CHAIR-ELECT

281-558-8700BRENT LOCKE, VICE-CHAIR

254-562-5992MARI GARZA-BIRD, IMM. PAST CHAIR

210-826-3200

MIKE HOWE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/SECRETARY-TREASURER

512-238-9292FAX: 512-238-0496

E-MAIL: [email protected]

This publication is distributed monthly tothe more than 3,500 members and friends of the

Texas Section - American Water Works Association.

Contributing writers can contact the editor:Cliff Avery

Gilleland Creek Press

PO Box 676 Pflugerville, TX 78691

512-251-8101 FAX: 512-251-8152

e-mail: [email protected]

The publication name, TexasH2O: © 1996-2011Texas Section - American Water Works Association, Inc.

© 2011, Texas Section - American Water Works Association, Inc.

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Texas SectionAmerican Water Works Association

P.O. Box 80150Austin, Texas 78708

http://www.tawwa.org

Letter from the Texas Section Chair

The Texas Legislature faces the first draft of a budget that is $31.1billion less than the last budget it passed. Since the legislators arerequired to present a balanced biennial budget and revenues are

projected to plummet, the first draft of the budget calls for no new taxes.Instead, there are drastic cuts to existing services and departments.

While plugging the budget hole will dominate the legislative session,other items that will challenge the House and Senate leaders includecongressional and legislative redistricting, voter ID, illegal immigration,insurance rates and the Sunset Advisory Commission recommendations.

So what about potential legislative polices relating to Texas’ water needsand financing the state’s 50-year water plan? With Texas continuing to expe-rience drought and population increases, our state legislators cannot affordto put water needs aside.

Gov. Rick Perry has stated many times the answer to meeting Texas’water needs is the Texas Water Plan. “I sincerely believe that the 82ndLegislature must finally execute our state’s water plan to help meet a demandthat is expected to grow 18 percent over the next 50 years as our populationdoubles.” Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has stated he’s committed to the Senatefunding the plan, and Sen. Allan Ritter, chairman of the House NaturalResources Committee in the 81st Legislature, has said, “the House will havea water financing bill in the 82nd Legislature.”

The 2007 state water plan is anticipated to cost $30 billion to implementover the next 50 years. The cost of the 2007 water plan will continue togrow and the updated version, which is due out in 2012 is expected to behigher due to construction and other multiple factors. In its report to theSunset commission, the Texas Water Development Board has identified bothgroundwater issues and reservoir site acquisition and construction to bemajor policy items for funding consideration by the 82nd legislative session.

So what can we expect from the 82nd legislative session? We will have towatch closely to see if the House and Senate leaders are committed ingetting behind the idea of financing the state’s water plan with a dedicatedfunding stream.

So stay tuned, as the Texas Section AWWA’s legislative committee beginsits work to keep us informed on the 82nd legislative session.

By Richard Talley

Legislature dives in

Cover photo (top): Texas Section members congratulate new AWWA Pres.-Elect CharlieAnderson and Director-at-Large Alyssa Lockett. From left, they are Incoming Section DirectorCharlie Maddox, Mari Garza-Bird, Cliff Avery, Glenda Dunn, Ricky Dunn, Katie McCain,Mike Howe, Cindy Anderson, Charlie Anderson, Donna Howe and Alyssa Lockett.

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In a special Jan. 19 meeting, the TexasWater Development Board namedMelanie Callahan as the interim ExecutiveAdministrator.

The TWDB’scurrent ExecutiveAdministrator J.Kevin Wardannounced hisretirement fromthe agency at theDec. 16 Boardmeeting, effective

Feb. 28. He will bejoining the Trinity

River Authority on March 1.The interim Executive Administrator,

Melanie Callahan, is a certified publicaccountant with more than 28 years expe-rience in public sector financial manage-ment, including accounting, budget andfinance.

Callahan joined the TWDB inSeptember 2001. She began as theDirector of the Fiscal Services Divisionand the Chief Accounting Officer, andwas named Chief Financial Officer inAugust 2007. In her role as the CFO,

AWWA names Anderson President-Elect

Utilities assess impact ofproposed fluoride standard

By Cliff AveryTEXASH2O

SAN ANTONIO — When the AWWA Board ofDirectors cast its ballots to select new leaders Jan. 23, itrepeated history.

Former Texas Section Chair Charlie Anderson ofArlington was picked as president-elect. He’ll formallytake that role at the Annual Conference and Exhibition(ACE) in Washington, D.C. in June. He’ll move up toPresident in 2012. The Board also elected Alyssa Lockett

By Liz DavidsonTEXASH2O

Texas utilities are reviewing their fluoride programs after the U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services has proposed lowering the recommended level of fluoride indrinking water.

Since 1962, the fluoridated water standard has been between 0.7 to 1.2 parts permillion. The proposed new level would lower that standard to 0.7 parts per million. TheEnvironmental Protection Agency is also reviewing whether to change the maximumcontaminant level of fluoride from the current 4 parts per million.

TWDB taps interimadministrator

to replace Ward

PLEASE SEE TWDB, PAGE 22

KEVIN WARD

PLEASE SEE FLUORIDE, PAGE 21

History repeats itself as Boardselects Texans for leadership posts

New AWWA Director-at-Large Alyssa Lockett of SAWS and President-ElectCharlie Anderson receive congratulations from fellow Texans who won the sameposts at the same time at an AWWA Board meeting in the same city: pastAWWA Pres. Katie McCain of Dallas and former Director-at-Large (and ex-AWWA Vice Pres.) Mari Garza-Bird.PLEASE SEE AWWA, PAGE 7

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By Mike HoweTAWWA Executive Director

Today is Tuesday. Last Friday Isent a FEDEX package to Atlantafor delivery on Monday.

Yesterday. It has not been delivered. I know

where the package is. It’s in Marietta, Georgia, in a FEDEXfacility.

However, Atlanta had snow and ice and even though mypackage is there, it is NOT there. It’s not FEDEX’s fault.Things happen, including the weather.

But it is all about being there, and for all of our technology(I can look on the Internet and tell you right where mypackage is right now, to the minute) nothing will be right untilit gets THERE. Onsite. In person. And, until that happens, itwill not be THERE.

In this day of the “new normal,” with all of our technology,some things just remain the same. When it absolutely posi-tively has to be there, it, AND YOU, must be THERE - atTexas Water 2011SM.

Here’s why. With all of our technology — and believe me, Iam a big fan of technology — nothing can beat attendingconferences in person.

Without question, the face-to-face, one-on-one of conferences offer opportunities to expand your knowledgebase, improve your personal skills and network with others inyour field. You’ll find out what your peers are doing, what thenew trends in the industry are and where there’s room formovement and improvement.

At these events, you’ll participate in technical sessionsspecifically designed to stimulate your personal and profes-sional growth. They will help you increase your ability to stepup as a leader, influence others through powerful communica-tion skills and develop a personal brand that is distinctly yourown while vastly improving your chances for success.

Best yet, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the top dogs inthe water community. You’ll get to ask them about what theydo and what keeps them motivated and rejuvenated on the job.Through them, you’ll glean valuable insight on their journey tothe top. The conference is your golden opportunity to cultivaterelationships with these industry superstars – what could be

Executive Director Report

You gotta be there

PLEASE SEE HOWE, PAGE 20

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TTOO AADDVVEERRTTIISSEE:: 551122--225511--88110011

TCEQ Sunset report urges shift on rateoversight to Public Utility Commission

The Sunset Commission’s final report to the Legislatureincludes controversial suggestions to take authority away from theTCEQ in some places and expand it in others.

All state agencies go through the process, which requires themto be renewed periodically or else they’ll “go off into the sunset.”The theory is that the process allows lawmakers to beef upsuccessful agencies and programs and remove failures.

In its report issued in January, the Sunset Commission recom-mended shifting oversight of water and wastewater rates to thePublic Utility Commission.

To pay for the transfer, existing water and wastewater utilityapplication fees would be eliminated and the Water UtilityRegulatory Assessment Fee would be increased on water supplycorporations and municipal utility districts.

The Sunset Commission also urges that authority forprotecting groundwater from oil and gas exploration be shifted tothe Railroad Commission, which regulates drilling.

While TCEQ would lose that authority, the Sunset

Commission recommends it get new authority to take actionduring a drought or other emergency that leaves utilities withoutwater services.

The Sunset panel urges that TCEQ’s authority to curtail wateruse during drought and shortages be “clarified” and that theagency be authorized to require implementation of droughtcontingency plans during a shortage.

Here is an excerpt from the summary of the SunsetCommission’s report:

Issue 1: Texas Has a Continuing Need for the TexasCommission on Environmental Quality

The State needs regulation to protect Texas’ environment.Texas’ citizens and the economy benefit from having a stateagency working to protect air and water quality, manage waterquantity, ensure proper disposal of waste, and clean up contami-nated sites. Moreover, although the federal government requires

PLEASE SEE SUNSET PAGE 18

Coming to Dallas!

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of San Antonio Water System to bedirector-at-large.

The outcome was reminiscent ofthe 2003 vote of the AWWA Board,also in San Antonio and also selectingtwo Texans for the same two posts.

Katie McCain of Dallas won presi-dent-elect, the first step on her way tobecoming the first woman president ofAWWA. Mari Garza-Bird of SanAntonio won the director-at-largespot, and she later became a vice presi-dent of the Denver-based organiza-tion.

Anderson is a former director ofthe Arlington Water Utility. He waslater named deputy city manager and,after his retirement, he joined CDM.He rose through the ranks of the TexasSection, serving as chair 2002-2003.He served the Section’s director on theAWWA Board, and was elected anAWWA vice president in 2009.

In his speech, Anderson stressedthat AWWA must create an experiencefor its members that’s similar to achild’s reaction to receiving a favoredtoy. “Our challenge is to continue toinnovate and create a similar reactionfor our new and long-time members,”he said.

He pledged that he would keepAWWA “second-to-none in ourheritage of excellence.” He noted hisexperience as a utility executive andobserved, “I’m shovel-ready, and Idon’t need funding.”

Lockett, a San Antonio native,returned home after earning a degreeat Cornell. After work with an engi-neering firm, she joined SAWS.“Throughout my career, AWWA hasbeen a constant,” she said.Lockett noted her experience as chairof the Texas Section YoungProfessionals Committee. But sherejected generational stereotypes whenit comes to talking about BabyBoomers, Gen-Xers and Generation Ymembers.

“While I don’t think we can be soswiftly labeled based on when we wereborn, I do think that the role thattechnology has played in our livesaffects how we work and live,” shesaid.

She encouraged AWWA to explorenew technologies, such as smart phoneapplications.

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AWWA from Page 3

TEXASH2OYou’re reading an ad here.

One of your customers could bereading your ad here, too.

[email protected]

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2011

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NOTICETexas WaterSM is a registered servicemark of Texas AWWA forthe exclusive use in conjunction with the joint conference with

the Water Environment Association of Texas. Any other use without the express written permission

of Texas AWWA is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Join AWWA in San Antonio this February for the opportunityto improve your skills as a leader and manager.

The 2011 Basic Water Utility Management Institute will beheld Feb. 7-9 at the Holiday Inn Airport in San Antonio, with aspecial kick-off event on the evening of Sunday, Feb. 6.

The program was created specifically to help managers becomemore effective leaders and give them the tools and skills necessaryto do so. The course combines interactive exercises with lectures,discussions and guest speakers.

As an added bonus, TCEQ has approved the Institute for 20hours of operator continuing education credit.

The Institute will cover topics such as management and leader-ship, human resource issues, time and stress management, costaccounting and communication.

The program includes input from water utility directors andwas developed and is facilitated by Mary Anne Doty of theDepartment of Marketing and Management at Texas A&MUniversity-Commerce and of The Doty Consulting Group.

The $750 registration fee includes all instruction and materials,the opening reception, lunches and breaks.

The Holiday Inn Airport Hotel has reserved a block of roomsfor the seminar for only $85, plus tax and surcharges.

For more information and to register, go to www.tawwa.org.

Water ManagementInstitute set Feb. 7-9 in San Antonio

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TTEEXXAASS WWAATTEERR 22001111 GGOOLLFF TTOOUURRNNAAMMEENNTT SSCCHHOOLLAARRSSHHIIPPTTUUEESSDDAAYY,, AAPPRRIILL 55 •• TTHHEE GGOOLLFF CCLLUUBB aatt FFOOSSSSIILL CCRREEEEKK

Help raise funds for scholarships to assist students with families in the water and wastewater industry. All profits from the Texas Water Golf Tournament go towardthe scholarship programs.

As an added benefit, you get to play golf at the popular TThhee GGooll ff CC lluubb aatt FFoossss ii ll CCrreeeekk, 3401 Clubgate Dr, Fort Worth.. Gorgeous rolling fairwaysand 18 testing holes all intertwined throughout streams created by Fossil Creek. This exclusive, par-72 public course, designed by America's fore-most golf legend, Arnold Palmer, winds its way through 1150 acres of natural Texas terrain.

And, don’t forget to get plenty of raffle tickets! The more tickets you buy with your registration, the more scholarship funds we raise!

77 aa..mm.. CChheecckk-- iinn,, bbrreeaakkffaasstt .. LLuunncchh ffooll lloowwiinngg.. FF ii rrsstt 114444 ppllaayyeerrss.. NNoo oonn--ss ii ttee rreeggiisstt rraatt iioonn.. 88::3300 aa..mm.. SShhoottgguunn SSccrraammbbllee!!

CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL : INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION$125/person by 3/21/11; $140 after; No later than 3/28/11

TEAM REGISTRATION$500/team by 3/21/11; $560 after; No later than 3/28/11

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGESBRONZE PACKAGE: Team registration, firm logo on

tournament signage, PLUS sponsorship of the Breakfast.SILVER PACKAGE: Team registration, firm logo on

tournament signage PLUS sponsorship of the Lunch.GOLD PACKAGE * BEST VALUE: Team registration + firm logo

on tournament signage AND on towels and hats PLUSsponsorship of the Beverage Cart.

INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM CAPTAINNAME _____________________________________________________Firm name _________________________________________________Address ___________________________________________________City _______________________________________________________State ________________________________________Zip ___________Daytime phone_____________________________________________Fax________________________________________________________E-mail _____________________________________________________

TEAM PLAYER NAMES

#2________________________________________________________

#3________________________________________________________

#4________________________________________________________

CALCULATE FEES

Bronze Package $750 $_____________

Silver Package $1,500 $_____________

Gold Package $2,500 $_____________

Sponsorship Opportunities___Hole (@$500) $________________Registration Table (@$500) $________________Hole in One (@$500) $________________Longest Drive, Men (@$500) $________________Longest Drive, Women (@$500) $________________Bloody Mary/Keg

Margarita Station (@$500) $________________Beverage Cart (@$500) $________________Closest to the Pin (@$500) $_____________

NAME FOR SPONSORSHIP SIGN________________________________________________________

Individual Registration $_____________

Team Registration $_____________

Tournament Extra(s)

___Club rental ($64.90) $_____________

___Mulligans (@$5; max 4/player) $_____________

___Forward Tee (@$20/team)to move to 150 yds. out from pinon Par 5 #11 hole $ ______________

___Raffle Tickets (@$5) $_____________

TOTAL (ADD COLUMN AT RIGHT) $_____________

PAYMENT METHOD: o Check Payable to “Texas Water 2011” BILL MY: o AMEX o VISA o MasterCard o Discover

Card #____________________________________________________Expiration ____________________________________________________

Cardholder Name:_________________________________________Signature _____________________________________________________

Credit Card Billing Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Security Code: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________(Visa/MC/Discover: Last three digits in the signature panel on back of card; AMEX: Four-digit number on the right front above imprinted card number.)

THE EASIEST WAY TO REGISTER IS ONLINE !

www.texas-water.comOr mail form with payment to:

TW11 Golf Fundraiser for ScholarshipsP.O. Box 676Pflugerville, TX 78691or fax to 512-251-8152

Tournament Chair:Tim Allen, 817-925-7236

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EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE MARCH 11, 2011PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY THIS FORM OR REGISTRATION CANNOT BE PROCESSED

REGISTER ONLINE: www.texas-water.com. PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE

FIRST NAME ______________________________________ LAST NAME _____________________________________

COMPANY________________________________________ TITLE___________________________________________

NAME FOR BADGE _________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS_________________________________________ MEMBER # ______________________________________

CITY/STATE/ZIP ___________________________________________________________________________________

PHONE __________________________________________ FAX ____________________________________________

E-MAIL* __________________________________________ * Note: E-mail required for processing

TT EE XX AA SS WW AA TT EE RR 22 00 11 11 RR EE GG II SS TT RR AA TT II OO NN

THE EASIEST WAY TO REGISTER IS ONLINE: www.texas-water.com

PAYMENT METHOD:

o Check Payable to “Texas Water 2011”

BILL MY: o AMEX o VISA o MasterCard o Discover

Card # _________________________________________

Expiration _____________________________________

Cardholder Name:______________________________

Signature ______________________________________

Credit Card Billing Address:_____________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________Put “Same” if same as above, necessary to process)

Security Code: _________________________________(Visa/MC/Discover: Last three digits in the signature panel on back of card; AMEX:Four-digit number on the right front above imprinted card number.)

For more information, contact:Cliff Avery

GCP Association Services512-251-8101 Fax: 512-251-8152

e-mail: [email protected]

Register on-line at www.texas-water.comor mail form with payment to:

Texas Water 2011 Registrationc/o GCP Association Services

P.O. Box 676Pflugerville, TX 78691

or fax to 512-251-8152Physical: 200 W. Main, Ste. 200B

Pflugerville, TX 78660

No refunds will be granted after March 11, 2011. A $60 cancellation feewill be assessed to all refund requests made prior to March 12, 2011.Substitutions allowed. Substitutions may incur a $25 processing fee. Allrefunds must be requested in writing. Fax refund requests to Cliff Avery at512-251-8152.

I have special dietary needs: o Vegetarian

o Other __________________________________________________

Pre-registration deadline March 11, 2011After March 27, registration only available on-site

Received on Receivedor before 3/11/11 after 3/11/11

o Full Registration - MEMBER $295 $345 ________

o Full Registration - NON MEMBER $445 $495 ________NEW MEMBERS ONLY. Full registration at the non-member rate includes a free one-year membership to either AWWA or WEF. With full, non-member registration, pleaseindicate which organization you wish to join: o AWWA o WEF

o Student - (no meals) $40 $50 ________

o Wednesday Only (breakfast and $165 $195 ________conference lunch) - MEMBER

o Wednesday Only (breakfast and $215 $245 ________conference lunch) - NON MEMBER

o Thursday Only (includes Box Lunch) $130 $160 ________- MEMBER

o Thursday Only (includes Box Lunch) $180 $210 ________- NON MEMBER

o Friday Only - MEMBER $80 $90 ________

o Friday Only - NON MEMBER $90 $100 ________

o Add’l Conference Proceedings USB Drive $25 $25 ________1 included with all Full Registrations

o Guest Program $125 $135 ________

Guest Name for Badge ________________________________________

o * Exhibit Hall Only- (4/6, 4/7) $55 $55 ________(Sorry: No one-day passes available)

FRIDAY FACILITY TOURS QUANTITY

Select tour: ___ x $30 $35 ________o Tour 1: Westside Water Treatment Plant

o Tour 2: Village Creek Water Reclamation Center

o Tour 3: Botanical Research Institute of Texas

EXTRA TICKET QUANTITY

o * Conference Luncheon - WED. ___ x $60 $65 ________

o * Awards Breakfast - THURS. ___ x $35 $35 ________

o I plan to attend the Women Of Water Lunch (Box lunch ticket required;included in Full Registration or Thursday Only. Or purchase ticket below.)

o * Box Lunch - THURS. ___ x $30 $35 ________

o * NEW! Reception - THURS.Texas Rocks: A Water Celebration ___ x $60 $65 ________

o Gloyna Breakfast - FRI. ___ x $35 $35 ________

o Donation “Water for People” - Optional Enter amount of donation: ________

TOTAL PAYMENT (add right column) ______

* included with Full Registration h2

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Built Fast....Built To Last

www.columbiantectank.com

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The new Water Conservation and Stewardship Awardwill be presented by the state's Water ConservationAdvisory Council at Texas Water 2011SM. Deadline forapplication has been extended until Feb. 25.

The award is given to water suppliers that have demon-strated outstanding and innovative commitment to thestate's mission of promoting responsible management ofwater resources as well as conservation of Texas' waterresources.

This award is open to municipalities, wholesale waterproviders, retail water providers, water supply corpora-tions, water supply districts, and utility districts.

An application appears on Page 13. Deadline for appli-cation is Feb. 25; Click to www.texas-water.com orwww.savetexaswater.org for more information.

Deadline extended to applyfor new conservation award

Reduce your carbon footprint:Get your Texas Section

newsletter on-lineTexas AWWA wants to give you the option:

Receive your TEXASH2O newsletter via the Internetor continue to receive your hard-copy newsletter

through the U.S. mail.

Should you choose to receive the on-lineversion only, you will receive TEXASH2O in a highlyreadable format with additional features toenhance your reading experience.

Simply e-mail TAWWA ([email protected])and put "Take me off the mailing list" in yoursubject line.

You'll continue to receive all other AWWAcommunication as usual, but you won't receive ahard-copy TEXASH2O . That will save paper, ink andpostal costs for your Association, but assure youreceive the same great information you're used tofrom the leading water newsletter in Texas.

TEXASH2O remains committed to providing youwith news and information about the world ofTexas water. Whether electronic or paper-and-ink,you can be sure you'll stay connected to the pre-eminent water organization in the state.

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NEWS AND NOTES from Texas Water 2011SM

Donations for Water For People Silent AuctionYou can help raise money for the good work of WaterFor People by donating items to the Silent Auction heldduring Texas Water 2011SM. Silent Auction items caninclude tickets to sporting events, art, wine, clothing,professional memberships, electronics, gift card —anything that may entice bidders.Monetary donations are also welcome.Donations are tax-deductible up to thevalue of the item. To arrange yourdonation, contact Meera Victor [email protected].

Check for hotel vacanciesAt TEXASH2O presstime, the host hotel forTexas Water 2011SM, the Sheraton FortWorth Hotel and Spa was close to beingfull. For suggestion on other hotels, consult the TexasWater website, www.texas-water.com.

Junior Meter MadnessCompetitions are always part of the fun of a Texas Waterconference, and there’s a new contest at Texas Water 2011SM. Watch on Wednesday, April 6, as students from two

high school environmental programs, Waco and Irving,compete in the 1st Annual Master Meter Junior MeterMadness Contest in the Exhibit Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.This will be the first time these students have competed at thestate level, and the rules are the same as for the TAWWA MeterMadness

New Thursday night eventTexas Water 2011SM introduces a newfeature this year — a Thursday eveningreception that celebrates the state’s watercommunity.

TEXAS ROCKS! A WATERCELEBRATION brings attendeestogether from 5:30 to 7:30pm at theFort Worth Convention Center forbeverages and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Theevent gives attendees more free time

Thursday night to get together with other Texas Watercolleagues and enjoy the many attractions that FortWorth has to offer. Tickets for the Water CelebrationReception are $60 if purchased by March 11. Tickets areincluded with full registration and guest program regis-tration. Texas Rocks! A Water Celebration replaces theAnnual Conference Dinner in previous conferences.

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Has your utility done a good job communicating with the public?If so, you can show the world – or at least the Texas Water community – by entering

the annual Watermark competition. Deadline for entries is Jan. 31, 2011, but late entriesmay be accepted. Contact Chair Mary Gugliuzza at [email protected].

There are actually two competitions. One is for members of TAWWA and members ofthe Water Environment Association of Texas. That entry form appears on the opposite page.

Another competition is for news media – print, broadcast or Internet – who havecommunicated on water-related issues. That entry form appears at the bottom of this page.

The competition for members is open to any communication in calendar 2010. Largerutilities – 50,000 connections or more – are judged in a separate category.

The website category includes all types of on-line content, including postings to Twitterand Facebook.

Photographs will be judged in the miscellaneous category, rather than the audio-visualcategory.

A complete set of rules is available on the Texas Water website, www.texas-water.com.In the media competition, utilities may not enter on behalf of the news media. But it’s

okay to encourage your local reporters to enter. That’s a good way to strike up a conversa-tion and get the media thinking about water issues.

Watermark awards recognize media, utilities’ communication

Watermark Media Entry Form

April 5 until the last tour bus returns atnoon Friday, April 8.

A detailed listing of activities,including the traditional AttendeeBrochure, is available at www.texas-water.com. Rather thankilling trees and postal carrier’s backswith a hard-copy piece, Texas Water2011SM is only making the brochureavailable in electronic form. Check it outand let us know what you think.

The Conference Dinner and NightOut on Thursday evening has beenreplaced with an earlier reception —Texas Rocks! A Water Celebration —with music, light snacks and libation.The timing gives more opportunity tonetwork and take advantage of the manyattractions Fort Worth has to offer.

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Continued on the following page

Sunset from Page 6

states to regulate the environment according to federal standards,Texas’ state-specific approach to regulation – through TCEQ –allows it to tailor its efforts to the State’s specific circumstances.The Sunset review offered the opportunity to examine whetherstructural changes could help focus TCEQ’s work. One suchchange would transfer making groundwater protection recom-mendations regarding oil and gas drilling – a RailroadCommission responsibility for which TCEQ has dubious statu-tory authority – to its proper home at the Railroad Commission.

Key Recommendations• Continue the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for12 years. • Transfer the authority for making groundwater protectionrecommendations regarding oil and gas activities from TCEQ tothe Railroad Commission.

Issue 5: TCEQ Does Not Have the Tools Necessary toEffectively Protect Surface Water Availability During Droughtor Emergency Conditions

Texas’ population is projected to more than double by 2060and water demand is expected to increase by 27 percent – makingTCEQ’s responsibility to manage state surface water quantity akey duty in coming years. TCEQ issues and enforces water rightspermits, which are generally allocated by the “first in time, first inright” doctrine, creating senior and junior rights. Although statuteis clear about TCEQ’s authority to manage water rights, the law isless clear about circumstances in which TCEQ can actively curtailthe right to divert state water to protect senior rights and ensureadequate water supplies are available during water shortages andemergencies.

In addition, while statute provides TCEQ with other watermanagement tools, such as requiring drought contingency plansand water use data recordkeeping by water rights holders, the lawstops short of allowing TCEQ to meaningfully use these tools asintermediate steps before requiring more drastic and disruptiverestrictions that come with severe droughts or other emergencies.The recommendations in this issue clarify TCEQ’s regulatorytools to position it to more effectively manage surface water insevere situations, particularly important as water availabilitybecomes more and more critical to the State.

Key Recommendations• Clarify the Executive Director’s authority to curtail water use inwater shortages and times of drought.• Require water rights holders to maintain monthly water-useinformation and allow the Commission to access that informationupon request.• Authorize TCEQ to require implementation of drought contin-gency plans during times of a potential water shortage.

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• Require TCEQ to evaluate the need for additional watermasterprograms.

Water and Wastewater Utility Regulation TransferSupplement to the Sunset Staff Report on PUC

The State Could Benefit from Combining Regulatory FunctionsRelated to Gas and Water Utilities in the Public UtilityCommission

In the reviews of the Railroad Commission and TCEQ, Sunsetstaff found that the agencies’ respective utility responsibilitieshave worked within those organizations and have benefitted fromthese relationships. At the same time, however, Sunset Staff foundthat significant opportunities could be realized from realigningthe regulation of gas utilities and water and wastewater utilities atPUC. Such a realignment would offer benefits from PUC’s exper-tise in utility regulation, a structure for fair and independent deci-sion making, and enhanced opportunities for each agency tofocus on its core mission. Additional opportunities exist forimproving consumer assistance and funding water and wastewaterutility regulations at PUC. The realignment would also addressneeded transitional provisions to work out details for coordi-nating interrelated responsibilities between the agencies,including pipeline safety concerns at the Railroad Commissionand drinking water and environmental regulatory issues atTCEQ.

Key Recommendations• Transfer responsibility for regulating water and wastewater ratesand services from TCEQ to PUC.• Eliminate the existing water and wastewater utility applicationfees and adjust the Water Utility Regulatory Assessment Fee topay for utility regulation at PUC.• Require OPUC to represent residential and small commercialinterests relating to water and wastewater utilities, contingent onthe transfer to PUC.

From the preceding page

Find TCEQ at tceq.texas.govTCEQ e-mail and website addresses are changing, but, don't

worry: the old addresses still work.The change began Jan. 15.The TCEQ is changing employee e-mail addresses to

[email protected] and group e-mail addressesto end in @tceq.texas.gov.

The public website addresses are changing fromwww.tceq.state.tx.us to www.tceq.texas.gov .

You may notice these changes in correspondence you receivefrom the agency, but not because of e-mail bounce-backs andrarely from broken website links. Old e-mail addresses anddomain name will still work for at least five years—however, theTCEQ encourages you to update your bookmarks and e-mailaddress book.

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more motivating than that? And, in our industry, in Texas, thesuperstars are at Texas Water™.

Here are some tips before and when you are at Texas Water:1. Read the conference agenda thoroughly, and select the

sessions that will be most likely to improve your skills.Stay away from the seminars you could almost teachyourself, and "stretch" by hearing about topics you havenot mastered.

2. Ask a professional colleague to become your conferencebuddy, so you can share what you learn. This collabora-tion will bring special benefits when you talk aboutpresentations that only one of you attended.

3. Stay for the entire conference. You never know whatgood information you might miss by arriving late orleaving early.

4. When you attend conference parties, realize that poten-tial employers, clients or business partners are there, too.You are not really "off duty” and this expands your timeto learn and make a difference.

5. Take plenty of business cards, to help new acquaintancesremember you.

6. Tactfully collect as many business cards as you can, soyou can follow up with post cards, e-mails, phone callsand appointments.

7. Become an active participant, asking questions andmaking comments. The topics will take on new life foryou.

8. Spend time in the exhibit hall to see the latest leadingedge products for the water industry AND mingle withyour colleagues.

9. And for you managers and employers: Have youapproved conference attendance for some of youremployees? Then give them this list, and meet withthem for a recap the first week after the conference.

Registration is now open at www.texas-water.com. You canfind complete details here also and check back often forupdates. Texas Water 2011SM is the Largest Regional WaterConference in the U.S.© and it is close to home in one of thebest towns in Texas, Fort Worth.

So, as I wait and see if my package ever gets delivered, I’llplan on seeing you in Fort Worth in April.

I’ll see you (wait for it) THERE, on site, in person at TexasWater 2011SM .

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“We will easily be able to adjust our fluoride to meet the lowerlevels,” said Mary Gugliuzza, the public education coordinator forthe Fort Worth Water Department. “We do have a backgroundlevel of fluoride that’s in our water. Regardless of if we add any,there’s still fluoride there, generally around 0.3 or 0.4 parts permillion. We’re going to target a total level of 0.6 to 0.7 parts permillion.”

Gugliuzza said the utility is planning to make that fluoridelevel adjustment now, even though the new recommended level isonly being proposed.

“If in the future the EPA modifies the MCL, in our case, thatwouldn’t affect us,” Gugliuzza said. “I think the larger concernwould be for some groundwater utilities that may have high levelsof fluoride in their groundwater. It might be an expensive issue forthem.”

San Antonio Water System would not have to make majoradjustments to follow the new proposed level either.

“It won’t be a big adjustment for us,” said Sarah Gatewood,SAWS spokesperson. “We’re just at 0.8 [parts per million] so tochange that to 0.7 will not be a big operational change.”

SAWS has not reached a decision on whether the utility will goahead and decrease the fluoride level to 0.7 parts per million, butit is currently looking into it, according to Gatewood.

The new proposed fluoride level won’t cause any changes forsome utilities, such as the Austin Water Utility, that have keptfluoride levels at the lower end of the standard scale.

“We’re already at 0.7 parts per million,” said Jane Burazer,assistant director of the Austin Water Utility. “Fluoride is natu-rally occurring in our water at about 0.2 parts per million. Webring it up to 0.7 parts per million.”

The new recommended level was reached based on EPA andHHS scientific assessments, including an EPA-requested 2006National Academies of Science report. The study looked into theadverse health effects of fluoride, including dental and boneeffects, and alternate sources of fluoride, such as toothpaste,mouth rinses and fluoride supplements.

The assessments found that children in particular may be overexposed to fluoride now that it’s found in sources besides water.While fluoride has been proven to prevent tooth decay, too muchcan lead to dental fluorosis, which appears as barely visible whitespots on the enamel and in the severe, but rare, form includes thestaining and pitting of tooth surfaces.

One of the EPA reports also found that being exposed to highlevels of fluoride for prolonged periods could increase the risk ofbrittle bones and fractures.

The HHS is planning to publish the final guideline for waterfluoridation by the spring of 2011. A prepublication version ofthe proposed recommendation can be found athttp://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/pre_pub_frn_fluo-ride.html.

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Classified advertisingWater Production Facility Supervisor

Job Description: This position is responsible for oper-ating and maintaining CRMWD's Raw Water ProductionFacility in order to ensure production of Raw Water inaccordance with federal, state, and municipal standards.

Skills Required: Knowledge of water/wastewater treat-ment, including pumps, valves and electrical motors.Knowledge of TCEQ rules. Demonstrate effective publicrelations and public speaking skills. For further explana-tion go to: http://www.crmwd.org/rwpfsup.pdf

Education Required: High School diploma or GED equiv-alent. Basic knowledge of chemistry. Basic knowledgeof math including arithmetic and algebra. Five yearsexperience in public water systems operation. ObtainClass B Surface Water Operator License within 12 monthsof hire, Class C Texas Driver's License.

For CRMWD Application, go to:http://www.crmwd.org/personnel/applicationforem-ployment.pdf. Please fax application and resume to 432-267-3121 or mail to PO Box 869, Big Spring, TX79721

Please call 432-267-6341 and speak to Karla Olivashould you have any questions.

Harris County FWSD # 61 in NW Houston is now takingapplications for a chief operator position. Minimum qual-ification are a B-water and a B-wastewater operator certifi-cations. Offering excellent benefits. Pay depends onexperience. Contact Ken at 281-469-9304 or [email protected] or apply in person at 13205 CypressN. Houston Rd., Cypress, TX 77429

Callahan monitored a $3.5 billion debt portfolio, a $5.1 billionloan portfolio, a $1.2 billion investment portfolio and formulatedand managed a $70 million annual operating budget.

Ward will stay on as Executive Administrator until Feb. 28.Callahan begins as the interim Executive Administrator March 1.

“Kevin Ward has worked hard to lay a solid foundation forthis agency. I’m confident that Melanie will continue to build onhis work to successfully lead us through the legislative session,”Board chairman Edward G. Vaughan said.

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www.mwhglobal.com

7557 Rambler RoadSuite 440Dallas, Texas 75231214.360.9929

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Texas Section CalendarWant to share your event with the Texas water community? Contact Mike Howe, 512-238-9292; fax 512-238-0496.

Check the Section’s website — www.tawwa.org — for the latest information on Section activities.

DATE ACTIVITY TIME LOCATION INFORMATION

Jan. 31 Deadline for Watermark Award Entries (See Story, Page 16) www.texas-water.com/awardsandforms.html

Feb. 7-9 AWWA Basic Water Utility Management Institute Holiday Inn Airport, San Antonio www.tawwa.org(See Story, Page 9)

Feb. 18 Deadline for Conservation & Reuse Division Award Entries (See Story, Page 8) www.texas-water.com/awardsandforms.html

Feb. 25 Deadline for Water Conservation Advisory Council Award Entries (See Story, Page 12) www.texas-water.com/awardsandforms.html

Feb. 27-March 2 Customer Service and AWWA/WEF InterContinental Dallas Hotel www.awwa.orgInformation Management & Technology Conference and Exposition

April 5-8 Texas Water 2011SM Fort Worth Convention Center www.texas-water.com

866-424-7622 www.airmac.com

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