Bredesen Announces Recovery Act Funding Available for Small Drinking Water Systems

NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke have announced the availability of $200,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help Tennessee drinking water systems hire and train the next generation of drinking water professionals in Tennessee. The Drinking Water Mentoring Initiative will provide up to 10 one-year grants to drinking water systems serving fewer than 10,000 people in counties with an unemployment rate of more than 10 percent. 

 

“This Recovery Act funding will help smaller communities in our state train and certify the water quality professionals responsible for providing Tennesseans with clean, reliable water,” said Bredesen. “This will provide valuable training and jobs and help ensure our drinking water systems are managed to protect public health.”

 

The funding for the Drinking Water Mentoring Initiative comes from the Fleming Training Center, which receives two percent of the federal funding granted to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. In 2009, the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund received approximately $20 million in Recovery Act funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Under the Mentoring Initiative, the state will use a portion of the Fleming Training Center Recovery Act funding to offer free training, materials and $15,100 in salary support for small water systems across Tennessee. The remaining funds will be utilized for other Fleming Training Center programs.

 

“This Recovery Act funding provides an opportunity to help small water systems ensure consistency in operations and water quality by helping them train the next generation of certified operators,” said Fyke.

 

The Department of Environment and Conservation sent letters to 202 water systems that qualify for the grants and applications will be judged on Aug. 24, 2009. Grant recipients must hire and retain trainees for at least 12 months, and they are encouraged to foster a mentoring relationship with trained personnel on staff. Environment and Conservation staff will make site visits throughout the year to ensure trainees are being adequately mentored. All training classes will be held at the Fleming Training Center, which is operated by the Department of Environment and Conservation and provides water and wastewater training, certification and technical assistance to water and wastewater systems across the state.