EPA Reports on Water Capacity Dev. Efforts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov) published two new documents, titled “National Capacity Development Strategic Plan” and “Analysis on the Use of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set-Asides: Promoting Capacity Development.” The reports are designed to help improve the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of water systems.

The “National Capacity Development Strategic Plan” describes how the EPA, state drinking water programs, drinking water system owners and operators, and technical assistance providers will work together to achieve the objectives and anticipated outcomes of the national capacity development program. The strategy outlines how the EPA and its partners will promote proactive communication and outreach to help ensure that water systems have the capacity to demonstrate long-term sustainability. According to the EPA, funding made available through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program can be critical in advancing capacity development programs at the state level.

The “Analysis on the Use of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set-Asides: Promoting Capacity Development” report provides information on how states have used their funds and will help state drinking water personnel, drinking water system owners and operators, and technical assistance providers to better understand how the DWSRF can support supporting capacity development programs and the EPA”s sustainable infrastructure initiative.

For information about the EPA’s water capacity development program and to download the reports detailed here, visit www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsys/ssinfo.htm.