Water Resource Protection

In New Hampshire, most public water systems serve fewer than 500 people and are operated by people working part-time, for little or no pay. While these operators typically do a fine job, they're not full-time drinking water professionals, and many have expressed an interest in a self-help book designed specifically for their needs--a practical guide to understanding and managing their water systems. Soon, the operators will get their wish.

In the fall of 2004, NEIWPCC and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will publish a manual that will cover a wide variety of topics related to operating very small groundwater systems. The manual has been in the works since 2000, when NEIWPCC began working with NH DES's Water Supply Engineering Bureau to develop the guide. Various ideas for organizing and producing the manual have been explored, and during the 2001 and 2002 Annual N.H. Drinking Water Expos, NEIWPCC interviewed many small water system operators to determine their specific needs.

The completed manual will include chapters on protecting groundwater, operation and maintenance of various well types and pump stations, water conservation methods, treatment techniques, sampling methods, financial management, and what to do during emergencies. Once it is published, NEIWPCC and NH DES will hold training sessions to promote the guide and its use.

For more information on the manual, contact Rebecca Weidman, NEIWPCC's Director of Water Resource Protection.