Arkansas Rural Water Association FALL 2017 FROM YOUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Dennis Sternberg Arkansas Rural Water Association Celebrates give a special thank you to 40th Annual Technical Conference all the exhibitors who used 119 booths displaying their I would like to thank everyone who participated in the products at ARWA’s 40th Arkansas Rural Water Association’s 40th Annual Technical Annual Technical Conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas, September 10-13, 2017. Conference. This year’s conference featured five different concurrent ses- A special thank you to sions with something for everyone depending on your posi- Terry Fortenberry and the tion with your utility. This was the first year ARWA had to many companies that donat- open up Exhibit Hall “A & B” for exhibit space. We had a ed gifts to the Arkansas Rural Water Association’s State PAC total of 119 booths with exhibitors displaying their latest and to everyone who purchased tickets to win those prizes. products in the water and wastewater industry. Hopefully, This year’s Arkansas Rural Water State PAC raffle was a huge everyone had a chance to stop by the booths and visit with success by raising over $4,000. Thanks to everyone who each of the exhibitors to discuss their products and how their participated. products or services can assist you in your time of need. The Ladies program was another hit this year. I had lots of Speakers are to be thanked for all their hard work and time in compliments from the ladies program, which can only be helping educate the membership in the five different concur- credited to Carol and Robert McKinnon’s hard work they put rent sessions on new products and regulations. into it. Thanks to both Carol and Robert for all your hard Hopefully, everyone attended the Sunday night ARWA work putting this together for the past several years. Welcome Social held at the Hotel Hot Springs, Sunday from A special thank you also goes to National Rural Water 6:00 pm till 10:00 pm. A special Thank You goes out to Bob Association who provided a $500 gift card for the ARWA Wright with Crews & Associates who sponsored the drinks for Federal Water PAC raffle. Also, another $500 gift card was this year’s ARWA Welcome Social. Thank You to Rural Water donated by myself with monies going to the Federal Water Impact who also helped sponsor some of the food for this PAC. Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets to win the event. two $500 gift cards which made this year’s event a great I am hopeful that all who attended the Monday luncheon success. enjoyed the Hot Springs VFW presentation of the flag and the I would like to thank all the systems that competed in the bugler who played taps in “Honor of 9-11-2001” and the Fun Arkansas Great Water Taste Test at this year’s conference. A City Chorus who sang at the luncheon. thank you to this year’s Water Taste Test Judges, Newton ARWA presented 20 scholarships at the Monday luncheon White, Baye Jones and Hal Smith. Congratulations goes out to to member system dependents who applied for the Ernie the City of Bono, Arkansas for being selected the BEST Tasting Faucett Scholarship. Crews & Associates, Core & Main and Water for 2017. The City of Bono will go on to compete in Aquasure (Risk Services) have been great partners with ARWA Washington D.C. at the Great American Water Taste Test at supporting this great benefit for member systems. ARWA had the National Rural Water Association Water Rally, February over 40 applications submitted but could only provide schol- 5-7, 2018. arships to a total of 20. All scholarships are decided by the This year’s Annual Conference Golf Tournament was held luck of the draw. on Sunday, September 10, 2017 at Diamond Head Golf Course The Monday night dance was held at the Hotel Hot Springs in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I want to thank CoBank for hosting bar and was a great success from everyone’s comments that the refreshments for all the golfers who played and a thank attended. ARWA thanks Core & Main (HD Supply) for spon- you to APAC for donating a sleeve of golf balls to each player. soring the “Billstown Band” and CoBank for sponsoring drink The group appeared to have a great day of golf on a very tickets for those who attended the dance. beautiful golf course. I would like to thank Jennifer McLain, Acting Deputy Again, a special thank you to everyone that attended Office Director of the office of Ground Water and Drinking ARWA’s 40th Annual Technical Conference this year. Because Water for attending the conference and speaking at the of your support, the Conference was a huge success. Thank Tuesday luncheon and updating everyone on regulations. You to the ARWA staff for working to put on another great ARWA membership elected two new board members this conference. year. Bryan Smith with Grand Prairie RWDD, replacing Phil So, mark your calendars for next year’s ARWA 41st Annual Miesner who is retiring and Jesse McKinnon, from Lisbon Technical Conference September 9-12, 2018 to be held at the Water PWA, replacing Roy Dison who is no longer in the Hot Springs Convention Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas. water business. Thanks for all your support in the past and for your con- ARWA had a total attendance at this year’s conference of tinued support in the future. If you have any questions, please 1061 water and wastewater industry personnel. I would like to feel free to contact ARWA at 501-676-2255. 2 | FALL 2017 | WaterInsight From Your Chief Executive Officer . .2 Best Tasting Water In Arkansas – City of Bono . .4 ARWA Golf Tournament . .5 Thank You To All Exhibitors . 6 2017 Special Exhibitor Drawing . .7 Arkansas Rural Water Association 2017 State Water Pac Raffle Winners . 8-9 2017 Aquasure Grill/Federal Water Pac Winners . 8 Working To Improve Life In Rural Arkansas 2017 Ernie Faucett Scholarship Winners . 10-11 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2017 ARWA Conference Cash Winners . 12 PRESIDENT 2017 4-Wheeler Winner . .12 Greg Cross — Greenwood 2017 Arkansas Rural Water Conference . .13-14 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT John Choate — Russellville 2017 Exhibit Hall Food/Beverage Sponsors . .15 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Tate House — Searcy 2017 Polo/Hat Sponsors . 15 SECRETARY Risk Services/INSURICA – Lockout/Tagout Safety . 18 Robert Stout — Jacksonville TREASURER Energy Saving Tips by Tee Easley . .20 David Harper — New Edinburg Rural Cooking submitted by Elizabeth Shelton . .22 NRWA DIRECTOR Steve Wear — Morrilton Letters and E-Mails . 24-25 MEMBERS CoBank – Trends That Every Water Board Butch Bartholomew – West Fork Bobby Brown – McDougal Needs To Know . 28-29 Benjy Hildebrand – Smackover Greg Hooten – Guy Water Operator License Examinations . 30 Noble McCord – Salem Jesse A. McKinnon – El Dorado Fall 2017 by James Philipp . 31 Bradley Scheffler – Piggott Bryan Smith – Stuttgart 2017 ARWA Training Schedule . 33 Cecil Zolliecoffer – Ozark Doug Wasson – Harrison Advertisers Index . .35 ARWA STAFF Cover Photos Dennis Sternberg, CEO Roark Bluff Buffalo River Jeff Ford, Deputy Director Magazine Editor – Fatina Dodson Fatina Dodson, Executive Secretary Donna McGaha, Accountant Kathryn Mashburn, Receptionist Jim Philipp, Training Specialist ARWA Mission Statement Susan Poe, Wastewater Trainer/Technician Shelby Townsley, Wastewater Trainer/Technician To provide Arkansas’ Rural Water Utilities the highest level of Jim Barkie, Circuit Rider Training and Technical Services in order to obtain Terry Fortenberry, Circuit Rider/Trainer Tim Carey, Circuit Rider Quality Water at the lowest possible cost. Chris Harris, Circuit Rider Jimmy Ogden, Circuit Rider Roy Richards, Circuit Rider Arkansas Rural Water Association is a non-profit organization of rural Tee Easley, Energy Tech and small publicly owned water and wastewater systems. Our goal is to David Quattlebaum, USDA Source Water enhance the lives of Arkansans. Our efforts to achieve this goal are Technician focused on providing training and technical assistance to the managers The ARWA Magazine is published quarterly by and operators of all eligible systems serving populations not greater than ARWA 10,000. We work with other non-profit organizations in representing the P.O. Box 860, Lonoke, AR 72086 interest of public water and wastewater systems at both the local and Phone (501) 676-2255 Fax (501) 676-2266 national levels. E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] • ARWA is affiliated with the National Rural Water Association • Web page: arkansasruralwater.org conttents WaterInsight | FALL 2017 | 3 Best Tasting Water in Arkansas City of Bono Name of Project: Tornillo – Guadalupe Land Port of Entry Location: Tornillo, TX Gallons/Type of water: 46,666 Potable Water GC or Engineer: Turner Construction Company Officials at the Arkansas Rural Water Association (ARWA) have found the best-tasting water in Arkansas. On September 12, 2017, the winner of the state-wide competition was announced in an effort to identify the tastiest rural water in the state and, participants hope, in the nation. Small and rural water utilities from around the state submitted samples of their water, straight from the tap. The winner of the event was the City of Bono, whose water sample was chosen by judges as the most appeal- ing. “It tasted clean, pure and refreshing,” stated the judges. Name of Project: The Falls Location: Edmund, OK Gallons/Type of water 398,022 Potable Water Owner: City of Edmund, OK GC or Engineer: Caleb McCaleb (GC) Johnson & Associates (Engineer) “Because of the quality of this water, Arkansas has a good chance at the national taste test in Washington, Next time you need water or wastewater storage tanks D.C.” added Arkansas Rural Water Association CEO, GO WITH THE BRAND YOU KNOW AND TRUST - AQUASTORE! Dennis Sternberg.