The Clean Water Act turned 40 in 2012

Are you familiar with the Clean Water Act (CWA)? A few months ago, in 2012 the CWA celebrated 40 years. EPA gives us this definition from section 33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq. (1972)

“The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. The basis of the CWA was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but the Act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name with amendments in 1972.”

It is easy to take a readily available resource like water for granted. Imagine if you will what the status of all the water in the USA today would be like without the CWA in place. The water quality standards and the regulations in place with this act help to ensure our drinking water is safe. To learn more about this landmark Act visit: Environmental Protection Agency. You can also learn more about Water, Wastewater and Water Conservation at UF TREEO.

New HUD Guidelines

Newly revised HUD Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing (2012) are available to view on-line.

WASHINGTON - To help ensure families protect their children from lead poisoning, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced new Guidelines on how to identify and control lead-based paint and related hazards in housing, and to help property owners, government agencies, and private contractors sharply reduce childhood exposure to lead without unnecessarily increasing the cost of renovation. This second edition of the Guidelines replaces the 1995 edition.

These Guidelines can be used by those who are required to identify and control lead paint hazards, as well as property owners, landlords, and child-care center operators. They offer helpful advice on renovations in older housing, lead-based paint inspections and risk assessments, and where to go for help. The Guidelines also outline what users have to do to meet requirements and recommendations; identify training - and if applicable, certification - required for people who conduct the work; and describe how the work should be done.

Guidelines complement regulations that have been issued by HUD, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and policies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Check with UF TREEO ff you need training for Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting.

Earn Your GGP Certification

You can earn the Green Globes Professional designation (GGP) through the Certificate program being offered at UF TREEO. The Green Globes building assessment and certification program is supported by independent Green Globes Professionals (GGPs). Until now, qualified individuals went through an online training program offered by the Green Building Initiative to enable them to serve as consultants facilitating the building certification process. Future GGPs have the option of taking a two day instructor-led course offered through UF TREEO, the University of Florida’s environmental and sustainability training center. Learn more about this course and the excellent faculty delivering it. This is a new opportunity for UF TREEO to provide more training options to Green Industry Professionals. The first offering of this course was October 2012 and the course is being scheduled quarterly, so if you don't want to miss the next offering be sure to sign-up to receive email updates.

Training and Behavior Change

Our lives are a series of habits occasionally interrupted by a thought... One of the questions I frequently receive during the UF TREEO Train-the-Trainer class relates to change, 'how can I train my employees to make a change involving safety;' how can I encourage water conservation from my customers.’ No matter how the question is phrased or who the audience is, it is all about creating a change in behavior. These are a few selected slides from the course that touch on the subject of behavior change, which always provokes great discussion in the class. [Selected Slides]

According to Jim Clemmer, of the Clemmer Group, "Research clearly shows far more people act themselves into a new way of thinking than think themselves into a new way of acting." Participants need to know what expectations they can have of the session so the objectives must be realistic and not “over-promise.” (Ten Tips to Make Training and Development Work, Training Transfer Case Study)

We hope to see you in our next training session scheduled for June 5-7, 2013 in Gainesville.

The 23rd Annual Cross-Connection Control Conference is being held in Daytona Beach FL again this year on Mar. 6-7, 2013. Many important topics will be presented such as the history of backflow prevention, FDEP proposed rule changes and water plant and backflow prevention security to name a few. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines Cross-connections as actual or potential connections between a potable water supply and a non-potable source, where it is possible for a contaminant to enter the drinking water supply. This annual conference is a must for anyone working with cross connections and the backflow prevention industry. This event is planned to help these professionals receive CEUs, as well as numerous opportunites to learn and network with peers. Click here for a brochure.

UF TREEO Water Conservation Certificate Program

How many of you have experienced a roller coaster ride or perhaps have had friends or family members share their excited experiences with you about their adventure. Well, I tell you working on and managing the creation of the UF TREEO Water Conservation Certificate Program has been very much like riding a roller coaster. We have spent the last several years meeting, planning, creating, preparing and developing a series of eight courses for an online Water Conservation Certificate Program and I wish this was an announcement of the Program’s completion, however it is not. The purpose of this post is keep you apprised of our development progress to ensure that everyone will be aware of the day they can register for the program. We chose to develop this certificate program because currently, there is no formal training program in Florida for individuals who specialize in water conservation. Unlike some of the national programs that exist, this program has courses that are developed by Florida experts for Florida practitioners. The benefits of the Water Conservation Certificate Program are far-reaching and ongoing, as individuals will be continuously trained. They will in turn implement their learning on their jobs, which will ultimately impact the utilities, water management districts and the customers/communities they serve. The benefits include but are not limited to the following: • Implementation of water conservation programs • Reduced water needs for Florida (nation) • Reduced energy costs • Reduced maintenance costs • Awareness and general knowledge of landscaping and irrigation • More efficient landscape replacement and maintenance • Accuracy in monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting • Water conservation outreach and education to the community • Savings of capital projects to communities Stay with us and watch us grow, within the next few months we will have a few courses in the program ready for enrollment.