Complete Story
 

08/01/2022

Mass DEP "In The Main" Newsletter 2022-07-29

Drinking Water Updates and More

MassDEP Holds Successful Briefing on New EPA PFAS Health Advisory

On June 15, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released four drinking water Health Advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). EPA issued final values for GenX and PFBS and interim values for PFOS and PFOA. These advisories are non-enforceable and non-regulatory and provide technical information to states’ agencies and other public health officials. They were set to be protective for all consumers drinking water over a lifetime. EPA is also developing a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for PFOS and PFOA. The proposed regulation is expected before the end of 2022 and a final regulation is expected in 2023.

In response to these federal actions, on July 20, 2022, MassDEP held a briefing for Public Water Suppliers and other interested stakeholders explaining the new EPA PFAS Health Advisories. The briefing also covered how MassDEP is responding to the new advisory levels, what they mean for the Massachusetts PFAS regulations, and funding opportunities available to PWSs dealing with PFAS contamination of their drinking water supplies. MassDEP saw a strong show of interest for this event, with close to 300 registrants and over 170 attendees.

The briefing presentation and compiled questions and answers will be posted to MassDEP’s PFAS webpage here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas.

MassDEP Conference Calls

MassDEP’s Commissioner Suuberg holds quarterly meetings to discuss pertinent water supply topics.  The link to MassDEP’s webpage, where recordings of Commissioner Suuberg’s calls with the operators as well as FAQs for both water supply and wastewater are published is: https://www.mass.gov/lists/covid-19-information-for-drinking-water-and-wastewater-operators.​  

The next call with Commissioner Suuberg is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 2:00 PMNote:  Please email all drinking water questions to MassDEP at program.director-dwp@mass.gov.  

Join Zoom Meeting          https://zoom.us/j/550814507          Meeting ID: 550 814 507

One tap mobile
+19294362866,,550814507# US (New York)
+13126266799,,550814507# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

        +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 301 715 8592 US
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US

Meeting ID: 550 814 507

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/anAJCjR7G

Training Calendar

When you need training, please look at the training calendar located at: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/drinking/drinking-water-training-class-schedules.html.

Board of Certification Training Page and List of Approved Courses

You may also want to go to the Board of Certification of Operators of Drinking Water Supply Facilities Operators training page and view the approved education courses to sit for examination.  Go to: https://www.mass.gov/doc/drinking-water-board-approved-education-courses-updated-september-2020/download.

Some Newly Added Trainings on the Calendar

  • MassDEP

Previous Cybersecurity Trainings now on YouTube:

  • Environmental Finance Center Network

For a complete list of trainings webinars and in-person trainings please go to: https://efcnetwork.org/upcoming-events/

  • EPA

For a complete list of trainings, webinars and in-person trainings, please go to:

https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/drinking-water-training.

  • Mass Rural Water Association

For a complete list of trainings, webinars and in-person trainings, please go to:  https://www.massrwa.org/p/14/Trainings—Events.

  • MWWA

For a complete list of trainings, webinars and in-person trainings, please go to:

MWWA Calendar

  • NEWWA

For a complete list of trainings, webinars and in-person trainings, please go to: https://communityhub.newwa.org/nc__upcomingevents.

  • Water ISAC

For a complete list of trainings, webinars and in-person trainings, please go to:

https://www.waterisac.org/resources.

  • RCAP Solutions

For a complete list of trainings, webinars and in-person trainings, please go to:  http://www.rcapsolutions.org/community-resources-events/.

  • AWWA

For a complete list of trainings, webinars and in-person trainings, please go to:  https://www.awwa.org/Events-Education/Events-Calendar?utm_term=AWWA+Connections+10-8-2021&utm_content=Connections+10-8-2021&utm_source=communications&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=connections.

Training Refresher

If you need a refresher on recently given trainings, you can review several training videos located at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJn2AKOcYr7lutGJB-UfDKtQPF_o_249m 

Printer-Friendly Version