A Statewide Database for Local Wastewater Management and Onsite

Wastewater Resource Center

18th Annual NPS Conference

May 21-23, 2007

Lorraine Joubert, RI NEMOUniversity of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension

TopicsTopicsResources for Wastewater Managers at the URI Onsite Wastewater Resource Center website

RIWIS – A new Statewide Database for Local Wastewater Management

Summary

Onsite Wastewater Resource Center website

www.uri.edu/ce/wq/RESOURCES/wastewater

Designed for wastewater managers as a guide to the entire process of establishing a Wastewater Management Program.

Provides materials freely available to download and use directly or adapt.

A work in progress - to be completed summer 2007

Created to make results and products of the Block Island and

Green Hill Pond Watershed Community Wastewater

Demonstration Project available to other communities.

Website Purpose:Make practical results and products of the Block Island and Green Hill Pond Watershed Community Wastewater Demonstration Project available to other communities.

The Demonstration Project:A joint effort by three Rhode Island towns and URI Cooperative Extension

Goal: Establish comprehensive local wastewater management programs in each community using a watershed approach with selective use of advanced treatment systems to protect critical groundwater supplies and sensitive coastal waters.

Created to make results and products of the Block Island and

Green Hill Pond Watershed Community Wastewater

Demonstration Project available to other communities.

Main Components of website

• Local Wastewater Management in RI

• Onsite System basics – conventional and advanced treatment systems.

• Wastewater Manager’s ToolKit

• Research, assessment and monitoring

• Resources – Workshop, publications.

““Management BlocksManagement Blocks””Sequence of steps for Sequence of steps for implementing inspection implementing inspection program.program.

Downloadable letters for Downloadable letters for communication with system communication with system owners and inspectors. owners and inspectors.

Each letter accompanied by Each letter accompanied by suggested attachments such suggested attachments such as: as:

Inspection procedures, Inspection procedures, List of townList of town--registered registered service providers, service providers, Financial aid information.Financial aid information.

www.uri.edu/ce/wq/RESOURCES/wastewater

Sample letters to system owners with factsheets and other information organized for input into RIWIS.

Sample factsheets on inspection procedures,

pumpouts, access risers and filters, system care,

and others readily accessible.

SummarySummaryThe URI online resource center provides The URI online resource center provides resources to communities looking to establish, resources to communities looking to establish, implement, or expand a wastewater implement, or expand a wastewater management programmanagement programPractical easy to use materials based on proven Practical easy to use materials based on proven municipal experience.municipal experience.Management blocks with procedures and Management blocks with procedures and supporting materials to be further developed and supporting materials to be further developed and incorporated into RIWIS with local input.incorporated into RIWIS with local input.

www.uri.edu/ce/wq/RESOURCES/wastewater

TopicsTopicsResources for Wastewater Managers at the URI Onsite Wastewater Resource Center website

RIWIS – A new Statewide Database for Local Wastewater Management

Summary

RIWIS the Rhode Island Wastewater Information System

A new Statewide Database for Local Wastewater Management

RIWIS BackgroundRIWIS Background

There is a recognized need for a stateThere is a recognized need for a state--wide wide computerized wastewater information computerized wastewater information management system.management system.There is an urgent need for stateThere is an urgent need for state--wide wide tracking of performance, operation and tracking of performance, operation and maintenance of large flow and I&A systems.maintenance of large flow and I&A systems.Several RI communities are using Several RI communities are using CarmodyCarmodyTMTM, 2 towns having switched after , 2 towns having switched after considerable investment in other tracking considerable investment in other tracking programs.programs.

RIWIS Inception RIWIS Inception In December of 2005, URI Cooperative In December of 2005, URI Cooperative Extension applied for a grant to develop a Extension applied for a grant to develop a standardized statestandardized state--wide information wide information system for onsite systemssystem for onsite systems

Several communities and nonSeveral communities and non--government government organizations wrote strong letters of organizations wrote strong letters of support.support.

We did not get the grant but interest was We did not get the grant but interest was still strong to find other ways to fund the still strong to find other ways to fund the projectproject

Moving Forward: Sponsorship ProgramMoving Forward: Sponsorship Program

Scott Scott CarmodyCarmody presented concept of RIWIS presented concept of RIWIS Sponsorship program to URI Sponsorship program to URI

RIWIS would be funded by industry sponsors RIWIS would be funded by industry sponsors and provided essentially free of charge to URI, and provided essentially free of charge to URI, RIDEM, other state agencies, and Rhode Island RIDEM, other state agencies, and Rhode Island CommunitiesCommunities

Representing a substantial cost savings to Representing a substantial cost savings to communitiescommunities

RIWIS RIWIS –– Now up and running with Now up and running with private sponsorsprivate sponsors

Common QuestionsCommon Questions1.1. What are the benefits of webWhat are the benefits of web--based based

tracking program?tracking program?2.2. How does a How does a ““sponsorship programsponsorship program””

work?work?3.3. How is RIWIS a State program?How is RIWIS a State program?4.4. How can my community benefit from How can my community benefit from

RIWIS?RIWIS?

Benefits of a WebBenefits of a Web--Based Based Tracking ProgramTracking Program

Access from any internet connectionAccess from any internet connectionPassword protectedPassword protectedSecure with daily backSecure with daily back--up up Easy to link with other databases and GISEasy to link with other databases and GISEnhances coordination among service Enhances coordination among service providers, communities, and the stateproviders, communities, and the stateFacilitates interFacilitates inter--agency communicationagency communication

Capable of Tracking :Capable of Tracking :Inspection and compliance informationInspection and compliance informationPumpPump--out records out records Permit informationPermit informationNOVNOV’’ss and correspondenceand correspondenceCesspool phase outCesspool phase outMaintenance of enhanced treatment systemsMaintenance of enhanced treatment systemsCommercial, large and high flow systemsCommercial, large and high flow systemsAlternative and innovative systems with Alternative and innovative systems with multiple components in treatment trainmultiple components in treatment trainSampling / monitoring results and analyses Sampling / monitoring results and analyses

Automatic Inventory and Automatic Inventory and Notification ServicesNotification Services

Systems needing inspectionsSystems needing inspectionsOverdue inspectionsOverdue inspections

Systems that failed inspectionSystems that failed inspection

Systems needing repair or maintenanceSystems needing repair or maintenance

Other Municipal Capabilities :Other Municipal Capabilities :Pavement Management ProgramPavement Management ProgramHarbor / Mooring Permit DatabaseHarbor / Mooring Permit DatabaseOnline PermittingOnline PermittingGIS CompatibilityGIS Compatibility& More& More…………

How is RIWIS A State How is RIWIS A State Program?Program?

Often confused w/ DEM ProgramOften confused w/ DEM ProgramRIWIS is a state program in the sense that RIWIS is a state program in the sense that it unites all sectors of RI wastewater it unites all sectors of RI wastewater managementmanagementURI and URI and CarmodyCarmody have developed a have developed a simple, standardized format that is Plugsimple, standardized format that is Plug--nn--Play compatible for all RI Communities.Play compatible for all RI Communities.Each sector / user will essentially have their Each sector / user will essentially have their own databaseown database

RIDEM’S ROLE

Will make ISDS Permit & Application data Will make ISDS Permit & Application data available to participating communitiesavailable to participating communitiesThis data will provides a barebones This data will provides a barebones ““statestate””databasedatabaseProvide periodic updates to RIWISProvide periodic updates to RIWISAccess to this information allows communities Access to this information allows communities start building start building wwmwwm program before adopting program before adopting ordinances.ordinances.May use RIWIS to track performance of large May use RIWIS to track performance of large systems subject to DEM permit requirements.systems subject to DEM permit requirements.

URI’S ROLE

Worked with Worked with CarmodyCarmody on RIWIS concepton RIWIS conceptWith towns, developed With towns, developed ““management blocksmanagement blocks””to ease community WWMto ease community WWMWorked with RIDEM to acquire permit Worked with RIDEM to acquire permit databasedatabaseMay use monitoring data to research and May use monitoring data to research and evaluate system performance in future. evaluate system performance in future. Provide regular training and technical support Provide regular training and technical support to RIWIS usersto RIWIS users

Service Provider Benefits

Consistent Reporting for All CommunitiesConsistent Reporting for All CommunitiesOne Username & PasswordOne Username & PasswordFree Management ProgramFree Management Program

Can Track When Clients are due for serviceCan Track When Clients are due for serviceNotify Communities when client doesnNotify Communities when client doesn’’t renew contractt renew contractInstant access to client informationInstant access to client informationSecure & Password ProtectedSecure & Password ProtectedDifferent levels of access keep private information Different levels of access keep private information safe, while automatically reporting required information safe, while automatically reporting required information to state and communitiesto state and communities

Community Benefits

Consistent with other townsConsistent with other townsEasy access to state informationEasy access to state informationFlexibility!Flexibility!PrePre--set inspection reports, fact sheets, and letters set inspection reports, fact sheets, and letters that communities can use & edit with specific that communities can use & edit with specific town requirementstown requirementsEssentially FREE ($100 a year membership)Essentially FREE ($100 a year membership)

SummarySummaryRIWIS is an inexpensive but powerful RIWIS is an inexpensive but powerful management program that provides service management program that provides service providers and communities with their own providers and communities with their own database, that has access to RIDEM data, and database, that has access to RIDEM data, and is compatible with proven is compatible with proven ““management blocksmanagement blocks””developed by URI with towns.developed by URI with towns.6 RI towns have joined and many others have 6 RI towns have joined and many others have expressed interested. expressed interested. Together, Wastewater Resource Center and Together, Wastewater Resource Center and RIWIS provide major support for local RIWIS provide major support for local wastewater management.wastewater management.

RI HEALTH supports RI NEMO outreach to municipalities to protect drinking water sources.

The Town of Jamestown is working with URI to provide training and technical support to RI municipalities in use of RIWIS .

The Onsite Wastewater Resource Center was developed under the EPA Block Island and Green Hill Pond Watershed Community Wastewater Demonstration Project in partnership with the towns of South Kingstown, New Shoreham and Charlestown.

Thank you to our funding agencies and partners:

ResourcesOnsite Wastewater Resource Center: www.uri.edu/ce/wq/RESOURCES/wastewater

To learn more about RIWIS contact Scott Carmody:CarmodyTM Tel: 608-846-0234Carmody Website: www.carmody.bizRIWIS web: www.RIWIS.org

Lorraine Joubert, RI NEMOURI Cooperative ExtensionTel: 401-874-2138, ljoubert@uri.eduwww.uri.edu/ce/wq/

New England Onsite Wastewater Training CenterGeorge Loomis and David KalenTel: 401-874-4558, gloomis@uri.eduwww.uri.edu/ce/wq/