Training
The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) and the Office of Water Programs (OWP) provide a variety of training options for the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater industries.
Grants and Grant Writing for Nevada
Water & Wastewater Utilities
We hosted a free workshop that explored the grant writing process from beginning to end, including real-life examples of winning grants, and a time at the end covering an active Notice of Funding Opportunity (active until November 2024). Topics discussed were: finding grant opportunities, vetting eligibility, understanding how to apply via grants.gov, tips to successful grant writing, resources, and more.
Slides |
Video
Water Audits & Water Loss
Performing an AWWA water audit and quantifying metering inaccuracies (which result in revenue loss)
Water Meter Efficiency Testing & AWWA Water Audits, November 2021
The EFC at Sacramento State provides training on performing water audits to assess system efficiency and evaluate lost revenue as a result of leaks and inaccurate water meters. This effort can be used to identify project needs and track improvement over time.
Slides
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are essential for water utility management applications, but they can be expensive. EFC at Sacramento State provides GIS training that includes:
Data Collection Using Trimble GPS Unit, May 2020
Pre-data collection planning, field data collection, and data post-processing.
Slides |
Video
QGIS Webinar, August 2020
QGIS is a free, open-source software that utilities can use for GIS mapping and analysis. The webinar covered how data is organized in QGIS, how to import information from spreadsheets and other common sources, and several relevant tools. A recording of the webinar is available on the EFCN website
Water Industry Technical, Managerial, and Financial (TMF) Forums
The EFC at Sacramento State hosts and supports forums and workshops on topics of technical, managerial, and financial aspects for various sectors of the water industry, including drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, watershed planning, and flood control. Presentations and recordings of past webinars are now available.
- 2023 Asset Management for Small Water System Operators:
In the Field and Beyond - 2023 Pacific Water Conference Asset Management Workshop
- 2023 Small Water System Funding: The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
- 2022 Climate Resilience Webinar
- 2022 Managing Energy Costs
- 2022 Nevada, Arizona, Utah, California Wastewater Asset Management Workshop
- 2022 California Drinking Water Asset Management Workshop
- 2022 Arizona Stormwater Funding Workshop
- 2021 Nevada Water Funding Webinars
- 2020 Hawaii Water Infrastructure Funding and Financing Forum
- 2019 California Stormwater Asset Management Forum
- 2017 California Stormwater Funding Forums
Workforce Development Training
A skilled workforce is the core of effective water operations. The R9 EFC, together with partners from the EFC Network (EFCN), develops and provides programs and resources for improving competency in current and potential future water utility staff.
In November 2019, the R9 EFC and the EFCN held two webinars focused on workforce development for small water systems. Small water systems often hire new operators who must learn a variety of workplace competencies and technical skills. A credentialing process built on standards-based competencies can prepare new operators to meet the demands of small water systems. The first webinar, Ready to Work: Creating a Competency-Based Credential for the Water Sector, provided a framework for developing a Water Workforce Readiness credential to prepare high-school students for work in the water industry. The Department of Labor Competency Model was a particular highlight. The second webinar, Creating a Water Workforce Pre-Apprenticeship, outlined steps to build a pathway to apprenticeship through a skills-based pre-apprenticeship program.
OWP Training for Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Practitioners
The EFC resides within Sacramento State's Office of Water Programs
(OWP). OWP's training group develops and implements programs and publishes training materials for operators, managers, and inspectors in the water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and stormwater management industries. All training is offered as distance learning, using correspondence, video, or computer-based formats with opportunities to earn continuing education and contact hours for operators, supervisors, managers, and administrators.