Check out this blog from the SU Environmental Finance Center! Available in both English and Spanish, this blog discusses the challenges community aqueducts in Puerto Rico face, as well as their resiliency following natural disasters like Hurricane Fiona.
News
Virtual Event: State and Federal Funding, Financing, and Resources for Municipal Infrastructure Roundtable Discussions
Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT
Location: Online via Zoom
Description: Are you interested in learning more about funding and financing municipal infrastructure in your town or village? At the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center (SU-EFC)’s upcoming webinar, you can learn about funding opportunities for safe and clean water management, renewable energy, and other community investments from state and federal agency representatives.
Presenters included representatives from:
- New York State Homes and Community Renewal
- New York State Departments of State, Health, & Environmental Conservation
- New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation
- US Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
Questions? Please contact Jes Eckerlin, jeschn01@syr.edu
Presentation Slides and Resources to Download:
- Funding Source Guide: Resiliency Funding Sources for New York State Watersheds and Water Infrastructure
- Presenter Contact List
- CDBG Funding Opportunities for Municipalities (slides), NYS Homes and Community Renewal
- Water and Environmental Programs (slides), USDA, Rural Development
- Accessing Federal and State Water and Sewer Funding (slides), NYS EFC & DOH
- Water Quality Improvement Projects and Non-Ag Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant (slides), NYS DEC
Who should attend:
Consulting engineers
Fiscal advisors
Water utility managers
Municipal board members
Elected officials
And others interested in clean and safe water for New York communities!
This virtual event is supported under a grant by the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in the webinar are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Rural Utilities Service.
Webinar: Introduction to the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network
Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Time: 10:00am-11:00am EST
Description:
Scientific breakthroughs show that levels of coronavirus genetic material in wastewater systems can provide an unbiased measure of coronavirus transmission for a community to guide public policy and response to the pandemic.
This free, 1-hour webinar introduces the New York State wastewater-based epidemiology network. The network provides real-time monitoring of wastewater for coronavirus RNA. In collaboration with the New York State Department of Health and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Dr. David Larsen’s team is working to scale a wastewater surveillance network across New York State to aid the response to public health threats.
By January 2022, this new network aims to include at least one wastewater treatment plant in each New York State county to monitor for COVID-19. Join us to learn more about the current progress for monitoring wastewater for public health benefit and ask questions about the network during a facilitated discussion. Wastewater treatment staff are encouraged to attend.
For additional information, check out the Wastewater Surveillance Network website!
Presenters:
- David A. Larsen, PhD MPH, Associate Professor and MPH Director, Falk College Department of Public Health, Syracuse University
- Mary B. Collins, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- Dustin T. Hill, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Falk College Department of Public Health, Syracuse University
Webinar Resources to Download:
- NY State Wastewater Surveillance for COVID-19, Presentation Slides
- Tracking COVID-19 with Wastewater, Nature Biotechnology article
- NYS Governor Press Release
- SU Falk College Press Release
Partners:
This webinar is organized by Syracuse University Falk College Department of Public Health and the SU Environmental Finance Center, and is co-sponsored by the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) and NYS Water Resources Institute.
Advancing Community Resilience to Lake-level Flooding – New Resource Page
Check out SU-EFC’s new webpage of resources focused on Wayne County, New York. Find innovative tools to explore flood risk for property parcels along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
Photo Credits: Coastal Flooding Survey Project, Cornell University and New York Sea Grant
Webinar: Developing Resilient Stormwater Systems with a Municipal Downspout Disconnect and Green Infrastructure Program
Presentation Date: November 15, 2021
10:00am-11:30am ET
Approved for 1 CEC for Certified Floodplain Managers by ASFPM. Registrants must have attended the full duration of the live broadcast on November 15, 2021 to receive a certificate of attendance. Each viewer must register and attend individually, and participate for the entire duration of the webinar. Attendees, please contact adavis02@syr.edu to request a certificate of attendance.
Increasing intensity and duration of rainfall events and impervious surfacesare causing runoff that can overwhelm stormwater and combined stormwater/sewer systems. High flows into aging, undersized systems can result in localized flooding and overwhelming flows to municipal water treatment facilities.
One strategy to reduce runoff into stormwater systems is to implement municipal downspout disconnect and green infrastructure programs. Disconnecting downspout connections and redirecting the water to green infrastructure reduces runoff into pipes and roads and results in: cost savings for wastewater utilities, decreased combined sewer overflow events, reduced demand on already stressed and aging pipes, and reduced stormwater runoff in neighborhoods and local waterways.
This free, 90-minute webinar provided an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the regulatory, financing, and implementation of a coupled disconnect/GI municipal program from experts who have experience working with municipalities to implement these types of projects. Participants learned how these approaches can – and have – helped NYS communities manage their stormwater.
Speakers
- Andy Sansone, Industrial Waste Engineer, Monroe County Stormwater Coalition/Monroe County
- Khris Dodson, Associate Director, Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center
- Kristen Hychka, Research and Outreach Specialist, NYS Water Resources Institute
Panelists
- Ethan Sullivan, MS4 General Permit Coordinator, Assistant Engineer, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
- Dave Gasper, P.E., Stormwater Permits Section, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
- Mary MacSwan, Chief Environmental Compliance Specialist, Erie County: Department of Environment & Planning/Western NY Stormwater Coalition
- Nancy Heinzen, Program Coordinator/Coalition Director, Stormwater Coalition of Albany County
Additional Resources:
Presentation slides:
Kristen Hychka, NYS WRI, Introduction to Municipal Downspout Disconnection
Khris Dodson, SU-EFC, Getting the Green for Green: an overview of Cost Savings & State Funding Resources for Green Infrastructure
For more information on developing a Downspout Disconnect and Green Infrastructure Program, download the resource below. This document was developed in collaboration with the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center and the NYS Water Resources Institute at Cornell University.
This webinar is organized by Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center and the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University and is co-sponsored by the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) Stormwater Committee and New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers (NYSFSMA).
Planning and Funding Municipal Water Infrastructure
No-cost Webinar Series for Local Leaders, Spring 2021
USDA Rural Development Update for Engineers and Fiscal Advisors
Presented: Thursday, June 3, 2021, 1-2:30pm
This no-cost webinar will focus on USDA Rural Development application and technical updates for water and wastewater projects that serve populations of 10,000 or less. Attendees will learn how to submit stronger applications to the USDA RD Water & Wastewater Loan & Grant Program.
Presenters: Representatives from USDA Rural Development
Resources for Download
- USDA Rural Development Update for Engineers and Fiscal Advisors, Contact List
- Updated USDA Rural Utilities Service Bulletin, USDA RUS Bulletin
- USDA RD Apply 2021 Updates, Presentation
- USDA RD PER, Environmental Review, RUS Bulletin, and AIS 2021 Updates, Merged Presentation
New York State’s Consolidated Funding Application is now open, with $750 million available through more than 30 state programs – watch our webinar recordings to learn about planning and funding water infrastructure projects!
Paying for Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects – 2021 Update
Presented: Monday, May 3, 2021, 1-3pm
Based on the latest information about 2021 funding, this webinar will focus on available water infrastructure funding & financing programs (and related grant programs), intended for those who are well along in project planning and ready for the next step.
Presenters: Representatives from USDA Rural Development, NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation, NYS Departments of Environmental Conservation, Health, Homes & Community Renewal, and State.
Resources for Download
- Paying for Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects, Contact List
- Resiliency Funding Sources for New York State Watersheds and Water Infrastructure, Funding Source Guide
- NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation and Department of Health, Presentation Note: EFC had inadvertently included incorrect information in the ‘Paying for Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects” Presentation on Monday 5/3/2021. On slide 10, the correct date for Applications due to EFC is JUNE 25, 2021. The new version of the corrected presentation is now available for download.
- US Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Presentation
Planning for Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects
Presented: Monday, April 5, 2021, 1-2:30pm
Plan a successful drinking water or wastewater project! Join the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center to learn directly from state and federal funding agency representatives. In this free webinar, we will focus on the planning process for water infrastructure projects, the Intended Use Plan, and available engineering planning grants.
Presenters: Representatives from USDA Rural Development, NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation, NYS Departments of Environmental Conservation, Health, Homes & Community Renewal, and State.
Resources for Download
- Planning for Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects, Contact List
- Resiliency Funding Sources for New York State Watersheds and Water Infrastructure, Funding Source Guide
- NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation and Department of Health, Presentation
- US Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Presentation
Continuing Education Certificates
These webinars have not been submitted to licensing agencies for preapproval of continuing education or training credits. We can provide certificates for your personal record.
Additionally:
- Each viewer must register and attend individually, and participate for the entire duration of the webinar
- Group rosters will not be accepted
We recommend that you check with your licensing agency to learn about its criteria, rules, and what you need to do in order to receive credit for your attendance. It is your responsibility to verify this information with your licensing agency.
Requirements to Receive a Certificate of Attendance:
- You must attend the entire session on the original broadcast date
- You must register and attend using your real name and unique email address
- Questions? Contact Meredith at maperrea@syr.edu
Organized by Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center. Thank you to our co-sponsorship partners: New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA), New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), and the New York Section – American Water Works Association.
These webinars are based upon work supported under a grant by the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
Web Meeting: Introducing Coronavirus Wastewater Surveillance Dashboards
Zoom meeting date: Thursday, October 15, 2020
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Join David Larsen, PhD, MPH, Syracuse University, Hyatt Green, PhD, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and colleagues from SUNY Upstate Medical University, as they present their newly-developed dashboards for public health action with regards to wastewater surveillance.
The online, public dashboard will use wastewater surveillance data to show counties across the state where virus transmission is increasing, decreasing or stable.The team is observing a clear early warning of about one week, and have ready for you an easy-to-use tool to guide understanding of coronavirus transmission.
To access the meeting via Zoom on Thursday, October 15th, please use the link and Zoom meeting information below. Either click on the link or cut and paste the URL address into your browser.
Feel free to share this registration link with anyone who might be interested.
Join Zoom Meeting – October 15, 2020 at 1pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://syracuseuniversity.zoom.us/j/99138968770?pwd=aVd6RG9laUErc3NZaGtZZDFIc0pwdz09
Meeting ID: 991 3896 8770
Passcode: 966438
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Meeting ID: 991 3896 8770
Find your local number: https://syracuseuniversity.zoom.us/u/acQsfxYLMb
Work-In-Water Information Session
Webinar Presentation Date: November 10, 2020
Time: 10 am-11:30 am (EST)
Presented by the New York Water Environment Association and the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center
Resources from the webinar:
- NYWEA’s Interest Form – interested utilities can complete this form to connect with NYWEA staff about the Work-in-Water mini-grant program.
- Additional resources shared during the November 10 webinar:
- Wichita State University Work in Water program – developed by our partner Environmental Finance Center, in Wichita, Kansas, this link has resources, marketing materials and more from the Kansas program
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s “On the Front Lines” video to introduce students to environmental careers; and list of funding opportunities for education projects, developed as part of the Great Lakes Ecosystem Education Exchange
- Synergy Internship program, based in Syracuse, NY
The New York Water Environment Association and the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center held a 1.5 hour informational webinar on engaging high school students in water careers.
NYWEA’s Work-in-Water Program is actively recruiting student and utility participants to take part in classroom engagement, facility tours, and internships. This unique, hands-on learning program allows students to see first-hand the skills, technology, and people that are working to ensure the public has access to clean water resources.
Use the link to the “interest form” to learn about a new mini-grant offered through NYWEA’s Work in Water Program and how it can be used to support utility-school partnerships and interns.
This webinar’s agenda included:
10:00 am Welcome & Introductions
William J. Nylic III, President, New York Water Environment Association
10:05 am Work-in-Water Overview
Discover the Work in Water program and how it can be effective and valuable to your utility and community.
10:10 am Engaging Schools
Create a connection between students and water careers at your school or utility. Find out who to contact, what messages resonate, and learn about previous successful partnerships between schools and utilities.
10:20 am Classroom Toolkit
An explanation of the opportunity to use pre-developed activities and tools directly with students.
10:25 am Facility Tour Experience
Find out how to lead awesome tours through your water and wastewater treatment plants. Inspire students to consider water careers, and share what they learn with others during facility tours.
10:35 am Student Internship
Learn about the benefits of hiring an intern at your utility.
10:55 am Mini-Grants Opportunity
Learn how your utility can apply for funding for the internship and/or transportation for your first Work-in-Water experience.
11:05 am Let’s Hear From You
Ask questions and learn more about how you can use this program. Meet other water professionals, utility staff, school administrators and teachers, and talk to NYWEA and SU-EFC staff.
11:30 am Conclude
This webinar is based upon work supported under a grant by the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
Wastewater Coronavirus Surveillance Systems: Advancing Research and Municipal Coordination Part II
Webinar Presentation Date: Wednesday October 28, 2020
Time: 2PM-3:15PM EDT
Tracking infectious disease transmission through wastewater has been an important tool for safeguarding public health for 25 years. Recent scientific breakthroughs show that levels of coronavirus genetic material in wastewater systems can provide an advanced warning of an increase in coronavirus transmission in a geographically-targeted area. These measures will also help us identify areas where the virus is spreading, waning, or absent; can identify asymptomatic cases; and can predict cases a week sooner than incident cases seen in the health system.
This free, 75-minute webinar provides a follow up to our conversation in June where experts from academia and practice discuss their experiences with the research behind wastewater surveillance for COVID-19 and its implementation at institutional-to-regional scales.
The facilitated discussion addressed safe and effective real-time monitoring of coronavirus RNA in wastewater, to share information for how this surveillance method can help guide us through the process of safely reopening the state.
Facilitated by Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center and the New York State Water Resources Institute
Resources for Download
- New York State Water Resources Institute Resources Handout
- New York State Water Resources Institute Short Communication 10/3/20
- New York State Water Resources Institute Short Communication 9/25/20
- Design and Utilization of Homemade Wastewater Samplers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- And check out this Syracuse University News article, Wastewater Surveillance: Syracuse-based team of scientists targets novel coronavirus with an early warning system to help communities prepare for potential outbreaks, posted 10/27/20
Panelists
- Hyatt Green, Assistant Professor, Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- Anthony Hay, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Agricultural & Life Sciences, Cornell University
- Seth Jensen, Director, Municipal Utilities, City of Auburn, NY
- David Larsen, Associate Professor, Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse University
- Lachlan Squair, Chief of Facilities and Safety, SUNY Oneonta
- Teng Zeng, Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University
Organized by Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center, the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University, New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA), and New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC).
This webinar is based upon work supported under a grant by the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
This webinar has not been submitted to licensing agencies for preapproval of continuing education or training credits. It is your responsibility to check with your licensing agency or municipality about its rules and criteria for credit.
Requirements to Receive a Certificate of Attendance: •You must attend the entire 75 minute session on the original broadcast date (October 28, 2020) •You must register and attend using your real name and unique email address •Questions? Contact Meredith at maperrea@syr.edu.
Header image is courtesy of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: a transmission electron microscope image which shows SARS-CoV-2.
Community Rating System Resources – Now Posted!
The video recording, presentation slides, and other resources are now posted as a follow up to the September 22, 2020 Webinar: Introduction to FEMA National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System: a New York State Perspective – find resources here.