Positions Available with MAP:
We are looking for a qualified water operator who would like to work with multiple communities within their state as a Technical Assistance Provider. Positions available in Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming.
Have You Ever Wanted to be a Water/Wastewater Operator?
Find out how to become one in your state. Links to each states' primacy agency are on the map.
If you want more information, here are brochures provided by RCAP.
Midwest Assistance Program Helps Rural Communities Get Safe, Affordable Water
Grantees of ACF’s Rural Community Development (RCD) program provide training and technical assistance on safe, affordable water and waste water systems in low income communities and tribal areas, many with populations at or below 2,500 people. Unlike large, urban areas with dedicated staff to address water needs and manage and maintain systems, these small communities often have a shortage of experienced and professional staff.
One successful RCD grantee is the Midwest Assistance Program (MAP). MAP provides on-site technical, managerial and financial assistance to rural and tribal communities in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.
The City of Coleman, South Dakota, requested MAP assistance to help address discrepancies in water records, water main breaks and areas of stagnant water. The city’s current water meters had become obsolete and unserviceable. MAP helped the city develop and submit the State Water Plan Application and funding applications. MAP helped secure funds for additional meter and water main projects and they will help the City of Coleman repair and/or replace all the water mains in the entire community.
With funding from ACF’s RCD program, MAP continues to work with the community as part of the Water Main Project and helps to ensure that the people of the City of Coleman have a safe, secure and clean water and wastewater infrastructure.
Why Americans are Not Talking About the Water Infrastructure Crisis
The U.S. water infrastructure is aged and decaying. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Water Innovations Alliance foundation rate the U.S. water infrastructure at a “D-.” The EPA estimates repairing and updating the water infrastructure at $365 billion. Many pipes were installed prior to World War II and now lead to, on average, 700 main breaks a day.
Why is this important and critical to address? Click here to read the entire story posted recently on the Our Water Counts blog.
Funding is Available to Assist Your System with Drought-Related Problems
With on-going severe drought being experienced in much of the MAP service area, we are hearing reports about water conservation measures being invoked, drinking water systems becoming concerned about their supply of water, and unusual and costly repairs being caused by the drought.
If your system is faced with making costly repairs such as replacing a pump, motor, or fixing a major line break, and you do not have the funds on hand to pay for such a thing, please be aware that MAP has a revolving loan fund that can be used to pay for such system repair costs. Continue Reading
How do we get clean, safe water?
Despite using and benefitting from drinking water and wastewater systems multiple times every day, most of us don't even think about or know how these systems work. It takes a lot, in terms of natural, human, financial and other resources, as well as physical, chemical and biological processes, to bring clean, safe drinking water to your home or to deal wtih the waste you produce from a toilet or washing machine. RCAP has created animated diagrams with short videos to explain some of what is required in treating water. The videos are meant to make non-operators more comfortable with the vocabulary and terms that a plant's operator uses and to help a utility's decision makers understand what is required to operate a dependable and sustainable water utility.
Surface Water Treatment Process
