The Western Virginia Water Authority (Authority), located in Roanoke, Virginia, provides drinking water to 61,300 customer connections in the City of Roanoke and the Counties of Roanoke, Franklin, and Botetourt. Customers in these localities, plus the City of Salem and the Town of Vinton, receive sanitary sewer service from the Authority. The Authority also contracts to operate the water and wastewater systems for the Town of Fincastle and the Town of Boones Mill.
By now you have heard of the cyberattack that hit a fellow water utility in Oldsmar, Fl. This attack, along with others in the area, ever emphasis the need for utilities to be vigilant in their cybersecurity posture. AWWA has developed many resources to assist utilities with this critical task. Standards, manuals, reports, along with the Cyberseucirty Guidance & Assessment Tool are member-benefits available now online. These resources are available on AWWA's Cybersecurity resource page.
VA AWWA with be conducting a free webinar entitled Cybersecurity and Accessing Funding for Small Systems on April 15-16. Check out all the details here and get registered.
This is a reminder that the Waterworks Operations Fee has been posted. VA AWWA encourages all water utilities to carefully review the notice and comment as is appropriate for your utility. Please note the public comment period deadline is March 17, 2021. Comments can be submitted here: https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/Comments.cfm?periodicreviewid=2019
Click Read More to access a link to the full Executive Order.
We are in need of a few great volunteers to serve as Judges for the VA AWWA Science Fair awards at regional and state science fairs across the state.
This year all regional science fairs and the Virginia State fair are still being held despite COVID-19 but will be virtual. Most will be judging projects between March 8-21 except for the Virginia State Fair which will be in early April. See below for more updated details. Being virtual you will have the flexibility to review projects from home and at any time. You can even judge at fairs anywhere in Virginia.
Illinois State Geological Survey is requesting assistance on a national economic benefit-cost assessment that state geological surveys and the U.S. Geological Survey are conducting for geological mapping. Water resources and their protection, and contamination and land-use issues, when coupled with infrastructure development and oftentimes natural hazards can be best understood with knowledge of the Earth’s surface and the subsurface, and particularly as counties/municipalities try to balance often competing demands on resources and space.
Have you been watching other water utilities use the power of social media to share messages with their community and customers? Ever wondered howyourutility can use social media? Join us for a webinar hosted by the VA AWWA Water Awareness and Outreach Committee. Lauren Thompson of Loudoun Water and Kipp Hanley of Prince William County Service Authority will share their experiences on how utilities can use social media to communicate with their customers. The webinar will also share information on how to gather data to discover the real impact and power of what you are posting on social media. Join us on March 17th from 11 am-noon for this free webinar and discover how your utility can make a positive impact using social media! Register here: https://vaawwa.org/events/socialrelationships/
Virginia Section AWWA cordially invites you to partner with us for 2021! Corporate sponsors are invaluable to our organization as we strive towards our vision of being Virginia's leading association dedicated to promoting safe and sustainable water.
Corporate Sponsors are recognized in the following ways:
Corporate Sponsor listing on the VA AWWA website and Sponsor Highlight. Your company logo and a link to your company’s web page will be displayed on our website signifying your partnership with the Virginia Section.
Recognition in the “Tap into Virginia” magazine. Each quarter your logo will be printed on our corporate sponsor thank you page.
Recognition in publicity materials for VA AWWA/VWEA Joint Annual Meeting (JAM), including the conference planner, conference app, and display board throughout the conference.
Recognition at all Seminar and Conference events. Your company logo will be displayed at each of our approx. 15 training events throughout the year.
The cost to become a Corporate Sponsorship is only $450!
Legislative Updates
Do you have an interest in what is happening at our State Capital? Have you been monitoring what new bills might affect the water industry?
If so, visit our new Legislative and Regulatory Updates webpage. It contains a summary of bills of interest, along with updates and modifications to existing bills throughout the current General Assembly Session.
Career Center
Are you looking for a new job opportunity? Are you an employer looking for great candidates? Either way, check out our newly updated Career Center for opportunities in Virginia.
The webpage contains a summary of current job postings... but check back periodically for new positions as they become available.
Check out the latest issue of Tap Into Virginia!
Click on the link below to view the latest edition online.
Want to advertise with us? Check out the details in our 2021 Media Kit or contact
Dave Gill at david@kelman.ca
.png)
By now you have heard of the cyberattack that hit a fellow water utility in Oldsmar, Fl. This attack, along with others in the area, ever emphasis the need for utilities to be vigilant in their cybersecurity posture. AWWA has developed many resources to assist utilities with this critical task. Standards, manuals, reports, along with the Cyberseucirty Guidance & Assessment Tool are member-benefits available now online. These resources are available on AWWA's 
We are in need of a few great volunteers to serve as Judges for the VA AWWA Science Fair awards at regional and state science fairs across the state. 
Have you been watching other water utilities use the power of social media to share messages with their community and customers? Ever wondered how your utility can use social media? Join us for a webinar hosted by the VA AWWA Water Awareness and Outreach Committee. Lauren Thompson of Loudoun Water and Kipp Hanley of Prince William County Service Authority will share their experiences on how utilities can use social media to communicate with their customers. The webinar will also share information on how to gather data to discover the real impact and power of what you are posting on social media. Join us on March 17th from 11 am-noon for this free webinar and discover how your utility can make a positive impact using social media! Register here: 
