Utility Web Sites Offer Service, News, Fun and More

By Kathy L. Pursley

Associate Editor

Screensaver Returns

Wouldn't you know that as soon as the June WaterWorld hit the mailboxes, the WaterWorld.com site underwent a total revamp just in time for the mid-June AWWA conference. As a result, the screensaver fell by the wayside for a while. Now it is back for those who went looking for it in June. Back by popular demand: The WaterWorld screensaver has a new web address, http://wwi. pennnet.com/content/extras/wwi/screensaver.htm. If you have not visited lately, please drop by the WaterWorld.com site to see the new look.

Finding Utilities on the Web

This month iWater features web sites presented by some municipalities and water suppliers who fielded the top women's tapping teams at the AWWA's Fifteenth Annual Tapping Contest in June. Utilities are establishing an increasing Internet presence due in part to EPA's commitment to the use of the Internet as a method for informing citizens about the Consumer Confidence reports. EPA has a local drinking water information web page that offers links to many Internet-accessible water quality reports at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo.htm

Wastewater Tour Guide

A wastewater web site entitled Wayne's Municipal Wastewater Links Page offers another source (besides EPA or AWWA) for connecting to municipal utility sites. Located at http://www.impulz.net/buzzardsbay/environ/potw.htm, the site lists many educational and municipal links. Click on Lesson #2, EXTRA CREDIT to view http://www.impulz.net/buzzardsbay/environ/mextra.htm, which offers information about things to notice and questions to ask on a plant tour.

Drinking Water Story

Two classes of third and fourth graders at Buckman Arts Magnet Elementary School in Portland, Ore., wrote and illustrated an on-line book about their city's water system. The beautifully illustrated book is at www.water.ci.portland.or.us/book/index.htm. Look for chapter one's discussion of annual rainfall that opens with Camilla Smith's gifted watercolor of a thunderstorm.

The City of Portland Water Bureau site at http://www.water.ci.portland.or.us/index.html performs nicely as a portal to copious information about the system, its source and product water and many other topics including conservation.

Incidentally, a combined women's tapping team from Mt. Scott Water District and the Portland Water Board took third place among the women's teams with a final time of 2:39.01, at the Fifteenth Annual AWWA Tapping Contest held in June in Denver, Colo.

Emergency Tips

The Metropolitan District of Hartford Conn., web site at http://www.themdc.com/ provides in depth information about the non-profit municipal corporation that supplies potable water and sewerage services to the region. The site links to information on drinking water, news, environmental services, and more. An "emergencies" page offers tips for dealing with sewage backups and freeze protection.

A special treat is the page http://www.themdc.com/mdcrec.htm, which provides an online tour of the recreational facilities associated with the district's assets, including maps showing boat ramps.

The Metropolitan District's women's tapping team placed second among women's teams in Denver with a time of 2:32.88 in their first national competition. Pictured at the competition along with their men's team, are: front row, Carol Skaggs, Trudy Gates, Kristina Gould, Colleen McCarthy. Back row: George Sparks, Flo Oten, Jose Torres, Paul Dedominicis, John Pagnetti, Jay Tinsley, Dan Depietro, Rob Langenauer. The men's team helped train the new women's team, encouraged by the ladies' success and enthusiasm.

Louisville News

The Louisville Water Company is bragging about its championship women's tapping team on its news page at http://www.louisvillewater.com/whats_new/default.asp. And, no wonder, since this team captured first place among the women's teams with a final time of 2:05.95.

Be sure to drag the mouse across the Louisville Water Company header for a special water effect. Clicking the "funzone" button at the top of the page leads to http://www.louisvillewater.com/funzone/, with choices including tappers challenge, H2O IQ, water wizard and more. The "follow the flow" option shows visitors how Louisville Water Company takes water from the Ohio River and brings it to customer's homes.

Customer Service

The Las Vegas Valley Water District proves customer service is the centerpiece of its philosophy with its web site at http://www.lvvwd.com/. The opening page explains the duties and responsibilities of the meter readers. A link embedded in the text connects to the page at http://www.lvvwd.com/conservation/read_meter.html, which offers tips on meter reading. At the bottom of the right hand column are links to explanations on finding hidden leaks and fixing them.

This site offers numerous tips on conservation, and the customer service page at http://www.lvvwd.com/customer_service/customer_service.html offers a great example of on-line service. Customers can find out how to turn service on or disconnect, deal with delinquent payments, locate the water district's offices, and email or call the customer services department.

The Las Vegas Valley Water District's women's tapping team placed fourth among the ladies teams with its time of 2:40.83.

Letters to i-Water Report

Hi Kathy:

Please advise what is the procedure for providing information for the i-Water Report. I saw the June issue and thought it was very good.

Thanks.

— Hugh Monteith, Enviromega Inc.

Please send your comments and suggestions to i-Water Report, WaterWorld, 1421 S. Sheridan Road, Tulsa, OK 74112 or send E-mail to [email protected]