Section 724.6 - Small Water Systems Technical and Management Assistance Program(a) Management assistance.--The department shall establish the Small Water Systems Technical and Management Assistance Program for the operators of small water systems. Such a program shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) Training for system operators covering compliance with Federal and State drinking water system requirements.(2) Training for system operators on the administration and management aspects of operating small drinking water systems.(3) The development and promotion of methods of pooling and joint use of technical and management staff between small water systems, including the use of public or private system management companies, as options for effectively managing small systems.(4) Facilitate the development and approval of low-cost technologies to comply with Federal and State drinking water requirements for small systems, particularly related to water treatment and filtration.(5) The provisions of assistance to operators to pay for or provide reduced rates for the preparation of feasibility studies and permit applications needed to comply with Federal and State drinking water requirements.(6) The creation of a peer assistance program to solve small systems problems by matching experienced and capable small water systems operators with operators needing assistance.(b) Technical assistance center.--(1) The department shall establish the Small Water Systems Technical Assistance Center to act as a mechanism to coordinate the development and implementation of the Small Water Systems Technical and Management Assistance Program.(2) The center shall be administered by the department and be directed by a 12-member board composed of the following: (i) The secretary or his designee.(ii) One member and an alternate appointed by each of the following organizations: Pennsylvania Rural Water Association, Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, American Water Works Association--Pennsylvania Chapter, Water Works Operators Association of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Manufactured Housing Association, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors and the Pennsylvania State Association of County Commissioners.(iii) Two members and alternates from public interest and environmental organizations and two members and alternates from building and land development interests appointed by the secretary.(iv) The Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the Secretary of Community Affairs, the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, the Sewage Treatment Plant and Water Works Operators Certification Board and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, or their designees, who shall serve as ex officio members of the board. The secretary shall have the authority to suggest and the board may by majority vote approve additional members to the board.
(3) The members shall elect a chairman by majority vote and shall serve without compensation other than reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses in accordance with Commonwealth policy or regulations and shall serve for terms fixed by the secretary. Within 30 days of the effective date of this act, the secretary and the groups required to appoint members and alternates shall make those appointments. The board shall hold its first meeting within 60 days of the effective date of this act.(4) The role of the center shall be to give the department advice on developing the Small Water Systems Technical and Management Assistance Program, to act as a clearinghouse to coordinate ongoing training between State agencies, local governments and authorities and water industry associations and to comment on policies and regulations as they may affect small water systems.(c) Procedure.--The department is authorized to accomplish the purposes of the Small Water Systems Technical and Management Assistance Program by directly providing the functions outlined in this section or through qualified private or nonprofit organizations, academic institutions or industry associations.1992, March 16, P.L. 10, No. 5, § 6, imd. effective.