The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting its free annual drinking water workshop September 1-3, 2020 with in-depth training offered on August 31.

The virtual workshop will be organized in partnership with the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), and will include information and training on solutions and strategies for handling small drinking water system challenges. The workshop is designed for state drinking water regulations compliance and treatment technologies permitting professionals, but local staff, water system operators, design engineers, technical assistance providers, and consultants are encouraged to attend.

From the event page:

The workshop speakers and group leaders will be experts in their fields from EPA and other federal agencies, state and local agencies, academia, associations, and the private sector. The technical sessions of the workshop include topics such as disinfectants and disinfection byproducts, contaminants of emerging concern (including PFAS and algal toxins), pathogens and disinfection, source water quality and protection, corrosion and lead, contaminant removal and management, methods and analytics, implementing innovative treatments, and distribution system best practices.

In Maryland, the majority of residents are served by small community water systems. According to a 2017 report from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), roughly three quarters of systems serve 1,000 or less individuals. According to EPA, nationwide 97 percent of systems are considered small, meaning they serve under 10,000 individuals.

View the workshop agenda and register to attend here.