Businesses Providing Safe Drinking Water

Partnerships

Active partnerships with government agencies and other land grant universities strengthened the results of the project and have made the materials more widely available. An advisory committee provided guidance on the content of the materials and the appropriate level of expertise, and reviewed and edited our draft educational materials. The committee included representatives of the New York State Department of Health, the Tompkins County Department of Health, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Rhode Island Cooperative Extension, the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service, and the New York Rural Water Association.

The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) was an important partner throughout this project. We participated in the stakeholder advisory group to their Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) and in their Operator Certification Coordinating Committee, concerning revision of water operator certification standards. The partnership resulted in materials that are highly regarded by the NYS DOH, such that educators can easily obtain continuing education credits for water operator training programs using these materials. These credits provide an incentive for water operators to participate in the program. The NYS DOH exhibited our materials at the National Source Water Protection Conference in June 2003, highlighting Businesses Providing Safe Drinking Water as filling a significant gap in resources for small water operators.

 

Ron Entringer, NYS Department of Health, speaks to educators viewing the March, 2003 satellite-broadcast videoconference concerning the value of Businesses Providing Safe Drinking Water.