Re-Energizing the Capacity Development Program. Findings and Best Practices from the Capacity Development Re-Energizing Workgroup

摘要

This document is a reflection of the discussions held over the course of 2010 by the Capacity Development Re-Energizing Workgroup, as well as a compilation of comments received during the 2010 National Capacity Development and Operator Certification Workshop. It also includes insights and ideas from existing strategies and policies, such as EPA's Approach for the Equitable Consideration of Small System Customers (Small Systems Approach). Further information on EPA's Small Systems Approach, the 2010 National Capacity Development and Operator Certification Workshop, and other EPA initiatives is included in Appendix A of this document. The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments emphasize a holistic approach to the protection of public health and prevention of drinking water contamination. The Act's provisions for Capacity Development provide a framework for EPA, states, and PWSs to work together and ensure that PWSs attain and maintain the TMF capacity needed to achieve SDWA's objectives for short- and long-term capacity. The SDWA Amendments recognized that states have different needs and resources, and therefore, this framework is not prescriptive. This has led to varied strategies and diverse implementation of state Capacity Development Programs.