June 9, 2010
Is is with heavy hearts that we report that Clay Lutz passed away Tuesday, June 8th, at about 6:25 p.m. His wife Shirley said he had 2 cardiac arrests on Saturday and the complications were too extensive to correct.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized. We will pass them along as soon as they become available.
We have all lost a great friend and dedicated environmental professional.
Free DO Meter Won By Workshop Participant
June 9, 2010
Karl Dettinger won a free YSI PRO20 Dissolved Oxygen Meter and Probe at the recent workshop held at the ETC. Karl, a DEP Inspector from Romney, had the high card from the deck. YSI technicians Tim Grooms and Darrin Honious presented Karl with the free instrument at the end of the workshop.
Many participants brought meters and probes that were cleaned and repaired during the program. Free membrane kits were also given out. The program was such a huge success, YSI has agreed to repeat the program later this year.
Texting Teen Falls Down Manhole
April 26, 2010 - NBCNewYork.com
We all know that walking and texting is a tough combination – but a Staten Island teen learned the hard way when she fell into an uncovered sewer manhole while trying to send a message.
Now the family of Alexa Longueira, 15, intends to sue.
The girl suffered a fright and some scrapes on her arms after she dropped into the hole on Victory Boulevard.
“It was four or five feet, it was very painful. I kind of crawled out and the DEP guys came running and helped me,” Longueria told the Staten Island Advance. “They were, just, like, ‘I’m sorry! I’m sorry!’”
For its part, the Department of Environmental Protection said its workers had turned away briefly to grab some cones when the incident occurred.
“We regret that this happened and wish the young woman a speedy recovery,” DEP spokeswoman Mercedes Padilla said in a statement. She added that crews were flushing a high-pressure sewer line at the time.
The girl was checked out at Staten Island Unviersity Hospital and released.
Sewer line workers are supposed to cut off pedestrian access to work sites or at least mark them with warning signs.
The family said they will file a lawsuit – for what, though, is not immediately clear. Her mother, Kim Longueira, said it doesn’t matter that her daughter was walking and texting, and also, the ‘gross’ factor that can’t be ignored.
“Oh my God, it was putrid,” she said. “One of her sneakers is still down there.”
In Memoriam: Jess Jones
On December 28, 2009 the water profession lost a very special person. Jess
Jones passed away from complications of a heart attack he had suffered a few
days earlier.
Jess was the prime mover in establishing backflow tester training in West
Virginia back in 2001. He had great influence on the WVBPH rewriting its backflow
regulations and had major input on the development of West Virginia’s first ever
Backflow Tester Regulations in 2005. READ MORE (.pdf)
A new resource for small water supply operators!
We would like to announce the development of a new online resource for small water supply operators. Searching the internet for useful information can be frustrating and time consuming; SmallWaterSupply.org makes this process much more efficient and productive by providing an easy-to-use interface that returns only information directly relevant to water supply operations. Our staff is continually sifting through online resources to expand and maintain our databases. READ MORE (.pdf)
WV-AWWA: Water Loss Control Seminar
December 17, 2009
"NRW - Water Audit Seminar"
4 CEH's for all WV Water Operators (# CEH2009-121)
When: January, 27, 2010
Where: Flatwoods Days Inn, Sutton, WV
MORE INFORMATION (.pdf)
REGISTRATION FORM (.pdf)
2010 Schedule Now Available
December 17, 2009
DOWNLOAD (.pdf)
Web site upgrades!
August 17, 2009
Our web site is currently being upgraded and few pages are still under construction. Please be patient during the transition. Direct your questions to our webmaster: WeigandWebs@gmail.com. Or call our friendly staff at 304.372.7878.
RESA Environmental Training Director Receives Award
July 29, 2009
RESA V Environmental Training Center Director Richard G. Weigand has been named the 2009 recipient of the George A. Kinias Service Award by the National Environmental, Safety and Health Training Association (NESHTA).
The award is the most prestigious award offered by NESHTA and is given to a person who has offered “outstanding personal contributions and exceptional voluntary service” to the organization. Weigand has served on NESHTA’s national Board of Certification for over fifteen years and has been an active member since 1986. He earned a Certified Environmental Trainer credential from NESHTA in 1991.
In announcing the winner, NESHTA Executive Director Rick Richardson said, “Only a few people have won this award over the years. We wanted to do something really special to recognize his dedication and length of service.”
Rich Weigand has been the Director of the West Virginia Environmental Training Center in Ripley for 24 years.
Training Center Distributes Drinking Water Operations Wall Chart
July 1, 2009
Developed by HDR Engineering, Inc. in association with the AWWA, this new Drinking Water Operations wall chart includes a combination of reference tools and guidance information designed to help utilities improve system performance and achieve optimal water quality. It addresses both the operation of water treatment and distribution systems.
Single copies are available free from the West Virginia Environmental Training Center. Call (304) 372-7878 or email rweigand@wvetc.org to request your copy.
We hope you find the Drinking Water Operations wall chart useful and helpful as both a refresher for current staff and as you train new personnel in the operation and maintenance of your water systems. This is a first edition – if you have suggestions or comments, please send those to water@hdrinc.com. For more information about the wall chart or to access additional on-line technical resources, please visit www.hdrinc.com/OpChart.
