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Winter Weather Preparedness
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Winter weather can bring a combination of freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and extended power outages that pose significant challenges to water systems. Even brief periods of extreme cold can impact treatment processes, freeze exposed equipment, limit staffing, and disrupt transportation and chemical deliveries. Preparing now helps ensure continued safe operation and reliable service throughout the winter season.
Key preparedness reminders for waterworks:
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Inspect and protect vulnerable equipment such as exposed pipes, meters, chemical feed lines, and outdoor instrumentation.
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Verify backup power systems and ensure fuel, generators, and transfer switches are ready for potential outages.
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Confirm employee call-down lists and ensure staff understand inclement weather reporting procedures.
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Review chemical inventory and resupply plans in case road conditions delay deliveries.
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Coordinate with local emergency management and monitor updates from the National Weather Service.
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Prepare for customer impacts such as frozen service lines and potential low-pressure events.
Being proactive with winter storm readiness supports operational resilience, protects infrastructure, and ensures the continued delivery of safe drinking water to Virginia communities.
Check out the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) webpage for winter weather: VDEM Winter Weather
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What's the Difference: Warning vs Watch
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the terms used to communicate the status of impending weather events.
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The National Weather Service has regional offices that cover different parts of the state. Use the links below to see forecasts and maps for your area:
Wakefield: Wakefield, VA
Sterling: Baltimore/Washington
Blacksburg: Blacksburg, VA
Charleston, WV: Charleston, WV
Morristown, TN: Morristown, TN
They also have page devoted to Weather Safety for All Hazards. Check it out here:
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Funding Opportunities for Waterworks Planning Coming in January, 2026
Temperatures are getting chillier as the year is winding down, but opportunities for waterworks funding are heating up! January 1st marks the beginning of a new funding year for ODW’s Planning & Design Fund and Small Projects Engineering Services, two programs run by the Division of Training, Capacity Development, and Outreach (TCDO). Both programs are only available to community and non-profit NTNC waterworks with a population size of 10,000 or less.
The Planning & Design Fund awards grants up to $45,000 for engineering work leading to construction. Common projects include preliminary engineering reports (PERs), source evaluations, distribution system evaluations, and plans and specifications. Applications are accepted year-round and are scored based on health risks, population size, median household income, and waterworks sustainability. If your project doesn’t score highly enough to receive funding immediately, TCDO will review it again towards the end of the year if funds are still available. We encourage waterworks to work closely with your TCDO Sustainability Coordinator when developing your application to ensure it’s as competitive as possible.
The Small Projects Engineering Services program provides support for projects with a smaller scope. Instead of an application, ODW staff submit a referral to TCDO for waterworks with eligible projects. Common projects include plans and specifications, mini-PERs, asset management plans, and as-builts. If you are interested in this program, feel free to talk to your field office contacts or your TCDO Sustainability Coordinator about getting referred to the program.
Questions? Please contact:
Jarrett Talley
Director- Training, Capacity Development & Outreach
Office of Drinking Water
(804) 317-0140
jarrett.talley@vdh.virginia.gov
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 2026 Waterworks Training
Kicks Off in February!
VDH Office of Drinking Water is pleased to announce the 2026 Waterworks Training Program. This series of in-person and online courses is being offered through a contract with Virginia Tech. It is designed to prepare individuals to take initial or advanced licensing exams as well as learn more about what it takes to own and operate a public waterworks.
Groundwater Small Systems Operations
February 10 - 12, 2026 Newport News, VA
This in-person short course covers the operation and maintenance of Class 5 and 6 waterworks. Topics include: water sources, safety, sample collection and analysis, operation and maintenance, regulations, basic math, and record keeping.
Registration Deadline: January 31, 2026
Visit the Water and Wastewater Training Course Webpage for a preliminary listing of courses scheduled for 2026. Information will be updated as details are finalized for each course.
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Reminder:
DUE December 31, 2025 - Waterworks with lead, galvanized requiring replacement (GRR), and "lead status unknown" service lines in their inventory must send notifications to consumers by December 31, 2025. More info is on the ODW Lead and Copper Rule Revisions webpage.
Questions? Contact your ODW Field Office
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ODW is Hiring!
The Office of Drinking Water provides regulatory oversight and technical assistance to public waterworks across the state. Our team is made up of staff with broad experiences and background including biology, engineering, geology, administrative support, water operations, and laboratory experience. Check out our open positions at:
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Office of Drinking Water using GovDelivery for Communication
You are receiving this email because your email address is associated with a regulated waterworks in Virginia or you signed up to receive the newsletter. Please add this email to your "Safe Senders" list so they land in your in-box and not your spam-box.
If you need to update your contact information, please reach out to:
Julie Floyd, Operator Certification & Training Manager, at julie.floyd@vdh.virginia.gov.
Know someone who would like to receive this newsletter? They can sign up here:
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VDH Office of Drinking Water
Contact Us | Website
Waterworks After-Hours Emergency Call Center: 1-866-531-3068
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