Tribal Water Systems

Purpose

Since 1983, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA) has provided technical assistance to tribes to improve drinking water and wastewater regulatory compliance by Tribal utilities in regards to the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, with the primary purpose of improving and protecting the health and safety of their public.  Through this work, the Tribal Water Systems program was created.  The Tribal Water Systems program (TWS) is a Tribally-based drinking water and wastewater training and assistance program initiated and operated by the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. to help address the specific needs of tribes.  The Tribal Water Systems program consists of two sub-programs—(1) Tribal Operator Training and Certification and (2) Tribal technical assistance.

Through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Indian Health Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the ITCA Tribal Water Systems program has been able to make high quality training more accessible to Tribal water professionals by offsetting much of the expenses associated with sending Tribal staff on travel for trainings.

Key objectives of the ITCA Tribal Water Systems program include:

  • Build Tribal capacity in operating, maintaining, and managing sustainable drinking water and wastewater systems;
  • Provide and administer a system for U.S. EPA-approved certification to ensure that Tribal water/wastewater system operators can achieve the necessary levels of competency through practical experience and technical training;
  • Help build Tribal expertise in water and wastewater treatment and handling;
  • Provide technical assistance and training support in water and wastewater operations;
  • Provide assistance in complying with Federal environmental and public health laws and regulations;
  • Work with Tribal governments, Tribal leaders, and Tribal water and wastewater staff to design approaches and solutions to water-related issues; and
  • Train Tribal staff to effectively meet the health and safety needs of their communities.

Tribal Oversight — By Tribes, For Tribes

  • Tribal Water Systems Working Group Meetings:  The ITCA Tribal Water Systems program holds two Operator Working Group Meetings yearly.  These meetings provide a forum for the Tribal operators to learn about TWS program updates, to provide guidance on how the TWS program is administered, and includes roundtable discussion sessions for the operators to share information and ideas among each other.
  • TWS Operator Certification Program Advisory Committee:  The ITCA Tribal Water Systems Operator Certification Program is given guidance from its Advisory Committee.  The Advisory Committee is comprised of volunteer Tribal water / wastewater system operators (entry level through senior levels) and Tribal utility program managers.  Advisory Committee meetings are held periodically for review and planning purposes.

Contact

For more information, please contact the ITCA Tribal Water Systems Department by phone at (602) 307-1537; by fax at (602) 258-4825; by mail at 2214 North Central Avenue, Suite 100, Phoenix, Arizona 85004; or by email at:

Brian Bennon, Tribal Water Systems Department Director
brian.bennon@itcaonline.com

Bruce Robinson, Technical Assistance Program Manager
bruce.robinson@itcaonline.com

Michelle Ragsdale, Certification Specialist II
michelle.ragsdale@itcaonline.com

Amara Kamara, Certification Specialist
amara.kamara@itcaonline.com

Matthew Pickert, Certification Specialist
matthew.pickert@itcaonline.com

Anisa Garcia, Project Facilities Specialist
anisa.garcia@itcaonline.com

Diella Packman, Lead Reduction Project Manager
diella.packman@itcaonline.com

Cameryn Harris, Lead Testing Specialist
cameryn.harris@itcaonline.com

Acknowledgements

Work of the ITCA Tribal Water Systems program is supported by grants from the following agencies.

This material is based upon work supported under a grant by the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Rural Utilities Service.

The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.