USDA Small Systems Training

Choose what format of free training works best for you. Whether you’re learning from an instructor online, by yourself, or in a classroom setting, the same content is covered.

The Instructor-Led online course will be 2-3 hours per day for 2 days and is free for small systems.

To access these FREE courses, please follow these steps:

• To access these courses, please follow these steps:
• Login to your AWWA Account
• Select Your Name in the top right of the page to go to My Account
• Click on My Courses in the left-hand menu
  • Option A:If you have not accessed previously, under Small Systems Course Access, Enter Code: SMSYS20. Click Redeem and then ‘Go`.
  • Option B: If the system indicates ‘Error: You have already used this code”, then Enter Code: SMSYS202. Click Redeem and then ‘Go’.

All of the available free courses will be placed in your enrollments section on the lower page. To access one of the courses, click on the course title or select Go next to the title.

Optimizing Performance and Accessing Funding to Improve Small Systems - EL280 

This eLearning course is part of a special eLearning workshop series made possible through the collaboration of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Partnership for Safe Water.  This eLearning course is designed to complement the series of one-day, interactive classroom-style workshops that are being delivered to small system operators and managers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Course participants will learn how to complete a system-wide self-assessment of five core areas of everyday operations.  Based on the assessment, participants identify a priority area of improvement that may be eligible for USDA funding, learn how to develop a short project plan, and then learn how to contact/connect with USDA to get the funding process started.  All participants receive dedicated, follow-up technical assistance and helpful documents from AWWA. 

Introduction to Rural Development Apply (RD Apply) - EL281

In this eLearning course, students will learn how to apply for the Loans and Grants for Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Programs by becoming familiar with the RD Apply online application process. The RUS program provides affordable financing to construct or improve water, sanitary sewer, solid waste disposal and storm wastewater drainage systems. This course will provide step-by-step guidance through the RD Apply application process from starting an application, uploading data, application review and verification.

Course Learning Objectives: 

• To Apply for the Loans and Grants for Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Programs in the fastest, easiest and most secure way
• By applying you will be able to construct or improve water, sanitary sewer, solid waste disposal and storm wastewater drainage systems through affordable financing
   

Controlling Non-revenue Water in Small Water Utilities, Course 1: Water Supply Operations and Non-Revenue Water - EL290

This course introduces the topic of Non-revenue Water, which occurs in all water utilities to some degree.  Water often leaks from primary supply infrastructure and never reaches customers.  Inaccurate customer water meters and billing errors result in uncaptured revenue.  Such failures and data lapses are explained as sources of Non-revenue Water, which have multiple negative impacts to utility operations and finances, as well as disruption to reliable customer service. 

Course Learning Objectives: 

• Recognize sources of Non-Revenue Water in their system
• Define the components of Non-revenue Water using AWWA’s Water Balance  
• Calculate the associated costs of Non-Revenue Water 
• Analyze the operational, financial, and customer impacts that result from Non-revenue Water. 

Controlling Non-revenue Water in Small Water Utilities, Course 2: the AWWA Standard Water Audit and Free Software Tools - EL291

In this eLearning course, students will learn how to track the water that they manage using the Water Balance diagram, and how to place data in the AWWA Free Water Audit Software to compile the annual water audit. Guidance is given both on the use of the Software and the ways to get a representative quantity of the water audit components. Participants will also see how to transfer their water audit data into the AWWA Compiler Software Tool which allowing year-by-year trending. 

Course Learning Objectives:

• Track the water you supply from source to customer using the Water Balance diagram. 
• Download the AWWA Free Water Audit Software and the AWWA Compiler Software Tool
• Compile your annual water audit using the AWWA Free Water Audit Software 
• Analyze your year-by-year water audit data using the AWWA Compiler Software Tool

We will resume in-person workshops as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. Please check back.