The next time you turn on the faucet or flush into a sewer system, take a moment to appreciate the professionals who bring you those services.

“We take for granted that the water will be there when it should and the wastewater will disappear when it should, but a lot goes on behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly,” said Tammie Wilson, President and CEO of Eastern Kentucky PRIDE, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the environment in 42 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky.

“Clean water is fundamental to good health and quality of life, and PRIDE has been on a mission to clean up this region’s water resources since 1997,” she explained.

“Clean water is a top priority for our local water and wastewater utility operators, staff and board members, too, and they take their responsibilities very seriously,” she said. “We are grateful for the role they play, and we are proud to support them by offering free training workshops.”

PRIDE set out in 2013 to help the region’s water and wastewater utility professionals to meet their training goals and enhance operations at their facilities. PRIDE secured grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and then partnered with the Kentucky Rural Water Association (KRWA) to present free training workshops for elected officials, drinking water utility professionals and wastewater utility professionals.

State regulations require water and wastewater utility professionals to earn continuing education (CE) credits. Thanks to the PRIDE/KRWA partnership and USDA RD support, utilities can afford to train more staff, more often. The workshops are free, include lunch and are held across the region, which saves on driving and hotel costs.

More than 500 professionals earned 4,000-plus CE credits in the second round of workshops, which began in January 2015 in Hazard and wrapped up in February 2016 in Inez. The results of the seven workshops include:

• 533 attendees.
• 2,474.5 CE credits earned by drinking water utility operators.
• 1,338.5 CE credits earned by wastewater utility operators.
• 194 CE credits earned by water and wastewater utility board members and others.

PRIDE/KRWA will present the following free workshops in 2016:

• March 15-16, Dale Hollow State Resort Park, Burkesville.
• July 26-27, Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg.

At each workshop, a total of 12 CE credits will be available to water and wastewater utility operators.

To inquire about a workshop, please call PRIDE, toll free, at 888-577-4339. Registrants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Priority will be given to registrants from the 42-county PRIDE service area.

To learn more about the workshops, please visit http://kypride.org/2016/03/free-trainings-for-waterwaster-operators-in-2016/.

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