When:

Multiple cohort opportunities will be offered between September and December 2022. Exact dates and times will be based on the availability of participants.

Where:

All sessions will be held remotely over Zoom. 

Who Can Apply:

Eligible entities include public or private drinking water and/or wastewater systems serving fewer than 10,000 people. Selected entities will be grouped into cohorts of 5-10 systems with similar needs, interests, and characteristics. 

Application Information:

Applications are currently being accepted. Apply Now!

Applicants will be notified about their acceptance and cohort by August 1, 2022.

Contact:

Michelle Kokolis
Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland
301-405-3577
mkokolis@umd.edu 

 

Small Systems Cohort Learning Program

Are you ready for online trainings that are more interactive?  Do you learn better from a group of peers tackling the same challenges as you?  Are you interested in meeting water professionals from outside your organization?  If yes, then the Small Systems Cohort trainings are designed for you!

Managed by the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center, The Small Systems Cohort Learning Program is a new opportunity for small drinking water and wastewater systems to learn together in an interactive, peer-training format. The program offers system operators, managers, and decision-makers the chance to:

  • Dive deeply into topics of their choosing
  • Learn with and from a group of their peers tackling similar challenges
  • Meet water professionals from outside their organization

What is offered: Each cohort will receive access to three asynchronous technical assistance sessions, as well as the opportunity to engage in three peer-to-peer discussions with other members of their cohort. All training will be delivered virtually and is offered free of charge. Continuing education credits will be available.

Training Topics: Topics will be selected by applicants and delivered by experts in each technical area.  Sample topics available include:

  • Access to Funding Sources
  • Are your Rates Too High? Looking at Rate Affordability
  • Beyond Drought: Is Your Water Utility Prepared?
  • Building Resilience and Planning for an Uncertain Future
  • Controlling Energy Costs at Your System
  • Financial Management for Small Water Systems
  • Finding Lost Revenue: Completing a Water Audit
  • Green Asset Management: Incorporating Green and Natural Assets
  • Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced Asset Management
  • Lead Service Line Identification and Remediation
  • Mapping and Data Collection
  • Recovery from COVID-19 for Small Water Systems
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Source Water Protection as Green Asset Management
  • Strategic Planning Tools for Small Water Systems
  • The Power of Partnership: Sharing Resources with Neighboring Systems
  • Understanding and Applying Effective Utility Management Principles to Your Utility
  • Workforce Planning: How to Attract and Retain Talent at Your System