Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series

July 27, 2021 2:00pm to 3:00pm

Free drinking water-focused webinars typically held on the last Tuesday of the month from 2:00-3:00 pm ET with an optional Q&A session from 3:00-3:30 pm ET.
EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) and Office of Water (OW) host this webinar series to communicate the latest information on solutions for challenges facing small drinking water systems. The series allows EPA to communicate directly with states to provide training and foster collaboration and dissemination of information. This, in turn, provides states with information and resources needed to communicate the latest scientific advancements and current guidance to their small systems. It also provides a forum for states to share information with each other.

NOTE: Attendees have the option of receiving a certificate of attendance for one hour for participating in the live webinars; additional hours may be offered for longer events. Acceptance of certificates is contingent on state and/or organization requirements; EPA cannot guarantee acceptance.

Presentation 1: Drinking Water Microbiology 102 Bacteriology. The understanding of microorganisms has led to the many advancements in water treatment and the birth of the federal drinking water program. This presentation will explain how microbiologist use certain laboratory techniques to enumerate and study bacteria in drinking water. The presentation will delve into how the water matrix, sample collection and laboratory processing can impact the bacterial counts and recovery. (Presentation by Laura Boczek, EPA-ORD)

Presentation 2: Microbes 102: Evaluation and Approval of Methods Used to Analyze Drinking Water. This presentation is a follow up to the 2020 presentation “Microbes 101." The presentation provides an overview of the method review and approval processes of the federal drinking water regulatory program. It will describe how to locate the methods approved under each National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, how to obtain a copy of an approved method, and the different types of methods EPA approves. (Presentation by Jennifer Best, EPA-OW)

About the Presenters

Laura Boczek, EPA-ORD
Laura is a research microbiologist with EPA-ORD, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her research areas have focused on efficacy of disinfection of various microorganisms in drinking water, the study of premise plumbing pathogens, with an emphasis on Legionella, specifically the ecology of these organisms, and understanding how they persist and the steps taken to mitigate the risk of infection to insure public health protection. She has also been involved in antibiotic resistance studies in various environmental matrixes. Laura is also involved in pathogens and method development in biosolids.

Jennifer Best, EPA-OW
Jennifer is a microbiologist with EPA-OW, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Technical Support Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. She supports many microbiological aspects of the federal drinking water program, including technical support, training regional and state personnel on the approved methodologies and proper laboratory practices, the Alternate Test Procedure program, and investigations of applied aspects of drinking water monitoring. Jennifer serves as the Part 9000 Coordinator for Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater and has been with EPA since she began as an intern in 2001.

For more information and to register for this event, click here. 

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