Program Overview

Public Water System Assistance Program

The Mississippi State University Extension Service Community Resource Development contracted with the Mississippi Department of Health to provide coordination and support to the Public Water System Board Management Training Program. The University serves as a neutral third party to provide assistance to all of the organizations conducting trainings, which include Community Resource Group, Mississippi Rural Water Association, and Mississippi Water and Pollution Control Operators' Association.

Program Details

Board members are trained in the areas of:

• laws and regulations
• duties and responsibilities
• ethics
• operation and maintenance
• management and finance
• rate setting
• public relations and customer service

All organizations distribute the same manuals which were developed by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Training Requirements

Board members of public water systems must attend board management training only once and be present for the entire eight hours. Upon completion of the session, board members are certified for life, even if re-elected to the board. Any board member failing to complete the mandatory training after two years of being on the board shall be subject to removal from the board.

Advanced Training

Additionally, state legislature now requires that two board members from each public water system attend Advanced Board Management Training once every 4 years. Advanced training covers several topics including:

• work-place fraud
• asset management
• the Non-Profit Act
• the Revised Lead and Copper Rule
• the Revised Total Coliform Rule

Training Manual

The program utilizes a comprehensive manual, the Management Training Manual for Board Members of Public Water Associations.