Cover Story
Working Together: Factors Leading to Water System Mergers
by Martin Jaffe, John Braden, and Ming-Yang Lee (PDF)
University of Illinois faculty members Martin Jaffe, John Braden, and Min-Yang Lee examine water system consolidation in their article Working Together: Factors Leading to Water System Mergers. The authors explore five historic reasons that systems have merged: public health concerns, public finance pressures, contractual conflicts between private providers and their customers, corruption, and transaction costs.

Features
Assessing Your Watershed: Techniques for Measuring Conditions and Water Quality
by Mark Kemp-Rye (PDF)
In Assessing Your Watershed: Techniques for Measuring Conditions and Water Quality, the second part of the four-part watershed series, On Tap Editor Mark Kemp-Rye explores different ways community groups can learn more about water conditions in their watershed.

All You Need to Know, From Idea to Funding: RUS Water and Wastewater Loans and Grants Program
by Mark Kemp-Rye (PDF)
Since the 1940s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service has provided billions of dollars toward community water and wastewater projects. The article All You Need to Know, From Idea to Funding: RUS Water and Wastewater Loans and Grants Program provides a step-by-step guide to the process of applying and obtaining this funding.

Energy Audit May Offer Cost Savings to Utilities
by Natalie Eddy (PDF, 3.4 MB)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that water and wastewater plants use eight percent of the nation’s energy in their treatment processes. Using energy wisely, as the article Energy Audit May Offer Cost Savings to Utilities shows, can help utilities operate more efficiently.

A New Measure of Success: Federal Programs Use Program Assessment Rating Tool
by Caigan M. McKenzie (PDF, 3.4 MB)
A New Measure of Success: Federal Programs Use Program Assessment Rating Tool describes the newest method the federal government uses to track the effectiveness of their various programs.

Tech Brief
Line Pigging
by Zane Satterfield (PDF, 136 KB)
Line pigging is an internal pipe-cleaning process used to remove biofilms or other foreign matter from the inside of water pipes. If performed correctly, line pigging will renew the flow rates to restricted piping systems and reduce pumping pressures. This Tech Brief discusses some of the techniques and processes used in cleaning waterlines in distributions systems.

In Every Issue
Ask the Experts (PDF)
On Tap’s panel of experts was asked the following question: “Across the country, small water systems are joining together or they are being purchased by larger systems. Whether it’s called consolidation, regionalization, or mergers, these systems seem less and less likely to go it alone and many experts see this trend continuing for the foreseeable future. Are water system mergers happening more often in your region? Does this trend help small communities?”

Calendar of Events (PDF)
What's coming up; Where it's happening; and Who to contact.

News and Notes (PDF)
The latest news and trends affecting the drinking water industry.

On the Web (PDF)
Useful Web site descriptions and links.

Letter to the Editor (PDF)
Your thoughts; our responses.

Fun Times (PDF)
Entertaining games, quotes and trivia pertaining to drinking water.

Until Next Time (PDF)
In World's Water Resources Face Mounting Pressure Elizabeth Mygatt, looks at the soaring global demand for freshwater which is putting pressure on the world’s water resources and straining aquatic systems worldwide. Rivers are running dry, lakes are disappearing, and water tables are dropping.

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