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FREE MONEY!!!!

7/28/2015

Now that we have your attention, we want to remind you that there's still time to register for the IAMU Grants Workshop that will be held Monday, August 3rd at IAMU. IAMU is offering this workshop to provide members with information about grant opportunities available in Iowa. If you’ve never applied for a grant before, this workshop will help you get started. If you have ideas for a grant, representatives from various state agencies will be available to talk about various opportunities and answer your questions. CLICK HERE to register.

If you need more convincing, talk to Sara Kaplan, Energy Services Engineer, by phone at 515-289-1999 or email at [email protected].

IAMU Natural Gas Operator Qualification Workshop

7/28/2015

Mark your calendars for this year’s IAMU Natural Gas Operator Qualification Workshop taking place August 26 – 27, 2015 at the IAMU Training and Office Complex. This year’s workshop will cover a multitude of topics and offer many qualification opportunities.

More Paperwork!!!

7/28/2015

by Jim Wolfe, IAMU Electric Services Coordinator

The word documentation echoes through the buildings, streets, and jobsites of our utilities and city departments. Job duties have shifted from grabbing the stuff you need for the day and heading out to filing reports, working with metering and billing software, inventory management, budgets, and safety compliance. People that previously spent most of their time in the field have a lot more administrative duties now and this creates paperwork. Some of this trickles down to the people out in the field and isn’t always accepted as a positive thing. Why is this my problem? We only have a couple employees, so is this really necessary? Don’t we do enough paperwork?

August 11th Is 811 Day In Iowa

7/28/2015

submitted by Iowa One Call

As part of an ongoing effort to promote excavation safety and underground damage prevention, Iowa One Call would like to invite your organization to take part in an 811 day damage prevention partnership promotion on August 11th (“8-11”), and/or during the week of August 11th.

Five Mistakes to Avoid When Using the Hierarchy of Hazard Control

7/22/2015

provided by EMC Insurance

The hierarchy of hazard control works great to minimize or eliminate worker exposure to hazards, if it's used correctly. Read up on the five mistakes to avoid when using the hierarchy. CLICK HERE to read more on the EMC Loss Control Insights web page.

Vendor Registration Now Open For 3rd Annual Energy Conference

7/21/2015

IAMU will be holding the 3rd Annual Energy Conference November 4-5, 2015. The event logistics will be very similar to last year’s with a vendor reception the evening of November 4 and opportunities to visit with participants during breaks and lunch. During lunch on Wednesday, we will offer a “Tech Teaser” session. This will give vendors the opportunity to pitch their services, new products, etc. during a fast 2 minute time-slot. New this year, we are looking for two associate members to be our “Gold” level sponsors. These companies will be the exclusive sponsors of the Executive Director Reception to be held on Tuesday, November 3 and will receive a higher level of benefits.

To view the brochure and register please click here.

If you have any questions please contact Jill Soenen at [email protected].

Thank you for your continued support!

Registration Open for September Water Distribution & Leak Detection/Line Locating Workshops

7/21/2015

IAMU will again be holding the hands-on Water Distribution & Leak Detection/Line Locating Workshop on September 9-10, 2015. Sessions each day include: hydrant maintenance, water main tapping, pipe installation, fittings, confined space, leak detection & line locating.

CEUs: 6 hours for water distribution each day

View the full agenda and register here.

Reminder: Social Media Workshop is August 19th

7/21/2015

After receiving positive feedback from the first session, IAMU has scheduled a second session of the Social Media Workshop on Wednesday, August 19. 2015. The workshop will be held at the IAMU Office and Training Complex in Ankeny.

IAMU's Grants Workshop August 3 in Ankeny

7/16/2015

What do Algona, Ogden, Independence, Milford, McGregor, Brooklyn, Bloomfield, Denver, Lenox have in common? They are but a few of the communities that have received grants from the organizations presenting at IAMU’s Grants Workshop on August 3.

Construction Begins on Waverly Utilities Fiber Network

7/15/2015

July 7, 2015 was a big day in the history of Waverly Utilities, and for the community in general as work began on the new fiber-to-the-home network. Crews from TD& I Cable Maintenance of Lakeland, Minnesota (an IAMU Associate Member) began work in several areas of Waverly. Construction will continue the rest of this year with completion anticipated in 2016.

The new utility will be capable of offering Gigabit internet speeds along with cable television and telephone service. Waverly becomes the first new broadband utility to begin construction in Iowa in over 10 years, but the project actually had it's origins 15 years ago when voters approved a referendum to establish a communications utility.

2014 Annual Compliance Report Available

7/14/2015

by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The State of Iowa Public Drinking Water Program 2014 Annual Compliance Report is available. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 require the Department to issue an annual report of the SDWA violations in the state. This report fulfills the reporting requirement in Iowa for the 2014 calendar year and was provided to EPA on July 1st.

NTSB Advisory on Inadequate Plastic Pipe Fusion Joints

7/14/2015

This past March there was a gas explosion in New York City. Many of you might remember this incident since it was in the national news. When the building exploded it caused eight deaths and dozens of injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated and found issues with the way the installation company fused its poly joints. They found inadequate surface preparation or inadvertent contamination of plastic pipe surfaces prior to saddle fusion welding led to a joint with incomplete fusion; and a weld joint with incomplete fusion can be strong enough to pass initial pressure testing of the piping system but could eventually fail or leak after the joint is placed in service.

As a result of these findings the NTSB has issued an advisory bulleting to incorporate the guidance into your plastic fusion procedures and appropriate instructions to avoid similar incidents. The fusion procedures that IAMU gas members use do cover these procedures but it is an excellent reminder that you can’t take short cuts when preparing you pipe for fusion. Here is the advisory.

EPA Corrosion Control for Drinking Water Systems Webinar

7/13/2015

From EPA’s Office of Research and Development, 7/6/2015

This presentation is an overview of the most important water treatment strategies for the control of lead and copper release from drinking water plumbing materials and components. In addition to lead, copper, and combined treatment, this presentation will also cover sampling to find lead and copper, the stagnation behavior of copper versus that of lead, the impact of pipe scale aging on copper release, and complications of metal contamination arising from accumulated deposits of iron, manganese, and aluminum on the lead or copper pipe surfaces. An overview on the nature of scales and deposits on lead and copper pipes in real water systems, which often differ from classical corrosion theory, and the implications for metal release control by requiring the addressing optimization of interacting treatment processes to assure simultaneous compliance will also be presented.

Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Time: 1:00 to 2:00 pm CDT
To register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5651769410281471234

Golfin' Fore Safety 2015 A Big Success

7/10/2015

Although Mother Nature decided to cut the day short, this year's edition of Golfin' For Safety was still a big success. A total of 88 golfers teed off the morning of June 24th, a new event record.

Golfin’ Fore Safety is IAMU’s only golf tournament held each year with the proceeds going towards equipment for our training field. Last year we combined two years of tournament proceeds along with some other funds to purchase a used backhoe - trencher for the field.

IAMU wants to extend a big THANK YOU to all of the golfers, as well as the fantastic support from Associate Members who sponsored holes, food, and other activities. With your support, nearly $4,800 was raised to benefit the IAMU Training Field!To see a photo book of all the golfers as well as the various contest winners, CLICK HERE.

Copper Theft Problems Continue

7/8/2015

by Jim Wolfe, IAMU Electric Services Coordinator

Copper theft continues to be a problem across the nation. There are no exceptions to where a thief will strike next. Homes, businesses, and utilities are vulnerable to thieves who have as it appears nothing to lose by taking major risks for a free payday. This issue is hitting the news again and continues to hit consumers in the pocketbook.