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Small Community Committee

The Small Community Committee has three main goals, we:

  1. Disseminate information to regulators, educators, students, operators, consultants and technical providers interested in small community/small flow facilities via sessions at NEWEA’s annual Specialty Conference
  2. Conduct specialty conferences with technical sessions and tours geared toward small community wastewater needs.
  3. Perform outreach activities to promote clean water and the NEWEA Organization.

EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management defines “small communities” as communities in the U.S. that typically have a population of 10,000 or fewer people and an average daily wastewater flow of less than 1 million gallons. Small community wastewater facilities are a large majority of the publicly owned wastewater facilities in most states.

The Small Community Committee delivers technical information on current water and wastewater treatment issues to small communities and small flow facilities. It is typically composed of 15-20 members from both the public and private sectors, including regulators, town and city employees, consultants, operators, educators and technical representatives. The specialty conference subcommittee holds conference calls several times per year to develop specialty conferences that are accessible, affordable, and specifically designed for small communities, and to develop and conduct a session at the NEWEA Annual Conference that focuses on relevant and timely issues to small communities.

Join us today! Apply online >>

Contact Info

Dennis Hallahan, Chair
Phone: (617) 452-6802

Chris Hayward, Vice Chair


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What does the Small Community Committee do?

  • Hosts one session at NEWEA Annual Conference
  • Develops one Specialty Conference per year

How often do we meet?

  • Following our session at the Annual Conference
  • At the Specialty Conference
  • Monthly conference calls
  • Subcommittee’s for outreach and specialty conferences have more frequent conference calls to plan events.

Why should you join us?

  • If you are a regulator, town and city employee, consultant, operator, educator, student or technical representative who is interested in centralized and decentralized wastewater with flows of 1MGD or less
  • Desire to help small facilities and small communities succeed
  • Willing to pitch in on a few projects
  • Fun group of people makes projects enjoyable
  • Committee has a distinct focus and mission

See what we’ve accomplished.

  • Annual one day specialty conferences, typically with a tour of a small facility similar to our 2019 specialty conference at Save the Bay in RI where morning learning sessions were followed by a boat tour of the Narragansett bay to examine water quality improvements.
  • Perform outreach events, most recently hosting a booth at the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair to spread the NEWEA message about clean water and how individuals can help.
  • Nov 2015 Specialty Conference, Sturbridge, MA – Nutrient Removal Compliance Strategies (see photos below)
  • Nov 2014 Specialty Conference, Portsmouth, NH – Operating Plants with Seasonal Flow Variations
  • Nov 2013 Specialty Conference, Cromwell, CT – Nutrient Regulation, Removal and Monitoring

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Event Name

Date

Location
Operating Small Community Facilities with Seasonal Flow Variations (joint w/Plant Operation) November 2014 Portsmouth, NH
Nutrient Regulations, Removal and Monitoring – A Small Community Perspective (joint w/Laboratory Practices) November 2013 Cromwell, CT
SCADA For Small Communities (part of GMWEA Trade Show) November 2012 Burlington, VT
Funding and Regulatory Challenges in These Trying Times – A Small Community Perspective October 2011 Sturbridge, MA
Asset Management 101 for Small Communities (joint w/Asset Mgmt. Committee) May 2009 Concord, NH
Energy Efficiency for Small Wastewater Treatment Facilities Nov. 2008 Wolfeboro, NH
Alternative Onsite Treatment Workshop April 2007 Kingston, RI
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Workshop Oct. 2006 Kingston, RI
Maintenance Management Systems for Small Communities Oct. 2005 Portland, ME
Energy Efficiency & Power Alternatives May 2004 North Chelmsford, MA
Contract Operations for Wastewater Utilities April 2001 White River Junction, VT
Topics in Wastewater Chemistry & Biology for the WWTP Operator April 2000 Concord, NH
Optimization Strategies for Small WWTP May 1999
Let Computers Work for You May 1998