The Optimization State – Texas

These are some news and views submitted by the AWOP states.  Please use this for your enlightenment, enrichment and maybe even your entertainment!  AND think about what your state wants to share for the next Optimization State.

A long time member of the Texas Optimization Core Team, Don Tharp, has retired after working for the State of Texas for 35 years.  Don began his career with the state as a Registered Sanitarian at the Texas Department of Health and he continued to work in the Public Drinking Water Program when it was transferred to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  He joined the Core Team in 1997, when two dedicated optimization positions (DOPs) were added in the Field Operations Division Regional Offices.  Don participated in field events, provided technical assistance to operators, and was a valued resource for TCEQ staff and management.  He plans to continue to be active in the drinking water community.

The Core Team has a mandatory Comprehensive Performance Evaluation scheduled in May and a Special Performance Evaluation and Data Audit planned for June.  We will be participating in the annual Public Drinking Water Conference in August, where we will present findings from the Disinfection By-Product Performance Based Training (DBP PBT).  The PBT participants will have a follow-up meeting in conjunction with the conference and will present updates on their projects.

The annual Public Drinking Water Staff Training was cancelled due to budget constraints, so we will provide training to the field staff by video-teleconference (VTC) later in the year.  We’re also working with EPA Region 6 to provide a workshop on rules and SDWIS, which will be available throughout the state via VTC.

Since the state’s 2012-2013 budget has not been finalized, the Team’s work plan for fiscal year 2012 has not been finalized either.  However, we are looking forward to hosting the Region 6 AWOP quarterly planning meeting in October and we’re making arrangements for providing training on different methods of acquiring electronic data at surface water treatment plants.