While several studies indicate that smaller rural water utilities have a harder time complying with safe drinking-water standards than larger urban utilities, an effective and relatively inexpensive solution might help those smaller utilities improve: cross-trained employees.
That’s the implication of a study funded by the Technical and Educational Council of the American Water Works Association. Cross-training not only allows smaller utilities to maintain high levels of technical knowledge in a field where technology is advancing rapidly, but it also gives them greater flexibility and resiliency, especially in terms of providing the capacity to handle extreme events and crises, the report notes.
