Capacity Development Program
One of the primary goals of the 1996 Amendments to the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was to focus the country's drinking water programs on protecting public health by preventing problems in drinking water systems. The provision for the Capacity Development Program was one of the centerpieces of the amendments.
Introduction
The Capacity Development Program calls for states to develop a strategy to ensure that all public water systems (PWS) acquire and/or maintain the technical (T), managerial (M), and financial (F) abilities needed to properly operate, manage and finance their systems. In 2022, NYSDOH revised its Capacity Development Strategy to include asset management, which helps document and access assets of a public water system. For more information on the Federal Capacity Development requirements, please refer to the Safe Drinking Water Act, Sections 1420(c)(2) and 1452.
Triennial Reports to the Governor - Assessment of the Capacity Development Program
Annual Capacity Development Reports to EPA
- Implementation Report: Improving the Technical, Managerial and Financial Capabilities of Public Water Systems in New York - Fiscal Year 2023 (PDF)
- Strategy Report
Public Water System Capacity Assessment Scorecard
Resources for Public Water Systems
| Resource | Information | Link |
|---|---|---|
| County Health Departments and Regional District Offices | County Health Departments can offer guidance and direct systems to additional resources that are available to address their specific needs. | County and District Health Department Directory |
| USEPA | USEPA’s Capacity Development website offers extensive information on capacity development and asset management for systems of all sizes. The Reference Guide for Asset Management Tools document provides further guidance for systems developing an asset management plan. |
|
| New York Rural Water Association (NYRWA) | NYRWA provides hands-on technical assistance on a variety of topics including fiscal management, source water protection, and system operation and maintenance. | NYRWA Home Page |
| Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) | RCAP is a national network of nonprofit partners that provides technical assistance, training, resources, and support to rural communities across every state, the U.S. territories, and tribal lands. | RCAP Home Page |
| Southwest Environmental Finance Center (SWEFC) | SWEFC offers resources, tools, trainings, and direct assistance to utilities in understanding and implementing asset management. |
