Water System Partnerships Workshop
The Water System Partnerships Workshop is the result of collaboration between EPA, states, technical assistance providers, other federal partners, utilities, and water organizations. The purpose of the Partnerships Workshop is to increase awareness about the wide range of water system partnerships opportunities and how partnerships can address technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) challenges at water systems. Water System Partnerships Workshops provide:
- Mechanism to reach those that could benefit the most from partnerships;
- Opportunity to bring neighboring water systems and potential partners together;
- Flexibility to tailor learning modules and exercises to address unique challenges and build upon existing program knowledge; and
- Effective solutions and resources for small systems to build TMF Capacity.
The Water System Partnerships Training Toolbox includes information and materials for primacy agencies or technical assistance providers who wish to organize and facilitate the Water Systems Partnership Workshop. This webpage also includes supplemental resources for attendees.
On this page:
- What to Expect From the Water System Partnerships Workshop
- Organizers and Facilitator Resources
- Attendee Resources
For more information about hosting or attending a workshop, contact the National Partnerships Coordinator, Sitney Day (Day.Sitney@epa.gov).
What to Expect From the Water System Partnerships Workshop
Below is a summary of available mix-and-match modules of the workshop. Module selection is based upon workshop goals, levels of partnership experience, and time available.
Module 1: Capacity Development
Understand TMF Capacity and the importance of building capacity.
Module 2: Partnerships Overview
Learn about water system partnerships, the benefits of partnership and introduce partnerships case studies.
Module 3: Current Partnerships Exercise
Identify current partnership activities and brainstorm how to build from current successes.
Module 4: Identifying Strengths and Challenges
Identify strengths and challenges of a water system.
Module 5: Identifying and Assessing Partnerships Opportunities
Understand how to identify potential partners, assess practicality of partnerships, recognize advantages and disadvantages of various types.
Module 6: Expanding Partnerships Exercise
Identify multiple possible partnership activities.
Module 7: Implementing Possible Partnerships Solutions
Identify project support, communications, and financial implications.
Module 8: Partnerships Action Plan Exercise
Create an action plan and document next steps.
Organizers and Facilitator Resources
The Water System Partnerships Training Toolbox (zip) contains all the materials that facilitators and organizers need for a successful Water System Partnerships Workshop in one downloadable zip file. The toolbox materials support the planning, hosting, and follow-up phases of workshop development. Explore the summary of the Toolbox materials in the List of Materials (pdf)
Workshop Organizing and Facilitating Resources
The following resources will assist organizers and facilitators plan, set-up, and execution the Water System Partnership Workshop:
- Organizer and Facilitator Guide (pdf) – A guide to help plan and execute the Partnerships Workshop, including best practices and additional resources.
- Water System Partnerships Workshop Slide Deck (pptx) – Customizable Workshop presentations containing the eight mix-and-match modules.
- Water System Partnerships Workshop exercise worksheets that correspond to modules within the workshop slide deck:
Templates and Examples
Organizers and facilitators may use the following templates to customize, set-up, and administer their workshop.
Planning and Preparation
Marketing and Registration
- Workshop Brochure (pdf)
- Flyer (docx)
- Save-The-Date Example (docx)
- Invitation E-mail Example (docx)
- Registration Tracker (xlsx)
On-Site Workshop Materials
- Registration Forms (docx)
- Name Tags (docx)
- Sign-In Sheet (docx)
- Table Tents - Blue (docx) , Table Tents - Green (docx) , Table Tents - Orange (docx)
Attendee Enrichment
- Acronym List (pdf)
- Participant Packet (pdf)
- Water System Scenario (pdf)
- Partnerships Checklist (pdf)
Follow-up materials
Attendee Resources
Supplemental Resources
The following resources below can enhance the attendee’s workshop experience or can be completed independently post-workshop:
- Partnership Checklist (pdf) – Checklist to determine if their water system could benefit from a partnership
- Water System Partnerships Getting Started Guide (pdf) – Assist water systems in the partnership planning process, review next steps, and learn how to plan and apply for funding.
- Water System Partnerships Funding Resources (pdf) – Help identify funding and financing resources that will support creating water system partnership
- Water System Partnerships Workshop Resource Guide (pdf) – Help identify capacity building resources that will support creating water system partnership
- Business Plan Outline (pdf) – Outline to support formation of a regional partnership
- Decision Makers Module (pptx) – For decision makers to learn how partnership opportunities to solve water system challenges
- Stakeholders Brief (pptx) – For attendees to share an overview of the Water System Partnership Workshop to current and future stakeholders of their water system.
- Online Captivate Learning Modules:
- Partnerships Workshop Organizer and Facilitator Training Module - A 30 minute "Train-the-Trainer" summary and companion to the Water System Partnerships Organizer and Facilitator Guide. It is recommended for organizers and facilitators to review to become familiar with the Partnerships Training Toolbox materials.
- Partnerships Workshop Module 1: Capacity Development - A 25 minute overview of technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capacity and the importance of building capacity. It can be used in a hybrid workshop or for independent learning.
- Partnerships Workshop Module 2: Partnerships Overview - A 25 minute overview about water system partnerships, the benefits of partnerships, and the introduction of partnerships case studies. It can be used in a hybrid workshop or for independent learning.
- Partnerships Workshop Module 7: Implementing Possible Partnerships Solutions - A 25 minute module that highlights important elements of implementing a partnership, including project support, communications, financial implications, and case study timelines. It can be used in a hybrid workshop or for independent learning.
Additional Water System Partnerships tools and resources can be found here.