Early Registration Extended for January Training

Waiting to register for January Water Quality Specialist training? TWQA just made it easier by extending the early registration period! Just register before January 1, 2017 and receive early registration discounts.

Ready to register now? TWQA offers online registration on our website. Just click on the 'Register' button above the class you'd like to attend.

For those not yet sure of their schedule, registration continues after the early period expires. TWQA members and other water quality professionals can preregister for training at standard prices right up to January 10 and onsite registrations will also be accepted.

For more questions, please contact Daina Grace, TWQA Executive Director, by email (click here) or phone: +1 361.573-6707.

TWQA Announces Last WQS Training for 2016

Do you still need hours for your Water Treatment Specialist renewal? TWQA has just announced the final WQS training event for 2016. Training will be held at the Hampton Inn and Suites on Sam Houston Parkway in Houston, TX on October 3 and 4. Both Basic and Advanced Water Conditioning classes will be offered and classes will begin promptly at 8:00 each day.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the hotel. Call 281.447-6400 and mention TWQA when making your reservations.

Sign up for the training today by completing an online registration. If you have questions, call the TWQA Executive Director (361.573-6707) or contact the association by email (twqadirector@twqa.org).

TCEQ Extends Survey Deadline

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is conducting a Job Task Analysis for licensed Water Treatment Specialists (WTS). The purpose of this is identify all of the tasks WTS perform and how frequently they are performed.  It also identifies how critical the proper performance of a task.

TCEQ has selected approximately 500 Water Treatment Specialists to participate in the task analysis which will be a web based survey form.  An invitation was sent out on June 22, please check your email to see if there is a message from OL Surveys in your junk folder.

The survey should take less than two hours to complete.  Once you begin this survey you will need to complete it in one attempt, so prior to beginning this survey you should be at a place where you will not be disturbed for up to two hours.  Surveys must be completed and submitted by August 1.

Participants may be eligible for 2 hours of WTS continuing education course credit. Your responses to the survey will remain confidential.  All responses will be grouped for statistical analysis.  The grouped information will be used to develop occupational profiles of Water Treatment Specialists.  If you do not perform a task, please do not respond.

TCEQ Set to Conduct a Job Task Analysis

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is preparing to conduct a Job Task Analysis for licensed Water Treatment Specialists (WTS). The purpose of this analysis is to identify all of the tasks WTS perform and how frequently they are performed.  It also identifies the extent to which proper task performance is critical.

TCEQ has selected approximately 500 Water Treatment Specialists to participate in the task analysis which will be a web based survey form. Participants will receive an email invitation from TCEQ. The survey should take less than two hours to complete.  Once you begin this survey you will need to complete it in one attempt, so prior to beginning this survey you should be at a place where you will not be disturbed for up to two hours.  Surveys must be completed and submitted by July 5.

Participants may be eligible for 2 hours of WTS continuing education course credit. Your responses to the survey will remain confidential.  All responses will be grouped for statistical analysis.  The grouped information will be used to develop occupational profiles of Water Treatment Specialists.  If you do not perform a task, please do not respond.

Questions about this analysis can be forwarded to Daina Grace, TWQA Executive Director, by email or phone (361.573-6707).

TWQA Releases Final Convention Schedule

Planning on attending TWQA's Annual Convention and Exposition? Want to know more about the business and technical programs being offered? The final Schedule of Events has just been published and incorporated in the convention registration packets.

Download a packet from TWQA's website today.

Have more questions? Contact Daina Grace, TWQA Executive Director, by phone (361.573.6707) or email (twqadirector@twqa.org).

Get Ready for the 43rd Annual TWQA Convention & Exposition!

Make your plans to attend the 43rd Annual TWQA Convention & Exposition in Austin, TX!

Held from July 13-16 at the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol, the Annual TWQA Convention & Exposition is an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the water quality industry, get current on your technical training and share ideas with industry leaders. In addition to technical training, business talks provide front-office staff with insights into managing water quality enterprises. And events like the annual golf tournament and Friday night at the Oasis make the convention a great experience for the entire family.

Registration for the convention is now available on the TWQA website. Just register online or complete a registration packet and email or fax it to Daina Grace, TWQA Executive Director, at 361.573-6708.

2016 TWQA Convention & Exposition Supplier Packets Now Available!

Getting ready for the 2016 convention season? Exhibitor registration packets for the 43rd Annual TWQA Convention & Exposition are now available. Register now to take advantage of discount rates and get your choice of exhibit booths.

Supplier registration packets are available on the TWQA website (http://twqa.org/events_convention.php). Simply print the registration packet and return it to Daina Grace, TWQA Executive Director, by email or fax (361.573-6708).

Get Credit for Attending AquaTech 2016!

Going to AquaTech 2016? Be sure to get credit for attending the training sessions. Texas-certified Water Treatment Specialists can earn up to 17 hours of training credit by attending WQA Technical Sessions taking place Monday, March 14 through Thursday, March 17.

And getting credit for attending those classes is easy. Simply get signatures from the WQA monitor at each course and email or fax your training forms to the TWQA Executive Director. Instructions on completing and submitting the form can be found on the TWQA website.

For more information, contact Daina Grace, TWQA Executive Director by email or phone (361.573-6707).

TWQA Has a New Look on Mobile Devices

TWQA's website has a new look on mobile devices. Responding to a significant increase in the number of visitors using smart phones and tablets (over 20% of all visitors to the website now use mobile devices), TWQA recently updated their website to make it mobile-friendly. Visitors accessing the website using laptops and desktops will see very few changes. Mobile users, on the other hand, will have a much simpler interface that focuses on how TWQA can help.

In addition to making the website easier to use, TWQA's website will be easier to find by visitors using common search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. According to the TWQA technical support team:

"Today's search engines rank websites for mobile users by placing 'mobile-friendly' pages at the top of the search results. The new mobile format will make sure TWQA sorts toward the top of search lists that focus on water quality in Texas."

If you have questions about the TWQA's new look, please contact the TWQA Executive Director by email or phone (361.573-6707).

TWQA Website Getting a Mobile Facelift

TWQA's website will be getting a face lift this weekend. The website will have a new look on mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones. The new look is designed to make the website 'mobile-friendly' with easier to read fonts and pages that are organized specifically for mobile devices.

These changes will only affect the public pages. Member-only pages and administrative functions will keep their current look and feel and will continue to be accessible from tablets and larger devices. In addition, members using the website on laptops and desktop computers won't see any significant changes.

In order to minimize disruption for our members, the changes will take place the afternoon of Saturday, January 23. An 'Under Construction' page will be displayed while the changes take place.
The site will be back up with the new mobile-friendly pages by 5:00PM Saturday afternoon.

Questions about these changes may be forwarded to Daina Grace by email or phone (361.673-6707);

Applications Being Accepted for the Jo Grace TWQA Scholarship

Do you have a child attending college? If you are a member, or the employee of a member, of the Texas Water Quality Association, now is the time to apply for the 2016 Jo Grace TWQA Scholarship. Applications will be accepted from January 1 through March 1 and the winner will be announced at this year's annual convention and exposition in Austin, TX.

To obtain an application for the Jo Grace TWQA Scholarship, or to get more information, visit the TWQA website.

Did You Miss the January Training?

Water Treatment Specialists - If you need hours to keep your license current and you missed the January training sessions, don't worry! TWQA offers Basic and Advanced Water Conditioning training courses 4 times every year. Your next opportunity will be April at the MCM Elegante Hotel in Abilene.

Register today and reserve your spot in the class. Just go to the TWQA Training Schedule and click on the 'Register' button above the class you'd like to join. It's that simple!

Questions about this announcement may be forwarded to Daina Grace, TWQA Executive Director, by email or phone (361.573-6707).

January Training Just Around the Corner!

Do you need hours for your TCEQ Water Treatment Specialist license? It's not too late to register for the January technical training at Texas State University in San Marcos. Training will take place from Monday, January 11 through Wednesday, January 13 with TCEQ WTS exams administered immediately following Wednesday's classwork.

You can register online using the TWQA website or complete and email fax a paper registration to the TWQA Executive Director at 361.573-6708. Directions to the training facilities, along with a campus map, can also be found on the website.

Any questions about this announcement may be forwarded to Daina Grace, by email or phone at 361.573-6707.