|
Thanks from DWP to eDEP Users In the Main - A technical assistance newsletter for Public Water Suppliers
Winter 2008
By Andrew Durham
As of November, six laboratories have uploaded drinking water quality data using the MassDEP Drinking Water Program's (DWP) bulk upload tool. These water quality reports were submitted on behalf of 165 different water suppliers across all four MassDEP regions. The DWP would like to thank:
Nashoba Analytical LLC
Phoenix Environmental Laboratories Inc
Barnstable County Health & Environment Dept.
Analytical Balance Corp
New England Chromachem Inc
ESS Laboratory
In addition, our thanks go out to all the public water systems that, along with their labs, are true pioneers in the MassDEP electronic reporting world. To reward and recognize their efforts and trust in eDEP the Department will be granting the participating 165 public water systems bonus points in this year's PWS Awards Program. (Please check the January mailing of your annual statistical package for all the information on the awards program or go to http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/awards.htm.)
With the intent of increasing electronic reporting DWP asked a group of the current users how we could improve the system. The most frequently identified shortcomings by labs and PWSs were the view of data and the sharing of data between labs and PWSs. To demonstrate our commitment to electronic reporting we're hoping to embark on two enhancement projects to address these issues. First would be to design new views of water quality data that mimic the paper forms instead of a spreadsheet. Secondly, we are investigating the possibility that we can retain the current access for labs - see everything they submit on a transaction basis, while opening up a new method of PWS access that would allow them a view of their data without the need for labs to share it. This would be available simply by logging onto eDEP and would combine submittals from multiple labs and multiple transactions. If both enhancements are successful this should add up to a much more user-friendly system. Work has begun now on scoping out these projects and we would hope to see them completed in 2008.
DWP continues to identify ways to increase participation and improve the experience of using eDEP. If your lab or PWS would like to start using eDEP but needs some assistance please contact Andrew Durham at 617-574-6855 or Andrew.Durham@state.ma.us.
| 
communicate with dep
