Capacity Development Program
What is Capacity Development?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency, USEPA, has recognized
the need for each public water supply to have adequate managerial, financial
and technical resources in order to operate in compliance with State
and federal drinking water standards and requirements. These managerial,
financial and technical abilities are called
"capacity." USEPA refers to the implementation of these three
program elements as "capacity development," and to the documentation
of these elements as a "capacity development demonstration." Illinois,
as a primacy agent for enforcement of the federal Safe Drinking Water
Act, has implemented a capacity development program.
 The
primary goal of the Capacity Development program is to ensure that those
who drink water in Illinois and across the country receive safe, potable
water from each and every public water supply tap. Full Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) participation in the implementation of capacity
development will benefit the water consumers of Illinois by providing
the direct assistance needed by water supplies to operate in compliance
with all drinking water regulations. Consistent vigilance over the entire
public water supply operation will ensure that technical equipment and
processes are correctly operated, communication between operators and
managers facilitated, and information to assist in managerial and financial
planning for both emergency operations and future regulations is handled
in a timely manner to promote planning. The Capacity Development program
emphasizes assistance with a goal of working together toward compliance,
versus contact as an outcome of violation response (outside routine evaluations).
Education and information for new officials, as well as assistance with
changing technologies and regulations, are important deliverables that
the Illinois EPA provides to public water supply officials and operators.
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