Category Archives: Uncategorized

As a new decade dawns, the water sector faces several urgent challenges, according to members of the Water Environment Federation House of Delegates (HOD; WEF, Alexandria, Va.). At WEFTEC 2019 in September, the HOD hosted a debate to examine the most pressing of these challenges. Within this forum, delegates focused their attention on climate change, workforce development, communications, and legislation, respectively. Among these discussions, common challenges emerged related to shifting beliefs, awareness, and perception about the water sector — both internally and externally.  …

Continue reading “Roles of the Water Worker”

November 5, 2020 By Stuart Karasik As we express our profound appreciation and respect to military personnel and veterans this Veterans Day for their contributions and sacrifices to ensure our precious rights and freedoms, I am pleased to introduce you to AWWA member Jose Martinez, general manager of the Otay Water District in Southern California …

Continue reading “Veterans and the water sector: dedicated to community service”

Located about 48 km (30 mi) southeast of Syracuse, N.Y., Morrisville State College gives students the opportunity to study everything from seahorse conservation to cannabis farming.   But the classes that attract the greatest number of students from across the state to the small agricultural and technological college are those taught at its Environmental Training Center (ETC).   Hundreds of new and experienced water and wastewater professionals travel to the ETC each year to complete the training courses they need to become …

Continue reading “Morrisville College Crash Course Prepares New Yorkers for Operator Certification Exams”

How do you get started on a career in water/wastewater? Is there synergy between the military and water sector? What is the municipal/civil service hiring process like? What resources should the water sector build to make transitioning easier for veterans? Check out this very special one hour webinar featuring four veterans who work on the …

Continue reading “Webinar Recording: Veterans in Water: Continue Serving Your Community”

Working in the water sector, I am constantly learning and being challenged by the people around me. Ours is a profession that, at its core, requires working with others to find solutions that make sense for the future.  I love the spirit of cooperativeness that you can find so often behind the fence of a water resource recovery …

Continue reading “From the President: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Workforce Challenges”

Todd Saums and Tom McGrain, who operate and manage water resource recovery facilities for the Northwestern Water and Sewer District (Bowling Green, Ohio) have had a busy year.   Saums and McGrain, members of the Ohio Water Environment Association (OWEA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.), spent the first several months of 2019 practicing for this year’s Operations Challenge competition. Along with teammates Bryan Martikan, Jared Myers, and coach …

Continue reading “WEF Members Todd Saums and Tom McGrain Aid Bahamas Relief Efforts”

Military Veteran Chris Rebone, and wastewater division manager of St. Charles, Illinois, speaks about how a total team effort helped an Illinois plant upgrade to a new bio-P process and make other improvements while sustaining operations and permit compliance. By Jim Force September 2020 Cover Story of Treatment Plant Operator magazine which appeared in print as “Wastewater …

Continue reading “Upgrading to a Bio-P Process Required Open Communication and a Proactive, Patient Approach at Wastewater Facility”