The 52nd annual P3S Conference We Are All One, reflects the profound impact of working together across disciplines, backgrounds, and expertise to create lasting solutions. Learn what’s new, share what you’re experiencing, and get connected to a strong and supportive community. We’ll be at the beautiful historic Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a one-of-a-kind venue rich...

The City of Los Angeles has agreed to pay a total of $20.8 million to fix issues at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant and to complete related environmental projects in connection with the discharge of millions of gallons of wastewater into Santa Monica Bay in 2021. Hyperion, the City’s oldest and largest wastewater treatment facility,...

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are pervasive contaminants detectable in all wastewater effluents, even in the absence of direct industrial sources. Water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) act as passive receivers of these substances. While PFAS precursor compounds often transform into terminal forms detectable in effluent using methods like EPA Method 1633, WRRFs typically lack the...

The ACWA Foundation, now in its second year of operation, is continuing to grow and set the stage for success by adding three new members to its Board of Trustees, preparing to hire an Executive Director and defining how it can be most valuable to the water industry. The nonprofit 501(c)3 foundation was created by...

Learn more and register for the 2024 Northern Safety Day in Woodland. Want to volunteer for Northern Safety Day? Check out CWEA Volunteer Opportunities. What is your current role and how did you get interested in the wastewater industry? I am a Grade III wastewater treatment plant operator at the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District. My journey...

Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) and its partners have completed a sweeping, five-year investigation quantifying the relative contributions of six major sources of human fecal contamination in the San Diego River watershed during wet weather – a multicomponent scientific undertaking that has produced groundbreaking insights into one of the most vexing challenges in...

CWEA currently has the following requests for proposals available for highly skilled trainers seeking an opportunity to contract with CWEA to provide outstanding educational opportunities for California’s wastewater community. These are paid workshop training opportunities. We’re looking forward to reading your proposal! The California Water Environment Association (CWEA) empowers wastewater professionals as they protect California’s...

Apply to be a presenter at the 2025 P3S Conference and Expo at the Hayes Mansion in San José. Apply by August 30th > Severe winter rains could not keep members away from CWEA’s 51st annual Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Stormwater Conference in Anaheim. During our February conference, drenching rains lasted throughout the week but...

2025 Annual Conference & Expo April 22 – 25, 2025 | Palm Springs The 2025 Annual Conference Education Program Team is looking for great topics and presenters. Do you have an exciting new topic, technology, project, or case study to share with California’s wastewater community? AC is one of the largest wastewater conferences on the West...

On July 2nd, the Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) officially kicks off the expanded annual observance of #FlushSmartMonth. Flush Smart Day was introduced two years ago on July 1, but as RFA is picking up speed and increasing the creativity and reach of its educational activations, Flush Smart Day is now Flush Smart Month! A full...

After 16 years in the making, Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) recently celebrated the official opening of its historic, award-winning $580 million Regional Environmental Sewer Conveyance Upgrade (RESCU) – an innovative revamp of its wastewater conveyance system that will support community and environmental health in Silicon Valley over the next century. The RESCU Program involved...

On December 6, 2022, the State Water Board adopted the reissued Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order (Order) with the effective date of June 5, 2023. The reissued Order updates the 16-year-old statewide Waste Discharge Requirements to: Clarify existing Water Code regulations and compliance expectations to address spills to waters of the State Address climate change...

Efficient performance The KAISER PREMIER AquaStar® offers a perfect combination of performance and versatility. The KDU jetting pump delivers water at a rate up to 132 gpm and water pressure of up to 2900 psi. The large hose reel can accommodate up to a 985 ft jetting hose. With the KAISER vacuum pump, the maximum...

The California Water, Wastewater and Energy Workforce Development Program awarded Long Beach City College (LBCC) a $750,000 grant to establish a Regional Consortium in Los Angeles and Orange counties that will lead efforts to train and place at least 70 underrepresented workers into the water and energy sectors. The new program will begin training individuals in fall...

In accordance with California’s Proper Labeling of Wet Wipes law (AB 818), state wastewater agencies and industry experts went deep to find out exactly what is passing through—and clogging up—municipal wastewater systems. The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) alongside the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) and the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) release...

A powerful new film exploring humanity’s profound relationship with water launches on Earth Day, 22 April 2024 in New York City. Produced by the team that brought the award-winning documentary, Brave Blue World to audiences globally, Our Blue World reveals how human agency, ingenuity and community spirit can help rebalance the planet’s water systems. Actor Liam...

Updated on April 19: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released both its final rule to classify PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and an enforcement discretion memo. This memo shows that EPA does not believe that water systems are the problem. However, the reality of...

This is a reminder that the Sanitary Sewer System Annual Report is due on April 1, 2024, as specified in section 3.9 (Annual Report) of Attachment E1 (Notification, Monitoring, Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements) of the Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order (link: Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order.) General Order, Section 5.11(System Performance Analysis), outlines the requirements for including...

The CWEA community is heartbroken to share the news about the passing of Ron Wade, a longtime CWEA member and owner of the private O&M consulting firm Facility Process Solutions Consulting. Ron was passionate about the environment and about water. He also understood people and would do things to convince them to be just as...

Application Deadline: February 27, 2024 The Water Environment Federation (WEF) believes that the water workforce should reflect the communities we serve. The WEF InFLOW (Introducing Future Leaders to Opportunities in Water) STEMpath program is a scholarship opportunity that engages undergraduate and graduate students representing historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups and introduces them to career...

The 2024 Annual Conference and Expo in Sacramento promises to be one of our largest and most exciting. Connect and celebrate at the West Coast’s largest wastewater conference and explore all of the new technologies and vendors in the 72,00 square feet expo hall. We’re in California’s farm-to-fork capital – the beautiful tree-lined city of...

Last week, the WateReuse California Board of Trustees selected Brenley McKenna as its new Managing Director. McKenna currently serves as the Chief of Subscriber Services for The Water Research Foundation (WRF).  Prior to joining WRF in 2017, McKenna served as Program Manager with Denver Water; as Reclaimed Water System Coordinator with the City of Westminster,...

The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts manage the sewage for 5.4 million people and serve 78 cities in Los Angeles County. The Districts own and operate a regional sewer system that receives sewage from the cities and unincorporated county areas within our service area. These flows are treated at their treatment plants throughout the County....

Following a thorough and competitive process, the State Water Resources Control Board has selected Eric Oppenheimer as its new executive director to lead the board’s managerial, programmatic and administrative functions. Oppenheimer currently serves as one of the State Water Board’s chief deputy directors, with over 25 years of experience, including with two regional boards. For...

2023 Grand prize winner Rudy Hurtado, City of Manhattan Beach Crew members installing a submersible pump inside a wet well. View all the member photo entries on Flickr >

On December 19th, the State Water Board made California history by granting approval for direct potable reuse regulations, also known as DPR. California’s water and wastewater associations are joining forces to celebrate this momentous achievement. United in the spirit of ‘One Water’ we are proudly working together to build California’s utilities of the future. Following...

Los Angeles water agencies dream big. That’s because local leaders are proactively leading the way here and across the country to provide equitable access to water, build resiliency, and address water supply amid climate change challenges, such as extreme weather, drought, and sea-level rise with water reuse innovation. Case in point: Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) regulations are progressing at the State...

As of January 1, 2024, every laboratory, regardless of certificate expiration date, is required to implement the 2016 TNI Standard incorporated by reference in ELAP’s regulations. ELAP will be verifying compliance! Read on to learn how and make sure your laboratory is prepared. Laboratories located in California If your laboratory has already had an assessment to...

Are you ready to revolutionize biosolids and resource recovery management? California’s premier technology seminars about resource recovery are returning to Oakland on November 29 and LA on November 30. Don’t miss out on these inspiring educational and networking events, get registered today. 2023 Innovative Technology Seminars Hosted by CASA and CWEA Nov. 29 Oakland and...

Edited by Simona A Bălan and Thomas A Bruton, California Department of Toxic Substances Control; and Kimberly G Hazard, UC Berkeley. From the description: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are extensively used in consumer products, despite their high persistence and other hazards. The risks posed by this chemical class to human health and the environment,...

>special note:  This is not a customer facing program and water and wastewater systems must apply on behalf of their customers. The State Water Board is starting to receive consumer calls that should go to the water agency. The State Water Resources Control Board has formally opened the process today for water and wastewater systems...

Roseville recently celebrated the completion of a $110 million expansion project at the regional Pleasant Grove Wastewater Treatment Plant after more than three years of work. The expansion, officially opened in September, has increased treatment capacity from 9.5 million gallons per day to 12 million, making it better equipped to meet the region’s growing wastewater...

CWEA’s coverage of PFAS is supported by Carollo. Advance your career with WEF’s industrial water resources! These peer-reviewed publications provide water quality professionals with essential technical knowledge and strategies. Order yours today! PFAS in the Water and Wastewater Sectors: Fundamentals, Management, and Treatment This collection of essays provides a state of the field on PFAS...

CWEA asked if the State Water Board’s Office of Operator Certification could share the publicly available pass/fail rates for the computerized certification exams, and they have graciously provided the data. How are California’s wastewater operators doing on their exams? The OOC reports, “The 6-month comparison of CBT pass/fail rates is consistent with historical average passing...

Click image for a larger view. Photos by Jim Aanderud, SSCSC (Southern Sections Collection Systems Committee of CWEA). All photos posted with permission of the photographer.  

Let’s put safety first within the wastewater profession. Join nearly 400 wastewater pros representing 63 agencies and firms at this year’s event. 2023 Northern Safety Day Wednesday, November 8 Learn more and register > ACWA JPIA Calaveras County Water District Central Contra Costa SD City of Alameda City of American Canyon City of Antioch City...

Let’s put safety first within the wastewater profession. Join 150 wastewater pros representing 43 agencies and firms at the 2023 Southern Safety Day. 2023 Southern Safety Day Thursday, October 26 Learn more and register >   ACWA JPIA City of Alhambra City of Chino City of Corona City of Covina City of Culver City City...

As California’s water, wastewater, irrigation, and regulatory agencies face a wave of retirements, the state’s water associations are on a mission to elevate the profile of water-related careers. In recent years, California water agencies have witnessed a significant portion of their workforce retiring, up to 50% of the workforce at several agencies. “From finance and...

Learn more about Pure Water San Diego, the largest infrastructure project in City of San Diego history! The Pure Water Program will provide nearly one-half of the city’s water supply by the end of 2035. This video provides an overview of the Phase 1 construction projects and highlights the progress of the North City Pure...

View the CA Water Week resource page > Oct 15   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by CWEA (@cweamembers) Oct 13   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by CWEA (@cweamembers) Oct 8   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by CWEA (@cweamembers) Oct 7...

Standing in the lobby of the City of Oxnard’s water resource recovery facility on a sunny Friday morning, mentor Nirmala Mahadevan and mentee Sian Bashkiroff are laughing and joking as they catch-up on stories about work, family, and industry events. Whenever they get together, the conversation just flows. “We’re both talkers,” said Sian. CWEA’s inaugural...

From CalRecycle’s YouTube page… In California, wastewater treatment plants are an emerging hub for recycling food scraps into clean energy. With the help of $2.5 million dollars in state funding, the Central Marin Sanitation Agency is upgrading its facility to keep food waste from becoming climate pollution in landfills through a process called Co-Digestion.

CWEA is heartbroken to share the news that DAMS President Ronald Scriven has passed away. Ron was the General Manager of Crestline Sanitation District in the mountain region of Southern California, and worked for the district for over 20 years. Ron is survived by his wife and children. His friends and co-workers at Crestline have...

The Office of Operator Certification is excited to announce a NEW online application submittal portal for the Drinking Water Operator Certification (Distribution and Treatment-Grades 1 and 2) and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification (Grades 1 and 2) Examination applications! You can now submit applications online for the following drinking water and wastewater examinations: Grade 1 Drinking...

Information from the State Water Board… NOTICE OF PROPOSED REGULATORY ACTION State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards CHAPTER 3.5 – Urban Water Use Efficiency and Conservation ARTICLE 1 SUBJECT: MAKING CONSERVATION A CALIFORNIA WAY OF LIFE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or...

The TCP Executive Committee has been working with a team of subject matter experts to evaluate the impact of the new Waste Discharge Requirements Sanitary Sewer System General Order (WDR SSS) on the Collection System Maintenance exams and to update the exams to reflect the changes. This post is to inform the wastewater community of...

Dear CWEA Members, We hope this letter finds you well. Today, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the life and extraordinary contributions of Dr. David Jenkins, a beloved member of our water community. Dr. Jenkins was not only a respected professor and expert in wastewater treatment but also a compassionate volunteer...

Brown and Caldwell has announced the addition of further water reuse technical leadership as Sandy Scott-Roberts joins the firm as program management director to help California communities tap into drought-proof drinking water sources. Having spent most of her career at an internationally recognized water district, Scott-Roberts has 20 years of managing capital improvement projects, encompassing...

CWEA’s Laboratory Committee Chair Josie Teller from the City of Davis led an effort to craft a comment letter regarding the State Water Board draft regulations to raise ELAP fees. In summary, CWEA’s comment letter recommends: Request to Delay the Adoption and Initiate a Collaborative Process Regulatory Language Needs Clarification Reporting Mechanism (tools) Request to...

“One of the most effective near- and long-term solutions to reducing PFAS in biosolids is to prevent PFAS from entering wastewater treatment facilities in the first place.” The latest science is clear: long-term exposure to PFAS is linked to significant health risks, and PFAS can enter our water and land through several different paths. That’s...

The mission of West Basin Municipal Water District is to provide a safe and reliable supply of high-quality water to the communities we serve. West Basin provides a variety of opportunities to help students explore the fulfilling and diverse careers in the water industry, including: Career-themed Water Treatment Facility Tours Live Classroom Career Presentations Pre-recorded...

UPLOAD FILES HERE What We’re Looking For Photos The contest is open to all photographers (amateur, professional, and agencies) File format: JPEG Images submitted should be sRGB JPG files with a recommended minimum size of 1600px width. Restrictions: no borders, no signatures and watermarks Please do not submit images that have been heavily manipulated or...

High school dropout Chander Letulle never thought of himself as a scholar. Yet Chander would go on to turn his water and wastewater operator certifications into an associate’s degree, then a bachelor’s. Eventually going back to school to earn a master’s degree in environmental engineering. The hard work paid off with a rapid series of...

This post was provided by WateReuse California… This week the California State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) released an advanced copy of the highly anticipated Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) regulations. The 45-day comment period and Administrative Procedures Act will formally begin on July 21. The Water Board is planning to conduct a workshop on...

From now until October 1, 2023, the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) is accepting applications and nominations for five vacancies on the Environmental Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee (ELTAC). ELAP is accepting applications and nominations for Representatives, and is looking to fill positions for two Scientific Positions, two Community Implementation Advisors, and one Accreditation Advisor....

The CWEA Board and Annual Conference Committee are excited to see the knowledge and skills you have to share with the wider wastewater community as a presenter at one of our upcoming conferences. We know speaking at a conference can be intimidating. CWEA is here to support and empower you in pursuing your career goals....

Calling all CWEA members: you can provide a lasting memorial for California’s distinguished professor Dr. David Jenkins by donating to the WEF Operator Scholarship Fund. DONATE TO THE DR. JENKINS FUND Professor David Jenkins has left a distinguished and influential legacy in education, research, and scientific advances in the water sector. His hallmark was to...

The US Water Alliance spoke with Louisville MSD and DC Water for some insight into their organizations’ efforts to seek out and maintain a diverse workplace. The VOW Workforce Diversity Toolkit contains materials to assist in the pursuit of a more diverse team—we hope you’ll use these tips, too. 1) Establish company values during the...

Visit CWEA’s WDR resource page supported by West Coast Safety. According to State Water Board ELAP staff members the decision to require accreditation in specific field of accreditations (FOAs) is determined by the WDR program and ELAP can provide some general guidance. The reason that ELAP has two distinct FOA tables for microbiological methods is because...

The Laboratory Analyst (LAB) certification program has undergone a comprehensive update process, spearheaded by a dedicated team of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). This meticulous examination of the certification program aimed to enhance the standards and ensure that the exams accurately reflect the practical skills required in the laboratory field. The process, which spanned from July...

Coverage of PFAS is supported by Carollo. The toxicity and widespread detectability of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have raised concern about their potential health impacts or changes to water and wastewater practices in response. PFAS are commonly present in water, human blood, environmental samples, household products, and biosolids (Ducatman et al., 2022; Hu...

Tough engineering challenges in the City of Los Angeles require creative thinking and a wide diversity of perspectives. While the second largest city in the U.S. has plenty of opportunities for engineers to shine, many students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) may not be aware of just how interesting and rewarding public service...

The Sacramento region can expect to see big changes related to how wastewater is treated and reused with the completion of Regional San’s $1.7 billion, decade-long expansion. Named the EchoWater Project, the immense upgrade was completed in spring 2023—on schedule and under budget. The result is a safe and reliable supply of treated water for discharge to the Sacramento River,...

View CWEA’s WDR resource page > After four years of hosting meetings and conducting surveys with the public, wastewater stakeholders, and wastewater agencies, the California State Water Resources Control Board has adopted new regulations affecting more than 1,200 publicly operated collection systems with greater than one mile of sewers discharging to a publicly owned wastewater...

This April the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts announced that its laboratories have been recognized for adopting a new standard that will ensure the quality and accuracy of laboratory data. The new standard, the 2016 TNI standard, is not required to be implemented until 2024. However, the Sanitation Districts upgraded its policies and procedures early...

A joint venture of AECOM and Brown and Caldwell (AECOM-BC Team) has been chosen to provide program and project management support and engineering design services for the Pure Water Southern California program, one of the largest water reuse programs in the world. The innovative program, being developed by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) in...

Letter was sent to the State Water Board on April 27, 2023 On behalf of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), the California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA), the American Water Works Association California-Nevada Section (CA-NV AWWA), and the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), we appreciate the opportunity to comment on the annual ELAP...

What a week! We hope you had a fantastic time at the CWEA Annual Conference & Expo in San Diego. AC23 was an opportunity to catch-up with friends and make new ones during the engaging technical sessions and at the exciting social events. Attendees got to participate in sessions, workshops, tours, social receptions, award lunches,...

Some may have retired to a life of golf and relaxation after spending more than 40 years as a civil engineer and serving as the Director of Wastewater for the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) in Oakland. However, Dave Williams felt he still had more to give. Before retiring in 2013, Dave decided to...

Wastewater and recycled water permittees’ 2022 Volumetric Annual Reports are due on April 30, 2023, as required under the State Water Resources Control Board’s Water Quality Control Policy for Recycled Water. The 2022 Volumetric Annual Report is the same format as previous years and requires the entry of volumes in acre-feet per month for influent,...

View CWEA’s WDR resource page > In 2017, CWEA started work under a Memorandum of Agreement with the State Water Board to collaborate on providing training for collection system professionals. The collaboration resulted in a series of CWEA workshops, webinars, and events. At the same time, the State Water Board began the process of drafting...

The Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research (COE) unveiled a new water and wastewater workforce report at today’s Water Energy Education Alliance (WEEA or Alliance) Leadership Roundtable meeting. The Alliance has formed a statewide advisory that will focus on developing collective deliverables that address the recommendations in the report titled “California Workforce Needs in the Water/Wastewater Industry.” This...

As regular readers of my blog are likely aware, this week EPA announced proposed Maximum Contaminant Limits (MCLs) of 4 ppt for PFAS in U.S. drinking water utilities. I’m a social scientist, not a toxicologist or engineer. I can’t speak to health risks or the benefits of regulating PFAS. I can’t address the feasibility of...

View CWEA’s WDR resource page > Passed in December 2022, the new Sanitary Sewer System General Order incorporates several changes wastewater professionals called for during this update of the 2006 Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR). The new regs include new reporting and planning requirements. They were developed over five years during an exhaustive process involving dozens...

View CWEA’s WDR resource page > In December 2022, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted statewide Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order 2022-0103-DWQ that replaces the existing statewide Order 2006-0003-DWQ as of its effective date of June 5, 2023. The existing Order 2006-0003-DWQ (also referred to as the “WDRs”), and existing regulatory coverage for sewer...

The 2023 Annual Conference and Expo at the Town and Country Resort in San Digeo is the one places to connect with nearly 2,000 wastewater professionals from 210 agencies and firms who are registered to attend. We are one community, with one purpose: protecting California’s most critical resource – clean water. Plus 155 exhibitors in...

CWEA’s mission is carried forward by over 300 volunteer leaders at all levels. If you’re one of our leaders – thank you! Join us in sunny and warm San Diego for these events several of which are specifically for CWEA’s amazing volunteer leaders. Watch your in-box for your personalized invite to the Volunteers Reception. Interested...

View CWEA’s PFAS topics page > Research by Charles E. Schaefer, Jennifer L. Hooper, Laurel E. Strom, Ibrahim Abusallout, Eric R.V. Dickenson, Kyle A. Thompson, Gayathri Ram Mohan, Dina Drennan, Ke Wu, and Jennifer L. Guelfo (please see article for affiliations) Abstract Both quantifiable and semi-quantifiable poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were evaluated in the...

Visit CWEA’s WDR training and resources page > Having been an inspector for the State Water Board’s Office of Enforcement for a decade with over 100 collection system inspections, as well as an independent consultant for more than a dozen years, CWEA members often ask me: What does Emergency Response Plan (ERP) compliance look like?...

Last month, the Bay Area rang in — or perhaps more appropriately rained in — the new year with a barrage of storms. It started with an atmospheric river on New Year’s Eve that resulted in record-breaking rainfall. Oakland recorded its wettest day, with 4.8 inches of rain in 24 hours. San Francisco recorded its...

As California has struggled with drought, Governor Gavin Newsom’s fundamental solution: find more water by diversifying the state’s public water supply. Because of the proximity of the Pacific Ocean, one of the most frequently mentioned sources is seawater desalination. A few communities are trying it, despite environmental concerns. But another potential source gets less public...

Wastewater 101 Citizens Academy, get registered soon > Download the informative flyer Who We Are What We Do Thursday, March 9 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. OC San the Nuts and Bolts Thursday, March 23 6:00‐8:00 p.m. Building for the Future: OC San’s Capital Improvement Program Thursday, April 6 6:00‐8:00 p.m. Protecting our environment: Fundamentals...

Join this session at AC23 in San Diego, April 18-21 Mike Falk, PE, and Jimmy Dang, PE, will present a paper at the Annual Conference on an innovative sidestream process demonstrated at the Oro Loma Sanitary District, where Dang is the general manager. The process removes ammonia using Microvi’s MNE technology, a new process that employs synthetic composites called...

Celebrating the Life of John Boyd Please join us on March 25, 2023, 1:00-4:00 p.m. Santa Anita Church, Fellowship Hall 226 Colorado Blvd., Arcadia, CA 91007 The family has asked CWEA to gather a list of attendees. Please RSVP by Wednesday March 15 and we look forward to celebrating John’s life with you. Download the...

The Palmdale Water District (PWD) Board of Directors on Monday unanimously approved the name Pure Water Antelope Valley (AV) and adopted a new logo for the water augmentation program that will boost regional water supply through treating recycled water. Previously known as the Palmdale Regional Water Augmentation Program, it is now called Pure Water AV...

View CWEA’s PFAS resources page, support by Carollo. Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is seeking public comment on its proposal to address environmental justice, climate change, and PFAS contamination in its National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECIs).  Every four years, EPA selects national initiatives to focus resources on serious and widespread...

The State Water Resources Control Board adopted a statewide Sanitary Sewer System General Order that implements and expands policies to address statewide water infrastructure needs. The new order replaces an existing order and expands regulatory requirements to include privately owned systems, at the discretion of the applicable California Regional Water Quality Control Board. It also...

Coverage of PFAS is supported by Carollo. In 2018, the media seized on a story about a small dairy farm in Maine that was forced to no longer produce milk due to sludge and biosolids spread on the farm as fertilizer under a state-sponsored program from 1983 to 2004. Wastewater utilities were quickly blamed for...

Join clean water professionals from nearly 100 agencies, firms, and organizations. Learn more and get registered >   Carmel Area Wastewater District CASA Central Contra Costa SD Central Marin Sanitation Agency City of American Canyon City of Arcata City of Bakersfield City of Camarillo City of El Centro City of Fontana City of Fresno City...

It’s official!!! OC San is now recycling 100 percent of our reclaimable flow. OC San is sending all the water we possibly can to our partners at the Orange County Water District (OCWD) for our joint project, the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). The GWRS is a collaborative effort of OC San and the Orange County...

Discussions on updating the Sanitary Sewer System regulations have been ongoing over the last four years and after a four-hour State Water Board meeting, the new regulations were approved unanimously, and implementation now begins. Originally implemented in 2006, the reissued Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) was debated and discussed during the December 6th Board meeting in...

After nearly four years of negotiations, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) considered and unanimously adopted the Statewide Sanitary Sewer Systems General Waste Discharge Requirements Order Reissuance (SSS WDR) with late changes on December 6, 2022. The SSS WDR regulates sanitary sewer systems designed to convey sewage longer than one mile...

The California Legislature has taken action to limit the use of PFAS in recent years, enacting bills to phase them out of food packaging, banning their use in nearly all firefighting foam, and requiring notification on cookware containing PFAS. Three bills relating to PFAS were passed in the 2022 Legislative Session. The bills included two...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous, including detectable amounts typically in the parts per trillion (ppt) range in wastewater effluent and parts per billion (ppb) range in solids. The US EPA plans to publish ambient water quality human-health-based criteria for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) by Fall 2024. The EPA also...

At the Water Environment Federation, our vision for the future is life free of water challenges. As water professionals, this is our ultimate goal – a world where each person has access to clean water and sanitation, where communities prosper, and where nature thrives. To get there, our mission is to inspire the water community...

What are the big I.D.E.A.s when it comes to increasing diversity in the water profession?  That was the focus of an October 28th workshop in Oakland that brought together the CWEA Board of Directors, DEI Task Force members and several local section leaders. Twenty-eight volunteer leaders and staff members participated in the workshop facilitated by ...

The CWEA Collection Systems Committee is working on multiple strategies to increase the amount of training across California. We have heard clearly from members it’s important to help the next generation of professionals succeed. CWEA proudly offers voluntary certification programs for wastewater professionals. Each program includes increasingly advanced Grade options that demonstrate mastery of new...

From SFEI’s 2022, The Pulse of the Bay: 50 Years After the Clean Water Act. Reposted with permission. The Clean Water Act serves as the legal framework for how the clean water community views our mission. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program established by the Clean Water Act provides the regulatory structure for...

Just in time for the Clean Water Act at 50 celebration, the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), on behalf of the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay, has released an in-depth retrospective on clean water regulations, strategies, studies and achievements within the Bay Area. Download The Pulse of the Bay 2022...

The Clean Water Act and Porter-Cologne provided California’s water professionals and regulators the support and funding needed to make monumental clean water achievements. Rivers, bays, and beaches across the Golden State are cleaner than ever and enjoyed by millions of residents and tourists. This webinar was recorded live on October 5, 2022. Now 50 years...

VenturaWaterPure (VWP) is a multi-benefit water reuse program that will recover, treat, and reuse water that is currently discharged into the Santa Clara River Estuary, creating a new, local, drought-resilient water source that isn’t dependent on rainfall. Ventura needs more water. A decade of comprehensive evaluations, studies, and piloting have allowed local leaders to consider...

House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hearing chaired by Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano from California’s 32nd District. Streamed live on Sep 20, 2022, a hearing on “The Clean Water Act at Fifty: Highlights and Lessons Learned from a Half Century of Transformative Legislation.”

P3S23 Conference Webpage A Message from the P3S Committee Chair I am excited to invite you, your colleagues, friends, and fellow water professionals to the 2023 Annual Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Stormwater (P3S) Conference in beautiful Monterey! While attending the recent P3S conference in Long Beach, everyone I spoke to expressed happiness with the ability...

CWEA and WEF are undertaking large, strategic initiatives to bolster diversity, equity, and inclusion within the water and wastewater profession. WEF is rolling out new initiatives, and CWEA has developed JEDI-Openers – stories about diversity that can help leaders start meetings with a short diversity moment. We recently pulled our membership demographic data and found...

The State Water Board in early September approved a new method for testing for microplastics making California perhaps one of the first places in the world that will test for microplastics. The Board will also require 30 water agencies to start testing for microplastics in the fall of 2023. “There’s no other place in the...

Join one of our virtual, regional water career fairs coming up on October 3-6. California’s water and wastewater agencies are hiring right now for a variety of exciting and interesting roles. A career in water offers numerous benefits, including: family sustaining wages and benefits; opportunity to work on a great team; and serving your community...

We are pleased to welcome these impressive women in water for an insightful conversation about their professional journeys. Join us as we hear how they navigate challenges and balance their professional and personal priorities, share their best advice, and answer audience questions. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4TH 11:00 to Noon FREE for everyone REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR...

Join CWEA members Kody Tompkins and Louis Sun on the State Water Board’s Wastewater Operator Advisory Committee. Details from the State Water Board… The Wastewater Operator Certification Program (WWOCP) Advisory Committee has openings for the following positions: Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Representative – Persons from statewide organizations representing municipalities, including counties or private utility wastewater...

The 50th annual Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Stormwater conference is taking place January 30 – February 1 in Monterey.  We expect to attract 300-400 professionals to the conference. This year’s P3S Conference Committee seeks innovative speakers to share their expertise with P3S professionals to further their knowledge and grow in their careers. If you have an interesting...

Following a tour of the Syphon Reservoir Improvement Project at the Irvine Ranch Water District today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton announced the allocation of $309.8 million in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $1 million in appropriated funding for the planning, design and...

The AC23 Education Program Committee is currently accepting presentation proposals for the upcoming Annual Conference & Expo on April 18-21, 2023, in San Diego. This is a valuable opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise. This year’s conference theme is One Community. One Purpose. The focus is on intentionality, uniting the wastewater community, and collaborating for a...

East Valley Water District held a community ribbon cutting to officially open the Sterling Natural Resource Center (SNRC) and celebrate the completion of the new community facility. Over 1,300 people enjoyed the event activities, which included a free community concert, food truck vendors, and facility tours. “East Valley Water District made a commitment to the...

The purpose of the Facility of the Year (FOTY) Award is to create incentive on the part of industrial users taking proactive steps to meet current environmental pollution control standards. The FOTY Award gives an opportunity for CWEA members to provide positive publicity and recognition of the industrial user’s efforts and successes with protecting the...

As the exodus of water workers continues due to retirements, agencies are discovering a painful truth – the pipeline of incoming talent is running dry. Adding to recruitment struggles, most Californians don’t know water careers exist. For two water districts in southern Los Angeles County, the growing number of job openings and lack of public...

These testimonials were provided by two SARBS members who won free conference passes during a door prize drawing. Juan Hernandez Juan is the Utility Field Supervisor, Jurupa Community Services District What value did the conference offered? This conference gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of different areas in our industry. I also feel...

Dear CWEA Member, We are excited to kick-off CWEA’s new fiscal year on July 1st. This is the second year of implementing our strategic plan, called a Vision That Holds Water. We have ambitious goals this year to expand online and in-person training programs, as well as add more services for people new to our...

Return to the Drought Success page > These articles focus on  water professionals and the projects helping California crush this drought. I Drank Recycled Sewage To Get A Taste Of SoCal’s Water Future – Erin Stone, KPCC Cheat on water restrictions? This tiny disk tames the thirstiest water hogs – Jaimie Ding, LA Times In face of...

On June 1st, the East County Advanced Water Purification Program broke ground, marking an important milestone for the project, East San Diego County, the region and the entire water industry.Program representatives, elected officials and water industry leaders gathered at the future site of the treatment facility in Santee to celebrate the Program that will create a new, local, sustainable and...

Stories about PFAS have multiplied as we discover more about these “forever chemicals.” They’ve been in our lives since the 1940s – used in clothing, carpets, couches, cookware, cosmetics, and more – but we had no idea until this century that prolonged exposure could be harmful to our health. At least 80 percent of PFAS...

Be part of the inaugural 2024 Enhanced Source Control Workshop on February 6 at the Delta Hotels in Anaheim. Learn more > What’s driving the need for enhanced source control research and regulations? AB 574 requires the State Water Board to develop draft direct potable reuse (DPR) regulations by December 31, 2023. An expert panel...

The City of Santa Monica has taken a significant step toward a self-reliant water future as expansions to the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and restorations to the Olympic Well Field break ground. The key water infrastructure improvements are a component of the City’s goal of becoming water self-sufficient by 2023. Santa Monica’s water system...

The West Basin Municipal Water District Board of Directors announced that Gregory R. Reed, P.E. will serve as the new General Manager of the District. Bringing more than 30 years of public service and executive leadership in the water industry, Reed will support West Basin in achieving its water resiliency goals. “Mr. Reed brings exactly the...

Anaergia announced that its Rialto Bioenergy Facility in Rialto, California, received the Distinction Award for Wastewater Project of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2022, one of the water industry’s most prominent international awards programs. The award was presented at a ceremony in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday evening. The Rialto Bioenergy Facility is a $185 million...

View CWEA’s PFAS resources page, support by Carollo. Welcome to this special edition of CWEA’s winter magazine. Polyfluoroalkyl and Perfluoroalkyl compounds, or PFAS for short, are a family of chemical compounds with a’ persistence, ubiquity, and toxicity at very low levels that make them the leading contaminant challenge of our time. In 2020, the State...

State Water Resources Control Board NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP Making Conservation a California a Way of Life: How forthcoming efficiency standards may impact local wastewater management Wednesday, May 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. PST Registration (Remote Participation Only) Apply to Speak – Virtual Speaker Card Form NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the State...

This opinion article originally appeared in the Marin Independent Journal newspaper and website. Subscription required. Republished with permission. We are water, literally, by weight and so much more. It’s the sparkle in your eye, the sweat on your brow and the blood in your veins. All life and communities are totally dependent on a healthy water...

Wastewater surveillance can provide a leading indicator of rising COVID-19 cases, several days before positive cases and with no individual clinical testing. This is extremely critical in correctional facilities, where close proximity can lead to large outbreaks. It is crucial that correctional facilities quickly identify potential outbreaks and isolate infected individuals to protect the rest...

CWEA is proud to announce the state winners of the Annual Awards program. These individuals and agencies were selected by CWEA’s Committees from over 172 applications. “It’s an incredibly exciting time to work in the wastewater industry. From recycled water to green energy to resource recovery, these award winners demonstrate they can step up, work together,...

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) recently updated the regulated community and the public on the Board’s statewide investigation to study and sample potential sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).  The State Water Board’s investigation is aimed at public agencies involved in drinking water and wastewater treatment, as well as private...

One of Patrick Green’s first orders of business each day is to open a tap and fill a bottle with sludge. A utilities plant operator in Modesto, a city of nearly a quarter-million people in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Green helps keep the city’s sewers flowing and its wastewater treated to acceptable levels of safety....

Relevant session at AC22 in Sacramento: Join us for the Sewer System Management track on Wednesday, April 13th The State Water Resources Control Board will be hearing oral comments on the proposed statewide Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order reissuance at its March 15, 2022 Board meeting. The agenda for the March 15-16, 2022 Board meeting...

CalRecycle has been appropriated $19 million dollars to award as grants to expand food waste co-digestion projects at existing wastewater treatment plants. Eligible projects may include the design and construction of integrated organic food waste preprocessing and anaerobic digestion systems that will divert significant amounts of food waste from landfill disposal to co-digestion, achieving greenhouse...

The Water Environment Federation (WEF), in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has launched the NutrientSmart (NSmart) program to help reduce nutrient loadings in waterways and recognize the water utilities that are leaders and innovators.  NSmart will begin as a pilot program and encourage the adoption of enhanced nutrient management practices by water...

Pump system misconceptions create missed opportunities for greater efficiency and cost savings.  With pumps typically accounting for 40% of the energy use in industrial fluid systems, facilities cannot afford misunderstandings around the technology and its requirements. Whether for food and beverage production, wastewater disposal, or anything in between, designing your fluid system with these five...

On behalf of the California Department of Community Services & Development (CSD), you are invited to attend an informational webinar regarding the disbursement of the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) funds. LIHWAP provides financial assistance to low-income Californians to help manage their residential water and wastewater utility costs. The federal LIHWAP funds are administered...

At CWEA, we’re proud to lead the way with an inspiring, new Strategic Plan that elevates our core priorities—empowering, educating and connecting water professionals to protect public health and the environment. Join us in marking this milestone moment and advancing on our collective goals. Working together, we will build a stronger wastewater profession and a...

Driven by the rapidly growing demands for skilled career professionals in the water and wastewater industry, National University and Cuyamaca College will launch a new degree pathway program starting in February 2021. Developed in collaboration with regional employers, the new Bachelor of Public Administration degree with a concentration in Waterworks Management provides a seamless pathway for graduates...

According to the Jenkins family, the memorial service in January was cancelled due to COVID and is now being planned for June. The Celebration of Life for David Jenkins is now scheduled for June 5, 2022. Please mark your calendars! CWEA will post the event and more information as soon as we are cleared to...

Over 100 municipal agencies and firms are represented, so far, by P3S22 attendees. Don’t miss out, register today! Advanced Drainage Systems Atkins North America Blackburn Environmental Services Burbank Water and Power Cal Poly Pomona Cal Poly SLO Camrosa Water District Carmel Area Wastewater District Carollo Engineers CASA CDM Smith Central Basin MWD Central Contra Costa...

On February 16th we hosted our second Diversity in California Water panel discussion. Two California water leaders shared lessons learned to support DEI efforts within their agencies. The agencies are members of the California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA). They have developed a DEI Toolkit for water and wastewater agencies to help support their diversity programs....

With a tweet on January 4th, the City of Oceanside officially announced its brand-new advanced water purification facility was operational. Kicking off 2022 with another large-scale water reuse facility serving California. The project, called Pure Water Oceanside, is the first AWTF to become operational in the San Diego region and will purify recycled water to...

Discover how leadership at two public sector water environment organizations can and has influenced innovation. In 2021 the essential services these organizations provide to help cities and society at large address both longstanding and more recent challenges became clearer.  This requires new thinking, new approaches, and new partnerships.  In arid, Southern California, water is too...

CWEA member and registered civil engineer Lois Fong-Sakai was formally introduced as a representative of the San Diego County Water Authority to Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors Tuesday. Fong-Sakai, who joined the SDCWA board in April 2015 as a representative of the City of San Diego, succeeds Jerry Butkiewicz, who served on Metropolitan’s board...

The California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) has been named the winner of the 2021 Pollution Prevention Award for leading efforts to pass state legislation in October that will require “Do Not Flush” warnings on packaging for baby wipes, cleaning wipes and cosmetic wipes, and will compel manufacturers to educate the public on the harmful...

View all coronavirus stories > Testing wastewater for RNA strands of the coronavirus might tell local officials how widespread COVID-19 is in their community and whether infections are rising or falling. Known as “sewer surveillance” or “wastewater epidemiology” – wastewater professionals are once again working to protect public health. In November, the State Water Board...

Wastewater collection systems are valuable assets to their communities and play a crucial role in public and environmental health. However, their value is often under-recognized and under-appreciated, leading to inadequate reinvestment and insufficient resources for the proper management of these systems. Wastewater Collection Systems Management, MOP 7 is designed to address these challenges and to...

SCCWRP and its partners have found that variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus – including mutations found in the virus’s Eta variant lineage – can be detected in wastewater influent streams across Southern California using next-generation DNA sequencing methods. The proof-of-concept study, published in September by the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, was able to strongly correlate viral levels in...

EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region announced approval of an innovative, quick turn-around DNA-based method to evaluate bacteria in San Diego County beach water. The San Diego County rapid test is the first demonstration of the use of this method for routine beach monitoring in the world. This method was developed for beach use by the Southern...

On Friday, November 5, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (H.R. 3684). This bill will provide nearly $1.2 trillion in funding for the nation’s infrastructure. Approximately, $550 billion of the total is new funding to be spent during the next five years, and almost $51 billion is allocated to...

For member Tony Pollak, the pandemic and sudden chlorine shortage that hit this spring have pushed his operations team to redouble their efforts. Tony is the Assistant Deputy Director of Operations for Western Municipal Water District in Riverside County. In late May, the District’s chlorine supplier informed them a west coast shortage would delay deliveries....

The California water sector is rapidly hiring. How do we reflect California’s diversity at all levels of our workforce and foster a more inclusive environment with our co-workers? Watch the panel of water leaders discuss workforce development programs, new DEI efforts and what can hold back diversity efforts and the champions we need to move...

On September 15, 2021, the State Water Resources Control Board approved increases in fee structures for programs under their authority. There are several categories that affect State Water Board fees for municipal water/wastewater laboratories, such as: NPDES permit fee Waste Discharge Requirements permit fee Stormwater Permit fees ELAP Laboratory Certification fee As of September 2021,...

Note: This advisory uses the MITRE Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge (ATT&CK®) framework, version 9. See the ATT&CK for Enterprise for all referenced threat actor tactics and techniques. This joint advisory is the result of analytic efforts between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the...

Christopher Young, 45, of El Dorado Hills, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 18 months in prison and a $50,000 fine for tampering with monitoring equipment, unlawful discharge of industrial wastewater, and conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Young was Director of Operations for Community Fuels from 2010...

If you work in the Bay Area’s wastewater sector you likely know Levi Fuller. After thirty-one years on the job, most recently as the Operations Supervisor for Dublin San Ramon Services District, Levi has decided it’s time for some new adventures. He’s switching off his work cell phone for good and heading out into retirement....

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) has collaborated with IEWorks to welcome three new interns in the Operations Division. The Agency’s Board of Directors executed a Charter in May 2021 to sign on as a participating agency for IEWorks, a workforce development group developed by Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) that focuses on developing qualified employees in...

There are now 12 ELAP training webinar recordings available for viewing on the IAS website. Each webinar is approximately 1 ½ hours in length, including the Q&A following each session. There is no cost to view the webinars. View ELAP webinars IAS provides assessments for laboratories seeking to meet the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP)...

Resources for Veterans Interested in Water Careers October 6th, 11:00 a.m.to Noon informational webinar Veterans in Water – registration link October 7th, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. California Water Career fair California Water Jobs board – sign-up for job alerts Baywork career resources for veterans California’s water utilities now hiring and veterans have the skills utilities...

BREAKING NEWS – On Sept. 2nd, California’s Legislature passed the CASA supported wipes labeling laws and sent the bill (AB 818) to Governor Newsom’s desk. Stay tuned for updates! A preliminary class action lawsuit settlement between the Charleston Water System (Charleston, South Carolina) and wipes manufacturer Kimberly-Clark could affect any entity that owned and/or operated...

Water resource recovery professionals have long understood that when processed correctly, fertilizers made by repurposing wastewater biosolids can often represent a safer, cheaper, and more sustainable soil amendment compared to manure or chemical-based fertilizers. However, while biosolids reuse in the U.S. has become more common in recent decades, its adoption has been sluggish because of inconsistent regulatory guidelines, gaps...

On August 24th the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) announced Eshani Jha from Lynbrook High School in San José as the 2021 winner of the Stockholm Junior Water prize for her research project on developing affordable water filters. “I am honored to receive this prize, particularly with so many excellent contributions from around the world....

Schedule of Events Panel Discussions Celebrating Water Professionals Virtual. The webinars are organized and promoted by a coalition of California water associations including ACWA, BAYWORK, CA-NV AWWWA, CASA and CWEA. Oct 6th – Veterans in Water panel discussion (virtual) Register Event Flyer Oct 7th – Diversity in California Water panel discussion (virtual) Register Event Flyer...

Since reopening campus at the University of California-San Diego last summer, university officials have relied on the tried-and-true public health strategies of testing and contact tracing. But they have also added a new tool to their arsenal: excrement. That tool alerted researchers to about 85% of cases in dorms before they were diagnosed, according to...



This update comes from the Water Environment Federation (WEF) This Week in Washington… The bill includes almost $55 billion in water infrastructure funding and several policy provisions that will benefit the nation’s water infrastructure. The water infrastructure section in the Senate package is fairly similar to what was passed by the Senate in April in...

CWEA member in the news #membermonday. “We recycle (about) 100M gal of water a day and at least half of that goes to a spreading basin in LA County and percolates into our aquifer,” said Basil Hewitt, LACSD. Great @GOVERNING article about CA #waterreuse https://t.co/IGyM5ouyUw — CWEA (@cwea) August 9, 2021 CWEA Members Featured East...

View all of CWEA’s coverage of the wipes crisis > Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), today, joined with Congresswoman Lisa McClain (MI-10) to introduce bipartisan legislation to create a national standard for the labeling of non-flushable wet wipes. This common-sense standard would address the growing problem of these wipes being flushed into and creating obstructions in...

The  California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), Central Valley Clean Water Agencies (CVCWA), California Water Environment Association (CWEA) and Southern California Alliance of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (SCAP) submitted comments to the Department of Water Resources regarding their Report to the Legislature on Indoor Residential Water Use Studies. At the outset, we recognize, appreciate, and...

Keep up-to-date on the situation on LA City San’s Hyperion Incident webpage. According to the page treatment plant operations and odors are returning to normal levels. Friday, 8/13 – LA City Sanitation & Environment releases a 30-day report to the AQMD and US EPA. The detailed report includes this heart-stopping moment by moment narrative of...

A team of researchers from California State University and the University of California are assessing the economic and environmental impacts of forthcoming water use efficiency standards (AB 1668-SB 606) on urban retail water suppliers. This assessment is funded by the State of California through a mutual agreement between the SWRCB and California State University. The...

With water usage in San Francisco already down seven percent since the advent of voluntary restrictions, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is already on track to meet Governor Gavin Newsom’s 15 percent water reduction goal. Last week, Governor Newsom asked California residents to voluntarily reduce their water usage 15 percent below 2020 rates. Since...

In June, West Basin Board President Gloria D. Gray publicly declared the District’s ongoing commitment to support and celebrate the diversity of its workforce and the communities served by the District. Commenting on a number of recent events that have occurred throughout the country, President Gray also stated that racial bias and injustice should never...

In the face of a pandemic, economic slump and deepening utilities talent issues, West Valley Water District (WVWD) leadership united a group of Inland Empire water and wastewater utility agencies, local colleges and community stakeholders to launch a groundbreaking initiative, IEWorks, which will help build a strong regional workforce. “In the face of retirements, a growing population and rising demand for water, we...

Most people plan to retire after a long career, but that was never a consideration for the San Diego Section’s 2020 “Denis Pollak Mentor of Many” award winner, Jack Kubota. At 92, Jack is still working part-time for a growing local engineering firm and mentoring colleagues of all ages on a bit of everything he...

The Los Angeles Basin Section (LABS) of CWEA would like to congratulate Adel Hagekhalil on being selected as the next General Manager of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). In his 30+ year career with the City of Los Angeles, he has long been a champion of recycled water as a valuable and viable...

Make sure to grab your spot in the 2016 TNI Quality System Documentation Workshop! Registration is currently limited to one person from each laboratory because we want every California laboratory to have a chance to attend. Seats are available in the August, September, October, November and December sessions. This is a free training designed specifically for...

Filanc carpenter Dion Jones was working on a new water storage tank in Lemoore when the tank suddenly exploded, rising 70′ in the air and sending 1.5 million gallons rushing out in all directions. Coworkers began CPR right away, unfortunately Mr. Jones passed away. A city water worker was also injured. Mr. Jones was an...

SCCWRP and its partners have developed an improved understanding of what contributes to sources of variability in methods for measuring COVID-19 virus levels in wastewater streams – key insights that can help water-quality managers use wastewater influent to track the prevalence of COVID-19 infections in communities. The SARS-CoV-2 measurement methods comparison study, completed in April,...

Harvard University offers an implicit bias online quiz that anyone may take. WEF’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee frequently refers to this online system. From the Harvard Implicit Bias project website… Take the Project Implicit Quiz > Preliminary Information On the website you’ll be asked to select an Implicit Association Test (IAT) from a list...

The study published in the journal Nature npj Clean Water reports water bodies influence by treated or untreated wastewater are likely not associated with the spread of COVID-19. The paper’s authors include distinguished Internal Water Association Fellow Dr. Charles Haas. From the paper’s summary…. The challenges posed by COVID-19 require many diverse fields of research...

On June 24th, WateReuse California submitted comments on the Water Board’s draft Direct Potable Reuse regulations. The coalition letter included ACWA, CUWA, CA-NV Section of AWWA and CASA. WRCA developed these comments after holding a webcast and panel discussion in April to review the draft regulations and solicit comments. A DPR Working Group was formed that assisted...

 This UC Berkeley webinar features CWEA-WEF member Dr. Kara Nelson Professor from their  Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Did you know that you have been helping to manage the COVID pandemic, just by going to the bathroom? Since April 2020, a large team of researchers at U.C. Berkeley has been working with local...

 Here’s to you! Thank you to the participants of the first ever ELAP Laboratory Conference. It was a huge success! Around 500 of you joined us each day for talks about the accreditation process, emerging contaminants and technologies, and laboratory efficiency. We hope you found the presentations beneficial and have been able to take...

 View LA Sanitation and Environment’s project webpage to learn more.

CWEA member Adel Hagekhalil, a national water and infrastructure leader, will take the helm of the nation’s largest drinking water provider – the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California – following a vote Tuesday evening by the agency’s board of directors. The 38-member board approved Hagekhalil’s contract, making him the 14th general manager in the...

From the academic research magazine Frontiers in the Built Environment… Research article by Dr. Thomas Dight and Dr. Michael Gormley, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK There is emerging evidence of the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via the sanitary plumbing wastewater system, a known transmission pathway of SARS-CoV-1. These events can no longer be dismissed as isolated cases, yet a lack...

The Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District is excited to announce a significant milestone in its multi-year, $64 million Secondary Treatment Plant Upgrade and Recycled Water Expansion Project. Phase 1 of the project has been completed as of this week. A key element of Phase 1 is the expansion of the plant’s recycled water facility, to...

A recycled water and groundwater recovery project that will produce up to 750 million gallons of water a year for the city of Santa Monica will receive up to $19.6 million from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, following a vote today by the agency’s board of directors. With funding from Metropolitan’s Local Resources...

For over 100 years, the people of Allensworth have been looking for safe, reliable sources of drinking water. Now, after decades of investigating and implementing various technologies, the community is evaluating an innovation that makes quality drinking water from resources in the sky. Arsenic naturally occurs in the region’s groundwater and Allensworth is served by...

CWEA had so much fun holding our “Wastewater Champions” social media contest this summer. We distributed fun CWEA stickers to all members and asked wastewater pros to show they are proud to be champions of wastewater by posting a selfie on social media. Thank you to all those members who were able to post a...

Read our first article “The SLO Mystery: What Caused a Sudden Drop in Nitrification?” It’s a nightmare every wastewater operator fears – one day your secondary and nutrient removal processes are humming along and the bugs are happy. The next, the biomass is dying, ammonia levels begin rising, turbidity goes up and the process is...

With opioid overdose deaths increasing during the pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration announces its 20th Take Back Day is scheduled for April 24th. At its last Take Back Day in October, DEA collected a record-high amount of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs....

It was once an industry that relied on a person to physically walk a wastewater treatment plant to take down measurements from several pieces of machinery. Now at the SFPUC’s Wastewater Division, a team of engineers is deploying technological advances at a wastewater treatment plant to improve the accuracy of checks and balances and to...

Healthy Davis Together wastewater monitoring operations, led by UC Davis researchers with support from the city’s Department of Public Works, has deployed newly arrived wastewater sampling equipment to 15 additional sample collection locations (nodes), expanding monitoring to more neighborhoods served by the city wastewater collection system. The virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) can be shed in...

SwiftComply is pleased to announce the launch of SwiftComply Stormwater in partnership with NPDESPro, a web-based application that helps Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) to efficiently meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act. SwiftComply Stormwater helps authorities to develop and implement comprehensive Stormwater Management Plans, and manage the permitting of non-point source discharges. The platform...

California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) has opened registration for fourteen sessions of the 2016 TNI Quality System Documentation Workshop in partnership with A2LA Workplace Training. Register here today! The workshop runs from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (PT) with a break from noon to 1:00 pm on both days. This is a standalone training...

CWEA is here to support and empower wastewater professionals to help protect California’s most critical resource: clean water. We are a passionate and diverse community of over 10,000 members. To successfully accomplish our mission, CWEA needs the ongoing support and participation of innovative companies. Our new annual Sustaining Sponsorship is designed to support CWEA’s programs and members. Sponsorship offers...

Howard Brewen Water Resource Recovery Facility Superintendent (Retired) Public Utilities City of San Luis Obispo Howard Brewen took the road less traveled to his position as superintendent of the Water Resource Recovery Facility for the City of San Luis Obispo.  Raised on his family’s ranch in north San Luis Obispo County, he followed in his...

In earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic, before diagnostic testing was widely available, it was difficult for public health officials to keep track of the infection’s spread, or predict where outbreaks were likely to occur. Attempts to get ahead of the virus are still complicated by the fact that people can be infected and spread...

The new documentary film Brave Blue World examines how new technologies and innovations can create a more sustainable water future. It’s important to convey a sense of hope and spirit of optimism for water. The film includes interviews with a variety of water experts, as well as high-profile advocates Matt Damon and Jaden Smith. By...

From the State Water Board… The National Water Research Institute (NWRI) convened a panel of experts to provide recommendations on enhanced industrial source control for DPR. The Expert Panel has submitted their recommendations to the State Water Board in March 2020. Their report is available to download here: Download the report Enhanced Source Control Recommendations...

Announcement from the State Water Board… NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the State Water Board will accept public comment on the Addendum to A Proposed Framework for Regulating Direct Potable Reuse in California, 2nd Edition (Framework). The State Water Board will provide an opportunity for the public to present oral comments at a public workshop....

More women are joining the California water sector than ever before and moving-up to leadership roles. Major barriers and challenges still remain when it comes to recruiting and joining our profession. A diverse panel of women shared their experiences and insights on the barriers women face entering the water sector. The panel discussed key topics...

Construction of Escondido’s $65 million Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility) commenced recently, marking a milestone in the City’s goal of providing agriculture growers a high-quality irrigation supply and easing the burden on its wastewater infrastructure. The MFRO Facility will treat a portion of the City’s existing Title 22 recycled water supply...

View all coronavirus stories > Updated 3/23/21 – Water/wastewater workers should use the business/industry “EMERGENCY SERVICES.” The “Water and Wastewater” sector on MyTurn is once again NOT WORKING to book appointments, so CDPH told us to select “Emergency Services” instead. On March 11th the California Department of Public Health announced water and wastewater workers are...

Quick links: About Dr. Jenkins   |   Remembrances It is with a heavy heart we report Dr. David Jenkins passed away this weekend. He was 85 years old. Dr. Jenkins was a Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at UC Berkeley from 1966 to 1999, a member of their Academy of Distinguished Alumni, a...

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) has issued a Public Notice announcing the release of the informal staff draft statewide Sanitary Sewer System General Order and two upcoming public workshops. State Water Board staff will be conducting two virtual public workshops to summarize the informal staff draft Order on the following dates:...

Angela Godwin with Stormwater magazine interviews P3S 2021 Virtual Conference speaker Jonah Sonner with WGR Southwest. Angela and Jonah review some important reminders about conducting stormwater inspections on construction sites. Go even further in-depth by watching Jonah’s presentation next week at P3S21. Construction Site BMPs and Stormwater Inspections Jonah B. Sonner, Compliance Specialist, WGR Southwest, Lodi...

The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San) has completed a project that provides one million gallons of recycled water per day to the Sacramento Power Authority Cogeneration Plant located in south Sacramento. The recycled water is being used at the cogeneration plant’s cooling tower and replaces the use of potable water—protecting this valuable resource. The potable water saved equates...

Sancon was contracted by Steve Bubalo Construction company to perform the 48” cured-in-place-pipeliner for Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts project. Scope of the project included CIPP lining of 595 LF of 48” CIPP, a portion of which, was through a siphon. Over the course of the job, multiple installations were performed to comply with LACSD and...

Here’s a summary infographic designed by CWEA explaining how to qualify, apply and navigate the State Water Board’s new computer based testing process. For more details be sure to visit the SWRCB Office of Operator Certification website. Please don’t contact CWEA Member Services as we are not involved in administering the operator certification exam in...

Current Status Updated 2/24/21 from State Water Board announcement All examinees approved and scheduled for the Spring or Fall 2020 Drinking Water Distribution (D1-D5), Drinking Water Treatment (T1-T4) or Wastewater Operator (I-V) Certification examinations will be approved to schedule a testing opportunity for Operator Certification CBT. Due to the backlog of candidates awaiting testing, the...

Who is providing the computer-based testing? Prometric is partnering with the State Water Resources Control Board to provide computer-based Operator Certification testing for the Drinking Water Treatment (T1-T4),Drinking Water Distribution (D1-D5) and Wastewater Treatment (I-V) examinations. I already applied in 2020, will I have to reapply? If you already applied for an exam in the...

Announcement from the State Water Board ELAP office. This is a State Water Board sponsored training event, it is not organized by CWEA. ELAP and A2LA Workplace Training are excited to announce the 2016 TNI Quality System Documentation Workshop as part of ELAP’s compliance assistance initiative, the Roadmap to ELAP Accreditation. This training is designed to help laboratories implement the 2016 TNI Quality...

Stay up-to-date on water infrastructure cybersecurity by becoming a member of WaterISAC. Update 2/17/21 Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released their initial review of the incident. “On February 5, 2021, unidentified cyber actors obtained unauthorized access to the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system at a U.S. drinking water treatment facility. The unidentified actors...

Hazen Welcomes Rion Merlo as West Region Wastewater Practice Leader Hazen and Sawyer has announced the appointment of CWEA member Dr. Rion Merlo, Senior Associate, as the firm’s new West Region Wastewater Practice Leader. Dr. Merlo has 25 years’ experience in the planning, pilot testing, and design of wastewater and water reuse projects, successfully delivering...

This is a letter to the editor from CWEA member Beverli Marshall published in The Desert Sun on Feb 5, 2021. View CWEA’s coverage of the California vaccine roll-out for water and wastewater workers. Aside from wearing a mask and social distancing, what’s the single most important action we can take to stay healthy? Washing...

From the State Water Board. Updated 2/5/21. On December 1, 2020, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted statewide numeric water quality objectives for both acute and chronic toxicity and a program of implementation to control toxicity, which are collectively known as the Toxicity Provisions. The Provisions provide consistent protection of aquatic...

LAUNCH OWEN Wastewater is a rapidly changing field. To help members like you advance and excel in your career, we’re proud to introduce the new Online Wastewater Education Network, or OWEN for short. CWEA is known for high-quality educational events such as the Annual Conference and local section workshops. Starting today, those high-quality training classes are available...

Announcement from the State Water Board ELAP office. This is a State Water Board sponsored training event, it is not organized by CWEA. The California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) team is excited to announce the first ever ELAP Conference! We are looking forward to offering you the opportunity to engage with the laboratory community,...

State Water Board press release Public water systems throughout California are facing heightened financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, as about 1.6 million residential water customers, or 12% of all households, have been unable to pay their bills, according to the State Water Resources Control Board’s comprehensive survey. The results of the survey were presented...

 CWEA’s Technical Certification Program is proud to introduce the OnVUE exam service. The new online proctoring service allows you to take CWEA certification exams conveniently at your home or workplace. Exam applicants now have the choice of scheduling an OnVUE online exam or taking the exam at one of PearsonVUE’s hundreds of testing centers located...

Originally published in WEF’s Stormwater Report As the stormwater sector grows in complexity with new the rise of new contaminants, technologies, and practices, so too do stormwater management regulations. Because the regulatory landscape of the stormwater field tends to be more dynamic than other water management segments, it can be difficult for stormwater managers to...

1986-1992: California endures one of its longest droughts. 1989: Earle Hartling, a water reuse coordinator with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, begins discussions with Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District) about a water purification and replenishment project to help refill the declining local aquifer. 1991: Suffering from severe water restrictions, the...

From the International Water Services Flushability Group… Products that meet the IWSFG flushability specifications are unlikely to cause harm to wastewater conveyance systems or treatment plants.  The IWSFG flushability specifications are available for use by product manufacturers, governmental organizations, and other entities that want to determine if products that are flushed are safe for wastewater...

The Water Sector Coordinating Council (WSCC) is urging U.S. water and wastewater utilities to coordinate with state and local health departments to ensure they are included in distribution plans for the COVID-19 vaccine. Today, WSCC, issued an open letter describing utility actions to increase the speed of receiving vaccine doses for water sector workers. Timely local...

 A special session for young water leaders of California Content development and from science to stories Presentation and moderation techniques Social media for leaders With Tom Freyberg, Alan Shapiro and Andrew Walker Tom Freyberg believes everyone has a story to tell. Spending nearly a decade travelling the globe for WaterWorld and reporting on major...

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is once again extending its Emergency Residential Community Assistance Program, which is designed to help residential customers struggling to pay their water, sewer and Hetch Hetchy power bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, which launched in May, was set to expire at the end of the year,...

A model for an economical filter system that can remove antibiotics from wastewater has been designed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of California-Riverside (UCR) collaborators. Microbiologist Mark Ibekwe with the ARS Agricultural Water Efficiency and Salinity Research Unit in Riverside, California, and UCR soil chemist Daniel Ashworth constructed the prototype system using four...

British researchers look at the dangers of working around raw sewage. They find SARS-CoV-2 is unlikely to be spread by sewage. “Overall, we conclude that while virus particles contained in respiratory droplets are known to be highly infectious, evidence suggests that feces and urine probably contain low levels to no infectious particles. In comparison to...

Stanford researchers examined the best place to search for SARS-CoV-2 by examining raw wastewater effluent and settled primary sludge. Sludge appears to be the most efficient place to test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA strands for wastewater surveillance. “The primary settled solids samples resulted in higher SARS-CoV-2 detection frequencies than the corresponding influent samples. Likewise, SARS-CoV-2 RNA...

Congratulations to the 65 Utility of the Future Today honorees for 2020!   This is the fifth year of the Utility of the Future Today (UotFT) program and saw the greatest number of applicants and honorees. These honorees have received a Certificate of Recognition and/or a UotFT banner or a 2020 flag.  This year, as a...

From the State Water Board… The State Water Board’s Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) Regulations were filed with the California Secretary of State by the Office of Administrative Law on November 19, 2020 and will become effective on January 1, 2021. This completes the final step in the rulemaking process. ELAP is committed to supporting the...

Working together to provide an extraordinary academic and work experience that will deliver stable, higher-paying jobs to the Inland Empire, today West Valley Water District (WVWD) Board of Directors President Channing Hawkins and San Bernardino Valley Community College (SBVCC) President Diana Rodriguez signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create paid or non-paid and part-time or full-time internships and...

The Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) has embarked on a primary clarifier (PC) improvement project at its Plant No. 2 facility in Huntington Beach, CA. Selecting a foul air containment approach and an effective odor control system for the PCs are critical components of the project as the Plant is close to residential areas and...

The pandemic caused the State Water Board to suspend their certification exams for drinking water and wastewater operators, and both the spring and fall exam cycles in 2020 were  cancelled. The exams are typically held in large conference facilities and meeting rooms, with some locations attracting hundreds of attendees. The State’s Office of Operator Certification...

Southern California took a major step forward today on the path to developing a new sustainable water source from purified wastewater as Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors voted to begin environmental planning work on what would be one of the largest advanced water treatment plants in the world. The approval marks a significant milestone...

This article first-appeared in the Los Angeles City Historical Society newsletter. Reprinted here with permission. The catchy phrase toilet-to-tap often appears in stories about recycling, despite recent widespread use of reclaimed water that is pumped into groundwater aquifers in Southern California. Even the New York Times in a recent story about recycling referred to the...

 California’s water utilities are hiring now. They’ll hire thousands of highly-skilled professionals for water jobs this year. Your skills as a veteran could be exactly what water utilities are looking for. Dive into the California water profession. We can show you how. This one hour webinar features four veterans who work on the frontlines...

 Calling all women (and women supporters) who want to feel empowered in the water, wastewater and power industries! Join us if you are interested in pursuing these amazing careers. This very special one hour webinar discussion features four woman who work on the frontlines of California water. We’re also celebrating these amazing water professionals...

 The CWEA Students and Young Professionals Committee presents a skills building webinar The resume is a marketing tool which acts as a door opener and allows an employer to assess your qualifications quickly in the pre-screening process before interviews. Resumes should be succinct, commanding and truthful while emphasizing skills, strengths and accomplishments. Most resumes...

CWEA Students and Young Professionals Committee Personal Skills Builder Webinar The presentation will briefly cover the application process, with pointers on how to write an application that will get you past the Human Resources screening process and onto a supervisors desk for consideration of an interview. In addition, the presentation will explore how to make...

Announcement from the State Water Board’s ELAP office… Announcing the 2021-2022 Environmental Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee (ELTAC) Voting Members ELTAC provides constructive scientific advice and feedback to ELAP and the California regulatory agencies who use laboratory data to make decisions to protect the state’s environmental and public health. The 2021-2022 Committee has been built to...

 The CWEA-CASA free COVID-19 webinar series continues with an in-depth discussion from four prominent experts and moderated by CASA’s Greg Kester. Sponsored by GT Molecular Speakers and their topics include: Dr. Rose Kantor, with the University of California, Berkeley speaking on their project to conduct wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE) for the San Francisco Bay...

A significant amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin is now in effect, allowing for discharges from new septic systems in Quail Valley when certain exemptions are met. This important update for the Quail Valley community has been years in the making and took a multi-agency effort by Eastern...

NEW ~ Watch Brave Blue World on Netflix, then join our March 30th, 11:00 a.m. panel discussion hosted by Pacific Institute and CWEA. Learn more and register > A recording of our October 14th Brave Blue World panel discussion. A new documentary film titled Brave Blue World examines how new technologies and innovations can create...

Orange County Sanitation District’s new temperature-phased anaerobic digestion system to secure reliable biosolids management for the next 50 years The Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) has engaged a team of Brown and Caldwell and Black & Veatch to deliver professional design services for a new temperature-phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD) facility at its Plant No. 2...

 Webinar Speaker Bios Moderator: Greg Kester, Director of Renewable Resource Programs, California Association of Sanitation Agencies Greg serves as both the technical and programmatic contact for CASA members and conduit for emerging issues on state and federal level on all biosolids, renewable energy, recycled water, and related issues. Prior to joining CASA, Greg served...



 We’re honored to welcome managers from the California State Water Board Office of Operator Certification (OOC) to an informative webinar for water professionals and utility leaders focused on the State’s drinking water distribution, treatment and wastewater treatment operator exams. About the speakers Annette Caraway, Chief of the Office of Operator Certification.  Ms. Caraway has dedicated...

Our COVID-19 webinars continued on August 27, 2020 with another deep dive into the emerging role of wastewater surveillance. Collecting samples from the sewershed and at the treatment plant can help communities track coronavirus and gain early-warning signs about potential community spread. We heard from leading state, national, and international experts about the latest research...

Having diversity, equity, and inclusion in all levels of the workforce is vital to innovation and growth in the water sector. We are excited to update you on the work of the WEF Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, which will be wrapping up in the next month and transforming into a standing board Subcommittee...

View complete coverage of Coronavirus worker safety > From the CDC on Monday, August 17, 2020 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with agencies throughout the federal government, are initiating the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) in response to the COVID-19...

From NACWA… NACWA has asked EPA to consider the risks associated with pet flea control products containing fipronil, a pesticide with high aquatic toxicity that can pass through wastewater treatment processes. In August 5 comments on EPA’s draft risk assessment for fipronil, NACWA explained that fipronil has been found in the effluent of publicly owned treatment works...

From the State Water Board, Office of Operator Certification… To All Interested Parties: As a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency, and the guidance released by Governor Newsom to limit gatherings to 10 people or less while social distancing, the Fall 2020 Wastewater Operator Certification Examination has been cancelled.  The State Water Resources Control Board understands...

  Hear from the CWEA Engineering and Research award winners on their projects that won first place this year. Engineering Achievement of the Year: City of Paso Robles Wastewater Treatment Plant “Tertiary Treatment Facilities Project and Nutrient Harvesting System” In 2019, the City of Paso Robles completed two projects at its wastewater treatment plant. One...

 A sponsored post by Badger Meter. View all smart water stories >

 A sponsored post by Badger Meter. View all smart water stories >

A sponsored post by Badger Meter. View all smart water stories > The need for increased efficiency and real-time data, without increasing infrastructure, leads to a move towards a new AMA solution The city of Sunnyvale, California had been looking at improving efficiency from its current AMR and manual read systems for over ten years. When...

A sponsored post by Badger Meter. View all smart water stories > A City in Need of Greater Efficiency Located in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California, an area hit hard by recent droughts, the City of Merced’s Water System Division appreciates the value of water and successful water management. Strict water mandates, put...

By registering for a CWEA event, attendees provide permission for their image to be captured via photography and videography, to be used for the purposes of CWEA publications, promotional materials, training, or otherwise at CWEA’s discretion, and waive any rights of compensation or ownership thereto. We absolutely welcome requests to take down a photo of...

View all Coronavirus stories > Join the fourth CWEA-CASA webinar featuring six top utility executives from the San Francisco PUC, Regional San in Sacramento and the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD). They will share their plans for dealing with unique O&M challenges while also preparing for new emergencies as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. This is...

Message below from the State Water Board’s Office of Operator Certification. Note, emergency requests might be prioritized based on impacts to the treatment plant or distribution system more so than the impact on the individual seeking certification. Detailed requests from Chief Plant Operators describing the plant emergency and need for certified operators might help the...

Our June COVID-19 webinar covered wastewater surveillance and how wastewater agencies can help monitor the spread of the virus in communities. The webinar was sponsored by WEST YOST. COMING-UP: The next CASA-CWEA COVID-19 webinar is on July 22nd. The title is Overcoming O&M Challenges to Maintain Essential Services. The webinar is free for water and...

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The Water Research Foundation convened the International Water Research Summit on Environmental Surveillance of COVID-19 Indicators in Sewersheds in response to the overwhelming need for information regarding the distribution and prevalence of COVID-19. The global water sector has mobilized to investigate the use of wastewater surveillance of the genetic signal of SARS CoV-2 as an...

Read the full case study on Water News Network

Press release from NYU… SARS-CoV-2, the virus the causes COVID-19, is an enveloped virus in the coronavirus family that has been found to replicate in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. While primary transmission of coronaviruses is through respiratory droplets, questions have been raised in the water and wastewater sector about persistence and disinfection of viruses...

Our series of deep dives into the coronavirus pandemic continues with a close-up look at wastewater surveillance as a public health tool. These webinars are FREE for water and wastewater professionals. This webinar will cover the following topics: CDC wastewater based epidemiology efforts, coordination, and research (aka wastewater surveillance) Overview of the EPA’s Office of...

View all wipes stories > California’s sewers were built to handle pee, poo and toilet paper, but increasingly they’re being called upon to carry an ever-growing array of plastics and trash people flush down the toilet. Wastewater systems across California, and around the world, are becoming solid waste debris conveyance systems. Condoms, feminine hygiene products,...

Two presentations: Understanding Compliance Inspection using the 6Ps Model for PCI Audits by Miguel Rodas, City of LA, LA Sanitation & Environment The 6Ps model serves as a navigational tool for LASAN’s inspectors and stands for products, processes, pollutants, pretreatment system (PTS), parameters, and plan of the shop.LASAN’s Industrial Waste Management Division (IWMD) has developed...

With hundreds of scientific papers about the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) released every month, several Italian researchers decided to take a step back and examine 3,600 studies on the fate of the coronavirus in water and wastewater. The review of studies was published in the International Water Association’s Water Research journal. While there are a few studies...

Download “Will SARS-CoV-2 reset public health requirements in the water industry? Integrating lessons of the past and emerging research” (pdf) A little good news in the world of SARS-CoV-2 (the scientific name for the virus that causes COVID-19). Dr. Stuart Khan, a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales writes about...

Story from Blue-White pumps… When officials in Huntington Beach, became concerned whether enough ventilators would be available to treat the anticipated surge in COVID-19 patients, the city turned to Blue-White Industries, a local manufacturer of chemical metering pumps, flowmeters and water treatment accessories. City officials asked Blue-White to quickly develop and build temporary ventilators that met multiple specifications...

Our coverage of new ELAP regulations is sponsored by LabWork From the State Water Board Top 5 Questions People are Asking about the New California ELAP Regulations When will the new regulations take effect?  The regulations become effective on October 1, 2020. However, several new provisions will not be required immediately. Read on for more...

Info from CDPH safety bulletin issued May 2020… Background The use of CIPP for sewer line and culvert rehabilitation is widespread throughout the country and abroad. Styrene-based resins are the most widely used. There is a possibility for chemical releases with CIPP processes. In addition to styrene, recent studies have shown numerous volatile chemicals being...

View all coronavirus stories > WEF releases an updated and expanded version of “The Water Professional’s Guide to COVID-19” Authors: Rasha Maal-Bared, Naoko Munakata, Kyle Bibby, Kari Brisolara, Charles Gerba, Mark Sobsey, Scott Schaefer, Jay Swift, Lee Gary, Samendra Sherchan, Akin Babatola, Lola Olabode, Robert Reimers, Robert Bastian, and Albert Rubin  Primary Messages The research...

According to a new study posted by the CDC… Isolation of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in feces indicates the possibility of fecal–oral transmission or fecal–respiratory transmission through aerosolized feces. During the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome pandemic, 329 residents of a private housing estate in Hong Kong were infected; 42 died (10). Investigation of the building’s structure...

New Roles at CASA! We are excited to share that Jessica Gauger and Jared Voskuhl have taken on new roles here at CASA. Jessica has been promoted to Director of Legislative Advocacy and Public Affairs. In this newly created position, Jessica will continue her role as our primary state legislative advocate and will also take...

Our coverage of new ELAP regulations is sponsored by LabWork State Water Board press release… All accredited labs will be required to meet a national standard The State Water Resources Control Board today adopted comprehensive regulations to modernize the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP), which oversees more than 650 laboratories that regulate testing of drinking...

Coverage of biosolids and co-digestion supported by Anaergia Construction Underway at California’s Sterling Natural Resource Center, Incorporating Fibracast’s Advanced Membranes and Anaergia’s Anaerobic Digestion System Anaergia Inc. and its sister company Fibracast Ltd. are pleased to announce that they have been added to the team selected for the construction of the Sterling Natural Resource Center (SNRC)...

View all Coronavirus stories > CASA and CWEA once again brought together leading national and California experts on the coronavirus for a free webinar. Learn the latest scientific information from this webinar recording. The webinar provided an update on the following topics: Reopening guidance and essential workers Testing wastewater for community surveillance Wastewater worker exposure...

Please note: Orders must be placed by a water or wastewater system. If you are not the correct contact, please share with the correct individual. Identification will be required at pick-up. Here is an announcement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Water-Wastewater Agency Response Network (CalWARN). Our friends at the California-Nevada American...

Updated 4/30/20 FEMA and CalWARN offering water/wastewater utilities free cloth masks   Information from CASA… As facemasks and other essential PPE are in high demand as a result of this crisis, it may become more difficult for agencies to procure the necessary PPE to maintain operations and ensure worker safety. California Special Districts Association According...

Wastewater epidemiology has been used for decades to track the presence of infectious diseases such as polio in communities. It has also been used to aid in the response to the opioid epidemic. Currently, it has gained a role in guiding state and local public health responses to COVID-19 outbreaks. This webcast introduces wastewater epidemiology...

From the Australian Water-Wastewater Association… What is Coronavirus (CoV)? Coronaviruses are a large and diverse family of envelopedi RNAii viruses. These lipid-enveloped CoV viruses are generally considered more fragile than other viruses (both environmentally, and to disinfection), however are known to cause illness of variable severity in humans, including the common cold, severe acute respiratory...

Press release from the State Water Board. View CWEA’s round-up of coronavirus stories here. Existing stringent state standards protect public from COVID-19           Link to Fact Sheet (pdf) Wastewater treatment plants treat municipal wastewater to standards that protect the beneficial uses of the waters into which the treated wastewater is discharged. Some plants treat wastewater to...

Coverage of biosolids and co-digestion supported by Anaergia We talked with Greg Kester, CASA’s Director of Renewable Resource Programs, about State mandates to recover high-strength organics and biosolids and divert them from landfills. Despite the challenges and long list of regulators, Greg is hopeful we’re entering a brave new world where wastewater treatment plants are...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > Throughout CWEA’s three COVID-19 webinars we’ve been surveying wastewater professionals about their experiences during the pandemic. Here is a summary of their responses. For the April 15th collection systems webinar, we asked attendees if their agency is experiencing INCREASED maintenance because of wipes? 64%...

CWEA’s fourth free COVID-19 in CA webinar From April 30, 2020 The experts tell us the coronavirus is here to stay. How do water reuse and wastewater professionals fine tune their treatment processes to better deactivate/remove virus to protect themselves and their community? Is there even infectious virus in wastewater? Three experts in wastewater disinfection...

  COVID-19 in CA free Webinar – Collection Systems and Coronavirus Pandemic was held on Wednesday, April 15th. The webinar is supported by HDR. Phil Scott and Sergio Ramirez are utility leaders with the West Bay Sanitary District in the Bay Area. They discuss the procedures and PPE protections their agency is using. They discuss...

The State Water Resources Control Board will vote on adoption of the proposed Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program regulations at the May 5, 2020 Board Meeting. As a result of the COVID-19 emergency and the Governor’s Executive Orders to protect public health by limiting public gatherings and requiring social distancing, this meeting will occur via video and teleconference only. Instructions...

What we know today (4/16/20) WEF is continuing to work on the matter of wastewater worker protection from disease causing microorganisms and pathogens, in general — especially via aerosols — by forming a Blue Ribbon Panel to address the issue of required personal protective equipment and protective work and hygiene practices. To date, the scientific...

Updates These orders may apply to workers in the field and construction sites be sure to check with your employer and local health department. 4/6/20 – Riverside County requires face masks 4/7/20 – San Bernardino County requires face masks, $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail for not wearing one 4/7/20 – City of Carson...

March 2020 may go down as one the biggest moments in the wastewater professions’ battle against “flushable” wipes. A combination of the coronavirus pandemic, TP shortage, press release from the State Water Board and media coverage of sewer back-ups in Redding and Las Galinas caused the wipes clog pipes topic to go viral. The result...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > The new website is: covid19waterblog.wordpress.com One of their first posts focuses on the transmission of COVID-19 via wastewater. There has been quite some talk about SARS-CoV-2 shedding in faeces and what that might mean for the water industry.  As I see it, there are...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > From the paper’s April 1, 2020 abstract. Note the researchers looked at nine patients in total. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory tract infection that emerged in late 20191,2. Initial outbreaks in China involved 13.8% cases with severe, and 6.1% with critical...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > From the CDC Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 To ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to...

While the TP is scarce, however you choose to wipe, make sure you properly dispose of your items in the trash can ????. The ONLY 3️⃣ things that belong in the toilet are Pee, Poo toilet Paper. #WipesClogPipes #PeePootoiletPaper #DontRushToFlush pic.twitter.com/3VAlpNChtJ — RanchoWater (@RanchoWater) April 2, 2020 Way to go CWEA member Tony Martinez. Watch...

We are gathering photos of safety items for wastewater workers. To share one, please email a photo to [email protected] Several CWEA members have asked about coronavirus and working around wastewater. According to WEF, the scientific community has found no evidence yet of viable COVID-19 virus in wastewater systems. While there is still a lot we...

  View this post on Instagram   Wastewater Utility Manager Vince Ines shares, “Our dedicated employees at the wastewater treatment plant are trained for emergency events such as COVID-19 and are prepared to handle these situations”. Learn how you can do your part to protect vital infrastructure! #venturawater #cityofventura #stayventurastrong A post shared by Ventura...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > From George Hawkins, President of Moonshot Missions and the former General Manager of DC Water… Water and wastewater services are essential to deliver clean drinking water and ensure safe waterways during the response to the Coronavirus. Water utilities are committed to providing these services,...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > This article is from the covid19waterblog.wordpress.com, a blog run by several international water researchers. By Stuart Khan Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales The possibility of monitoring the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewers has been flagged as an...

  Updates 4/16/20 New! Guidance on how to respond to a positive coronavirus case in the laboratory Updated! Schedules for EPA’s DMR-QA Study Updated! List of laboratories with emergency capacity Updated! Information about supply and equipment vendors State Water Board launches new website… waterboards.ca.gov/elap-covid19  The information on this webpage is based on the latest statewide and national...

waterTALENT has over 600 licensed, qualified, experienced water and wastewater operators (mostly Grades 3, 4, and 5) who deploy to districts and utilities around California that are enduring a staff transition and in need of experienced operators for water/wastewater treatment, distribution, collections, control systems technicians, electrical-mechanical technicians, and a number of other specialties. With COVID-19 causing...

Dear CWEA Member: This is a fast-moving situation and we want to provide updates as they become available. All CWEA groups are suspending events and meetings for the next eight weeks. AC20 is postponed to Oct 27-30 in Reno. We know CWEA members are essential employees who must report to work to maintain the wastewater...

From the San Jose Mercury News… The employee is a janitor working as part of a contract company. The massive plant, located in Alviso, has 17 employees in self-quarantine as a result and is running at about 70% staffing. “The staff is continuing with business as usual, although at a lower head count,” said Kerrie...

From the State Water Board UPDATED AS OF MARCH 20, 2020 Compliance with Water Board Requirements During the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Emergency The State Water Resources Control Board and the nine California Regional Water Quality Control Boards (the Water Boards) are continuing their efforts to protect public health, safety, and the environment consistent with all...

Read the original profile from Comstock magazine. Cindy Messer was sworn in as chief deputy director of the California Department of Water Resources the day after the Oroville Dam crisis began in February 2017, when damage to both the main and emergency spillways forced the evacuation of more than 180,000 residents. Find more info on...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > A message from WEF, our national federation… The Water Environment Federation is always focused on the health and safety of our members, whether at our events, in the water workplace, or here in the WEF office. We are closely monitoring the situation with COVID-19,...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here >      Download the CISA Guidance Water-Wastewater Specific Plan Functioning critical infrastructure is imperative during the response to the COVID-19 emergency for both public health and safety as well as community well-being. Certain critical infrastructure industries have a special responsibility in these times to...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here >   This webinar occurred on March 19th. During the COVID-19 pandemic, water and wastewater utilities are currently triggering their response plans for continuity of operations. A significant component during pandemic is consideration of critical functions that include essential personnel whose role does not allow...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > On 3/17/20 OSHA released new guidance for COVID-19 and workplace safety. Download the OSHA guidance > There is not specific water/wastewater worker safety in this guidebook, but there is detailed info on workplace safety. They’ve broken guidance into workplace categories based on exposure risk:...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > From the CDC on 3/15/20… Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals,...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here >

View our full coverage of new ELAP regulations. 03/17/20 update from the SWRCB…. The COVID-19 emergency has resulted in the recent cancellation of the State Water Resources Control Board meeting on the Proposed Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program Regulations.  Consistent with these actions and Water Board guidance, the Division of Administrative Services, Fee Branch is cancelling...

Article from Pete DeMarco, Executive Vice President of Advocacy and Research at IAPMO. Pete looks at the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) from one person to another on different floors of a Hong Kong high-rise. Sadly, with the current coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, history seems to have repeated itself. According to the Associated Press, a 2016...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > From the World Health Organization This Technical Brief supplements existing IPC documents by referring to and summarizing WHO guidance on water, sanitation and health care waste which is relevant for viruses (including coronaviruses). This Technical Brief is written in particular for water and sanitation...

This webinar was hosted by WRF. To watch the recorded webinar, complete the registration form and you will be taken to the recorded webinar. Register and watch > The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a member of the Coronavirus family that was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in...

The 2020 Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention and Stormwater conference set a new attendance record with 420 attendees. That is the second largest attendance record in the 2000s and the third largest since the conference began in the 1970s according to past P3S committee chairs. The conference was held at the Hilton Long Beach on January 27-29....

Today, at an event at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters in Washington, D.C., EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhard joined federal, state, tribal, local and water sector partners to announce the National Water Reuse Action Plan: Collaborative Implementation (Version 1). The actions that EPA and its...

Open the Words on Water webpage to play the podcast > March 2, 2020 Dr. Rasha Maal-Bared is Senior Microbiologist at EPCOR and Scott Schaefer is Wastewater Practice Leader at AE2S and Chair of WEF’s Disinfection & Public Health Committee. In this episode Rasha and Scott discuss the coronavirus, its origin, and the agencies involved...

Systems approaching viability in field tests of Duke-led Gates Foundation “Reinvent the Toilet” project By Ken Kingery DUKE Pratt School of Engineering As legend has it, when French workers felt their livelihoods threatened by automation in the early 1900s, they flung their wooden shoes called sabots into the machines to stop them. Hence the word...

Coverage of asset management stories is support by MentorAPM Just a few sample workshops, sessions and events related to wastewater engineering and research topics. For a complete schedule and to register visit AC.CWEA.org TUESDAY WORKSHOPS Build Your Own Asset Management Program (FEE) Facilitator: Michael Zacharia, West Yost Associates Instrumentation and Electrical Drawings 101: Hitchhiker’s Guide to...

The CWEA offices are closed on Monday. We will re-open on Tuesday Feb 18th. Have a wonderful long weekend and thank you to all the water and wastewater operators working the long holiday to help keep the clean water flowing!!

Download the presentation (pdf) Student and Young Professionals RECORDED Webinar SYP webinars are sponsored by the Los Angeles Basin Section; San Francisco Bay Section and Desert and Mountains Section. Chemicals called PFAS have been in the headlines lately: These emerging contaminants are the focus of a major Hollywood movie, a Congressional task force, and considerable...

With the retirement of current BACWA Executive David Williams at the end of January, the BACWA Executive Board has appointed Lorien Fono as the new Executive Director effective February 1st. Dr. Fono has served BACWA as Regulatory Program manager since 2012, and has supported its committees, engaged with regulators on key issues, and been involved...

From ABC7 San Francisco. Featuring CWEA member Eileen White, Director of Wastewater for EBMUD. 

Please note CWEA’s offices are closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2020. Closed: Monday, January 20th Reopen: Tuesday January 21st

From Water Reuse California… WateReuse California and the National Water Research Institute released a guidance document for developing a standard operating procedure for bioanalytical testing for potable reuse. View Guidance Document NWRI facilitates the Bioanalytical Implementation Advisory Group (BIAG), which is working with staff from the California State Water Resources Control Board to develop standard operating procedures for...

From WateReuse… Reclamation Awards $1.6 Million for Water Reuse Research The Bureau of Reclamation announced that it has awarded $1.6 million to four WateReuse Association members to fund Title XVI water reclamation and reuse research studies. When non-federal cost-share contributions are included, these studies will accomplish more than $7.6 million in water reuse research. The...

Water Amplified: The Communication Revolution This year’s Summit will focus on addressing the critical issue of communications in the water sector, and we’re excited to announce Tom Kunetz and Erin Mosley as featured speakers. They design and conduct interactive workshops and engaging lectures on a variety of personal and professional development topics. Together they open...

David Malm, IEUA Don’t be the next victim of ransomware or scammers! This webinar focused on the nationwide phishing epidemic. The details of a ransomware incident at Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) is presented, and steps the Agency has taken to prevent a repeat of this incident. David Malm Deputy Manager of Integrated Systems Services...

CWEA is tracking the challenges associated with PFAS, a family of chemicals that are compounds of emerging concern. Join us for an upcoming webinar or conference to build your understanding of the challenges, hear from experts and add your voice. From the State Water Board’s PFAS info website… Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a...

Story by Brave Blue World Production Team Liam Neeson narrated Brave Blue World shown to international water community Uplifting stories of innovation and problem-solving inspires audience Grassroots screenings scheduled before European premiere Global water leaders, innovators and activists gathered for the world premiere of Brave Blue World on December 16th in Hollywood. The powerful documentary...

Clean Water Provisions in Final FY20 Budget After several months of negotiations beyond the start of the 2020 fiscal year, late last week Congress reached an agreement on the final FY20 budget for the federal government.  The $1.4 trillion omnibus agreement covers all 12 annual appropriations bills and will provide an increase in total federal...

Inspirational water documentary premieres in Los Angeles Brave Blue World premiere announced Innovators reveal an optimistic future for water Actor Matt Damon and activist Jaden Smith featured One year ago, a documentary crew set off on an incredible journey to meet with pioneers who are finding solutions to one of the world’s biggest challenges –...

Host a Screening Whether you are a corporate, water utility, research institute, NGO, or an organisation interested in water, and you would like to host a Brave Blue World screening, we have a number of options to suit your location and audience size! This is a great way to bring people together, to spark ideas...

Coverage of biosolids and co-digestion supported by Anaergia From the Petaluma360.com news website… It is said you can learn a lot about a person by looking at their garbage. Turns out, you can learn just as much about the character of Petaluma by looking at its sewage — or, thankfully, at the facility that processes...

SB 1215 was signed by Governor Brown in 2018 and requires the State Water Board to develop a program to assist disadvantaged communities with access to sewer service. The legislation authorizes them to also to provide funding for eligible projects. “The act authorizes the State Water Board to facilitate consolidation between a state or a...

Click here to open the November 2019 digital edition Articles include: One Way or Another Your Local Utility Lab Will Likely Soon Change Forever – an interview with three municipal California labs Profile of Lab Professional of the Year How to Get a Job in a Water Laboratory The Road Together, by Christine Sotelo, SWRCB...

Coverage of new ELAP regulations supported by LabWorks, waterLIMS™ ELAP will be one of several hot topics at AC20 in Reno. This year we are joining with the Nevada Water Environment Association in Reno to co-host several events. Reno is a fantastic city with affordable hotel rates and restaurants. This might be one of the...

Article by UC Riverside… Get over it? When it comes to recycled water, consumers won’t UC Riverside study shows that, while people can come to appreciate recycled water’s benefits, they still don’t want to use it By J.D. WARREN, Director, News & Information, UC Riverside  If people are educated on recycled water, they may come...

Now it’s official – No Drugs Down the Drain and We Mean All Drugs Effective August 21, 2019 the EPA has now banned healthcare facilities from flushing (“sewering”) any and all drugs including the hazardous waste drugs previously on on a flush list for healthcare providers. Finally! EPA’s website with details on the new no-flush...

Coverage of water workforce topics supported by waterTALENT At WEFTEC 2019 in Chicago, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Dennis Lee Forsgren Jr., announced a new effort to help American utilities surmount the looming water-sector skills shortage expected in coming years. During WEFTEC Technical Session No. 200: Water Policy Update,...

News release from Lystek-Fairfield… As further validation of the market leading biosolids and organics management services being provided to municipal agencies in the San Francisco Bay area, Lystek International Ltd. (Lystek) is excited to announce that it has reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District (VFWD) to manage a portion of...

Released this month by AWWA, click here for AWWA’s PFAS website… AWWA Briefing on PFAS PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are persistent synthetic compounds used in a variety of industrial and consumer product applications including non-stick cookware and firefighting foams. The presence of PFAS compounds in source water and drinking water is of increasing...

The Safe, Clean Water Program (SCW Program) is excited to announce the Fiscal Year 2020-21 and 2021-22 Regional call for projects. Fifty percent of the annual Special Parcel Tax revenue will be allocated to regional watershed-based Projects, Project concepts and Scientific Studies as described below. Definitions for all capitalized terms can be found here. Eligible Projects...

  With over 22,000 attendees and 992 exhibitors, WEFTEC 2019 in Chicago was one of the largest WEFTEC’s in the last decade. The event is one of the largest conferences and exhibitions for water professionals. The massive gathering of water pros this September (including a few thousand Californians!) was an opportunity for WEF to announce...

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is the third-largest municipal utility in California, serving 2.7 million people. Director of Water Resources, Paula Kehoe, explains why the commission is encouraging decentralised approaches to help solve the city’s water challenges. Follow our journey at www.braveblue.world, Instagram @brave_blue_world, twitter: @bravebluewrld, LinkedIn: Brave Blue World Foundation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISTZFu7IFEE

In preparation for California Water Professionals Week during the first full week of October we are collecting profiles of veterans who work in the CA water sector. We are asking agency, public information and HR managers to help us gather great profiles of deserving CA water pros who are veterans. We will accept and republish...

Each year the WEFTEC Program Committee selects the highest-rated abstract in the Municipal Track to receive the Martha Hahn Memorial Recognition. This award recognizes those who advance knowledge, the dissemination of information, and continual experimentation and growth. For 2018, this award went to the presentation, “Full Scale and Demonstration-Scale Primary Filtration Projects Show Great Promise.”...

2020 P3S Conference Hilton Long Beach January 27-29, 2020 We’ve extended the submittal deadline for the Call for Proposals for the 2020 P3S Conference until Friday September 13, 2019 as we want to make sure that everyone who’s been thinking about presenting at the conference has a chance to be included. Remember, this is a...

It’s almost fall so it must be time for WEFTEC! Close to 25,000 water professionals; 1,000 technology exhibits; and hundreds of educational sessions make it one of the world’s largest water conferences. Not to be missed. California had an outstanding number of speakers selected to present. Don’t miss you friends speaking at WEFTEC. We’re also...

Thanks to the awesome TriState Committee for organizing a week full of amazing speakers and training classes last week. 3,800 people registered for the conference – an amazing gathering of CA, NV and AZ water professionals.⠀ ⠀ Great job TriState! Thanks for all the awesome memories.⠀ ⠀ Let’s do it again August 2020!⠀ ⠀ Photos...

BACKGROUND WEF Fact Sheet on Land Application and Composting of Biosolids (2010) CASA Biosolids Fact Sheet (2015) CASA Biosolids Fact Sheet – Spanish (2015) US Biosolids Program and 40 CFR Part 503  (2019) Land Application of Biosolids: Human Health Risk Assessment Related to Microconstituents (2017) Thermal Oxidation Fact Sheet (2014) Drying of Wastewater Solids (2014) Enabling the Future:  Advancing...

From LIFT’s featured facilities page… What technologies are you interested in investigating? Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) has been investigating all aspects of wastewater resource recovery for a while now. Currently SVCW is investigating SAF-MBR for low cost wastewater treatment and water recycling, collaborations with innovators to produce low energy solids drying and beneficial biosolids...

On April 3rd the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission received its first payment for sale of its biosolids-based fertilizer. Lystek, a North American leader in biosolids and organics management, has partnered with the SFPUC to convert biosolids, the nutrient-rich soil-like product from wastewater treatment, into a marketable, renewable fertilizer, which is now being sold to...

In preparation for women’s history month in March and California Water Professionals Week in October we are collecting profiles of women who work in the California water sector. We are asking CWEA members, agencies, PIOs and HR managers to help us gather great profiles of deserving CA water pros. We will accept and republish profiles...

Cástulo Estrada grew up in the eastern end of the Coachella Valley – an area that had little if any water and wastewater infrastructure. Today, as a member of the Coachella Valley Water District board of directors, he’s proud of a special program bringing clean water infrastructure to disadvantaged communities in eastern Riverside County. Called the...

COMMENTS FROM AC18 ATTENDEES “This convention was the best one I have attended so far.” “Networking. Inspirational. Celebratory.” “The lab sessions are always useful for my profession. I am extremely happy you had the preconference workshop I could send a couple other staff members to.” “It felt like a well-rounded learning experience.” “I like the...

On February 19, 2019, the US Supreme Court announced that it will review the question of whether the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires a permit when pollutants originate from a point source but are conveyed to navigable waters by a nonpoint source, such as groundwater. There have been conflicting decisions in several federal circuit courts...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmQ_ixoctvc

Coverage of asset management topics is supported by MentorAPM In 2018 CASA kicked off a series of asset management workshops. To start 2019, we’re taking the asset management discussion online with a series of webinars focused on success stories. Why is asset management planning growing in importance within our sector? Learn how agencies are implementing...

Press release from Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts… Today, the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (Sanitation Districts) awarded a $630 million construction contract for the Clearwater Project to Dragados USA, Inc. The project will protect local waterways by addressing aging infrastructure and involves building a new 7‐mile long, 18‐foot diameter tunnel to convey treated...

P3S19 Conference Feb 11-13 Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay, Seaside View P3S19 conference webpage > Join us for an exciting opening session on Monday, Feb 13th at 9:00 am. Opening speakers include: Joe Charbonnet is a Science and Policy Associate at the Green Science Policy Institute. He recently completed his Ph.D. in Civil and...

Coverage of biosolids and co-digestion supported by Anaergia Anaergia, Inc. is pleased to announce the start of construction at the Rialto Bioenergy Facility (RBF) The RBF will help address two pressing waste management issues in Southern California: food waste diversion from landfills and biosolids management. The RBF will convert 700 tons per day of food...

From Brown & Caldwell… Brown and Caldwell, a leading environmental engineering and construction firm, today announced its selection by the City of Palo Alto to provide design services for secondary treatment upgrades at the city’s Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP). Operational since 1934 and serving the communities of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View,...

State Water Board press release… Key Details Policy for Water Quality Control for Recycled Water was first drafted in 2009 and amended in 2013 Recycled water is water that is deemed suitable for a beneficial use after treatment An expert advisory panel made recommendations for monitoring constituents of emerging concern that were incorporated into the Policy One...

Coverage of asset management topics is supported by MentorAPM  November 14th, 2018 Uncovering Sewer Laterals: How to Optimize Your Lateral Strategy Managing sewer laterals is challenging. Learn about the “Lateral Strategy Toolbox”, hear agency stories about success and challenges, and find ways to maximize the benefits of improving laterals – while balancing the impacts to...

Coverage of biosolids and co-digestion supported by Anaergia Work is underway on a multi-million dollar expansion project to increase the treatment capacity at the Pleasant Grove Wastewater Treatment Plant (PGWWTP.) An element of the expansion is to create an economically and environmentally sustainable biosolids-to-energy project that will allow Environmental Utilities to ultimately produce Renewable Compressed...

We’re proud to bring together a group of TNI experts from across the country to provide in-depth TNI standards training. CWEA laboratory members requested the topics and we delivered! We can enjoy great training, networking and some fun in beautiful Monterey together. Get to the Embassy Suites Monday afternoon and join the free Party with...

Coverage of water workforce topics supported by waterTALENT The Cucamonga Valley Water District is embarking on a first-time partnership with OPARC starting in November 2018. OPARC is a non-profit organization that facilitates meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities in Southern California. The partnership with CVWD will give OPARC clients the opportunity to paint fire...

The annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) was held in New Orleans Oct 1-3. With over 20,000 attendees it is one of the world’s largest clean water conventions. There are over 1,000 technology displays inside the 1-mile long New Orleans exhibit hall. California had an outstanding showing with over 150 Californians serving...

The city founded to fight a sewer, finally gets its own sewer. Malibu was originally incorporated in 1991 in order to fight construction of an LACSD sewage treatment plant in the area. The residents succeeded in the 1990s and no sewage treatment plant was built and the city was incorporated. However, in 2009 the Regional...

From the State Water Board website… Water Recycling Funding Program Pilot Project Grant Requirements The Water Recycling Funding Program provides grants to assist public agencies with the construction of pilot projects for new potable reuse.  The applicant must demonstrate that the pilot project will develop new information that does not currently exist and increase the...

Past CWEA President Christoph Dobson describes the important role clean water pros play in their community. “We provide a very important service for the community and we’re all very proud we’re able to provide this for the community.”  

Two collection system leaders discuss the importance of certification and the role training and technology have in the massive reduction in Sanitary Sewer Overflows. Daryl Lauer is the Collections Superintendent for Carmel Area Wastewater District the Chair of CWEA’s Collection Systems Committee. Ken Merkle is the Senior Collection Systems Supervisor for the City of Stockton...

The California Legislature officially designated the first week in October California Water Professionals Appreciation Week. This year it will be October 6-14. New this year – we’re highlighting women and veterans in the water profession. We want to highlight our awesome team members and encourage more women and veterans to join our profession. You can...

Scholarships Available for Utility Staff to Visit Utilities with Innovations of Interest Scholarships are available for utility personnel to visit other utilities with innovations of interest. The exchange, supported by WRF, WEF, and NACWA, provides an effective way for utilities to learn about, gain confidence in, and adopt new technologies and approaches more quickly. As water resource recovery...

Be sure to catch your friends and co-workers presenting at WEFTEC.  These are just a few of the great California speakers and presentations. Be sure to check the WEFTEC app for more details. WEFTEC.org Saturday CWEA Networking Dinner CWEA members and their guest are $55pp for this networking dinner. Organized by the Santa Ana River...

Coverage of new ELAP regulations supported by LabWorks, waterLIMS™ CWEA together with five other clean water associations, known as the Summit Partners, are calling on the State Water Board to offer two options for laboratory accreditation. We would like to see both TNI and State accreditation options. The reason? TNI accreditation only will raise the...

If you selected a 2018 all-star team among clean water professionals in California, this year’s Emerging Leaders would be good choices to fill the positions. The seven selected for this year’s Emerging Leaders honors cover the field from collections to treatment, from compliance to environmental services, from laboratory analysis to engineering and project management. And...

Thanks to everyone who was able to join us for Wednesday’s August 22nd lab webinar. Sorry we had some tech problems. We’re new to the Zoom system and working out the bugs. Thank you Lab Committee Chair Sara Burke for hosting and Keith and Stephen for presenting! Here are the follow-up items as we promised:...

According to Patrick Dube, Biosolids Program Manager for WEF, “Looking to learn more about greenhouse gas emissions from composting? You’re in luck as our GHG Subcommittee just released an awesome fact sheet on that topic! Check it out under the biosolids tab on our publications page!” Download the fact sheet here > “Breakdown of Organic...

Support for our coverage of Women in Water is provided by DN Tanks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe9yakfPSjc We’re hiring! Water and wastewater utilities across California need talented, hard working professionals to help keep our water clean and healthy. This interview is with: Elizabeth Meyerhoff Environmental Specialist Coachella Valley Water District The interviewer is CWEA leader: Judith Marquez Innovare...

There is no doubt that CWEA has played a huge role in my career and continues to open doors and present opportunities for my future growth in our exciting industry. It feels like yesterday I was attending my first workshop and studying for my first certification. Little did I know that one day I would...

Everyone loves a great story. Do you have a great project or technology success story to share?  Apply now to speak at CWEA’s Annual Conference (AC19) in Palm Springs, April 9-12, 2019. We’re interested in project/technology stories about resource recovery, asset management, collection systems, laboratory management, water reuse and more. View the detailed list of challenge areas and...

Sponsored post Trihedral expands in response to 45% sales growth over two years The last two years have been an exciting time at Trihedral. New offices in Texas and Alabama, an expanded sales force, and a series of industry recognitions (see below) have helped to boost VTScada software sales 45%. In North America alone, over...

The CWEA P3S Committee is currently accepting proposals for conference sessions from individuals, groups and  organizations for the upcoming 2019 P3S Annual Conference to be held February 10-13 at Embassy Suites Monterey Bay Seaside. We encourage you to take advantage of this exciting opportunity to share your ideas, knowledge and expertise with P3S leaders from...

Cool new video from LA Sanitation featuring: City of Los Angeles 2025 local water goal – One Water Los Angeles Donald C Tillman Water Reclamation Plant Advanced Water Purification demonstration project Ozone treatment option that was chosen LA Groundwater Replenishment project Featuring interviews with LABS Past President Bryan Trussell and member Wendy Broley.

Press release from the Brookings Institute… Building off previous workforce research, the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program has released a first-of-its-kind analysis of jobs involved in the construction, operation, and maintenance of the country’s water infrastructure. Nearly 1.7 million workers fill jobs in utilities, construction firms, and numerous other employers across the water sector, while facing...

The purpose of this standard is to define the critical requirements for the effective operation and management of a DPR water program. ISBN: 9781613004739 Publisher: AWWA Publication date: 2018 AWWA catalog no: STG_0086771 Media Type: PDF Number of pages: 14 DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12999/AWWA.G485.18 Agency reviewers include: J.D. Brown, Contra Costa Water District, Concord, Calif. S. Deshmukh, West Basin Municipal Water District, Carson, Calif....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H8K3foINE4 The annual Ops Challenge competition at WEFTEC is a test of skill, knowledge and endurance. Teams win or lose based on a single question or a fraction of a second in the physical competitions. One of California’s teams, the LA Wrecking Crew from LACSD in Southern California consistently ranks a top contender at WEFTEC....

Coverage of the wipes issue is supported by Aqualitec. Press release from INDA… INDA and EDANA, the leading global trade associations representing consumer wipes manufacturers and supply chains, announce publication of an update to their strict guidelines for labeling of non-flushable wipes and for assessing the flushability of disposable nonwoven wipes. New Labeling Guidance for Non-Flushables...

CWEA member Albert Lau from Padre Dam Water District explains how pure, recycled water from their Advanced Water Purification ceter was used to brew a one-of-a-kind batch of Ballast Point beer. “The brewing process is very similar to the water treatment process.”

The California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association (CA-NV AWWA) and California Water Environment Association (CWEA) have signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly develop the Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Certification program. The certification exams are expected to be ready in the Spring of 2019. The certification will be open to all California...

Coverage of biosolids and co-digestion supported by Anaergia Located in Carlsbad the Encina Wastewater Authority (EWA) operates an advanced wastewater treatment facility with an average flow of 20 million gallons per day. Founded in 1961, Encina is a joint powers authority owned by six public agencies who provide wastewater services for approximately 400,000 people. Long an...

City of Los Angeles, LA Sanitation (LASAN) case study. The EPA’s CRET system can assist drinking water and wastewater utilities in identifying potential vulnerabilities, as well as strategies for implementing adaptation measures that can reduce infrastructure risk and enhance overall utility resilience.

The landmark Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) began operation in January, 2008. Located in Fountain Valley the facility is operated by the Orange County Water District (OCWD) using secondary effluent produced by the  Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD). State-of-the-art technologies including microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection are used to produce up to 70 million gallons...

Press release from NASSCO… The University of Texas at Arlington Research Team Found Existing Literature on Chemical Emissions of Styrenated CIPP Non-conclusive A four-month study on the review of published literature pertaining to chemical emissions of styrene-based resin used in the cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) process found that existing studies do not adequately capture worker exposures...

During the General Manager’s luncheon at AC18 in Sacramento, PG&E reviewed their large energy audit services. Several of the GM’s in the room shared their experience with PG&E’s energy audit. Many said they saw energy savings and large rebate checks after completing the energy efficiency audit and upgrade programs. From PG&E… Your organization is eligible for...

Support for our coverage of Women in Water is provided by DN Tanks. Video produced by the Water Career Pathways program at West Valley College. #womenimpactingwater

Water & Wastewater Digest’s Class of 2018 Young Professionals includes two Californians… Nataly Dakak Environmental Engineering Associate City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation Age: 25 Education: Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering from the University of California, Riverside. Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. Professional accomplishments: Protecting the City...

Thank you to our AC18 sponsors and exhibitors for helping to make the conference possible. View list of exhibitors > PURE WATER LEVEL TERTIARY LEVEL SECONDARY LEVEL SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=2xyINPeIATY Water and wastewater utilities have emergency plans for floods, leaks, spills, earthquakes, personnel rescue and terror threats.  But what about wild fires that damage or destroy not only your infrastructure but whole swaths of the community itself?  That was the situation in Santa Rosa following the devastating Tubbs fire last October.    Santa Rosa’s director...

CWEA members need your help! We’re trying to send two awesome teams to WEFTEC 2018 in New Orleans and we need your help. CWEA is sending the LA Wrecking Crew to compete in the Ops Challenge. And, for the first time ever, CWEA is sending a California college team from UC Irvine to the Student Design...

As we build California’s water utilities of the future, one of the most common issues raised is workforce readiness. Where will all of those highly-skilled and experienced water professionals come from?  Particularly since 30-50% of the current workforce is in the process of retiring. To better understand the workforce skills gap, the Water Research Foundation...

As CWEA begins our new fiscal year in July, there are a few open volunteer leadership posts. If you are interested or know a good candidate, please see the nomination contact info below. Northern Safety Day – Program Planning Committee members Help plan the educational tracks and speakers for the annual Northern Safety Day seminar...

From the Water Careers Pathways program at West Valley College… Water Challenge 2018 a Huge Success! On April 19th in the culmination of a semester-long high school team competition, the “Water Challenge,” 500 Bay Area students attended a high-profile presentation and award ceremony at Levi’s Stadium. Students arrived by bus to visit water-centered college booths,...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTJFa7FoZiQ

This is a special report and perspective from outside the water/wastewater community. We invited Meg to share her insights from the 2018 Society for Economic Anthropology Conference which had a special focus this year on water. By Meg du Bray, Ph.D. EPSCoR MILES Post-doctoral researcher Idaho State University Water is life. These words have been...

This article first appeared in the March 2018 issue of Treatment Plant Operator magazine, published by COLE Publishing, Three Lakes, Wisconsin. It is reprinted by permission. Cross-training staff in all facets of treatment plant operations, maintenance and laboratory analysis is yielding big dividends at the Carpinteria (California) Sanitary District. One reward was the 2016 Small...

CWEA Roundtable: How can we afford water system upgrades? A water Q&A with three of California’s top clean water leaders discussing “One Water”. How we can work together to break down silos in the water sector and welcome regulators and stakeholders together to solve these difficult challenges with us? Roundtable sponsored by CDM Smith. The...

Flush with Possibilities With a new water purification plant, Santa Clara Valley Water District is driving water reuse to advance reliable, sustainable water supplies.  On a sunny afternoon last spring, four Silicon Valley leaders took large swigs of recycled water to show that it’s clean enough…well…to drink. And how does that filtered, decontaminated, and disinfected...

Support for our coverage of Women Impacting Water comes from Water Career Pathways

Coverage of the wipes issue is supported by Aqualitec. Ten years have passed since the fierce battle began to wipe out sewer clogging wipes. How close are we to a solution? Sadly, not close. Mainstream wet wipes were introduced in the early 2000s for cleaning and as a “flushable” wipe. They’ve become a major challenge...

  In recent year’s the State Water Board’s Office of Operator Certification (OOC) has built a financial budget surplus from the collection of wastewater operator certification fees. The OOC has now taken steps to reduce certification exam and renewal fees so their financial surplus will be eliminated over the next 5 years. On November 16th...

This post originally appeared on UC Berkeley’s Legal Planet blog. Of Dreamliners and Drinking Water By Michael Kiparsky and Christian Binz As we have written previously, potable water reuse (recycling water to augment water supplies) is a promising way to diversify urban water supply portfolios. Direct potable water reuse (DPR), the injection of highly purified...

CWEA’s coverage of safety issues is supported by ehs inc. Heart-breaking news from Illinois – a 22-year old working on a sewer re-lining project was killed when the liner collapsed around him. He was 20′ underground, possibly cutting out sewer laterals. The pipe diameter was estimated to be around 20-24″. The construction worker’s name is...

During the Legislature’s 2017 session several new California laws were passed that will impact water systems. The Governor has now signed each into law. AB 967  Biocreamation Facilities Bill – this law becomes effective January 1, 2018. Wastewater districts will have the legal authority to accept or reject liquid cremation of human remains from licensed...

On Friday Sept 29th Baywork released their long awaited report on water workforce reliability before a gathering of 65 representatives from water utilities, associations and community colleges. The Bay Area will need over 828 new water professionals in the next three years and there are not enough students in the training pipeline right now the...

  As the problem of “flushable” wipes clogging sewer pipes and pumps gets worse – every sewer agency is on its own in developing a public outreach campaign to share with people exactly what they should and should not flush down the toilet. Clogged sewer lines were becoming a challenge for City of Santa Rosa crews, so their...

According to a Bay Area NBC report the  Bioforcetech demonstration facility at Silicon Valley Clean Water is producing biochar that is cheaper, safer and easier to manage. Biosolids are dried and made safe by using the heat given off from the bacteria growing in the biosolids. “Upcycling,” say Dario Presezzi, the chief executive officer at Bioforcetech. “We’re...

Find water jobs at CAWaterJobs.org Emmanuel Sarpong Operations Technician Foreman Desert Water Agency Emmanuel served 4 years in the US Marine Corps.

  This series of workshops was organized by CWEA’s Collection System Committee in partnership with the State Water Board. The workshops were held in Manteca, Long Beach and Dublin in February 2017. Today, sewer professionals are under extreme pressure – regulations, maintenance and impacts from the drought and sudden storms. CWEA along with the State...

At this year’s Annual Conference in San Diego a room packed with wastewater professionals listened intently as a panel of experts provided updates on wipes, rags, pills and other debris getting flushed down the toilet. What’s being done to bring this nightmare to an end? The panel of experts agreed we saw some major breakthroughs...

In preparation for CWEA’s Annual Conference 2018 next April in Sacramento our Educational Program Team completed an annual survey of members and executives from several wastewater agencies. We’re looking for the profession’s most important challenge areas so we can develop sessions at Annual Conference to help our members address them. If you have an idea...

Support for coverage of safety issues in provided by ehs  According to a Purdue Engineering Department study released last month there are potentially volatile organic compounds and other toxic gasses in the steam venting from the cured-in-place-pipe process. Are workers and the public safe? From Purdue’s news release:  New research is calling for immediate safeguards...

WE&RF released a new research report on pretreatment standards for agencies interested in adding or expanding their water reuse facilities. The report features three California agencies: City of Los Angeles; City of San Diego and the Orange County Sanitation District. The project was funded by SoCal based Metropolitan Water District. The research project consisted of...

Tips and tricks for designing memorable conference presentations using the latest adult learning science. By Jeff Hurt, Velvet Chainsaw.

Presentations from the P3S 2017 Conference in Santa Rosa are now available at http://library.cwea.org/2017-p3s-conference. Thank you to all who came and presented! We are extremely grateful you shared your time and expertise with the P3S community. For those interested, an archive of presentations from pre-2017 P3S conferences and training events are available on our old...

From WEF highlights…  Last year, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) formally began using the term, water resource recovery facility (WRRF), in place of wastewater treatment plant and other conventional names. A task force appointed by the WEF Committee Leadership Council was tasked with developing a list of new terms, discussing them, and selecting one to use. Water...

From Scientific American and Environmental Health News… “A DDT deposit in the ocean off Los Angeles County has rapidly shrunk, shocking experts and casting doubt on the need to mount a controversial $60-million Superfund cleanup, according to new data. What has happened to the DDT off Palos Verdes Peninsula is, for now, a scientific mystery....

Enter to Win a $100 Gift Card If you received a CWEA membership renewal postcard and renew your membership by October 1st, 2021 – you’ll be entered in a random drawing to receive a FREE pass to the 2022 Annual Conference in Sacramento. RENEW Contest Guidelines Top prize is a free full conference pass to...