What a week! We just wrapped up AC24 in Sacramento, filled with insightful presentations, engaging workshops and tours, and incredible networking opportunities and award recognitions. It was inspiring to see so many wastewater leaders and professionals all in one place, sharing ideas and forging new paths for collaboration. If you didn’t make it – watch...

About 70% of our planet is covered in water, yet everyone on Earth is experiencing some form of water stress; right now, only 0.5% of water is available to support 8 billion people. XPRIZE Water Scarcity is a $119 million, 5-year prize designed to drive widespread access to clean water by creating reliable, sustainable, and...

The Water Code authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to appoint a group of subject matter experts to assist the State Water Board in carrying out its duties regarding wastewater treatment plant operator certification and training. The State Water Board has maintained an Advisory Committee since 1972. Assembly Bill 2890 added...

The CWEA community is gearing up to go live in the upcoming months. This marks a significant milestone in our journey, and we can’t wait to share this space with you. Building the CWEA community brings a myriad of advantages that will enhance your CWEA member benefits: First, it serves as a centralized hub where...

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 WEF Award submission period is open now. Seize this opportunity to showcase your innovative projects, educational contributions, and outstanding achievements in water management across multiple categories. Get recognized or nominate a colleague for all of your good work. Submit your nominations today to recognize those who create a life free of water challenges....

Learn to become an extraordinary leader, gain a supportive community of water professionals and mentors, sharpen your networking skills, and grow professionally. The Water Leadership Institute program educates, trains, and provides opportunities that enable developing and emerging leaders to build strong, lasting relationships within the water industry. Will you be among the Water Leadership Institute’s...

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 >

Lydia Guerra, Senior Certification Manager at CWEA, has achieved the Certified Credentialing Professional (ICE-CCP) certification from the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. This milestone marks a significant step in Lydia’s career and her commitment to professional development and excellence in the field of credentialing. The ICE-CCP certification is a hallmark of competency in professional credentialing. It...

The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San) and Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer) are pleased to announce the legal merger of the two districts into one. The merger will not change any of the sewage services provided—they will simply become one single service provider for customers. To this point, SacSewer and Regional San have...

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...

The P3S Committee is thrilled to announce the continuation of its grants program aimed at supporting P3S-related outreach projects. With a total fund of $5,000 at their disposal, the committee plans to distribute two to five separate grants ranging from $250 to $2,500 each. Recognizing that the grant may not cover the entirety of a...

MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I have always been fascinated by the wonders and intricacies of the past. I find myself captivated by stories of great leaders and significant events, humanity’s struggles, triumphs, and remarkable achievements. History has always provided a refuge for me in a fast-paced and ever-changing world, grounding me and helping me understand...

Most recently, the Office of Operator Certification (OOC) has made significant changes to the program! Here are just a few program highlights: Reorganization Beginning January 2023, the OOC began the implementation phase of its reorganization to optimize resources and improve processes, workflow, and operational efficiency by balancing staffing resources and realigning workload by functionality as...

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...

The Path to Power series is organized by the Association of Women in Water, Energy, and the Environment. We are excited to introduce a remarkable panel of women in the water industry who will engage in a thought-provoking dialogue about their accomplished career paths. California water leaders on the panel: Jennifer Persike, moderatorr, Jennifer Persike...

It’s an honor to serve as your Director of Member Services. Since joining the staff earlier this year, I’ve already made strong connections with members and leaders. I enjoy working with the CWEA Board members, Committee and Local Section leaders, and I look forward to meeting you at an event or conference soon. We’re excited...

The Kirt Brooks Memorial Water Environment Scholarship (KBSF) Committee is thrilled to introduce a new educational opportunity to our scholarship program. We are expanding our list of eligible categories to now include non-degree training programs offered by colleges, community colleges, and trade schools. Education is the foundation of a strong community. CWEA and the Kirt...

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...

The John Boyd Leadership Award was established to recognize outstanding leadership and mentorship which contributes to the development of another individual’s career in this field or inspires others to contribute to the P3S community. Please consider nominating your peers for this new award from the P3S Committee in honor of John Boyd. Applications are now...

CWEA is proud to launch it’s first mentoring program for members. The concept is quite simple: match skilled mentors with excited mentees, and build a stronger, more welcoming wastewater community. Mentors provide guidance, support and career direction, drawing upon their own life experiences. The good news is the benefits of mentoring are bi-directional— both mentors...

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2024 CWEA State Board of Directors roles. Here’s a brief overview of the nomination process and how you can participate in choosing your leaders: To learn more about the board nominations and access the necessary forms, visit the CWEA Leaders website at leaders.cwea.org. The deadline for submitting nomination...

The 51st Annual Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Stormwater Conference is taking place February 5-7 in Anaheim. This year’s theme is Igniting the Torch – inspiring up-and-coming water professionals to get that spark to lead our profession into the future. We anticipate 300-400 professionals in attendance. The P3S Conference Committee is seeking innovative speakers to share their expertise with P3S...

As our industry comes together to tackle increasingly difficult water treatment challenges, data-informed decision making is critical. We are collecting data from professionals with UV experience through a survey. The results of this survey will build upon the literature utilized by operators, regulators, engineers, and manufacturers as they make decisions surrounding UV technology. If you...

We are pleased to announce that the CWEA Northern and Southern Safety Days will be making their return this fall. Southern Safety Day will take place on October 26 at the Doubletree by Hilton Ontario Airport. Northern Safety Day will take place November 8 at the Yolo County Fairgrounds in Woodland. The CWEA Safety Committee...

Dear CWEA Members, As we embark on a new fiscal year for CWEA, it’s an honor to share with you an update on our association’s ambitious program of work and goals for the year. The theme we have chosen for the 2024 Annual Conference and Expo in Sacramento is “MISSION: POSSIBLE.” This theme embodies both...

Thank you Harris & Associates for sponsoring the California Stockholm Junior Water Prize. The Water Environment Federation (WEF) shares the state winners of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. Kyle Tianshi, a bright young mind from The Cambridge School, is the first-place winner in California for his project Rapid Detection of Microplastics in Liquid: A Novel Light Scattering...

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...

The AC24 Education Program Committee is currently accepting proposals for the Annual Conference & Expo on April 9-12, 2024, in Sacramento. AC is one of the largest gatherings of wastewater professionals on the West Coast. The mission is clear, the stage is yours – what will you present to empower and educate CWEA members? This...

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 Stanford University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering announced that WEF-CWEA Honorary member Dr. Perry McCarty passed away on June 4, 2023. Professor McCarty joined Stanford University in 1962. He was one of the world’s leading environmental engineers, having created a scientific approach for the biological treatment of water for purification, wastewater reclamation and...

Twelve organizations and nine individuals comprise the honorees of the 94th Annual California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Awards, celebrating those who have made significant contributions to improving the water environment in California. These organizations and individuals were selected from over 300 applications and received their awards at a ceremony on April 19, 2023, in San...

The California Water Environment Association (CWEA) recently hosted its 7th Annual Student Design Competition on May 13th, showcasing the brightest young minds in the field of water and wastewater engineering. Two exceptional teams represented their respective universities, earning the chance to compete in the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Student Design Competition at WEFTEC in Chicago...

With the recent uptick in online scams and cybercrime attempts, CWEA is taking steps to help protect members and volunteers from being exploited by cybercriminals. CWEA has put together this scam clarifier will help you screen out scams with tips on how to spot and avoid scams, what to do if you encounter a suspected scam,...

Phil Miller is CWEA’s newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO). Phil is a Bay Area native who has spent over a decade working in non-profit management and leadership, specializing in finance, accounting, human resources, facilities, risk management, and IT. With a Master’s degree in education from Berkeley and an Executive MBA from Saint Mary’s College,...

CWEA is pleased to announce Anabel Martinez as the new Director of Member Services. Anabel brings 15 years of experience in nonprofit membership and association management to her new role here at CWEA. Throughout her career, Anabel has managed both corporate and individual memberships, and has excelled in creating and implementing effective membership retention and...

City of Barstow City Manager Willie Hopkins Jr. announced the Promotion of Kody Tompkins to the position of Assistant City Manager. As Assistant City Manager, Mr. Tompkins will provide strategic level leadership support for the Finance and Administrative Services, Information Technology department and the City Manager’ Office. He will contribute and oversee upcoming planning for...

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA/Agency) received four awards from the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) during their Annual Conference in San Diego, CA. The four award categories and recognitions received at the State level were: Crystal Crucible Award – Awarded to IEUA Laboratory Scientist II Supriti Shrestha, PICK Award – Awarded to Manager of...

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is seeking individuals who have an interest in serving the organization at the strategic level. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of WEF and holds legal authority and fiduciary responsibilities on behalf of WEF and its membership. The Board is a diverse group of water sector leaders committed...

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...

The Orange County Sanitation District’s (OC San) Board of Directors has selected CWEA Member OC San’s Assistant General Manager Robert (Rob) Thompson as the next General Manager, effective February 10, 2023. Thompson will replace James (Jim) D. Herberg who is set to retire on February 9, 2023, after a longstanding career at OC San. Herberg...

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...

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...

Jennyfer Corona, CWEA’s Certification Coordinator has been supporting applicants through the certification process for just over a year now, when she joined CWEA in 2021. Jennyfer graduated from the University of Arizona with a BFA in Environmental Studies. After returning to the Bay Area, she gained experience working in customer service roles for community-based institutions. At...

Get to know Brian Mosley, CWEA’s Education Coordinator. Brian joined CWEA just over a year ago (2021) bringing a wealth of customer support experience to the position. Brian is a graduate of UC Berkeley, where he was the Assistant Dean of Students in the Making Waves Education Program, creating lesson plans and weekly follow-ups with...

CWEA is delighted to welcome Cela Gonzalez as the new Marketing Coordinator, a new position for CWEA. Cela studied Advertising and Communication and Social Change at the University of Texas in Austin. After graduation, she moved to the Bay Area and soon found CWEA in the summer of 2022. In her role, Cela works closely...

CWEA would like to welcome our newest member of the education team, Melanie Guillen. Melanie is a certified meeting professional with over 20 years’ experience in the industry. Melanie was awarded “Conference of the Year” for an Annual Conference she planned for Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West and was later promoted to Director...

Hosting high school students for a tour of your wastewater treatment plant is nothing new. But having students stay with you for two solid weeks, analyze wet weather data, and then give a presentation on their findings to you and your staff surely is. That’s what’s happening at the Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) treatment...

CWEA’s Student & Young Professionals Committee is thrilled to kick off the new SYP Local Engagement Subcommittee. To help get the innovative group off the ground, each local section needs to designate a representative. Interested in getting involved? Contact SYP Vice Chair, Julia Asbenson, at [email protected] Purpose: Invest in in-person SYP involvement and events at...

Calling all current and future water leaders! WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference 2023 March 28 – 31 The 2023 AWWA/WEF Utility Management Conference will be held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California. Together, the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation are once again partnering to offer this prestigious gathering...

President’s Message I am both humbled and excited to serve as the new President of CWEA. When I first joined the wastewater profession 13 years ago as an agency finance manager, I didn’t think I would be a member of CWEA, let alone be leading it. I am here because someone invited me to join,...

WEF Fellows The WEF Fellows Program recognizes the professional achievement, stature and contributions of WEF members to the preservation and enhancement of the global water environment in the practice areas served by WEF. Luis Roberto León, PE, BCEE, ENV SP CWEA member, Luis León, has over 37 years of U.S. and international engineering and management...

CWEA members seldom meet them face to face, but they perform vital services every member needs—from helping with training and the technical certification program to handling dues and payments to taking care of a myriad of details for conferences, workshops and meetings. They’re the Member Services staff at CWEA headquarters in Oakland. The team includes...

A large part of the goals established in CWEA’s Strategic Plan for 2021-2023 Is focused on the educational services that the Association provides its members. Top on the list includes identifying and implementing various approaches to increasing accessibility, identifying training needs and interests, and expanding CWEA training content to meet those needs. Earlier this year,...

CWEA is proud to introduce Los Angeles Basin Section’s 2022-2023 Board of Directors. In what may be the section’s largest Board yet, these 11 diligent wastewater professionals are making a difference for the CWEA Los Angeles Basin Section and show a real passion for the wastewater industry. The LABS Board is one of the largest...

Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) has been recognized as a “Utility of the Future Today” for its industry-leading classroom education program that engages students throughout the region. The Utility of the Future Today is presented by the Water Environment Federation, along with its partners, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Research...

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...

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...

Once again, we are hosting a social media takeover with our members in honor of California Water Professionals Appreciation Week. Watch for details for our Instagram takeover and Twitter takeover. These members will give you a first hand look into their lives as wastewater professionals and we can’t wait to see what they share! Be...

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...

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...

Nominations for the 2023 CWEA State Board of Directors positions are now open. Below is a summary of the nomination process – and how you can become involved in selecting your leaders.  See the CWEA Leaders website at leaders.cwea.org for board nominations information and forms.  Nomination forms must be in by December 16, 2022. Serving...

WEF’s Technical Publications are some of the most sought-after resources in the water sector and now they are accessible digitally via subscription! The new Basic + WEF Books subscription on Access Water includes all of WEF’s digital books. There are over 70 books currently on the platform, including Design of Water Resource Recovery Facilities ( MOP 8) and Operation of Water Resource Recovery...

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...

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...

CWEA is proud to announce the slate of nominees have been sworn in as 2022-23 CWEA Board Members. NEW CWEA 2022-2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President-Elect, South:                        Chuck Greely Vice President, South:           Gilbert BarelaDirector at Large/Treasurer Track, South:   Stephanie PrescottWEF Delegate Director, South:...

CWEA was honored to reunite over 327 wastewater professionals in Long Beach for the 2022 Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Stormwater Conference. A big shout-out of thanks to the P3S22 Planning Committee led by Conference Co-Chairs Theodore Higgins, P3S Committee Chair and Amy Lai, Director of Education for CWEA. If any attendees are interested in volunteering for...

CWEA is pleased to introduce the Director of Education, Amy Lai. Amy has over 20 years’ experience in professional development, event management, and marketing. She has led the education and branding initiatives for private businesses, non-profit organizations, and associations – including the California Transit Association and the California Coalition on Workers’ Compensation. As a Certified...

All CWEA members are invited to vote on the incoming officers for the board of directors online. This is your chance to have a say in CWEA leadership and meet the nominees! CWEA 2022-2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINEES:President-Elect, South:                        Chuck GreelyVice President, South:        ...

WEF’s Waterborne Infectious Disease Outbreak Control subcommittee of the Disinfection and Public Health Committee moved quickly to respond to questions, concern, and conversation primarily from utility employees about monkeypox. In this 3-page fact sheet and poster, WEF experts break down the known details surrounding monkeypox and wastewater workers safety. WEF Member Access to Factsheet

Thank you Harris & Associates for sponsoring the California Stockholm Junior Water Prize. The Water Environment Federation (WEF) proudly announces that John Benedict and Pauline Estrada, siblings from Clovis North High School in California, are the winners of the 2022 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (S.J.W.P.) for their project on conservation of irrigation water using...

The application period is open for the Utility of the Future Today recognition program, which seeks to honor water resource recovery facilities for community engagement, watershed stewardship, and recovery of resources such as water, energy, and nutrients. This year the application has been revised to encourage utilities serving as anchor institutions in their communities, with...

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) recently announced it must reduce the State Water Project allocation to 5 percent of requested supplies for 2022. DWR previously set the allocation at 15 percent but a historically dry January and February, with no significant storms forecast for March, requires a reduction in the allocation to conserve available...

Speak up and share your knowledge with those who are making decisions on funding and regulations.  Aging infrastructure, new and updated regulations, resiliency issues, coupled with economic pressures are placing unprecedented stress on local governments and agencies that provide essential water services. With reduced revenues, federal elected officials are being called upon to make tough choices...

For the first time in its 103-year history, the Coachella Valley Water District has gone one year without a sewer system overflow (SSO). While there isn’t one reason why the District would have reached such a milestone, its staff has been working on minimizing issues that have caused SSOs in the past. “There were years...

Last month, CWEA announced the state winners of the Annual Awards program. Among those winners are our specialized awards given to innovators, dedicated wastewater professionals and those who have made a particular contribution to the industry. These Gimmicks and Gadgets winners, Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers and Quarter Century recognition awards showcase some of...

As some on the slate of candidates recently withdrew their nominations for the CWEA Board, we are re-opening the nomination process for the following 2022 CWEA State Board of Directors’ positions: Vice President from the South (to be President-Elect) Vice President, South (will be President in third year of four-year service) Director at-large from the...

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,...

I am looking forward to working with you over the next two years to improve U.S. stormwater programs as well as overall stormwater quality. The U.S. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) program is currently at a crossroads. On the regulatory side, it faces needs to implement numeric standards through total maximum daily loads (TMDLs)...

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...

Calling all WEF Members – It’s time to nominate candidates for the WEF Awards! Canham Scholarship Now Open! Open to WEF members currently enrolled in a graduate-level education program. For consideration, applications must be received by March 1, 2022. Learn More Additional WEF Awards Now Open! WEF offers a number of professional recognition awards to...

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...

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...

The State Water Resources Control Board has funding available to provide relief to wastewater agencies and wastewater billing entities for unpaid customer debt accrued during the Pandemic. The California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program covers residential and commercial customer debt accrued March 4, 2020 through June 15, 2021. Applications open February 1, 2022 and...

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....

Learn to become a better leader, gain a supportive community of water professionals and mentors, sharpen your networking skills, and grow professionally. The Water Leadership Institute is looking for the next cohort to participate in this valuable blended learning program. The Water Leadership Institute program is aimed at educating, training, and providing opportunities that enable...

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...

CWEA has launched the new exams for the Collection System Maintenance Certification Grades 1 – 4 and Mechanical Technologist Certification Grades 1 – 4. Under the new Minimum Qualifications, applicants will need to hold the lower level certification to qualify for the Grade 3 or 4 exam. The new Minimum Qualifications will allow CWEA exams...

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...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the agency’s comprehensive Strategic Roadmap to confront PFAS contamination nationwide. The Roadmap is the result of a thorough analysis conducted by the EPA Council on PFAS that Administrator Regan established in April 2021. EPA’s Roadmap is centered on three guiding strategies: Increase investments in...

The CWEA Education Committee is currently accepting presentation proposals for the upcoming AC22 Conference & Expo on April 11–14, 2022, in Sacramento. This is a valuable opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise on a wide variety of topics listed below. We are excited to announce this year’s conference theme: Water is Essential. So Are...

Ask your Representative to Co-Sponsor the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act (H.R. 4602) Please reach out and ask your Congressional Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 4602, the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act (WIPPES Act), by Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI). This legislation helps address the extensive...

With many changes coming to CWEA, one of the biggest was our move to a new office space within our Oakland building. We decided to brighten up the office by having the wonderfully talented illustrator and muralist Nigel Sussman create a mural for CWEA. For those unfamiliar with Nigel’s work, he’s created art for many...

  Update provided by CASA Much clearer disposal information for wet wipes is coming to a shelf near you. After years of legislative work on the wipes issue, AB 818 (Bloom) has been signed into law by the Governor. This bill establishes the strongest “Do Not Flush” wipes labeling and public education requirements in the...

First and last name: Kyle Jones Job title: Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator, Inland Empire Utilities Agency Tenure: 13 years at IEUA, 17 years in the industry Certifications: Drinking Water Treatment T4, Drinking Water Distribution D3, Wastewater Treatment Grade V Branch and years of service: U.S. Marine Corps; 4.5 years active duty What is your...

First and last name: Allan D. Jones Job title: Electrical & Instrument Technician III, Inland Empire Utilities Agency Certifications held: C-10 License Electrical Contracting Branch and years of service: Navy; Four years of service What is your role at the Agency? As an Electrical/Instrumentation Tech III, my daily role at the Agency is to service,...

First and last name: Joshua Oelrich Job title: Deputy Manager of Maintenance, Inland Empire Utilities Agency Certifications held: Vibrations Analyst: ISO Category 1; Certified Reliability Leader (CRL); Certified Level 1 Machinery Lubrication Technician Branch and years of service: Navy 2000-2006 1.     What is your role at the Agency? Deputy Manager of Maintenance – Under direction,...

It’s that time of year again where we hand over our Instagram account to three incredibly savvy and interesting wastewater professionals during California Water Professionals Appreciation Week. Be sure to follow along to catch a day in the life of these champions of wastewater. CWEA Instagram: @cweamembers Meet James Hake: Takeover October 5 James Hake is...

According to the US census bureau in 2018 women made up only 5.8% of operators in the water and wastewater industry, and less than 25% of women are in utility work overall. Join our panel of dynamic women as they share their experiences with advocacy and mentorship, and the benefits that women bring to our...

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...

CWEA is the proud recipient of a Silver Award in the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Power of A Awards for “The State of COVID in California, CWEA’s Year-Long Education Campaign for Wastewater Professionals.” Each year, ASAE highlights the best work of nonprofits at the “Power of A” Awards. This year, six organizations received Summit Awards,...

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...

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announces winners of the 41st Annual AM&P Network EXCEL Awards. CWEA has won Gold the “Rebranding” category. The EXCEL Awards are the largest and most prestigious program recognizing excellence and leadership in association media, publishing, marketing and communication. With 240 awards presented across 82 categories, the ceremony culminated with the EXTRA!...

It’s that time of year again! We are announcing the opening of nominations for the 2022 CWEA State Board of Directors positions. Your local section and committee officers will receive the Executive Committee request for nominations for CWEA Directors and Officers August 16. Below is a summary of the nomination process – and how you...

Utility Management Conference 2022 February 21 – 24, 2022 Orlando, Florida, USA ABSTRACT SUBMITTAL DEADLINE: August 23, 2021 We are excited to announce that the 2022 Utility Management Conference will be in Orlando, Florida, and we are calling the water sector’s thought-leaders and experts to share their knowledge with the rest of the industry. The...

ASAE announced today the winners of the 2021 Gold Circle Awards, which denote excellence, innovation and achievement in association/nonprofit marketing, membership and communications programs. CWEA has won first place in the “Rebranding” category. This is our first ever ASAE first place award. “CWEA’s rebranding was a huge effort that affected all aspects of our association,”...

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has announced that Eshani Jha of Lynbrook High School in San Jose is the winner of the 2021 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize for her project on using engineered biochar for the removal of toxic contaminants from water. Jha’s project, Thiol Functionalized and Manganese Doped Biochar for the Removal of Toxic...

As of June 17, 2021 Gavin Newsom signed the Executive Order N-09-21, which allows the Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) to take effect. This was immediately following the Cal/OSHA Standards Board meeting, which had voted to pass the revised language from June 11, 2021 that same day. Download a full copy of the standard. To see what these...

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...

The gavel was passed for the second time in a virtual setting, this time from CWEA’s Outgoing President Wendy Wert to our new President Arvind Akela.  Arvind is Engineering Director with Silicon Valley Clean Water. Congratulations Arvind! Meet your 17-person CWEA Board. Voted in as CWEA Board members after the June e-vote: Jeff Tucker, CWEA...

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...

In the review of the NEW proposed 3205 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) changes for the adoption posted on Friday, June 11, 2021 the CWEA Safety Committee wanted to summarize the Key Modifications. The modifications will be considered at the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board Meeting on June 17, 2021. For a copy of the...

The CWEA staff is excited to welcome Nick Bailey as the new Online Education and Learning Management System Manager. This is a new position for CWEA as we build more training content accessible to all CWEA members. Nick has extensive experience in the areas of learning & development, research, member care & membership engagement, diversity, volunteer...

NFPA 70E requirements for safe work practices to protect personnel by reducing exposure to major electrical hazards. Originally developed at OSHA’s request, NFPA 70E helps companies and employees avoid workplace injuries and fatalities due to shock, electrocution, arc flash, and arc blast, and assists in complying with OSHA 1910 Subpart S and OSHA 1926 Subpart...

CWEA selected Eshani Jha from Lynbrook High School as California’s first place winner of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, 2021. Jha’s project, Thiol Functionalized and Manganese Doped Biochar for the Removal of Toxic Organic and Inorganic Contaminants from the Water was selected as the first place project for California out of 21 papers submitted. Eshani,...

CWEA held its third Student Design Competition (SDC) on Saturday, May 15th.  It was the second virtual competition lead by the SDC Chair, Board of Director and Past President, Debi Lewis. A panel of distinguished CWEA members served as judges assembled by CWEA Board of Director, Brian Peck from Carollo. Two strong presentations by teams from San...

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...

All CWEA members are invited to vote on the incoming officers for the board of directors online. This is your chance to have a say in CWEA leadership and meet the nominees. For continuity of our board leadership, CWEA will conduct the election of its 2021-2022 slate electronically, so watch for a special email to...

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....

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has selected the Water Environment Federation to develop, manage, and provide training for a nationwide network of water utilities, public health agencies, and laboratories participating in wastewater-based disease surveillance. Wastewater-based disease surveillance involves the testing of wastewater to evaluate the presence of pathogens among a population....

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...

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...

Workforce development remains one of WEF’s top priorities, and as we continue to deliver on our commitment to water professionals, we are also working to make sure that the water workforce of the future is one that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. As the conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion magnified after...

For all water jobs posts, please visit CAWaterJobs.org Emerging Leader: Jacelyn Renwick, Laboratory Supervisor The Microscopic Examination of Activated Sludge Part 3: Filamentous Bacteria and your Process – Live Webinar AC23 – Partial Nitrification for Clear Secondary Effluent SPUC Biosolids Digester Facilities Project Tour & Meeting, September 21 Safety Committee meeting: Hazardous Animals, Insects and...

The Wastewater Operator Certification Program (WWOCP) Advisory Committee has openings for the following positions: Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Representative – An operator who is employed at a wastewater treatment plant and who is a member of a statewide organization representing wastewater treatment plant operators (one position); Local Sanitation Agency Representative – An individual from a...

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,...

 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...

The Water Leadership Institute would like to invite you to apply to the 2021 WLI program for the chance to join the next class.  Submit your application to this competitive program for the opportunity to engage in this blended learning program to develop your management training and leadership skills. Here is a snapshot of some...

LEE + RO, Inc., today announced that it has appointed Jay Jung, P.E., as vice president of operations. Jung will be responsible for overseeing the company’s operations, resource management and planning, as well as staff development and training. He’s also a member of the senior management team and reports directly to the CEO. Jung has...

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...

LEE + RO, Inc., today announced that Vice President Eric Lovering, P.E., has been named the company’s chief engineer. In this new role, Lovering will apply his 20 years of engineering experience, strong leadership qualities and problem-solving skills to helping solidify the company’s position as a leader in the design, engineering, and implementation of water,...

Read the Member Value Report in the Fall issue of Clean Water 2019-20 Achievements  

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...

AC20 goes on. Register for an all-access pass to recorded content, earn contact hours. Offer ends 12/31/20. Learn more > The 2020 Annual Conference wrapped up on October 20th with a fun and interactive closing session. CWEA members did it. You did it. Organizing our first ever virtual conference and digital expo! We are so...

The CWEA offices will be closed on November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. VIEW CWEA’s COLLECTION OF VETERANS IN WATER STORIES

ELAP has updated its accreditation offerings for microbiology analysis in wastewater and ambient water analysis. FOT 107: Microbiological Methods for Non-Potable Water and Sewage Sludge Subgroup Code Analyte Code Parameter Analytical Method Change 107.005 001 E. coli, Enumeration SM 9223 B-2004 Removed subgroup; duplicative with 107.013 and 107.015 107.013 001 E. coli, Enumeration SM 9223...

The Water Environment Federation is thrilled to announce that the Brave Blue World documentary that paints an optimistic picture of how humanity is adopting new technologies and innovations for a sustainable water future is available on Netflix as of October 21. WEF is a production partner for the film, which will now be available to...

Earlier this year, CWEA hosted its 3rd Annual California Student Design Competition virtually. Six teams competed, 2 in the wastewater category and 4 in the engineering category. Four teams from San Diego State University and two teams from University of California, Irvine. Thank you for entering the competition and competing virtually! Thank you to the...

Published September 17, 2020 *State of California Department of Industrial Relations COVID-19 Infection Prevention Requirements (AB 685) Enhanced Enforcement and Employer Reporting Requirements Assembly Bill 685 (Reyes) enhances Cal/OSHA’s enforcement of COVID-19 infection prevention requirements by allowing for Orders Prohibiting Use and citations for serious violations related to COVID-19 to be issued more quickly. The...

The Kirt Brooks Memorial Water Environment Scholarship is a scholarship for students in or interested in the water environment industry who are members of CWEA or sponsored by a CWEA member. Scholarships are given for the Fall – Summer school year following the application deadline. Applications are due on January 15 for the school year beginning the following...

Congratulations to Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, winner of the Public Communication and Outreach Award! The utility initiated a sewer science education and outreach program that has reached more than 500 educators and more than 80,000 students, many of whom are advancing the water profession. The utility will be recognized on Oct. 7 at the WEF...

I am pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the 2021 CWEA State Board of Directors positions. Your local section and committee officers will receive the Executive Committee request for nominations for CWEA Directors and Officers this week. Below is a summary of the nomination process – and how you can become involved in selecting your...

A panel of wastewater and public health experts has determined that occupational risk of COVID-19 infection for wastewater workers is low. The panel also found that standard wastewater treatment processes inactivate the virus and additional research should be conducted to further increase understanding of hazards and protections for personnel. WEF convened this blue-ribbon panel of...

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...

At CWEA, we celebrate the critical work of our members every day, but especially during the fourth annual California Water Professionals Appreciation week! On October 3-11, we will join hundreds of agencies throughout California in recognizing all you do—from keeping essential wastewater service flowing to taking action to protect California’s waterways. Career Roundtable Webinars for New and...

Utilities have recognized the value of peracetic acid (PAA) as a wastewater and stormwater disinfectant for years, but limited education and design guidance have impeded its implementation. Aiming to bridge the PAA knowledge gap, Peracetic Acid Disinfection: Implementation Considerations for Water Resource Recovery Facilities, a special publication from the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia),...

From the Water Environment Federation… Studying concentrations of pathogens in wastewater — a practice known as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) — is a time-honored approach to gathering crucial public health data that traditional approaches might miss. During the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection...

After four years of work, the Advanced Water Treatment Operator® (AWTO®) certification program is now complete and launched by the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association (CA-NV AWWA) and the California Water Environment Association (CWEA). The exam for the highest-grade level, known as AWT5™, launched on July 15th, completing the planned roll-out of...

The 2020 applications are now available online at awards.cwea.org. Recognize outstanding achievements within the wastewater field. Improve the professional status of all personnel working in the wastewater industry and related fields. Stimulate public awareness of the importance of wastewater treatment to public health and the water environment. Awards are given at the Local Section level first;...

Membership Has Its Rewards: One Recruiter Will Receive a $500 Gift Card Over the course of your career, you’ve experienced first-hand the value of CWEA membership. During the 2020 CWEA Member Get a Member Campaign, encouraging your friends and colleagues to elevate their professional potential via CWEA membership allows us to further reward you –...

As environmental professionals work to address the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, is time dedicated to the California Water Environment Association (AAEES) well spent? The answer from an active volunteer, Wendy Wert, P.E., BCEE, is a resounding yes and a compelling story. Wendy is registered civil engineer with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts....

Instructions Desktop backgrounds Click on the thumbnail to see the full image Right-click and choose “Save Image As” Download the image Find the image on your computer Right-click on the image and choose “Set as Desktop Background” Zoom backgrounds Open the Zoom application on your computer Click on your profile image or icon Click “Settings”...

Last week to pay it forward!!  Virtual Food Drive last day to contribute – Friday, July 17  CWEA San Diego Section, in partnership with local San Diego chapters of American Public Works Association (APWA) and Maintenance Superintendents Association (MSA) are showing our gratitude to our community of essential workers and soliciting donations to benefit those most in...

What’s in an identity? If you think of a movie star, you might remember one of their famous scenes. Think of a brand name such as Apple or Caterpillar and sleek phones or powerful, yellow machinery comes to mind. Identities are distinctive, and they tell a story. If you think about CWEA, what comes to...

Collaboration between WEF and Xylem aims to ensure consistent guidance for water operators. To ensure protection of the health and safety of wastewater workers during the coronavirus pandemic and into the future, Dr. Andrew Sanderson, MD, MPH of Howard University, has been named Chief Medical Officer for the Water Environment Federation. As Chief Medical Officer,...

WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference 2021 #UMC21 Call for Abstracts Close Friday, June 26 The planning committee is now accepting abstracts, special topic sessions, and pre-conference workshop submissions. Check out the call for abstract topics to be a speaker at this prestigious management conference.  Speaking at UMC 2021 will offer increased networking opportunities, additional company exposure,...

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) announced that Zoe Gotthold is the winner of the 2020 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP), the nation’s most prestigious youth competition for water-related research. Gotthold, a student at Richland High School in Richland, Wash., developed prototypes of devices that promote oil flocculation at the surface and increase the efficacy...

Member Alert: CWEA Membership renewal notices are now being emailed. In an effort to reduce paper we are now switching to email and limited mailing. Notices will start to arrive in email inboxes in the upcoming weeks from Member Services.

At the Water Environment Federation (WEF), our vision is to create a community of empowered professionals creating a healthy global water environment. A necessary component to achieving that vision is ensuring that every individual within the communities where we live, work, and serve is treated in an inclusive and equitable manner. The recent senseless killings...

Update: On June 26th the CWEA Board formed a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force As water environment professionals, our mission is protecting and saving lives and operating systems that make our communities cleaner, healthier places for everyone to live in. Racism, inequality, and acts of violence are against everything CWEA stands for. CWEA stands with...

Congratulaitons to: Thomas Hall and Joseph Lucia, WEF’s newest California WEF Life Members. Individuals who have been a member of WEF and one or more WEF Member Association for 35 or more consecutive years, and are at age 65 or older, are eligible to apply for WEF Life Membership. If you know someone that fits...

On Friday, May 1st the gavel was passed for the first time in a virtual setting, from CWEA’s Outgoing President Kevin Calderwood to our new President Wendy Wert.  Wendy is a Civil Engineer in the Facilities Planning Division, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. Congratulations Wendy! Members unanimously approved the slate of nominees for the...

This Manual of Practice serves as an injury-reduction tool to all those working in the wastewater field. Safety, Health and Security in Wastewater Systems, MOP 1, 6th Edition, Chapter 8 There are guidelines for creating written programs and procedures as well as guidelines that describe how to perform a confined space entry, lockout/tagout, and chemical...

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...

The CWEA History Committee was recently asked for the dates of the various name changes that our Association has adopted over the years. The initial question generated two more “naming” questions: what were the Association’s prior names and why were the changes made?  Answering the prior names question was easy – CWEA started out as the California Sewage Works Association (CSWA), transitioned to the California Sewage and Industrial Wastes Association...

While an association’s name is its primary element of branding, its logo is the visual representation of the association’s identify. The logo provides a means to quickly identify the association and its services. The logo should be created with visual tone and appeal that is linked strategically to the association’s mission and “story”. The current...

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...

WEF recently announced a brand-new resource for water professionals, Access Water®. As a 21st-century water quality professional, you need to work anywhere and everywhere on all kinds of devices and, to do that effectively, you must be able to instantly access and share technical content no matter where you are. But too often, cumbersome search...

WEF is pleased to offer access to a suite of new, digital programming opportunities, allowing you to connect with and learn from sector experts, while earning valuable PDHs – all from your computer or mobile device. Choose from a variety of options on the topics of most interest to you. Details can be found on the tabs...

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...

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 >

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....

WEF Field Guide to COVID-19 > Wastewater Treatment and COVID-19 Coronaviruses are susceptible to the same disinfection conditions in the healthcare setting as other viruses, so current disinfection conditions in wastewater treatment facilities is expected to be sufficient. This includes conditions for practices such as oxidation with hypochlorite (i.e., chlorine bleach) and peracetic acid, as...

WEF Field Guide to COVID-19 >     How to avoid Coronavirus? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are maintaining a webpage on prevention and treatment of coronavirus. In short, the prevention guideance is the same for avoiding the flu. CDC Prevention guidance > Do Wastewater Workers Need to Take Special Precautions? Based...

WEF Field Guide to COVID-19 > View recorded webinar > This webcast aired on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 2:30 PM Eastern. Please be sure to verify the most current information. The 2019 Novel Coronavirus was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness, referred to as COVID-19. It was first detected in...

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...

View CWEA’s round-up of Coronavirus (COVID-19) worker safety information here > Message from WEF President, Jacqueline A. Jarrell, P.E. and  Executive Director Walter Marlowe, P.E., CAE A core part of our mission for the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is sharing the latest science and technical information with you to enable protection of public health and...

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....

As a member of CWEA, you are invited to attend CWEA’s Annual Business Meeting and vote on the incoming CWEA Slate of Officers. This year, the voting session will occur April 3 at 11:00 AM—11:30 AM before the Awards Luncheon at CWEA’s Annual Conference. You do not have to register for the Annual Conference to attend the...

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!!

The Student Design (State and International) Competition which promotes interest in wastewater and water environment careers is an annual competition. Winners of the California competition will be sponsored by CWEA to participate in the International Water Environment Federation (WEF) competition in New Orleans or Chicago every fall. Past competition winners indicate that the trip to...

Hello, this is the winter quarterly report for the 2019 CWEA-MBS Year I want wish you all Happy Holidays from your Board of the Monterey Bay Section of the CWEA. This past year has seen some challenges and while we push through the challenges, we also had some good training and dinner events. I want to thank the MBS...

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

Abstract Submission Deadline: January 30 at 4:00 p.m., MDT The WEF/AWWA Transformative Issues Symposium on Communications brings together water sector professionals to discuss today’s water communications challenges and opportunities. Submit your abstract today to be a part of the symposium’s interactive sessions and engaging discussions to help foster the exchange of ideas on this critical topic. Abstracts preferably...

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...

It was a full year for CWEA members: responding to proposed ELAP regulations; honoring our Veterans in Water; celebrating the third annual California Water Professionals Appreciation Week and welcoming our new Executive Director Jenn Jones. Thank you for being a member, volunteering your time and dedicating your career to clean California water! “The beginning is...

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...

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...

By Terry Leeds Director, KC Water (originally appeared in the World Water: Stormwater Management Winter 2019 issue) As precipitation increases and collection and treatment systems age, local, regional, and national governments realize the critical need to manage stormwater not only to protect water quality, but also to save lives and property. Of course, we cannot...

Please join us in congratulating staff member Norah Duffy, Director of Certification, as recipient of the 2019 Next Gen Professional Award from the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). ​ ICE is a professional membership association providing education, networking, and other resources for organizations and individuals who work in and serve the credentialing industry. ICE is...

Read the Member Value Report in the Fall issue of Clean Water CWEA also celebrated the retirement of Elizabeth Allan And welcomed new Executive Director Jenn Jones CAE, IOM 

The CWEA History Committee produces articles about the people, programs and plants that are significant to the history of our Association. In this edition of Clean Water, we will highlight one of CWEA’s most popular and visible awards – the California Chapter of the Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (CWEA 5-S). The Select Society...

CWEA’s New 5-S Bear Shovel  The History Committee article about the origins of CWEA’s Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5-S) was prompted by an historical change in the program – the adoption of a new design for California’s 5-S shovel. As Past-President Connie Leonard explains it, the design of the shovel was updated to make it unique to California.   So how and why did...

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,...

  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...

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...

Meet Juan Guerreiro, Interim Assistant Director City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, a recipient of the Kirt Brooks Memorial Water Environment Scholarship in 2006. Juan received a Dual-Associate of Science degree in Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations from Cuyamaca College but he didn’t stop there. Going on to get his Master’s, he also...

A message from the Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Stormwater Conference Chair Dear Fellow Water Professionals, It is a fascinating time to work in the field of water. From enhanced source control to identifying constituents of emerging concern, new leaders and policies are emerging and changing the game. It has never been more pertinent for water professionals across...

Attention Safety Professionals and Local Section Leaders Allow me to introduce myself – I am Marjorie Del Toro, your newly appointed Safety Chair for 2019-2020.  I am currently the CEO/President of ehsInc.org, SARBS past president, and part of the exclusive 5S club. I may be new to some of you; however, I am not new...

CWEA held it’s 2nd Annual Student Design Competition on May 4th at the Orange County Sanitation District. A panel of distinguished CWEA members served as judges and three teams from California universities gave their best pitch for engineering designs. The judges were assembled by WEF Past President Jim Clark from Black & Veatch. The Santa Ana...

The California State Senate has voted to confirm Sean Maguire as a member of the State Water Resources Control Board, following his appointment by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. last year. “It is an honor to be confirmed by the Senate to continue serving the State of California,” Maguire said. “In my mind there is...

The California State Senate has voted to confirm Laurel Firestone as a member of the State Water Resources Control Board, following her appointment by Governor Gavin Newsom earlier this year. “It is an honor to be appointed by Governor Newsom and confirmed by the Senate to serve the people of California in this capacity.” Firestone said....

A message from the CWEA President I am pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the following 2020 CWEA State Board of Directors’ positions: Vice President from the South (will be President in year 3 of 4-year service); Director at-large from the North (3-year term); Director at-large from the South (serves as Treasurer in...

WEFTEC is the premier water quality event for students and young professionals interested in pursuing or developing a career in the water industry. Attend with your peers or professors to learn from some of the world’s foremost water experts. Explore below to learn about some of WEFTEC’s highlights for students and young professionals. Friday, September...

AFFI Food & Beverage Environmental Conference (FBEC), the only conference designed for and devoted to food and beverage environmental professionals of all disciplines. The 2020 Food & Beverage Environmental Conference (FBEC) presents the 50th annual gathering of food and beverage industry environmental professionals, their environmental consultants and vendors, and the academic community to share environmental...

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...

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) proudly announces 15 distinguished members (two from CWEA) as the 2019 WEF Fellows recipients. This prestigious designation recognizes members’ achievements, stature, and contributions in the water profession. “These outstanding individuals have made a profound impact on the global water environment, and we are proud to recognize and honor their efforts,”...

by Joe Haworth (as published in the Winter CWEA Bulletin 1996) That’s right! Members of the Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers for the California Water Environment Association can proudly proclaim that American icon, Rube Goldberg, is a member and a colleague. Mr. Goldberg, a well known cartoonist famous for gadgets and strange looking machinery,...

Do you know an industrial user that should be recognized for their efforts and performance in process wastewater pretreatment technology, material recycling, waste minimization, pollution prevention practices, or stormwater runoff control? Here is your chance to provide them the recognition they deserve. The CWEA Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Stormwater (P3S) Committee is currently accepting nominations...

By Michael Arceneaux and Jennifer Lyn Walker Water and wastewater utilities provide critical lifeline services to their communities and their regions. Supporting these vitally important functions requires secure information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT), yet the sector’s IT and OT networks continue to face an onslaught of threats from cyber criminals, nation states, and...

CWEA recently selected Shloka Janapaty of San Jose to represent the state of California at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition for the project titled, A Novel, Fast, Low-Cost Approach to Achieve Near 100% LDPE Degradation and Leachate Remediation: Phanerochaete chrysosporium Landfill Bioremediation. Shloka’s project was selected as the first place project for California out...

The California Water Environment Association, an association with 10,400 members working in California’s water sector, selected Jenn Jones, CAE, IOM, as their new Executive Director. Based in Oakland, CWEA is one of California’s largest associations dedicated to education and certification for water professionals. Jenn has over 20 years of association management experience and is a...

Take a Look Inside the Digital Conference Announcement! 148 Technical Sessions, 27 Workshops, 7 Facility Tours, 1,000+ Exhibitors, and more! WEFTEC gives you the opportunity to engage with water professionals from around the world, participate in prestigious programming, enhance your professional development and leadership skills, expand your business network, earn educational credits, and gain exposure...

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has named Walter Marlowe, P.E., CAE as its new Executive Director. Marlow brings extensive, high-level experience in association leadership within the areas of civil engineering, construction, certification, and science, including a tenure as a Director at the American Society of Civil Engineers. As the current Executive Director of the American...

Please encourage your House Member to support H.R. 1764, introduced by Representative John Garamendi.   H.R. 1764 would authorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or a delegated state under the Clean Water Act to issue a municipal clean water agency a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from five to 10 years. This change would...

Dr. Boroditsky’s TED talk in 2017. September 23, 2019 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM McCormick Place The Opening General Session sets the tone for the conference that draws thousands of water quality professionals from around the world each year. This year’s kick-off event will feature a keynote presentation from Dr. Lera Boroditsky, an Associate Professor of Cognitive Science...

Message from the President As you may have heard, CWEA’s longtime Executive Director, Elizabeth Allan, will soon be enjoying a well-earned retirement. Over the last few months, the Board of Directors and the Board’s Executive Committee conducted an extensive search for the best person to fill this important role. The Board of Directors is pleased...

Get Involved: Submit your application for the WEF House of Delegates Now Accepting Nominations for Delegate-at-Large (4 available positions) Join WEF’s House of Delegates in advancing WEF’s mission and vision by encouraging individuals who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the water environment profession to apply for this position. WEF’s visibility in the water sector...

Each year the WEFTEC Program Committee takes on the huge task of creating the WEFTEC technical program. This group of more than 200 water sector experts volunteers their time and knowledge to solicit, review, and choose the papers and presentations that you will see in Chicago in September. With an acceptance rate of only about...

As a token of appreciation for being a part of the Annual Conference, speakers, track facilitators, panelists and tour guides were honored by a donation in their name to the CWEA Kirt Brooks Scholarship or The Water Project – per their choice. CWEA is happy to report the final amount donated to both charities: The...

A letter to CWEA members from CWEA’s President Collection Systems Committee Chair… Dear CWEA members, CASA is urgently seeking help from water professionals and agencies for wipes legislation they are supporting. We want to pass along their request on this important issue. CASA is sponsoring AB 1672 (Bloom). The bill would require proper labeling for wipes...

Leonard R. McNeil also known as “Mac”, member and former President of the West County Wastewater District’s Board of Directors, died earlier this week, the agency announced. The West County Wastewater District (WCWD) is based in Richmond, CA. McNeil was a retired Political Science Professor at Contra Costa College and had been a District Board...

The 2019 Annual Conference (held at the Renaissance Palm Springs and Palm Springs Convention Center) included tracks on Leadership, Water Reuse, Biosolids, Pump Basics, Laboratory TNI Standards, Declining Flows, Asset Management, just to name a few. With over 1,000 attendees and 720 vendor attendees, the week was full of energy, learning, networking and fun! You can...

Thank you Xylem for supporting our annual awards program! The California Water Environment Association (CWEA) announced the winners of its 2019 awards program at its Annual Conference in Palm Springs on April 12. Nominations that advance through CWEA’s 17 local sections’ awards programs plus a select group of special awards are eligible to compete statewide....

Not all innovations come from a research lab. Sometimes, you need to tackle a persistent problem using just what’s at hand and a big shot of ingenuity. The competition is open to all clever ideas related to treatment processes, maintenance practice, safety measures, collection systems, laboratory practices, stormwater, administration, human resources, or anything else associated...

The Utility of the Future Today recognition program returns for a fourth year to honor water resource recovery facilities for community engagement, watershed stewardship, and recovery of resources such as water, energy, and nutrients. The deadline to apply for recognition this year is May 31. The Utility of the Future concept is being promoted as...

By now you’ve heard about the new Advanced Water Treatment Operator certification launching in May 2019 that CWEA and CA-NV AWWA have jointly developed. The AWTO certification is designed for drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment Operators working at facilities using advanced treatment technologies and related control processes. What does AWTO mean for you as...

As she retires, CWEA executive director Elizabeth Allan points with pride to the many achievements of the organization during her 17 years serving as the leader of the association’s professional staff. But it’s the people and the professional relationships she’s built that she will miss most once she leaves this spring. “We have great volunteers,...

Introducing the new incoming CWEA Board of Directors. It was a unanimous vote at the Business Luncheon on Friday, April 12 in Palm Springs.  Joining the board for 2019 is: Vice President from the North—Arvind Akela Director from the North (to be Treasurer)—Shawn Nesgis Director from the South—Soma Bhadra WEF Delegate Director from the North—Debi...

This year our entire available regular staff will be at AC.  That’s teamwork!  As a result, we are closing our physical office from April 8 through April 12, reopening Monday April 15. To leave a message with questions or issues that are not urgent you can call our office at (510) 382-7800 and leave a message at...

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...

By Zoeanne Tafolla We lost a friend and safety pioneer in the wastewater field on February, 24, 2019 when Lorri McAuliffe lost her six-year battle with cancer.  She and her husband, Chris, were a power couple in the field of wastewater. She was knowledgeable not only on all things safety, but she had first hand...

This was a two day, in-depth Lab workshop focused on TNI topics. These are the TNI topics members told us are their top educational priorities: Quality Systems and the Chemistry and Microbiology modules in TNI 2016. We were proud to bring together a group of TNI experts from across the country to provide in-depth TNI...

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...

CWEA Member and Vice Chair for the Santa Clara Valley Section, William Jennings Bryan Jr., of Gladstone, passed away unexpectedly, on the 25th of February, 2019. Comments from Silicon Valley Clean Water Manager Teresa Herrera The level of intensity has been high here at SVCW over the past month. Of course there are the normal...

Today, the US Water Alliance and the UNC Environmental Finance Center are proud to release a new report, Strengthening Utilities through Consolidation: The Financial Impact. This report synthesizes the financial impacts of consolidating water utility service by looking at the real-world, diverse experiences of eight communities from across the country. There are tens of thousands...

Coverage of asset management topics is supported by MentorAPM Access leading-edge content on trenchless technologies and infrastructure asset management. Trenchless Technology and Asset Management, Third Edition will help municipal managers, contractors, consulting engineers, and municipal staff engineers guide asset management programs and pipeline repair and rehabilitation efforts. Its contents provide detailed, straightforward coverage of the assessment, management,...

As a member of CWEA, you are invited to attend CWEA’s Annual Business Meeting and vote on the incoming CWEA Slate of Officers. This year, the voting session will occur April 12 at 11:00 AM—11:30 AM before the Awards Luncheon at CWEA’s Annual Conference. You do not have to register for the Annual Conference to...

Last year, the CWEA Students and Young Professionals Committee participated in its first ever Community Service Project during the Annual Conference in Sacramento. The Water Project is a nonprofit organization helping sub-Saharan African communities gain access to clean, safe water through training expertise and financial support. The Students and Young Professionals Committee hosted an informational...

Now Available: Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals Fact Sheets Chapters 1-10 Training for the operator of the future is at your finger tips today with WEF’s Operator fact sheets located in the On-Demand Wastewater Library. Members can now access fact sheets that support study efforts for all ten chapters of our Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals (WWTF) training resource. Visit the library...

Opening General Session: Leaders Aren’t Just Born at the Top Drew Dudley, Leadership Expert and Founder of Day One Leadership Wednesday, April 10th, Palm Springs Convention Center Leadership isn’t just for top bosses. Everyone, at every level of an organization, is a leader—and they likely don’t even recognize it. But, getting people to see their...

CWEA along with WEF and several member associations in the water sector recently signed the following Water Infrastructure Letter to Congress in response to Congress urging that water infrastructure funding and financing be included in the expected major infrastructure package: The undersigned organizations write to urge Congress to include funding and financing for drinking water,...

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...

CWEA member Peter Jay Laubenheimer passed away in Sacramento on December 18, 2018. Pete joined Kennedy/Jenks in 1980 and established himself very rapidly as an in-house expert in hydraulics and wastewater treatment. Throughout the ’80s, he worked on large wastewater treatment plant design projects under the Federal Clean Water Program at Carmel, Reno-Sparks and many...

During this holiday season, our office will be closed Monday, December 24th and will reopen on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019. To leave a message with questions or issues that are not urgent you can call our office at (510) 382-7800 and leave a message at extension 0.  Questions about items with early January deadlines will be responded...

The Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District has hired Mike Prinz, a longtime North Bay wastewater official, as its general manager. Prinz, 48, of Santa Rosa, is an outgoing deputy director at the Santa Rosa Water Department and has more than 20 years of experience in water and wastewater management. The Las Gallinas sanitary district board...

WEF is seeking Spanish language abstracts for WEF/IWA Residuals and Biosolids Conference 2019. More information about this conference can be found here. Download this PDF call for abstracts in Spanish that you to distribute among your networks. Abstracts are due via e-mail by November 26th.    

Member Value Report  This year CWEA is celebrating 90 years. In those years many things have changed, but many things have remained the same. One of the stalwarts of CWEA is the diversity of its membership, and the willingness of those members to share their knowledge with others.  Three CWEA life members, all former Presidents of the...

Member Value Report Mauricio Marin of Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (VVWRA) is no stranger to instrumentation, controls and a switchboard. With his 25 years experience in the automation industry, the last 12 at VVWRA, he has provided electrical safety programs, initiated the first ever Main Switchboard electrical maintenance program at VVWRA and continues to provide training to plant personnel...

Dear CWEA Members: I wanted to let you know that I will be retiring as CWEA’s Executive Director at the end of April 2019. A new phase of life awaits me. Choosing to retire from CWEA is definitely bittersweet for me. I love CWEA, our members, our staff, and our mission. I will miss you...

Attention pollution prevention, pretreatment, and stormwater professionals:  the CWEA P3S Committee is offering grants for P3S-related projects and has just extended their deadline to November 30! Don’t miss out and complete your application today! The Committee is excited to continue the grants program for P3S-related projects. Agencies are encourages to get creative and partner with community groups...

Are you, your colleagues or your staff looking to improve their leadership skills? The Water Leadership Institute (WLI) is now accepting applications for the 2019 program. WEF is looking for a diverse group representing all aspects of jobs in water sector (operators, engineers, scientists, communications staff, etc.) to join the 237 alumni active around the world.  WEF membership...

CWEA has decided to change vendors on the CWEA Local Section and State plaques. The new vendor is Rivanna, which is the same vendor as WEF award plaques. These new plaques are Bamboo 24 Gold Spectrum Plaque with a satin gold aluminum front plate. Bamboo is a grass and a rapidly renewable resource. Rivanna bamboo...

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...

CWEA joined hundreds of agencies throughout California to celebrate the second annual Water Professionals Appreciation Week between Oct. 6-14. This year, we focused on Women In Water and Veterans in Water by highlighting career opportunities and recognizing women and veterans dedicated to serving their communities. CWEA partnered with CASA, Katz and Associates, ACWA, and several...

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...

The Water Environment Federation has released a line of training tools to equip operators with 21st century wastewater treatment methods and practices. The series helps prepare operators for the first three levels of certification examinations and qualify for continuing education credits (CEUs). The first publication in the series, Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals I: Liquid Treatment, covers all...

  By Connie Leonard, 2018-2019 CWEA President & Executive Committee Chair, CDM Smith, [email protected]. I am pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the 2019 CWEA State Board of Directors positions. Your local section and committee officers received the Executive Committee request for nominations for CWEA Directors and Officers last week.  Below is a...

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...

In keeping with the October Wastewater Professional theme of “Women in Water,” the CWEA History Committee has produced a brief profile of a woman who was a pioneer in the history of CWEA’s governance. Background Historically, the wastewater collection and treatment field in California was dominated by men through most of the 20th century.  And,...

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...

California’s water and wastewater agencies need approximately 6,000 new workers every year and that number continues to grow as more and more water professionals retire. Water careers provide an incredible opportunity for individuals who enjoy working with their hands, working outdoors and working as part of a larger team. Water careers offer great salaries and...

“The CWEA has divided the state into 17 geographical Local Sections to accommodate its members’ needs across the State in a local format. Local Sections are grouped into two regions, Northern and Southern, and have quarterly Regional Committee meetings to discuss regional or statewide issues, and to share information with other Local Sections. Each CWEA...

Follow the Flush is a uniquely humorous, educational and participatory 5K walk that follows the path of Santa Cruz wastewater through natural and urban landscape. The free family-friendly event, recently held in May began at UC Santa Cruz and concluded at the City of Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Facility where free tours were offered. The...

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) proudly announces that Braden Milford has won the 2018 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP), the nation’s most prestigious youth competition for water-related research. Milford, a student at Cascia Hall Preparatory School, developed a system using naturally occurring bacteria to remove heavy metals from contaminated abandoned mine sites. He won...

Thank you Student Design Competition Supporters We’ve started an important, new tradition at CWEA. We held our first ever Student Design Competition on Saturday, May 19th. A panel of distinguished CWEA members served as judges and five teams from California universities gave their best pitch for engineering designs. The judges were assembled by WEF Past President Jim Clark from Black...

CWEA President Debi Lewis updated attendees at the April 20th Annual Business Meeting on the State of the Association. The Association received a clean audit for FY16-17 with one departure from Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which we anticipated (for treatment of membership dues on a cash basis). CWEA’s fiscal year ends June 30th; a...

Reprinted from National Water Research Institute (NWRI) To continue our celebration of the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Clarke Prize Award, NWRI is pleased to showcase Laureate Dr. Perry McCarty, who won the award in 1997 for his research in environmental biotechnology.  McCarty is the Silas H. Palmer Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Emeritus...

U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris introduced the Water Affordability Act of 2018, legislation that would help low-income families across the country pay for rising sewer and water bills. As municipalities work to comply with The Clean Water Act, the cost of compliance is placing a high burden on low-income families who pay for sewer and water...

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is asking utilities to help assemble baseline data on the amount of resource recovery taking place at facilities in the U.S. and Canada. WEF is asking water resource recovery facilities to complete a survey by June 29 on current practices for water reuse, nutrient recovery, and energy generation. By participating...

Six years ago, 2017 Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Fellow Ed McCormick led the development and implementation of an energizing program for the water sector. The program cemented East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD; Oakland, Calif.) as the first North American water resource recovery facility to be a net producer of renewable energy. But according to McCormick,...

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...

The California Water Environment Association (CWEA) announced the winners of its 2017 awards program at its Annual Conference in Sacramento on April 20. Nominations that advance through CWEA’s 17 local sections’ awards programs plus a select group of special awards are eligible to compete statewide. To kick off the ceremony, Small Plant of the Year winner,...

CWEA is excited to announce that Visala Tallavarjula of Santa Clara, California will once again represent the state of California for her project titled, “Irrigation Water Usage Efficiency Improvement by Modification of Root Zone Soil Properties Using Carbon Sequestration.” Visala was California’s winner in 2016, 2017 and this year! Visala Tallavarjula, one of 57 state winners announced by the Water...

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

On Friday April 20th the gavel was passed from CWEA’s Outgoing President Debi Lewis to our new President Connie Leonard.  Connie is a Project Manager for CDM Smith, based in the LA region. Congratulations Connie! Members unanimously approved the slate of nominees for the 2018-19 Board of Directors as recommended by the Board: Vice President...

One month ago CWEA held its Annual Conference in Sacramento to a record number of 1,628 attendees. “We need to serve our communities – communities where we all live with our families. Stronger together means you can ask for help and it also means that you will find it.” – Debi Lewis CWEA Past President,...

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...

2018 marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the California Water Environment Association and the CWEA History Committee is counting down to the 2028 CWEA Centennial.  To mark our 90th year, the CWEA History Committee has compiled some CWEA “founding facts.” AWWA and the Founding of CWEA – 1928 Did you know the American...

The Utility of the Future (UOTF) concept is being promoted as the nation’s water systems transform operation through innovation and technology.  The Utility of the Future model for utilities of all sizes to achieve more efficient operations, enhanced productivity, and long-term sustainability. “It is inspiring to see the many ways utilities are using innovation to...

WEFTEC® 2018 will host the seventh annual Operator Ingenuity Contest. Not all innovations come from a research lab. Sometimes, you need to tackle a persistent problem using just what’s at hand and a big shot of ingenuity. The competition is open to all clever ideas related to treatment processes, maintenance practices, safety measures, collection systems,...

Today, EPA announced the availability of approximately $5.5 billion in credit assistance for water infrastructure projects under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. This financing will help support approximately $11 billion in total infrastructure investment. In the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), the WIFIA program solicits letters of interest from prospective borrowers seeking credit assistance from EPA....

The 45th Annual Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention and Stormwater Conference was held in Riverside at the Riverside Convention Center on February 12–14, 2018. The conference offered up to 19.1 CWEA contact hours toward all technical certifications, up to 5 SWRCB Drinking Water contact hours for distribution hours, and 2.4 SWRCB WastewaterCEU’s. Conference brochure (pdf).

Every two years, the odor community comes together to share the latest developments, resolve challenges, and network, and this year the Odors and Air Pollutants Conference takes place in Portland, Oregon from March 25-28.  A committed team of volunteers have worked for months to develop the conference program, including speakers from across the world who will share...

CWEA members are invited to attend CWEA’s Annual Business Meeting and vote on the incoming CWEA Slate of Officers. This year, the voting session will occur April 20 at 11:00 AM—11:30 AM at the beginning of the Awards Luncheon at CWEA’s Annual Conference. You do not have to register for the Annual Conference to attend the Annual Business...

At WEFTEC® 2017, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) named James H. Clark, WEF past president, to its latest class of WEF Fellows program honorees. This program celebrates the outstanding contributions WEF members have made to the water and wastewater sectors. Clark, who currently is a Los Angeles-based senior vice president for Black & Veatch (Overland Park, Kan.),...

ACWA, WEF join with U.S. EPA to host seven workshops  Mark Patrick McGuire and Katie Foreman In early December 2017, representatives from 24 state clean water programs involved in managing nutrient pollution as well as headquarters and regional staff from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) met for 3 days to learn, discuss, and confer...

The chance to participate in the Singapore International Water Week Scholarship Program was a wonderful opportunity to see how the rest of the world was approaching the same problems I encounter at our agency in Northern California. Singapore has made its approach to water management a business strategy for the country that it uses for...

The California Water Environment Association (CWEA) is opening the application process for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP), an annual water research competition for California high school students. Applications are due by April 15, 2018. The Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition is the world’s most prestigious water-science competition for students. The winner of the California...

FEATURED TRACKS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18 Are Regulations Spoiling the Co-Digestion Party? Sarah Deslauriers, Engineer, Carollo Engineers State-driven methane reducing mandates are under development that require the wastewater sector’s and local air district’s support to achieve them on time. Collaborate with state and regional regulators to determine if your agency can be part of the solution....

Coverage of the wipes issue is supported by Aqualitec. WEF and NACWA File Amicus Brief in Support of District of Columbia’s Wipes Law By: Brianne Nakamura and Steve Spicer On Nov. 14, 2017 the Water Environment Federation and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies filed an amicus brief in support of a District of Columbia...

A policy perspective By: Amy Kathman In August 2017, a 2-day experts’ workshop, titled Creating the Space to Innovate, culminated a year’s worth of progress in advancing innovation. Leadership, culture, procurement practices, regulatory programs and policies, and permit conditions all contribute to putting innovation into practice as much as does the development of new technologies....

Did you know that CWEA’s second President was an early leader in the field of collection system maintenance? The CWEA History Committee uncovered this little-known fact when we started documenting our early Association leaders. The CWEA History Committee introduced its “Past President Project” in the January 2015 issue of the Wastewater Professional. The goal of...

Being honored by the CWEA awards program improves the professional status of all personnel working in the wastewater industry and related fields and stimulates public awareness of the importance of wastewater treatment to public health and the water environment. CWEA has a many special awards that are awarded to individuals in addition to the standard state awards. Follow the links to...

The WEF Disinfection and Public Health Committee is seeking your input on your current practices regarding the design, operations, and performance of disinfection facilities. This survey was developed to update previous 1979 and 1989 surveys.  Your name and any information you provide will be kept in the strictest confidence, and will only be reported as...

One of the most anticipated events during WEFTEC, the Operations Challenge is a unique and fast-paced test of the essential skills needed to operate and maintain wastewater treatment facilities, their collections systems and laboratories — all vital to the protection of public health and the environment. This year’s competition included 44 teams from the U.S.,...

FROM EPA: Preparedness and Response – Tools for Water Utilities Wildfires have caused major damage to homes and infrastructure in communities across California. EPA has developed several tools to help utilities respond to and recover from a variety of hazards, including wildfires. For area-specific information, pay attention to current watches and warnings issued by your...

Congratulations to San Francisco Public Utility Commission’s (SFPUC) Karri Ving! Effective at WEFTEC, Karri will serve as the new incoming vice chair for the residuals and biosolids committee for the Water Environment Foundation. Karri also chairs California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) Science & Research Workgroup. CASA has stated they commend her for her ongoing...

WEAT-North Texas Section Harvey Relief Fundraiser The Water Environment Association of Texas – North Texas Section will match donations up to $5,000 for Hurricane Harvey Relief to help assist water and wastewater utilities during this time as they wait for the water to recede. The utilities will be faced with many challenges ahead as they...

John Robinson, CWEA LABS President will be speaking to the Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) AWWA/CWEA chapter on November 9th. This is his 3rd year speaking to the chapter while mentoring a senior design class for the last 4 years. The senior class last year won the 2016-2017 Engineering Project Showcase: Wastewater Sanitation and Reclamation: Solutions for Sustainable...

Two U.S. high school students – Rachel Chang and Ryan Thorpe of Manhasset, N.Y. – have won the world’s most prestigious competition for water-related research for their novel approach to detect and purify water contaminated with bacteria. Chang and Thorpe were awarded the 2017 Stockholm Junior Water Prize on August 29 in Stockholm for their...

By Debi Lewis, 2017-2018 CWEA President & Executive Committee Chair, Stantec, Inc., [email protected] I am pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the 2018 CWEA State Board of Directors positions. Your local section and committee officers will receive the Executive Committee request for nominations for CWEA Directors and Officers next week.  Below is a...

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) proudly announces 11 distinguished members as the 2017 WEF Fellows recipients. This prestigious designation recognizes members’ achievements, stature, and contributions in the water profession. Jim Clark and Ed McCormick are WEF Past President’s and CWEA Members. “WEF Fellows have significant professional accomplishments and have made impact in fields relevant to...

Twenty-five water utilities have been selected for recognition of their leadership in community engagement, watershed stewardship, and recovery of resources such as water, energy, and nutrients. Utility of the Future Today recognition celebrates the achievements of forward-thinking, innovative water utilities that are providing resilient value-added service to communities. The Utility of the Future framework provides...

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and six other associations in the water sector issued a guide that assesses the feasibility of rate-funded customer assistance programs (CAPs) in each state to assist low-income households in the U.S. with rising water and wastewater rates. Water and wastewater rates in the United States are increasing sharply as utilities...

  National Green Infrastructure Certification Program celebrates a first year of successes By Pallavi Raviprakash The National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) has two main purposes: to encourage water quality improvements via green infrastructure (GI) projects and to create jobs for those who know how to build them. NGICP took several major steps in the...

Members attending CWEA’s April 28th Annual Business Meeting unanimously approved the slate of nominees for the 2017-18 Board of Directors as recommended by the Board: Vice President from the North (becoming President in 2019-20): Kevin Calderwood, Senior Project Manager at HDR Director from the South: Vicki Conway, Departmental Engineer, Wastewater Management, Sanitation Districts of Los...

The Bay Area Consortium for Clean Water Education is offering community college classes and scholarships for students seeking a career in the water and wastewater industry. Registration is now open for continuing or new students. The first class begins Wednesday evening, August 30th in Redwood City at 1400 Radio Road, from 6 to 9 p.m....

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Volunteer Service Recognition Program honors a member’s significant contributions to WEF’s successes and achievements. The WEF Committee Leadership Council and House of Delegates (HOD) created this program to recognize outstanding volunteers who serve WEF through a committee or the HOD. “This program is a token of our deep appreciation for...

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) is considered the world’s most prestigious award presented to a high school student for a water-research project. The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has coordinated the U.S. competition since its inception in 1997, and partners closely with their Member Association (MA) to execute the program. Initially a paper competition from...

The Kirt Brooks Scholarship Fund is a grant-making program for students who are engaged in the water environment field and who are members of CWEA or sponsored by CWEA members. CWEA established the endowment for an academic scholarship fund in 1988 with the main purpose of the program to provide educational funding assistance to individuals in the...

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...

Chris Lundeen, CWEA Director of Certification, has accepted a position at a heath care professional certification board based in San Francisco. “It’s an exceptional opportunity for Chris, one that doesn’t come along often,” said CWEA executive director Elizabeth Allan, “so I’m thrilled for him on a personal level while at the same time very sad...

CWEA members are invited to attend CWEA’s Annual Business Meeting and vote on the incoming CWEA Slate of Officers. This year, the voting session will occur April 28 at 11:00 AM—11:30 AM at the beginning of the Awards Luncheon at CWEA’s Annual Conference. You do not have to register for the Annual Conference to attend...

The following CWEA members recently became WEF Life Members. Congratulations! Richard F. Luthy Roger V. Stephenson Adam Olivieri Walter Bishop Individuals who have been a member of WEF and one or more WEF Member Association for 35 or more consecutive years, and are at age 65 or older, are eligible to apply for WEF Life Membership. The WEF Life...

Is your Operations and Maintenance (O&M) team feeling overloaded and struggling to prioritize work orders? Maybe you see the need for more strategic approach to maintenance? This workshop provides an in-depth look at asset management philosophies used by many wastewater agencies across the country. The system is known as reliability centered maintenance, or RCM, and...

On November 10th 2016 CWEA’s Southern Sections Collection Systems Committee (SSCSC) held it 64th successful Workshop. The host site was at the city of San Diego’s Water Utility Center on Topaz Way. Two hundred fifty (250) attendees traveled from San Diego County, the Inland Empire and Orange County areas. Seventeen vendor firms and their representatives...

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...