WEF Highlights

Even during the coronavirus pandemic, water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) cannot cease operations even for a moment. It remains critical, then, for WRRF managers to develop actionable plans to ensure continuity of operations despite potential staffing shortages and supply chain disruptions. For utility managers, effectively responding to coronavirus requires additional attention to employee safety and […]

During the coronavirus pandemic, directives focused on avoiding social contact create unprecedented questions for the relationship between water and wastewater utilities and environmental regulators. For example, should regulators continue to enforce minor failures to meet permit obligations because of unavoidable staffing shortages at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs)? Does the language in regulatory permits, agreements, […]

Water, wastewater, and stormwater bills have been increasing above general price inflation and household income growth rates for decades. Affordability, therefore, has become an increasingly important issue, heightening focus on utility rate design, customer service policies, and customer assistance programs. It’s time to revisit traditional methods of measuring household affordability and assessing community financial capability. […]

Selecting the best-suited model to support stormwater projects can be complicated. Today’s water quality managers must not only be able to predict peak flow rates, runoff volumes, and receiving water quality, they must also navigate stringent regulatory requirements and varying levels of resources. The Water Environment Federation’s (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) newest publication, Stormwater, Watershed, and […]

At WEFTEC 2019, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) and the Water Research Foundation (Denver, Colo.) recognized three U.S. utilities for projects that demonstrate technology’s potential to solve complex environmental and economic challenges. This year’s winners of the Leaders Innovation Forum for Technology (LIFT) Intelligent Water Systems Challenge were the City of Boulder, Colo., […]

On Nov. 5, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) welcomed an international delegation from Palestine to discuss the current status and future of water in the West Bank region, which is bordered by the countries of Jordan and Israel. The meeting with the group of seven delegates focused on how international cooperation can help […]

Members of the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) WEF Eco program participated in the City of Alexandria’s storm-drain marking program on Nov. 4. Participants marked 52 drains near WEF headquarters with stickers that warn against illicit dumping. The program began through a citywide ordinance called the “Only Rain Down The Drain Campaign,” according to […]

According to the Brookings Institution (Washington, D.C.), as much as 50% of the current water workforce in the U.S. will retire within the next 35 years. The water sector must take steps today to ensure the next generation of water professionals can seamlessly take the reins, keep critical water resource recovery facilities running, and confront […]