July/August 2012 at a glance

July 31, 2012

London Strives To Make Olympics Sustainable Through Water Reuse System

The 2012 Olympic Games begin officially with the Opening Ceremony on July 27. But while all the eyes will be on the sporting events, a nonpotable reuse system will be an unsung hero of this year’s games.

Fishing Out Phosphorus

Floating treatment wetlands turn phosphorus into harvestable fish

Researchers at Floating Island International (FII) in Shepherd, Mont., an agricultural region, are fishing nonpoint source nutrients out of 2.6-ha (6.5-ac) Fish Fry Lake. Bruce Kania, FII project development director, uses rod and reel to maintain floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) in the lake. Fishing is all part of the job; experienced anglers can catch one fish every 2 minutes at Fish Fry, he said.

Opening General Session Sets the Stage With Innovation and Transformation Keynote Address

Jim Carroll, recognized as an authority on global trends and innovations and business transformations, will deliver the keynote speech at the WEFTEC® 2012 Opening General Session. The author, columnist, media commentator, and consultant will discuss innovation and transformation strategy.

‘Bogging in the Big Easy’ — Help Plant a New Orleans Wetland During WEFTEC

Once again, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) urges WEFTEC® 2012 attendees to get outside and make a difference during the conference. When registering, those planning to attend the WEF annual technical exhibition and conference can choose to participate in the annual WEFTEC Service Project.

Last Chance To Enter the Operator Ingenuity Contest

WEFTEC wants to showcase the imaginative, inventive, and effective solutions you’ve found to overcome pesky problems with nothing more than the materials at hand and a hearty dose of ingenuity. You only have until July 13 to submit your entries.

Water Professionals Help Devise Wastewater Operator Apprenticeship Program Framework

Water professionals (including operators, engineers, and academics) convened June 2–3 at a Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) workshop in St. Louis to take action on one of the major outcomes from the Operator Certification and Training Summit held last summer.

WEF Leaders Speak at NBP EMS Certification Celebrations

In May, Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) leaders attended events honoring two utilities’ National Biosolids Partnership (NBP; Alexandria) environmental management system (EMS) certifications.

Water Leadership Institute Participants Learn Communication Styles and Techniques

First impressions form within the first 30 seconds of meeting someone. Signals like the firmness of a handshake and degree of eye contact convey personality styles to the perceptive observer. Learning how to effectively communicate with others is an important professional skill that can be enhanced by a basic understanding of personality styles, said Linda Kelly, Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) senior director of development.