WEF Highlights

WEFTEC 2020 will be a fully virtual event in October called WEFTEC Connect that offers attendees interactive education, an exhibitor showcase, and networking experiences.   Registration for WEFTEC Connect will open on July 13 with programming scheduled for October 5 through 9. “While we will miss seeing water professionals in person in New Orleans this […]

During the coronavirus pandemic, water utilities around the world are emphasizing the importance of flushing only the “Three Ps” — pee, poop, and toilet paper. In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amplified the water sector’s plea, urging Americans only to flush toilet paper and dispose of all other items in garbage receptacles. The […]

Murder in the Primary is the first mystery novel set at a water resource recovery facility. Written by John Seldon, a Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Life Member, the recently published novel balances the technical aspects of wastewater treatment with the suspense of a murder mystery. Image courtesy of Rock’s Mills Press (Oakville, Ontario) […]

During the coronavirus pandemic, much of the water-sector workforce is working longer hours with smaller operations teams, placing unprecedented pressures on their individual skills and experiences. At the same time, many water professionals are spending more time at home due to social-distancing requirements, providing a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge base and develop as […]

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. […]

How entrepreneur Kevin Sofen turns untapped craftsmanship into clean-water results Raised along California’s Pacific coast and later settling near Lake Michigan in Chicago, Kevin Sofen has spent much of his life around water. The founder and CEO of the social entrepreneurship business Wristsponsible (Chicago), Sofen’s love for living shoreside goes hand-in-hand with his commitment to […]