WEF Highlights

At this year’s Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC®), 44 teams of elite wastewater operators met in New Orleans to participate in the 31st-annual Operations Challenge competition. For 11 of those teams, 2018 marked their national-level debut. To help new teams acclimate to the rigorous pace and complexity of Operations […]

“What do you do for a living?” It’s a common question that comes up pretty quickly in a conversation with someone new. This is a great conversation starter because it is generally innocuous, unlike questions on, say, politics, or one’s favorite judge on “The Voice.” Getting to the heart of why we work for water […]

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) introduces the recipients of the 2018 WEF awards. The annual honors, which were presented at WEFTEC 2018, recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the water environment profession. “The Water Environment Federation is extremely proud to honor the incredible contributions of these individuals and organizations […]

Growing up in the northeast U.S., Paul Dombrowski had two dreams: sail alongside Jacques Cousteau, studying the ocean while advocating for environmental protection, and play for the Boston Red Sox. While Dombrowski, a 28-year member of Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) may not have made the National Baseball Hall of Fame, his decades-long career […]

During the WEFTEC® 2018 Opening General Session, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) relaunched WATER’S WORTH IT®. This popular, member-driven public awareness campaign has been updated to sport a clean, modern look and all-new resources. At WEFTEC, WEF also debuted a WATER’S WORTH IT public service announcement video to mark the relaunch. As the […]

Sandra Ralston calls her entry into the water sector “serendipitous.” In 1989, she was hired as regional marketing manager for Greeley and Hansen (Chicago), an environmental engineering firm focused on water. Her boss encouraged her to join the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.), which put Ralston on a path to water leadership and becoming […]

Water professionals who participate in the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) gain the skills needed to design, build, and maintain cutting-edge green stormwater infrastructure. Since its creation in 2016, more than 350 water professionals have received NGICP certifications. As word spreads about the value of this training, Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Member […]

Forget heading to California to find gold. Today, clean water internships in the state can provide a wealth of experience. This spring, the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) joined other associations to launch CAWaterInterns.org, a clearinghouse where job-seekers can find information on internships, apprenticeships, and operator-in-training opportunities at water and wastewater facilities in the state. […]