September 22, 2020

Comments Off on 2020 WEF Awards Recognize Excellence in Education, Communications

2020 WEF Awards Recognize Excellence in Education, Communications

WET - katie norris - dayton ohio

Whether persuading community members to conserve water, working in a laboratory to study the latest threats to water quality, or preparing the next generation of water professionals, education is at the heart of the water treatment sector. Each year, one category of the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia) Awards recognizes individuals and organizations driving […]

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September 1, 2020

Comments Off on Study: Citizen Science Critical to Sustainable Development

Study: Citizen Science Critical to Sustainable Development

Researchers considered the indicators associated with each SDG and the potential of past and present citizen science projects to help measure those indicators. According to the study, citizen science could produce up to a third of the data-tracking work necessary to achieve all 17 SDGs. Image courtesy of John Isaac/United Nations

A study led by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA; Laxenburg, Austria) has found that citizen science could produce up to a third of the data-tracking work necessary to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations in 2015. “Citizen science has the potential to contribute to all 17 […]

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August 21, 2020

Comments Off on What We Can Learn From COVID-19

What We Can Learn From COVID-19

Robert Pontau, Jr., a Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia) member and assistant general manager of the Brunswick (Maine) Sewer District, recently reflected on how working in WRRF management during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed his perspective. Image courtesy of Pixabay

The COVID-19 pandemic has attracted widespread attention to how WRRFs approach biohazard preparedness, worker safety, and personnel management. Staggered schedules, erratic shifts, and stringent safety protocols have become another part of the job for wastewater professionals. Robert Pontau, Jr., a Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia) member and assistant general manager of the Brunswick (Maine) […]

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August 13, 2020

Comments Off on Meet WEF’s Newest Life Members

Meet WEF’s Newest Life Members

HL - life members photo

Edward Clerico, member since 1985, New Jersey Water Environment Association. Photo courtesy of Clerico. Libby Ford, member since 1975, New York Water Environment Association. Photo courtesy of Ford. Thomas Hall, member since 1977, California Water Environment Association. Photo courtesy of Hall. Stephen M. Jenkins, member since 1984, Water Environment Association of Texas. Photo courtesy of […]

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August 6, 2020

Comments Off on Register for the First-Ever Remote Operations Challenge Competition

Register for the First-Ever Remote Operations Challenge Competition

Coinciding with WEFTEC Connect, Operations Challenge 2020 will take on a remote format. Teams of two will compete in abridged versions of the Process Control, Laboratory, and Collections Systems events beginning Monday, Oct. 5. Image courtesy of Kieffer Photography

Operations Challenge – the high-energy, teams-based skills competition that each year draws the global wastewater operations community’s best talent to the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia) Technical Exhibition & Conference (WEFTEC) – will take on a new form for 2020 to coincide with the digital WEFTEC Connect format. Coinciding with WEFTEC Connect, Operations Challenge […]

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August 3, 2020

Comments Off on New WEF Handbook Covers Peracetic Acid Disinfection

New WEF Handbook Covers Peracetic Acid Disinfection

Click here to learn more about <i>Peracetic Acid Disinfection: Implementation Considerations for Water Resource Recovery Facilities</i>, the latest technical publication from the Water Environment Federation.

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. Click here to learn more about Peracetic Acid Disinfection: Implementation Considerations for Water Resource Recovery Facilities, the latest technical publication from the Water Environment Federation. Aiming to bridge […]

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July 29, 2020

Comments Off on CDC Scientists Discuss Wastewater-Based Epidemiology

CDC Scientists Discuss Wastewater-Based Epidemiology

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia) held a webcast July 15 discussing the first federal government-led wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) effort in the U.S. The webcast featured scientists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Click here to listen to the webcast.

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 Agency (EPA) to establish a […]

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July 20, 2020

Comments Off on U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize Winner Focuses on Oil Spills, Penguins

U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize Winner Focuses on Oil Spills, Penguins

Zoe Gotthold, a high-school student from Richland, Washington, won the 2020 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition for her investigation into mitigating environmental damages from oil spills. In August, Gotthold will compete against national-level winners from 28 other countries during a virtual event. Image courtesy of Gotthold

Innovative devices to help clean up oil spills won Washington high-school student Zoe Gotthold the 2020 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) competition, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia) announced in late June. Her project now advances to the international competition in August, where she will represent the U.S. against 28 other countries. Plastics […]

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