Agency highlights water accomplishments during yearlong celebration Throughout 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary by reviewing progress in a different aspect of the environment each month. In February, the agency focused on a half-century of accomplishments in water conservation and management. Image courtesy of EPA December 2, 2020, will […]
April 6, 2020
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Access Water Provides Knowledge at Your Fingertips
Information is more accessible today than ever before, but when searching the internet for an answer that has real consequences for the environment and public health, the quality of that information is just as important as its accessibility. Access Water, a new knowledge platform from the Water Environment Federation (Alexandria, Va.) offers water professionals constant […]
March 31, 2020
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Accommodating Essential Water Services
In recent days, state and federal regulatory groups have made several temporary policy changes that recognize the water sector’s critical role in protecting public health during the coronavirus pandemic. These changes relax certain restrictions, such as temporarily honoring expired operator certification credentials or forgiving missed consent decree deadlines, that could otherwise impede a water resource […]
March 27, 2020
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Experts Share Advice on Continuity of Operations During Coronavirus Pandemic
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 […]
March 27, 2020
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WEF Webcast Discusses Regulatory Concerns During Coronavirus Crisis
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, […]
March 17, 2020
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Celebrating Women in the Water Workforce
Women of Water Summit recognizes female water-sector changemakers Mazars USA (New York City, N.Y.), a financial consultancy active in the water sector, kicked off 2020 by hosting its inaugural Women of Water Summit in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 9. The daylong summit featured industry leaders speaking in nine segments that celebrated outstanding achievements of female […]
March 13, 2020
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Interactive Outreach Tool Illustrates How Wastewater Travels Through Pittsburgh
The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN; Pittsburgh, Pa.) has partnered with environmental nonprofit 3 Rivers Wet Weather (Pittsburgh) and geospatial technology company CivicMapper (Pittsburgh) to map the wastewater collection systems in their service area. An interactive map, called “Flush-It!,” enables citizens to follow wastewater flow from any Pittsburgh address — including their homes and businesses […]
March 6, 2020
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YH2O Youth Mentorship Program Provides Fresh Talent to Baltimore’s Water Workforce
Since launching in 2015, an innovative apprenticeship program developed by the Chesapeake Water Environment Association (CWEA) and the Baltimore Department of Public Works (DPW) has equipped nearly 100 young adults with the skills they need to become successful water professionals. Baltimore’s YH2O Youth Mentorship Program is an intensive, 6-month course for high-school educated Baltimore residents […]
April 10, 2020
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