WEF Highlights

In November, University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) Civil Engineering Professor Karl Linden received the annual Clarke Prize for Excellence in Water Research from the National Water Research Institute (NWRI; Fountain Valley, California). Nomination documents describe Linden as the world’s most published researcher in the fields of UV Light-Emitting Diode (LED) systems as well as […]

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 […]

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 […]

Wastewater treatment and utility management professionals may still take advantage of the rich array of knowledge featured in the technical program for the canceled Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia) Odors and Air Pollutants 2020 Conference. WEF will provide presentations from its canceled Odors and Air Pollutants 2020 Conference online beginning April 20. Participants can […]

With nine water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), eight drinking water treatment facilities, 45 pumping stations, and miles of pipelines to operate and maintain, the Washington County Department of Water Quality (DWQ; Williamsport, Md.) sometimes struggles to find qualified candidates for its many technical jobs.   Since the launch of a new wastewater operator apprenticeship program last […]

During their college careers, many students take a single, pivotal class that either cements their interest in a particular field of study—or sends them running in the opposite direction. Susan Whittemore, a science professor at Gaston College (Dallas, N.C.), believes the Introduction to Biology class she has taught at the community college for the past […]

Charlotte (N.C.) Water has a fresh approach to finding new utility technicians. That approach is a yearlong apprenticeship program offered by the utility trains recruits in a variety of skills — and even guarantees them a job upon completion. The program was created to tackle a high turnover and vacancy rate for the city’s utility […]

A new public education campaign is relying on social media, community outreach and kid-friendly messaging to motivate residents of a Phoenix suburb to rethink their waste disposal habits. Developed by the Water Resource Management (WRM) department in Surprise, Ariz., the campaign invites residents to “Be G.R.O.S.S” — that is, Guardians Regarding Our Sewer System. It […]