Tag Archives: Engineering

WEF Supports Brave Blue World Documentary

March 30, 2019

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Brave Blue World Logo 1

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) is a supporting partner for the documentary, Brave Blue World. The film will showcase how innovation and technology can solve water challenges and advance resource recovery. Filming took place at WEFTEC 2018 in New Orleans and WEF President Tom Kunetz was interviewed for the documentary. WEF intends to […]

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Apprentices Are Expected To Fill One-in-Fifty Jobs on UK’s Largest-Ever Water Project

March 28, 2019

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Tideway Featured

Tideway, an independent water company in London, launched a first-of-its-kind apprenticeship program to clean the River Thames and address a pending worker shortage in one fell swoop. “London relies on a 150-year-old sewer system built for a population less than half its current size,” said Hannah Shroot, media relations lead for Tideway. The company is […]

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Ancient Engineering Lays Groundwork for Major Canal System in Arizona

March 27, 2019

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The ruins of the Ancient Hohokam irrigation system can be found at the Park of the Canals in Mesa, Ariz. Photo courtesy of George Noel.

The Hohokam Native American society flourished for almost 1500 years in what is today central Arizona. Part of that long, rich history can be attributed to a breakthrough water technology: canals. Beginning around 300 C.E., the Hohokam people settled the arid desert environment of the Gila and Salt River Valley, an area that encompasses present-day […]

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In Memoriam: Robert Jack Freeman Jr. Champion of Water for Small Communities

March 20, 2019

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In Memoriam - Freeman Mountain

Robert (Bob) Jack Freeman Jr., member of the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) and the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) since 2006, died January 21 at the age of 71. Freeman, a registered professional engineer and certified wastewater treatment operator, earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Mississippi […]

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Ancient Nabataeans Used Sophisticated Water Technologies To Create a Thriving Desert City

February 18, 2019

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The Nabataeans designed a system of reservoirs to hold water. The inhabitants of Petra relied on this supply for themselves and their animals throughout the year. Photo courtesy of Mays, Arizona State University.

Imagine roaming the planet 2500 years ago as part of a nomadic tribe. You do not have a phone, electricity, car, or single other luxury. If you happened to wander into the Arabian Desert in what is modern-day Jordan, the location probably would not seem an idyllic place to stop and build a major city. […]

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Students Walk Away from Design Competition with Real-world Skills

January 28, 2019

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Student Design 18

Pono Hanson, chair of the WEFTEC Student Design Competition Pono Hanson is a project manager at Brown and Caldwell (Walnut Creek, Calif.) in Alexandria, Va. He has been a member of the Water Environment Federation and Chesapeake Water Environment Association since 2012. He currently serves as a member of the WEF Collection Systems Committee and […]

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The Wilfleys: A Family of ‘Water Nerds’ Mixes Business with Pleasure

December 25, 2018

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Wilfley Family Featured

Growing up in Beaumont, Calif., then a relatively small town in the mountains, Bryan Wilfley didn’t expect to pursue a career in the water sector. But he also remembers shadowing his father, Jay Wilfley, who spent 30 years at the small Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District working as an operator, foreman, superintendent, and self-taught engineer. Bryan […]

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Family of Utah Sheep Farmers Take a New Career Path

November 27, 2018

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Legacy - Snyder Familyy Featured

After years of logging and sheep farming, Cody Snyder entered the wastewater sector. He may have started the career with simple expectations, but he developed a commitment to water that he has passed down to his oldest daughter, Jade. “Truthfully, when I was 21, I was just looking for a job with good benefits,” Cody […]

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