WEF Introduces the Stormwater Institute

August 23, 2015

WEF Resources & Efforts

WEF-Stormwater Institute

Click to learn more about the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Stormwater Institute. WEF photo.

On June 24, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) announced the establishment of the WEF Stormwater Institute, a new venture to address the growing issue of stormwater and urban runoff.

The WEF Stormwater Institute will serve as a center for excellence and a resource for stormwater practitioners and regulator communities. By being housed within WEF, the institute will leverage the organization’s existing leadership, breadth of membership, and varied partnerships with federal, state, and local entities responsible for managing stormwater issues.

“With increasing severe weather events and limited budgets, innovation in stormwater management and financing is becoming increasingly vital to communities across North America,” said WEF President Ed McCormick. “The WEF Stormwater Institute has been created in direct response to a gap in the water resource recovery sector for a central stormwater leadership, information, and advocacy hub. With more than 36,000 members across the globe, we are thrilled to apply our unique strengths to tackle these vital issues and provide effective and efficient solutions to the thousands of water communities that we serve. WEF is very excited about connecting stormwater professionals from both our [member associations] and regional stormwater organizations as we collaborate to provide leadership across North America.”

The WEF Stormwater Institute will serve as a center for excellence and a resource for stormwater practitioners and regulator communities. WEF photo.

The WEF Stormwater Institute will serve as a center for excellence and a resource for stormwater practitioners and regulator communities. WEF photo.

The growing problem of stormwater pollution coupled with regulatory pressure has created a need for national leadership that the WEF Stormwater Institute aims to provide. The institute will have a strong initial focus on the development of technical tools, professional training, and networking opportunities for stormwater practitioners worldwide. Many existing stormwater initiatives within WEF will be brought under the umbrella of the institute, and new programs in key areas, such as green infrastructure training, will be developed.

WEF’s commitment to the institute will include dedicated full-time professional staff as well as significant funding for collaborative projects. Additional announcements about the structure and programmatic activities of the WEF Stormwater Institute will be made in the weeks ahead.

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