WEF WaterBlog

Posted April 27, 2009

WEF is in the best financial shape of its long history...still, we expect our operations--and our members--to be significantly affected by the recession. Like utilities and companies across the country, and indeed, around the world, we will be doing business differently to meet tough economic challenges. For the record, one thing won’t change, and that’s our focus on delivering top quality training and education for water quality professionals.

Posted April 13, 2009

The other day I was having a discussion about the current stimulus bill and potential set asides for green practices, when a thought hit me: are we as a profession and as individuals really walking the talk, or merely looking for handouts? Put another way, have we fully embraced a new mentality about adopting green practices or are we just being politically correct to win federal money?

Posted March 31, 2009

During the World Water Forum V, held in Istanbul, Turkey, March 16-22, 2009, I was one of more than 25,000 participants who discussed themes including the following: Global Change and Risk Management; Advancing the Human Development and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG); and much more.

Posted March 16, 2009

Recently joining the WEF staff a few years removed from my former EPA life, I was cheered by the new Administration’s focus on sound science, clearly stated by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson:

“Science must be the backbone for EPA programs. The public health and environmental laws that Congress has enacted depend on rigorous adherence to the best available science.”

Posted March 2, 2009

During this very recent bitter cold spell my water pipes froze, and I was without water. Albeit a short time, still this helped me really appreciate the importance of having adequate, clean and safe water. Yet, we know that here in the US, and globally, the sustainability of our water supplies is continually threatened by pollution, excessive demands, and now climate change. So, as an organization of water professionals, we at WEF asked, “what can we do to help mitigate these threats?”

Posted February 17, 2009

I am very excited to have the opportunity to blog about the success that the Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) has had regarding our first service project as well as plans for WEFTEC.09. It was at WEFTEC.07 in San Diego when the SYPC first discussed participating in a service project, and at the time, the group wanted something that would engage the young (and seasoned) WEF SYPC members as well as give our group something we could put our name on and be proud of.

Posted February 4, 2009

As WEF vice president, I testified before the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee this morning about protecting water quality and public health more economically and efficiently. It was extremely rewarding and an experience I will certainly never forget.

It was really inspiring to be able to place our shared goal for sustainable water infrastructure squarely on the new administration’s radar screen.

Posted January 21, 2009

I recently attended the First National Expert and Stakeholder Workshop on Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Adaptation to Climate Change, joining over 130 other EPA and other federal agency water and climate experts; academics; NGO and association representatives; and consultants. The two-day workshop was sponsored by the US EPA Office of Water and Office of Research and Development, and results and input from participants will be used to help direct EPA’s water-related climate research and other initiatives.

Posted January 14, 2009

A new Congress has arrived in D.C., and the nation’s first African American president has taken the Oath of Office. Barack Obama, who faces challenges unprecedented in modern American history, promises significant change in the way the U.S. operates at home and abroad. The whole world will be watching, including WEF members.

Posted January 5, 2009

Happy New Year Waterbloggers! I was going to blog about all my priorities for this year as WEF president, (yes, it’s true), but in the interests of space (and keeping your attention), I’ll cut right to the chase on what’s the biggest deal to me and maybe you, too. That priority is a focus on water reuse and how we maximize its effectiveness to relieve stressed global water supplies and underscore the connection to public health.

Posted December 15, 2008

Hello WEF members and other waterbloggers.  I just got back from a trip to Kenya (traveling for personal business, not as a WEF representative), where every day was a reminder that although access to water is an absolute necessity, it’s not a given in many places. For example, due to the lack of or intermittent rainfall, many people and communities had to locate the closest available water and go get it for daily living.