SYPC Brings Community Service to WEFTEC®

By Haley Falconer, WEF Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) member

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. The initial goal was to complete a couple of small projects in Chicago and Orlando with an ultimate objective of finishing a large project for the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans (WEFTEC.10).

The project we selected in Orlando, Fla. for WEFTEC.09 is a wetland replanting as a part of the Orange County Utilities Northwest Water Reclamation Facility (NWRF). NWRF is an advanced secondary treatment system with a permitted treatment capacity of 7.5 MGD that is located in the northwest part of the County, about 30 miles from the WEFTEC.09 conference location.

This project includes harvesting plants from established parts of the wetlands and replanting them in other areas that currently have a limited amount of plants. The wetlands system consists of six cells planted with native plants and includes approximately 75 acres of land; this project, however, will focus on one wetland cell. Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn about a wetland treatment system and how wetlands are used to further remove nutrients from secondary effluent.

The work will be completed on the Saturday of WEFTEC, and each volunteer will hopefully plant around 20 plants. We estimate that about 100 students and young professional volunteers will gain hands-on experience with reclaimed water and learn how reclaimed water is integrated with water supply sources by supplementing wetlands treatment with advanced secondary wastewater treatment process and lake augmentation. There is also potential for a community education part of this project that will be further developed in the future.

The success of the first SYPC service project in Chicago added energy and enthusiasm to the Orlando project. Around 60 volunteers at a neighborhood park (Pulaski Park) helped with that project, titled "Gettin’ Out of the Gutter," which focused on building and planting a rain garden. WEF SYPC collaborated with the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT, Chicago); the Chicago Park District; the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; and the Illinois Water Environment Association to plan and coordinate the project, recruit volunteers and sponsors, and provide construction labor. The Illinois WEA will also maintain the rain garden. We look forward to this sort of corroboration in Orlando! For more information contact me at haleyfalconer@gmail.com or Rebecca McLarty at McLartyRG@cdm.com.

P.S. Due to the success of the SYPC’s first service project and the momentum and anticipation of the next project, our group would like to challenge each WEF Member Association to participate in a service project of their own. This is an opportunity for each MA to get out and make a difference in our own communities. Many small projects can have a huge impact, and I hope that this is a continuation of a tradition of service through WEF!

On Turning Waste into Watts…

By Jeanette Brown, Vice President of WEF

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. (Read full testimony.) As water quality professionals, we know that the proper treatment of our water makes significant demand for energy, the cost of which cannot be overlooked or underestimated. Energy efficiency and energy independence are essential to sustainable wastewater treatment. We are concerned about the high use and cost of energy (over 30% of a utility’s operating budget!) as well as the age of water infrastructure. As members of the Water Environment Federation, we have continually taken a proactive approach to address conservation and renewable energy using technology and innovation. WEF has documented this commitment to the environment and our water through conferences, papers, forums, and publications. (See WEF's Sustainability & Energy Knowledge Center.) I’m optimistic that key legislators understand this now, too.

But perhaps as important as all of that is a major evolution in thinking where wastewater utilities are beginning to be viewed as big players in conserving or even supplying energy, rather than energy consumers or waste generators. It’s a paradigm shift advanced by cost, climate change, and sustainability considerations. In fact, we initiated a pilot study and scaled research program for the conversion of wastewater biosolids to synthetic gas (www.stamfordbiogas.com) at my own utility with the support of the Federal Department of Energy. As discussed this morning, other new approaches that can turn waste to energy, generate electricity and income, or use energy efficiently are taking place across the country and around the world.

We like to say that the success of our sustainable future will be “CTI”; Conservation, Technology, and Innovation. We are the people who can turn waste into watts! I was grateful for today’s opportunity to shed some light on this topic and feel truly honored to be part of this wonderful community of environmental stewards and professional practitioners who dedicate their lives to the preservation of our most valued resource, our water.

The Future Ain’t What it Used to Be: Climate Change Considerations for Your Utility’s Infrastructure Planning

By Matt Ries
Managing Director of Technical and Educational Services at the Water Environment Federation

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. I took away three main points from the plenary presentations and subsequent concurrent sessions:

1. The impacts of climate change are already occurring. Jim Hanlon, Director of the EPA Office of Wastewater Management stated that “we are beyond the question of whether climate change is occurring and moving toward looking at how utilities can adapt” while other speakers outlined climate change impacts to water utilities. Sea level rise is impacting water intakes, outfalls, sea walls, and other infrastructure near oceans while saltwater intrusion becomes more prevalent. Storms of increased intensity result in flooding and can overwhelm infrastructure. Droughts decrease water supplies while at the same time increasing the demand for water. Changing patterns of snowfall and snowmelt deviate from historical hydrological patterns and challenge infrastructure designed for different conditions. Increasing water temperatures impacts water quality - what does this mean if your NPDES permit is a function of the assimilative capacity of the receiving waters?

2. There is a need for climate models to provide sound, reliable data that can support specific planning efforts. As one modeler with over 4 decades of modeling experience stated, climate change models are the most complex – and the uncertainties greater – than any other type of environmental model he’s worked with. That said, climate models and computing power continue to improve. Down-scaling climate models to useful resolutions remains a challenge even with great strides over the past few years. While most models shown predict increases in temperatures, resulting precipitation patterns and, for example, CSO frequencies range from slightly lower percentages to much higher percentages depending on the model. But, as EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Michal Shapiro concluded, “we can’t wait for the perfect answer” to address climate change.

3. Stationarity is dead. A February 2008 Science article, “Stationarity is Dead: Whither Water Management” (see www.sciencemag.org, vol. 319, page 573) described the need for a new approach to predict hydrologic patterns for water resource planning. Yogi Berra’s quote in the title of this blog reflects how planners used to be able to use past patterns to predict the future using the concept of stationarity, “the idea that natural systems fluctuate within an unchanging envelope of variability.” However, the article authors and many at the workshop assert that recent changes in the earth’s climate are producing uncertainties that go beyond human impacts and natural variability in the hydrologic cycle that could be accounted for in previous planning approaches. So is that pump station you just built with the elevation of the designated 100-year floodplain at risk if future precipitation patterns don’t correspond to historical norms and we’re seeing 100-year storms roll though every couple of years?

So what’s a utility to do? For a start, thinking about incorporating flexibility in both operations and design into your system’s infrastructure. The workshop discussions outlined a need to provide methods and models to adequately assess infrastructure risk, including vulnerability assessments, something the EPA Office of Water will be working on. These tools will be needed to help utilities properly evaluate alternatives in light of relative risks. Also, consider dual-benefit solutions and approaches - Dr. Steven Buchberger of the University of Cincinnati noted that aging infrastructure and climate change are “complimentary, concurrent challenges.” What about incorporation of multi-benefit green infrastructure into stormwater mitigation plans? Drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure can last half a century or longer, meaning changes in climate that may not be evident for decades will impact the infrastructure you’re planning, designing, and building today. And a visit to WEF’s Knowledge Center on Sustainability & Climate Change could also help in your planning.

There is clearly a dichotomy to addressing this issue. Most of the utilities presenting at the workshop were from large, metropolitan areas and in the breakout discussions, it was noted that small to medium utilities are having trouble “keeping their heads above water” (no pun intended by the participant, I’m sure), much less worrying about climate change. Also, it is clear that some utilities in some states, such as California, are moving forward with plans for adaptation and working on mitigation efforts while in other parts of the country, climate change is not on the radar screen yet. What are you doing, if anything, to incorporate CC into your planning, designs, and operations and how do you think water utilities can meet yet another challenge to providing a quality, consistent product and continue protecting the public’s health?

Water Infrastructure: Yes We Can!Historic Moment, Historic Opportunity

By Robert Matthews
Senior Vice President of CDM and Chair of the Water Environment Federation's Government Affairs Committee

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.

One of the new President’s top priorities is a one trillion—(no typo, that’s Trillion)--dollar stimulus package to jumpstart our ailing economy, including, potentially, a record-breaking level of funding for water infrastructure funding—seven to 20 billion dollars. That means more dollars in 2009 than was ever available through the water construction grants of the 1970s! Congress is currently debating the details—-including what type of projects to fund, use of grants and/or loans, starting “shovel-ready” projects in 120 days or moving to a two-year program, and WEF member concerns are certainly on their radar screen.

Since WEFTEC, we have written a letter to the Congressional leadership supporting the inclusion of water infrastructure funding in any stimulus package; recommended that 20 billion dollars be set aside for water as part of the WIN coalition (view letter); asked WEF members to encourage their congressional representatives to support clean water and provided sample letters for their use, and worked with the National Resources Defense Council and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies to collect examples of green infrastructure projects could be funded. WEF also provided EPA with recommendations for streamlining State Revolving Fund (SRF) requirements to expedite the spending of new funding.

As of this writing, this stimulus package is expected to be finalized by mid-February, so that means there is still time for action! Those of us in the water business know that we can never do enough to make sure our elected officials provide needed support. WEF members should write their Congressional representatives in support of water infrastructure funding as part of the stimulus. You can also find out what your own state is planning, and sign up for the Government Affairs Committee (GAC)’s free February 2 webcast, Stimulus Funding for Wastewater Infrastructure: How Much May be Available and What Can it Mean for My Community? I will be hosting the webcast and expect that the timely and stimulating discussion by our panel of experts will provide you key information that you will need to know to obtain funding. Meanwhile you may also want to visit www.WaterIsLife.net, where you can find many useful tools that help communicate the importance of water infrastructure investment to the public.

In short, the moment is now and the opportunity is here. Let’s work together and rebuild the nation’s clean water infrastructure. To quote the new President, yes we can!

We Wanted It to Go to Reuse, And They Said No (So What Do We Do About It?)

By Rebecca West
President of the Water Environment Federation

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.

My thought is that to be successful, we have to look beyond the related science and technology to make it happen. In addition to the science and technology, the social, cultural, and economic aspects of what it means to make water reuse a commonly accepted practice to preserve our water resources must be addressed--science alone is one justification for the effective reuse practices that are so vital to sustainability of our water resources. We’ve all had or heard of experiences where communities have rejected water recycling or biosolids land application programs for reasons ranging from affordability to some sort of fecal phobia. Sort of like that popular song, we wanted it to go to reuse, they said no, no, no. That’s why a more holistic approach—and sharing that broader thinking through the water quality field--will be absolutely essential to successful water sustainability.

I’m very excited about WEF’s upcoming disinfection conference, Disinfection 2009, which happens February 28 to March 3 in Atlanta, Ga., where the social, cultural and economic aspects of how to translate the developed water research and technology into successful and sustainable programs for the disinfection of water resources in developing country environments will be addressed. Chaired by Gary Hunter (Black and Veatch) and Daniele Lantagne, (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), this event will also serve to ramp up that connection between our work and public health. I’m hoping we’ll see more training, conferences, and forums that add new dimensions to water reuse in the very near future.

Please take a few moments to let us know what you think about the importance of going beyond the science in public communications about water reuse. What has been your experience and how can we best educate the public and build awareness about the role of reuse in global water sustainability? It’s a big question for all of us, but it’s one that I know we can answer together.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts or comments.

Share the Joy of Access to Water

By Rebecca West
President of the Water Environment Federation

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. In fact, this picture
shows villagers pulling water from a neighboring rainwater collection tank to provide access to water in their area.

I’d go even further and say access to water is a right to which every person on this planet is entitled. And we as water quality professionals understand the challenges to providing clean water worldwide complicated by factors like population growth and climate change. At the Water Environment Federation, we embrace a technical commitment to clean water, and it can be put to good use through special partnerships that offer WEF members opportunities to apply their expertise in ways that make a difference. Engineers Without Borders and Water for People, a WEF charity of choice, are just two organizations of many that would put your own time or financial contributions to further ensure people across our blue planet can gain access to water and sanitation.

So this holiday season, I ask you to support an organization that works to provide global access to water and sanitation and share the joy of access to water and protection of their health through access to sanitation with those less fortunate. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the abundance we have and underscore the importance of extending this very basic right to those less fortunate. Meanwhile, thanks for all you do to protect public health and the environment every day and very best wishes for peace and happiness in the coming year.

Protecting Our Purple Pipes

By Don Vandertulip, PE
Chair, WEF Water Reuse Committee

I’ll start at the beginning of this important issue, which is ultimately about organizations working together to protect public health and sustainable water supplies. Purple is the standard color for pipe adopted by the international utility industry to distribute municipally treated reclaimed water. In late June 2008, a question was raised alerting water reuse professionals to a proposed plumbing code that would require use of purple pipe for all graywater systems. The proposal was embedded in updates to the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code under final development by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and the indication was all reuse organizations had approved it. IAPMO used the Canadian CSA B128 Design and Installation of NonPotable Systems as a guide to coordinate with international standards.

Utility members and reuse professionals at the Water Environment Association (WEF), the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the WateReuse Association (WRA) were not aware of this proposed change, and they responded—along with several state health departments—based on a three-decade history of distributing high-quality reclaimed water through purple pipe and gaining public support for highly treated reclaimed water. Their concerns included:

• Potential cross connections between two purple pipe systems with significantly different quality;


• The public could be exposed to inadequately treated water in a municipal purple pipe system contaminated by an on-site cross connection; and,


• Public exposure and cross connections would negatively impact public confidence in the municipal reclaimed water system.

Based on this feedback, a joint letter signed by Executive Directors of WEF, AWWA, and WRA was submitted to IAPMO on September 24, 2008. I believe this letter represents the first letter endorsed by the three organizations in a common effort to eliminate a public health threat. In a separate action, Florida Department of Health (FDEP) sent a letter protesting the proposed Code.

Discussions at WEFTEC.08 among representatives of IAPMO and all three water groups regarding Code revision revealed that the issue included not only on-site graywater systems but also other sources of alternate water to include rainwater harvested water, stormwater, and air conditioning condensate and showed that other entities unfamiliar with reclaimed water production might influence its use, distribution, and quality.

Based on all of the input they received, IAPMO formed a Task Group to review the proposed code requirements and to develop alternative code requirements acceptable to plumbing code inspectors and municipal utility providers. I was appointed to this committee to represent WEF and WRA, while Alan Rimer, Chair of the AWWA Water Reuse Committee will represent AWWA.

The bottom line is that technical solutions will be developed for consideration by both reclaimed water utility interests and plumbing code enforcement officials. Water utilities and professionals have done a good job of “branding” purple pipe and educating constituents within the immediate service area about the value of reclaimed water use to the community. It is now apparent that water professionals, utilities, and state health departments must become more involved with local, state and national building code development to ensure that highly treated reclaimed water protects public health and guards against public exposure to inadequately treated alternate waters originating from on-site treatment units. I believe this increased involvement should include:

• Improved communications between IAPMO and professionals from the water field by providing technical presentations to educate each other about their respective approaches to public health;


• Improved education within our own house-including utility, health and environmental department professionals so we can recognize well-intended efforts by others that may impact the value of our purple pipe liquid assets;


• Evaluation, by utilities, of state and local regulations that may be in conflict with the Plumbing Codes adopted by the local communities and direct communication with the state entities to provide clear regulations protective of public health without causing regulatory conflict; and,


• Identification of additional common code/public health concerns related to use of non-potable water on property also served with potable water that should be mutually addressed.

The IAPMO Task Group and greater utility awareness are good starts. It is incumbent on all water utility professionals to work toward improved recognition of design controls and regulations that are supportive of public health and sustainable water supply solutions. Meanwhile, I’d invite you to visit www.iapmo.org to learn more about this important code development organization and watch for further developments as we all work together for a cleaner environment.