A Clear Commitment to America’s Waters
43
A
s a longtime supporter of watershed-based approaches
to address water resource challenges, NACWA has been
looking closely at water quality trading, and its poten-
tial to help mitigate water quality pollution, in a more
holistic way. On July 18 in Cincinnati Ohio, several NACWA
Member Agencies participated in a
National Roundtable on New Tools
for Water Quality Trading
hosted by the U.S. Water Alliance. The
Association members provided a unique perspective on why sup-
port for water quality trading programs was necessary, and what
utilities would need to see in a trading program to be comfortable
purchasing credits. While trading programs offer utilities an op-
portunity to meet permit requirements at less cost, programs that
allow them to directly purchase reductions from the nonpoint sec-
tor (e.g. agriculture) to meet compliance obligations have yet to be
broadly adopted. In order to boost the formation of these markets,
Association members cited 1) a steady supply of certified offset cred-
its; 2) a contractual agreement to ensure they are not penalized for
credits they purchase in good faith; and, 3) the assurance from the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of
Agriculture that trading is an approved means of meeting regulatory
requirements as necessary for them to seriously invest in a program.
NACWA formed a workgroup to look at the issues surrounding wa-
ter quality trading last year, which remains active in this arena.
NACWA Participates in National Roundtable on
Water Quality Trading
NACWA Summer Conference
ـ
The Resilient Clean Water Utility
NACWA’s 2013 Summer Conference & 43rd Annual Meeting, took place in Cincinnati mid-
July and focused on the sophisticated management and financing techniques clean water
utilities are using to ensure their sustainability and resiliency.
The conference theme was exemplified in the welcoming remarks of the Honorable Mark
Mallory, Mayor of Cincinnati
(pictured left)
, who focused attention on the innovative work of
NACWA member, the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSD), as well as the
economic benefits a strong utility can bring to a city. The Mayor’s comments were bolstered
by a subsequent presentation by Tony Parrott, the Executive Director of MSD
(pictured right)
who focused on how to finance the sustainable utility of the future. Another conference high-
light was an inspirational keynote address of former Navy Seal, Eric Greitens, who discussed
how we all “must navigate the front lines of public service” and find the perseverance each day
to be more innovative, effective and impactful.
NACWA thanks all the attendees, speakers, sponsors and our host city, Cincinnati, for mak-
ing this Summer Conference such a success. Presentations from the conference are available
on
NACWA’s website
.
N
ACWA mourns the pass of Charles B. Kaiser,
Jr., of St. Louis, Missouri who passed away
July 1, 2013 of an apparent heart attack.
Kaiser was 89 years old, and was married
for over 60 years to Mary Lou Kaiser, by whom he is sur-
vived.
Kaiser, represented the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer
District – a founding Member Agency – in AMSA (the
Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies), and
then NACWA for years. He was one of the original in-
corporators of the Association and served as Secretary/
Treasurer on its first Board of Directors from 1970-
1971. Kaiser went on to serve as NACWA’s Vice President
in 1971-1971 and lead the organization as its second
President from 1972-1974 – a critical time in both the
Association’s and the Clean Water Act’s history.
Kaiser was among the inaugural inductees into
NACWA’s
Hall of Fame
in 2010 – the year that the
Association he was instrumental in forming celebrated
its 40th anniversary. Kaiser’s contributions to protect-
ing our nation’s water were numerous, and he will be
missed by many in the water sector.
In Memoriam – Charles B. ‘Chuck’ Kaiser
