A Clear Commitment to America’s Waters
15
The recently published,
The Value of Water – A Compendium of Essays by
Smart CEOs
, documents insights on the value of water; probes com-
plex issues; informs the conversation about water’s future; explores
how the value of leadership has resulted in improved business per-
formance; shows that ‘business as usual’ exploitation of water re-
sources needs to change; and, shares best practices, lessons learned,
and calls to action. The book features articles by leading voices
including David St. Pierre (Metropolitan Water Reclamation of
Greater Chicago); Karen Pallansch (Alexandria Renew Enterprises);
Kevin Shafer (Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District); Tom
Sigmund (NEWWater); George Hawkins (DC Water); Bill Gaffi
(Clean Water Services); James ‘Tony’ Parrott (Metropolitan Sewer
District of Greater Cincinnati); Harlan Kelly (San Francisco Public
Utilities Commission); and, NACWA’s Executive Director, Ken Kirk –
among other public and private water sector leaders
“It’s terrific to see so many perspectives on the value of water, as well
as specific examples of how public and private entities are innovat-
ing to maximize that value.” said Nancy Stoner, Water Program
Director and Senior Fellow, Pisces Foundation.
The Value of Water – A Compendium of Essays by Smart CEOs
was pub-
lished in collaboration with the Value of Water Coalition, of which
NACWA is a member. The compendium carries forward the
Coalition’s message that water connects us, grows jobs and opportu-
nity, keeps us safe and healthy, and sustains our environment – and
that
The book is available for purchase on
an
electronic version of the book is also
Compendium Makes the Value of Water Clear
NACWA, its leadership, and members had a prominent presence at
WEFTEC14 – co-hosting forums, speaking at sessions and workshops,
and providing invaluable information and perspectives from the mu-
nicipal clean water community.
NACWA Joins Forces with WEF on Utility Leaders Morning
The Association, once again, joined forces with the Water Environment
Federation (WEF) to convene the
Utility Leaders Morning
on Tuesday,
September 30. The morning’s events included the Hot Topics Breakfast
which included a keynote from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) Ken Kopocis, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the
Office of Water, and President Obama’s nominee to head that office.
The Breakfast also featured remarks fromAndrew Sawyers, Director of
the Office of Wastewater Management; Betsy Southerland, Director of
the Office of Science & Technology; Benita Best-Wong, Director of the
Office of Wetlands, Oceans &Watersheds; and, Peter Grevatt, Director
of the Office of Ground Water &Drinking Water. Discussion topics
included the recent revisions to the CleanWater State Revolving Fund
and the newWater Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Authority
(WIFIA) loan guaranty program; the latest developments on integrated
planning and affordability; the Waters of the U.S. rulemaking; and,
water reuse – as well as EPA’s response to the drinking water contami-
nation issue in Toledo.
The
Utility Executives Forum
followed the
Hot Topics Breakfast
which fea-
tured the topic of rebranding water utilities as resource recovery facili-
ties. NACWA Board Members, Harlan Kelly, Jr, General Manager of
the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Tom Sigmund,
Executive Director of NEWWater, Wis., shared their personal perspec-
tives and experiences.
Technical Sessions Showcase Association Expertise & Efforts
Patricia Sinicropi, NACWA’s Director of Legislative Affairs provided
the Association’s perspective of water quality trading, including the
drivers and obstacles during the
Water Quality Trading: Real Life Successes
and Lessons Learned
panel on Saturday, September 27. NACWA has been
working with the National Network onWater Quality Trading to help
develop a set of shared principles and recommendations for imple-
menting consistent and rigorous water quality trading programs.
On Tuesday, September 30, the Association’s legal efforts were show-
cased during two technical sessions featuring NACWA’s General
Counsel, Nathan Gardner-Andrews. The first on stormwater policy,
examined legal rulings on stormwater, retention standards, water
quality trading and more from the MS4 perspective. The second ses-
sion was a panel discussion on hot topics affecting municipal utilities.
Issues discussed included the latest EPA regulatory activities involv-
ing the Waters of the United States jurisdiction proposed rule, criteria
development, guidance and directives, integrated planning, develop-
ments in legislation important to utilities such as changes to the SRF
program and other funding legislation.
NACWA’s coalition work with INDA on non-dispersible wipes (see
related article) was also on the agenda during the
It’s a Toilet Not a
Trashcan: Knowledge Development Forum on Non-Dispersibles
technical ses-
sion onWednesday morning.
Jazzing It Up at WEFTEC’14
