John Huggins, Chief Maintenance Technician for SLO’s WRRF The San Luis Obispo Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) uses 3D printers to make spare parts, especially those no longer available on the replacement equipment market. But it’s more than just having a 3D printer, says Patrick McGrath, WRRF Supervisor. “Anybody can go to the store and buy a printer,” he says. “But to be successful, you have to have a 3D printer champion.” At SLO, that champion is John Huggins, Chief Maintenance Technician. “He’s a man of many talents,” says McGrath. “It takes creativity, prioritization, and t ..read more

This post is from Partners in Public Innovation and reposted with permission. Invoicing forms a critical pillar in the financial scaffolding of any organization, acting as the principal method for billing and payments. Yet, for all its importance, invoicing processes often get mired in inefficiencies that not only delay payments but also strain vital relationships with customers and suppliers. At West County Wastewater’s (WCW) Administrative Services Department, Financial Division, such bottlenecks had become all too common, manifesting as purchaser and vendor frustrations, inconsistent invoic ..read more

In accordance with California’s Proper Labeling of Wet Wipes law (AB 818), state wastewater agencies and industry experts went deep to find out exactly what is passing through—and clogging up—municipal wastewater systems. The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) alongside the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) and the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) release the results from the largest known domestic sewage collection study conducted to reveal what’s really being flushed down the drain – and shouldn’t be. “We took a forensic approach to this collection stu ..read more

What a week! We just wrapped up AC24 in Sacramento, filled with insightful presentations, engaging workshops and tours, and incredible networking opportunities and award recognitions. It was inspiring to see so many wastewater leaders and professionals all in one place, sharing ideas and forging new paths for collaboration. If you didn’t make it – watch for the sessions we recorded at AC24 that we’ll post to the OWEN online learning platform in the coming weeks. During Thursday’s annual business meeting, outgoing President Chuck Greely shared his view of CWEA as his term comes to end ..read more

About 70% of our planet is covered in water, yet everyone on Earth is experiencing some form of water stress; right now, only 0.5% of water is available to support 8 billion people. XPRIZE Water Scarcity is a $119 million, 5-year prize designed to drive widespread access to clean water by creating reliable, sustainable, and affordable seawater desalination solutions. Barrier 80% of the global population suffers from serious threats to water supply, and by 2030, we will lack 40% of the water needed to meet global needs. Traditional desalination methods are unaffordable to low- to medium-income ..read more

The Water Code authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to appoint a group of subject matter experts to assist the State Water Board in carrying out its duties regarding wastewater treatment plant operator certification and training. The State Water Board has maintained an Advisory Committee since 1972. Assembly Bill 2890 added one committee member, a water recycling operator, to represent water recycling plants. Each of the eleven Advisory Committee members is nominated to represent a particular segment of the wastewater treatment field. Each member serves a four ..read more

A powerful new film exploring humanity’s profound relationship with water launches on Earth Day, 22 April 2024 in New York City. Produced by the team that brought the award-winning documentary, Brave Blue World to audiences globally, Our Blue World reveals how human agency, ingenuity and community spirit can help rebalance the planet’s water systems. Actor Liam Neeson voices the narration for Our Blue World, and the stories are told from the perspective of people who have had transformational journeys around water. The movie also looks back to engineering marvels that sustained civilizati ..read more

Updated on April 19: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released both its final rule to classify PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and an enforcement discretion memo. This memo shows that EPA does not believe that water systems are the problem. However, the reality of the final rule means that utilities could face increased operational costs and legal uncertainties. “WEF applauds the EPA’s effort to use the CERCLA regulation to hold PFOA and PFOS manufacturers responsible for the massive legacy ..read more

Download the SWRCB guide. This is a reminder that the Sanitary Sewer System Annual Report is due on April 1, 2024, as specified in section 3.9 (Annual Report) of Attachment E1 (Notification, Monitoring, Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements) of the Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order (link: Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order.) General Order, Section 5.11(System Performance Analysis), outlines the requirements for including running 10-year system performance analysis graphs in the Annual Report. The linked document “Annual Report Guidance” provides step-by-step instructions fo ..read more

Annabel Martinez, CWEA Director of Member Services The CWEA community is gearing up to go live in the upcoming months. This marks a significant milestone in our journey, and we can’t wait to share this space with you. Building the CWEA community brings a myriad of advantages that will enhance your CWEA member benefits: First, it serves as a centralized hub where members can engage directly with each other, fostering collaboration and connection. Whether you’re a long-term member or a newcomer, this Community will be the go-to place for meaningful interactions. Second, committees and working ..read more