News & Updates






Save the Date

Collection Systems Conference & Exhibit
September 10, 2020
Boxboro, MA

Plant Operations Facility Tour & Technical Session
October 21, 2020
Uxbridge, MA

Northeast Residuals & Biosolids Conference, Exhibit, and Tour
October 2020
Southern NH

Resiliency Conference & Exhibit
November 19-20, 2020
Worcester, MA
A lot can change in a month. Since sending March's newsletter, the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has proliferated nationally and internationally, causing most nonessential businesses to close in person operations and the cancellation/postponement of events and group gatherings.

To keep our membership, regulators, elected officials, and the public updated during this critical time, we have developed a resources page on NEWEA's website . The page contains information about the six New England states, updates on the NEWEA office and events, links to trusted resources, and data about the virus and how it affects water treatment processes. This page is being continually updated, so we encourage our members to check back often. Additionally, members who have useful updates and/or resources are encouraged to forward them to the NEWEA office . All relevant information will be posted on the page.

Additionally, in accordance with Massachusetts' stay at home order, NEWEA's staff continues to work remotely. During this time, we encourage our members to conduct all communication via email. Emails for all staff can be found on our Contact Us page .

Although this is an uncertain time, we are still here to assist our members, plan our upcoming slate of fall specialty conferences, and develop new and ongoing initiatives. We are looking forward to everything we have planned for later this year, and we are here to support you as we navigate this situation.

Check out the rest of the newsletter for more on committee news and details on upcoming events, as well as news and resources related to COVID-19. Until next newsletter, we hope everyone has a great month and stays healthy.

As always, we invite you to contact Jordan Gosselin at jgosselin@newea.org with committee news and updates you would like to share in future editions.
Nominate a Deserving Water Professional
Nominations for NEWEA/WEF awards are now being accepted! Our awards recognize deserving water professionals for their outstanding contributions to the industry. Awards are given in a variety of categories, including safety, engineering, operations, public education, public relations, management, collection systems, laboratory expertise, and service to the organization. All nominations are due May 24, 2020 unless otherwise noted.

Submit an Abstract for our Collection Systems Conference
The Collection Systems Committee invites the submission of abstracts for its upcoming one-day specialty conference! The committee is requesting abstracts regarding non-dispersibles and preventive maintenance/technology. Topics covering planning; design; construction; and rehabilitation of collection systems will also be accepted. Abstracts are due May 8, 2020.

Submit an Abstract for our Resiliency Conference
Abstracts are now being accepting for our ReACT: Resilient Infrastructure in Action Conference. NEWEA’s Watershed Management, Stormwater and Sustainability Committees are hosting a joint Specialty Conference & Exhibit November 19-20, 2020 in Worcester, MA. This two-day conference will cover effective and sustainable strategies being used to plan, design and implement resilient projects and infrastructure in areas susceptible to a changing climate. Abstracts are due May 1, 2020.

Complete the Safety Committee's Survey
NEWEA's Safety Committee is looking for responses from water utility employees for its annual Wastewater Safety Survey. This survey aims to increase safety awareness and minimize accidents/injuries. All responses will be kept confidential and only used for the purpose of gathering statistical information. Responses are due by May 15, 2020.

COVID-19: Implications for the Water and Wastewater Industry
John Bergendahl, Ph.D., P.E.; Marina Fernandes, P.E., LEED AP; and Wayne E. Bates, Ph.D., P.E. have produced a paper on coronavirus and the concerns that the water/wastewater industry may have regarding the outbreak of this virus.

This paper compiles much of the latest research on this novel disease and pulls from research conducted on similar viruses, namely SARS and MERS, to provide water professionals with an overview of the relevant information experts know at this point.

The authors present valuable data about the presence of the virus in wastewater, as well as if the virus can be transmitted through wastewater and residential plumbing systems. The paper also addresses how the virus affects disposal and handling of biosolids, domestic wastewater reuse, proactive collection system operations, concerns in the developing world, and health and safety in the industry.

NEWEA's Charitable Giving Task Force is looking for your feedback!

This Task Force, which was created at the 2020 Annual Conference, works on initiatives related to raising funds to support NEWEA's mission. This includes direct donations online, making a Qualified Charitable Distribution, and leaving a legacy fund.

At this time, the Task Force is looking to hear stories from NEWEA members about how the organization has positively affected your education, career, and/or community. Did you receive a NEWEA-sponsored scholarship that helped to support the completion of your degree in engineering or environmental studies? Have you been mentored by an experienced professional who provided valuable advice about navigating your career? Did networking at a NEWEA event lead to a new job? We want to hear about it!

You can also support NEWEA and Charitable Giving Task Force initiatives by making an online donation!

Donations support a variety of established and new programs and initiatives, including student scholarships, our Veterans Workforce Development program, and public outreach and education. As a 100% independently funded nonprofit, our continued success comes in part from supporters like you.

Click the button to donate today!
WEF Launches Access Water Platform

The Water Environment Federation has launched Access Water, a portal that organizes information and technical content critical to the water sector into a single, central location. The content is developed for and by water sector professionals and provides approximately 20,000 pieces of content, including conference papers, magazine articles, technical reports, fact sheets, compilations, and books.  

"Access Water is the latest chapter in WEF's longstanding tradition of connecting water professionals with the information and resources they need to do their jobs effectively," said WEF President Jackie Jarrell. "We are thrilled to introduce this dynamic way of accessing a constantly growing library of educational material.” 

Access Water products are available on a pay-as-you-go basis or via an annual subscription. WEF members receive complimentary access to the conference proceedings archive, fact sheets, and select technical reports on Access Water. Members also receive discounted prices on single items and reduced subscription fees to access almost 20,000 pieces of content on the platform.  

Asset Management Plans & the Clean Water State Revolving Fund

Join the EPA CWSRF and representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Rural Water Association, and New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for a webinar discussing the components of asset management plans, how State CWSRF programs are implementing them, and various incentives that borrowers receive for funding projects that include asset management plans.

New England Water Environment Association newea.org