News & Updates







Save the Date

Collection Systems Conference & Exhibit
September 10, 2020

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

Plant Operations Facility Tour & Technical Session
October 21, 2020

Joint Asset Management/IT Fair
November 17, 2020

Resiliency Conference & Exhibit
November 19-20, 2020
We hope everyone is continuing to stay healthy and enjoy summer.

With fall approaching, we have a busy schedule of upcoming specialty conferences and events. Registration is now open for our Innovation Reverse Pitch Night and Contaminants of Emerging Concern webinar series, and we will soon be releasing registration and exhibits information for our Collections Systems Conference. Also coming this fall is our Northeast Residuals and Biosolids Conference and Resiliency Conference.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of these events have moved to a virtual format but will still offer the sponsorship opportunities, exhibiting, and technical content attendees expect from a NEWEA event.

Our Meeting Management Council is also continuing to plan and consider the different options available for the 2021 Annual Conference. Our full statement regarding this event can be found on our site, and we will continue to keep our membership updated as more details are available.

Check out the rest of the newsletter for more on committee news and details on upcoming events. 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.
Register for the CEC Webinar Series
NEWEA's Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) Committee is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar series addressing issues related to CECs, including current state of treatment research, cost impact for removal, and communicating with stakeholders about CECs. The second installment in the series, CECs—Where are we now?, is happening August 27 from noon-1:00PM. TCHs will be awarded in all six New England states.
Sign up for Innovation Reverse Pitch Night
Join NEWEA's Innovation Council this Thursday, August 13 from noon-1:30PM for Innovative approaches for solving PFAS across the water industry. As part of the NEWEA Innovation Council/NEWIN reverse pitch series, this interactive, online panel event brings leading representatives across the water industry together to discuss challenges, innovative strategies, and solutions for treating and managing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water.
Submit a Green Steps Awards Nomination
The Sustainability Committee has extended the deadline for Green Steps Award nominations! The Green Steps Award celebrates innovation and sustainability within the wastewater industry. The nominee must be an organization that demonstrates initiative and leadership in the implementation of innovative, sustainable practices within their utility or organization. Your innovation can be a new approach, new techniques or results from an internal pilot. The impact of your innovation may be focused on the community, the environment, or cost savings.
Stockholm Junior Water Prize New England State Winners
NEWEA would like to extend our congratulations to the New England state winners of the 2020 Stockholm Junior Water Prize, Colin Speaker, Connecticut; Amarachukwu Ifeji, Maine; and Shreya Nagri, New Hampshire.

Following their respective wins at their state level competitions, Colin, Amarachukwu, and Shreya moved on to the national competition, which took place digitally this year. The national prize was awarded to Zoe Gotthold of Washington at the June 20 awards ceremony. Zoe will move on to represent the US at the international competition. The winner will be announced on August 25.

Click the links below to watch a summary of our New England state winners' projects.
Public Awareness Committee Produces New Video
During the COVID-19 pandemic, essential workers have provided vital services to keep their communities safe and healthy. Among these essential workers are water professionals, who do the often-unseen work to provide communities with clean water, treat the water we use, and keep our water environment accessible.

To highlight the pivotal role of water professionals within their communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, NEWEA's Public Awareness Committee has produced Thank You Water Workers. This video showcases water professionals working in various roles throughout a facility and raises awareness about the essential services water professionals provide.
EPA Announces Release of Water Utility COVID-19 Financial Impact Tool
EPA released a new tool to help water utilities assess the financial impact of COVID-19 on operations. Throughout the COVID-19 national health emergency—and as communities across the country reopen—water utilities have reliably provided safe drinking water and critical wastewater services. This new tool will help provide important information about the financial and operational health of water utilities, which play an integral role in protecting human health and the environment for our nation.

Developed by EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center, the Water Utility COVID-19 Financial Impact Tool leads water utilities through questions that can determine how their revenues, expenses and cashflow have been affected. This tool will help water utilities understand the financial health as they plan for ongoing operation and maintenance and capital infrastructure needs, including implementing plans to repair, replace and modernize aging infrastructure.
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!
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