October 2026 E-Newsletter

Issue #190

E-newsletter Sponsors

At the recent Fall Board of Trustees Meeting James Dean was selected as incoming Section Treasurer. Dean will take office following next years Section Conference in Spokane. Dean is with Lakewood Water District where he serves as their Water Distribution Manager.

Current Section Treasurer Jamie Porter of Rainbow Water District will use the final year of his term in office to train James on his new responsibilities.

James Dean has filled multiple leadership roles for the Section in his many years of involvement. He began volunteering years ago as a subsection officer for Central Washington prior to being voted in as trustee, chair elect, chair, past chair and most recently AWWA Director.

James is currently serving as the Distribution Committee Chair and will continue in this role until the Spokane Section Conference. Congratulations James!

Growth Through Mentorship

If you are a seasoned professional or someone just starting on your career path, the PNWS-AWWA Mentorship Program has an opportunity for you. You can be a mentor or a protégé. You can get guidance along your path or provide support to someone along theirs.

The Membership Engagement and Development Committee (MEDC) is proud to introduce the 9th annual PNWS-AWWA Mentorship Program, beginning this fall. Applications will open in September and remain available through October 26th, with mentor-protégé matches finalized in late November.

Come and be part of a program that creates opportunities to inspire and be inspired, to encourage and foster courageousness, and to create meaningful connections in our water community.

Don’t miss this opportunity to join the 9th annual PNWS-AWWA Mentorship Program, where you will obtain valuable insights, gain a wider perspective, and contribute to the culture of continuous learning. The commitment is six 1-hour sessions with your mentor/protégé pair over a 6-8 month period.

If you have questions or want to learn more about the program, please reach out to our Mentorship Program lead Kyle Wong.

New Scholarship Designed for Current Operators

Who Are Interested in Advancing their Certifications

A new scholarship dedicated to operator training and certification is now available.

This scholarship is intended to help operators obtain the incremental education they need to advance their careers by upgrading or obtaining additional water industry certifications. If your employer will not pay to upgrade your industry certifications, this scholarship will.

Certification areas eligible for scholarship assistance include water treatment, water distribution, small water system, cross-connection control, and backflow assembly tester.

Applications are accepted and funded year-round. Applicants are reimbursed after successful course completion is provided. Contact Jeff Lundt for more information.

AWWA Brings Two National Trainings to Portland

Both at the Oregon Convention Center

October 21 - 23 - AWWA’s WaterSmart Innovations (WSI) conference is the association’s premier event dedicated exclusively to advancing sustainable, efficient, and resilient water management. This conference focuses on equipping water professionals with the tools and implementation-ready solutions to improve water-use efficiency, strengthen long-term resource sustainability, and strengthen community resilience. By demonstrating real-world applications of conservation programs, demand management strategies, source water protection efforts, and integrated resource planning approaches, WSI empowers its attendees to chart their own path towards a more resilient future.

October 21-22 - Asset Management Seminar - Effective asset management is essential for utilities striving to deliver reliable service, optimize investments, and meet evolving regulatory, financial, and community expectations. AWWA’s new two-day Asset Management Seminar provides utility professionals with a practical, structured introduction to asset management principles, while also exploring how utilities can advance toward more mature and strategic asset management practices.

October 7 - Taste and Odor Workshop

October 14 - Strategic Communications and Emergency Preparedness for Utilities

October 20 - San Juan Islands Operators Workshop

November 4 - Hands on Control Valves Workshop

November 6 - Tri State Water Utility Council Meeting

November 19 - Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong Screening

That's it for this month! Please send your news or information for inclusion in the November edition to the Section office.



Sincerely,