WEF House of Delegates Strategy Focus Groups October 29, 2005

WEF and MA Communications

Strategy Areas –WEF Board to MA Board –WEF Committee to MA Committee –WEF Staff to MA Staff Issues –Need for better link between WEF and MA –Regional and local issues –Effective link requires effort by MA

WEF Board to MA Board Issues –Goals of the organizations –What is WEF Board doing? – Overload of s Strategies –WEF Board webcasts (2 – 3 times per year) –Detailed agenda for officer visit to MA’s –Clearly prioritize/flag items for action/input

WEF Committee to MA Committee Issues –How to establish effective link –Communication across multiple committees –MA’s where committee doesn’t exist Strategies –Establish hot topic (alerts, website, calls) –Challenge Directors to be champion for link –Pilot program for adoption of MA Committee

WEF Staff to MA Staff Issues –Variability in MA staff (size, scope, type) –Language barrier (Latin America MA’s) –Training MA Staff Strategies –Identify bi-lingual staff and advise MA’s –Create MA staff training and clearinghouse –MA’s to promote Staff to attend WEFMAX and WEFTEC

Technical Products and Services

Strategy Areas –Infrastructure Sustainability –Wet Weather –Watershed Issues –Funding –Permitting –Education and MA Support –Interagency Relationships

Infrastructure Sustainability Considerations: –Funding Gap –Inadequate funding source Key Issues –Need not recognized by policy makers –Lack of Federal Funding for SRF –Uniformed customer base Recommendations: WEF should develop –Education model for general public, policy makers and student: “Water is Life” model –Dynamic business models for utility owners –Leadership role in creating coalition of organizations

Watershed Issues Considerations: –Integrated water resource planning –TMDL’s –Stormwater/floodwater management Key Issues –Source water protection; point/non-point discharges –Regional watershed challenges –Infrastructure failure/inadequacy –Public health/safety Recommendations: WEF should –Develop technical strategy for interagency collaboration –Develop education and outreach efforts for MA’s –Develop Webcast/MOP’s/seminars –Facilitate mutual aide and emergency response plans

Wet Weather Considerations: –Educating Regulators/Public CSO SSO Blending Key Issues –Magnitude of problem not understood by public and policy makers –Cost/benefit not demonstrated –No WEF position on Blending Recommendations: WEF should –Provide uniform information to MA’s –Develop best practice manual –Develop position paper

Making the Most of Limited Resources

Increased competition for volunteers. Changing workplace demographics. Increased pressure from regulators and NGO’s & CBOs. (Do More….) Limited resources to address implementation and O&M of upgrade/ expansion needs (…With Less!) Demand for updated products & services

Workplace Demographics Bring people into the profession: Reach deep into educational systems. Create toolkits for MAs. Create Diversity Committee. Incorporate diversity in leadership training. Draw from available experience elsewhere in dealing with changing demographics. Develop information packages for HR and Education professionals to recruit workers. Develop mentoring programs to facilitate knowledge transfer to new professionals

Partnering & Coalitions Raise awareness of WEF through improved branding efforts and widespread communication campaign. Reciprocal involvement with elected officials in activities/events. Develop partnering plans with NGOs and CBOs (e.g. Biosolids Summit). Promote similar activities at the MA level

Technology & Communications Re-evaluate existing WEF/WERF relationship. Study adoption of WERF “Best Practices” to optimize product cycle. Become a global clearing house for all water environment related knowledge Adopt latest IT capabilities, and develop a complete virtual library of water-related knowledge.

FUTURE/VISIONING Subareas: YP Incentives Technical Challenges Where Should We Be In 2020?

Young Professional Incentives Issues –Getting YP’s to Join WEF StrategiesASK Advertise YP Rates/Programs Support MA’s in Educating Employers –Keeping YP’s in WEF StrategiesFoster Mentoring Mentality Meaningful Positions & Assignments Make it Fun

Technical Challenges Issue –Develop Treatment Technologies to Deal With Emerging Contaminants StrategyPromote & Lobby Academia & Stakeholders to Develop Technologies –Develop Viable Value Added Biosolids Products StrategyDevelop Technologies With Support of USDA, DOE, & NSF –Optimize Enegry Use and Performance StrategyDevelop Anaerobic/BNR Technologies

The boundaries between drinking water and wastewater will be blurred –WEF will become part of other Organizations (IWA, AWWA)—In progress w/Int’l Program Committee –Develop & Disseminate Reliable Information On Health & Safety Issues –Foster User Responsibility (Ag, Industry) –Influence Legislation to create consistent regulations (stormwater, water reuse) –Educate the Public on Water Reuse as the Next Major Water Supply Where Should We Be In 2020?

There are NOT Enough Wastewater Professionals –Broaden WEF’s activities promoting use of water curricula –Continue and Expand existing education activities (SJWP, CWA reauthorization, Scholarships) –Create a Accurate Professional Image of People in the Water Industry Where Should We Be In 2020?

Should WEF be Global or NOT? –IF YES Increase Actions to Improve International Recognition Technology Transfer (Translate, Adapt to World Areas of Need) Take conferences to the people who need it and/or bring the people to us –IF NO Focus on North America Where Should We Be In 2020?

VISIONING SUMMARY WEF’s historical assumptions of water are changing Assumptions on how water is used are changing Water use is changing WEF must act now to: Expand Educate Remain steward of global water quality