Outstanding Member Association Award: Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
The Member Association (MA) Awards were established to recognize outstanding Member Associations and MAs that excel in areas of membership retention, financial strength, new memberships, scholarship programs, student achievement and support, technology transfers, and/or award programs. The Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association (PNCWA) has shown outstanding growth in conference attendance and membership and is a creative, forward-looking WEF Member Association. Their onboarding programs to drive new membership and new member involvement have resulted in steady increases in both membership and annual conference attendance. This MA has developed several new programs for students and young professionals in recent years, including a popular summit, an adopt-a-school program to support water science education, and a strong and growing scholarship fund. PNCWA is actively working to increase the diversity of its membership and leadership, and has also developed a strong financial position. WEF is honored to recognize the PNCWA Member Association for its achievements in developing a growing, energized and diverse membership of clean water professionals in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Financial Strength

PNCWA has grown over the past several years to a position of financial strength (23% increase in end of year balance since 2008). Total assets at the beginning of 2018 are over $250,000. The association budgets an increase in reserve (5% increase per year) which has allowed for increased growth in the reserves to $134,010. In 2013, PNCWA initiated the purchase of event insurance for its annual conference ensuring protection of the main revenue source for the association. At the same time, a site selection committee began to secure future conference locations. The Site Selection Committee completed a thorough investigation of conference venues in the Northwest, especially focusing on exhibitor space. New contracts for venues allow for adequate growth, protecting the future financial success of the annual conference. And in 2016, PNCWA developed a financial modelling tool to assist with budgeting and rate setting, allowing for thoughtful rate setting discussions.

Please write your Members of Congress today in support of the National Priorities Water Research Grant Program in FY 2019!  The Senate has given the program a slight boost to $5 million in FY 2019 in Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, while the House gave the program level funding of $4.1 million in their bill!  Please write your Members today in support of the Senate number!

Click here to learn more and reach out to your Members through our Water Advocates website today!

These are looking pretty good...we need your entries too!

Oregon Operators Conference Aug 14-16 Canyonville OR

Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 8:00 AM to Thursday, August 16, 2018, 5:00 PM PDT

PNCWA2018 is now at conference.pncwa.org

The PNCWA Annual Conferences and Exhibitions have grown so much...more people, more exhibitors, more pretensions, and you guessed it, more information...that we have transitioned PNCWA2018 to its own website: conference.pncwa.org.

Back by popular demand, the PNCWA Member Services Committee is creating a calendar for 2019 which we will distribute at the PNCWA Annual Conference this fall. 

• The types of photos we are looking for include PNW water professionals in the office or in the field, PNW water professionals participating in water-related community programs, wastewater facilities, pump/lift stations, stormwater infrastructure, collection systems, etc. Be creative, be silly, be yourself. This calendar is intended to be a celebration of our industry and the work we all do as professionals protecting our most important resource: water! 
• The photo must show water quality infrastructure and/or people from the Pacific Northwest. 
• Also, the photo must be owned with no copyrights attached or where permission can be granted to PNCWA.

• The photo must be digital and a printable quality of at least 300 dpi.

The WEF Government Affairs  Committee tracks legislative and regulatory efforts with respect to water and other environmental issues on the national level, informing members and providing education about our profession to legislators and regulatory officials. The Member Association (MA) Subcommittee is tasked with increasing communication with respect to federal issues and local impacts.  The MA Subcommittee also wants to be aware of local issues that may inform other MAs about regulatory trends.

This webinar will provide an update on Washington legislative and regulatory issues, including funding. Four MAs will report on regional, issues and initiatives. We intend to establish this as a quarterly update and request different MAs to provide regional updates. Please join us June 28th, 1 - 2:15 PM EDT. 

Date:  June 28, 2018
Time:  1:00 - 2:15 PM, EST
Register Now!

Roadmap to Reuse
Get ideas and insights from four innovative reuse projects at the 2018 Pacific Northwest WateReuse Conference in Portland, Oregon, on May 17-18, 2018 at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, 8235 NE Airport Way, Portland, Oregon 97220.

Program Highlights: In these four sessions, city leaders will share first-hand experiences and in-depth profiles on their projects, giving you a roadmap to reuse for your projects at home.  CEU’s offered for OR, WA and ID.

WATER WEEK EVENTS

Oregon State University stands ready to tackle that challenge, with help from a visionary gift to the College of Engineering. 

A $3.28 million commitment from Jon and Stephanie DeVaan has allowed OSU to launch the Clean and Sustainable Water Technology Initiative. The effort, led by Lewis Semprini, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering (pictured below), will build on the university’s strengths to become a national leader in designing, building, and testing systems-level approaches to the problem of access to clean water. 

Faculty in the College of Engineering and across campus are recognized nationally and internationally for their groundbreaking research related to water systems. Several specialize in advanced technologies for treating drinking water, wastewater, and storm water, while others focus on the infrastructure needed for sustainable water management.

The DeVaans’ gift will support graduate students who join faculty research on clean and sustainable water technology solutions. Their gift will also allow undergraduate students to engage in hands-on learning experiences, developing their research skills and their passion for finding practical solutions to this critical global problem. Continue

PNCWA WFP and Optimism Brewing partner for fun and a great cause.

 

WEF Awards Deadline Extended to April 15

WEF is proud to present a variety of awards recognizing hard work in protecting one of the world's most valuable resources. Award recipients are individuals and organizations that contribute to the sustainability of water resources and make a profound impact on the future of the world’s water through involvement with water professionals and education.

• National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards Program
• Individual Service and Contribution Awards
• Education Awards
• Organization and Association Recognition Awards
• Operational and Design Excellence Awards
• Published Papers

See https://www.wef.org/membership/awards-recognition/wef-awards/

Beer for Us, Water For Everyone - PNCWA Committee Supporting Water For People

To celebrate World Water Day 2018 the PNCWA Water For People Committee is teaming up with Optimism Brewing in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle to support Water For People. Optimism Brewing will be offering 'virtual pints' all day, donations of which will go to Water For People's mission of providing drinking water and sanitation services to everyone forever.

July 29, 2018 - July 31, 20

Portland Crowne Plaza | Portland, Oregon

Webinar Series:  Enabling the Water Resources Utility of the Future

Webinar:  Achieving and Maintaining Economic and Social Health for the Community
January 23, 2018
1:00 - 2:30 PM, EST

The landscape that has traditionally driven clean water utilities is changing rapidly. Today’s utility managers are no longer just treating and discharging wastewater. They are looking for ways to optimize their efficiency, recover valuable resources, and enhance their contribution to the overall health of watersheds and their communities.

As “anchor institutions” in their communities, these Utilities of the Future employ innovative approaches not only to meet their own goals, but also to support the financial and social health of the communities they serve. Please join NACWA, WEF, U.S. EPA, WateReuse, and WE&RF for this webinar describing how leading clean water utilities are using innovative assistance programs to support low-income ratepayers and small water systems serving surrounding communities, enhancing the overall economic and social well-being of the entire area.

Aging infrastructure, strict regulatory requirements, and continued economic pressures have put unprecedented stress on local governments and agencies that provide essential water services, but you can help! The Water Advocates program will create a network of water professionals in every state and community, in every congressional district, to get the word out about the value of water and steps needed to protect it. As part of the network, you’ll receive the training and information needed to become an effective Water Advocate for clean and safe water. It’s a great opportunity to help in specific ways, including letters to elected officials and newspaper editors, presentations to business and community organizations, and visits to legislative offices. 

Water needs YOUR voice. Click here to view the flyer. To sign up, log onto the WEFCOM community titled "Water Advocates" and join the community.  You can also submit your information to [email protected]. Please include your name, title, organization, address, e-mail, and telephone number. After you sign up, you will be in the Water Advocates program and receive important announcments about actions you can take to help.

Are you a PNCWA Member?

Please take our 2017 PNCWA Membership Survey. We need your feedback. The survey takes less than 2 minutes and will provide the member services committee with valuable information to inform our membership strategic plan!

From the EPA: 

SEATTLE - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is awarding $14.6 million to Idaho’s clean water and drinking water revolving funds to help finance improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment. The funds will be used to finance water quality protection and drinking water projects that will last far into the future.