WEF House of DelegatesStrategy Focus Groups

October 29, 2005

WEF and MACommunications

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 emails

• 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

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

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 ChallengesWhere Should We Be In 2020?

Young Professional Incentives

• Issues– Getting YP’s to Join WEF

• Strategies ASKAdvertise YP

Rates/Programs

Support MA’s in Educating Employers

– Keeping YP’s in WEF• Strategies Foster Mentoring Mentality

Meaningful Positions & Assignments Make it Fun

Technical Challenges

• Issue– Develop Treatment Technologies to Deal With

Emerging Contaminants• Strategy Promote & Lobby Academia &

Stakeholders to Develop Technologies

– Develop Viable Value Added Biosolids Products• Strategy Develop Technologies With

Support of USDA, DOE, & NSF

– Optimize Enegry Use and Performance• Strategy Develop 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