Iowa Water Environment Association Past, Present, and Future of IAWEA March, 2013

Iowa Water Iowa Water Environment Environment AssociationAssociation

Past, Present, and FuturePast, Present, and Future

of IAWEAof IAWEA

March, 2013

A Little History of IAWEA…A Little History of IAWEA…

• One of the first state associations.One of the first state associations.

• The first Operators’ training in the nation –The first Operators’ training in the nation –

November 2-3, 1915.November 2-3, 1915.

• A second Operators’ short course –A second Operators’ short course –

December 9-10, 1920.December 9-10, 1920.

• Annual training conferences every year Annual training conferences every year since except during World War II due to since except during World War II due to travel restrictions.travel restrictions.

Official Founding Dates of Official Founding Dates of State and National State and National

Associations:Associations:• New Jersey – 1916New Jersey – 1916• Missouri – 1925Missouri – 1925• Ohio – 1926Ohio – 1926• California – 1927California – 1927• Iowa – 1927Iowa – 1927• Arizona – 1928Arizona – 1928• Texas – 1928Texas – 1928• Federation of Federation of

Sewage Works Sewage Works Associations (WEF) – Associations (WEF) – 19281928

Charter Members of theCharter Members of theFederation of Sewage Works Federation of Sewage Works

Associations (WEF)Associations (WEF)

• ArizonaArizona

• CaliforniaCalifornia

• Central StatesCentral States

• IowaIowa

• MarylandMaryland

• PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

• TexasTexas


Present EndeavorsPresent Endeavors

TrainingTraining

• First specialized operator training in 1915.First specialized operator training in 1915.• IAWEA Annual ConferenceIAWEA Annual Conference• AWWA/IAWEA Operator Short CoursesAWWA/IAWEA Operator Short Courses• Regional meetings – six regions in the Regional meetings – six regions in the

state hold annual or biannual training in state hold annual or biannual training in each region.each region.

• Biosolids ConferenceBiosolids Conference• Collection System ConferenceCollection System Conference• Maintenance ConferenceMaintenance Conference

Stockholm Junior Water Stockholm Junior Water PrizePrize

• IAWEA has sponsored awards at Iowa IAWEA has sponsored awards at Iowa high school science fairs since 1991.high school science fairs since 1991.

• 1991 – 1991 – High School - $50;High School - $50;

Junior High - $25Junior High - $25

• 2013 – High School - $500;2013 – High School - $500;

Junior High - $100Junior High - $100

• Sponsorship to national SJWP Sponsorship to national SJWP competition since 2004.competition since 2004.

Iowa Children’s Water Iowa Children’s Water FestivalFestival

• 2,000 52,000 5thth graders attend a free one-day graders attend a free one-day event designed to educate them on Iowa’s event designed to educate them on Iowa’s water resources.water resources.

• Topics include aquifers, surface waters, Topics include aquifers, surface waters, point source and non-point source point source and non-point source pollution, watersheds, wetlands, etc.pollution, watersheds, wetlands, etc.

• Exposure to careers and volunteer Exposure to careers and volunteer opportunities through adult role models.opportunities through adult role models.

• IAWEA provides financial support and IAWEA provides financial support and volunteer workers and makes volunteer workers and makes presentations.presentations.


• IAWEA/AWWA-Iowa Section Water for IAWEA/AWWA-Iowa Section Water for People committees educate students People committees educate students about the need for clean drinking water about the need for clean drinking water and sanitation in developing countries.and sanitation in developing countries.

• IAWEA’s presentation of IAWEA’s presentation of “Cleanwater “Cleanwater Heroes” Heroes” where students are assigned where students are assigned roles as constituents in the flow to a roles as constituents in the flow to a wastewater treatment plant.wastewater treatment plant.

• Constituents (students) are removed from Constituents (students) are removed from the flow as they enter the appropriate the flow as they enter the appropriate treatment structure.treatment structure.




Operator CertificationOperator Certification

• Voluntary certification – 1952Voluntary certification – 1952• Mandatory certification – 1965Mandatory certification – 1965• Joint Operator Certification Committee – Joint Operator Certification Committee –

1991 – AWWA – Iowa Section, IAWEA, Iowa 1991 – AWWA – Iowa Section, IAWEA, Iowa Rural Water Assoc., Iowa Assoc. of Rural Water Assoc., Iowa Assoc. of Municipal Utilities, Iowa State University, Municipal Utilities, Iowa State University, Kirkwood Community College – Advisory Kirkwood Community College – Advisory committee to state regulatory agency.committee to state regulatory agency.

• Voluntary Collection System Certification Voluntary Collection System Certification by IAWEA since 1995.by IAWEA since 1995.

Laboratory CertificationLaboratory Certification

• Ad Hoc Wastewater Laboratory Ad Hoc Wastewater Laboratory Certification Committee – 1983Certification Committee – 1983

• Voluntary Wastewater Laboratory Voluntary Wastewater Laboratory Certification by IAWEA – 1987Certification by IAWEA – 1987

• Mandatory IDNR Wastewater Mandatory IDNR Wastewater Laboratory Certification – 1997 – Laboratory Certification – 1997 – modeled after IAWEA voluntary modeled after IAWEA voluntary program.program.

• Laboratory Practices CommitteeLaboratory Practices Committee

Spouses’ AuxiliarySpouses’ Auxiliary

• Official association founded in 1957.Official association founded in 1957.

• First such auxiliary in WEF.First such auxiliary in WEF.

• Annual program and election of Annual program and election of officers coinciding with IAWEA annual officers coinciding with IAWEA annual conference.conference.

Iowa Science Teachers’ Iowa Science Teachers’ ConferenceConference

• Educate the educators about IAWEA.Educate the educators about IAWEA.• Stockholm Junior Water Prize Stockholm Junior Water Prize

competition.competition.• Distribute copies of the WEF Water Distribute copies of the WEF Water

Sourcebook.Sourcebook.• This curriculum has been placed in over This curriculum has been placed in over

100 education agencies in the state.100 education agencies in the state.• Discuss career opportunities in the Discuss career opportunities in the

water quality field.water quality field.

IAWEA Biosolids ConferenceIAWEA Biosolids Conference

• Ad Hoc Biosolids Committee - 1991Ad Hoc Biosolids Committee - 1991

• First annual Biosolids Conference - 1992First annual Biosolids Conference - 1992

• EPA 503 regulations effective 2/19/93.EPA 503 regulations effective 2/19/93.

• Iowa Chapter 67 regulations effective Iowa Chapter 67 regulations effective 9/21/94 based on vital input from IAWEA 9/21/94 based on vital input from IAWEA members.members.

• Biosolids educational video - 1996Biosolids educational video - 1996

• Land Application Field Guide – 2000, 2011Land Application Field Guide – 2000, 2011

IAWEA Collection System IAWEA Collection System ConferenceConference

• Voluntary Certification through Voluntary Certification through IAWEA and ABC since 1995.IAWEA and ABC since 1995.

• Annual Collection System Conference Annual Collection System Conference –1997–1997

• Training and Exam Opportunities – 2 Training and Exam Opportunities – 2 x year – Collection System x year – Collection System Conference and as a separate track Conference and as a separate track at IAWEA Annual Conference.at IAWEA Annual Conference.

IAWEA IAWEA ReporterReporter

• Quarterly newsletterQuarterly newsletter• Message from the PresidentMessage from the President• Committee ReportsCommittee Reports• Plant UpgradesPlant Upgrades• Member NewsMember News• Regional NewsRegional News• Membership InformationMembership Information• IDNR NewsIDNR News• Water for PeopleWater for People• Safety CornerSafety Corner• Certification Practice QuestionsCertification Practice Questions

Government Affairs Government Affairs CommitteeCommittee

• Technical Advisory Committee to state Technical Advisory Committee to state regulators.regulators.

• Keep the general membership informed of Keep the general membership informed of pending regulations.pending regulations.

• Draft position papers on regulatory issues.Draft position papers on regulatory issues.

• Funded research that was instrumental in Funded research that was instrumental in drafting Chloride/Sulfate/TSS rule for IDNR drafting Chloride/Sulfate/TSS rule for IDNR – now serving as national model– now serving as national model

AwardsIn addition to WEF Awards such as Bedell, Hatfield, and

Burke, IAWEA presents the following awards to a select few of its members:

• Harris F. Seidel Education Award - This award was established in honor of Mr. Seidel, a 60-year member and former President of WEF. The award is presented to recognize individuals who have given exemplary service in the broad area of water pollution control and the environmental sciences through education, training and motivation.

• Operator Advancement Awards – Operators and their employers are recognized for excellence in treatment and overall community awareness, motivation and successful achievement in water pollution control and the environment – awarded annually since 1958.

Awards, cont.• Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award - The award

is presented to recognize individuals for outstanding performance, professionalism and contributions to the water quality analysis profession. This honor also acknowledges exceptional efforts in wastewater and environmental aquatic analyses and service that have been beneficial to the nominee’s facility.

• Golden Manhole Award – recognition for collection system operators who have provided meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty.

• “Wrencher” Award – presented to individuals who have gone "beyond exceptional duties" in the maintenance of water pollution control plant equipment.

Water for People

•A golf tournament, motorcycle fun ride, and strong-arm tactics (pass the hat) at the annual conference results in thousands of dollars raised for Water for People.

•Each year IAWEA members travel to work on water (drinking and sanitation) projects for the community of Xicotepec, Mexico.

Young Professionals

• Iowa State University Water Quality Club – a student organization at ISU interested in the engineering and science of meeting our water needs while protecting the environment.

• Supported by IAWEA through the sponsorship of WEF student memberships and a yearly stipend.

• Additional financial support from IAWEA for engineering students to present a project at the WEFTEC Design Competition.

• IAWEA Young Professionals Club – January, 2008.

Operator RecruitmentOperator Recruitment• Ad Hoc committee comprised of AWWA – Iowa Section, Ad Hoc committee comprised of AWWA – Iowa Section,

IAWEA, Iowa Rural Water Assoc., Iowa Assoc. of IAWEA, Iowa Rural Water Assoc., Iowa Assoc. of Municipal Utilities, Des Moines Area Community College Municipal Utilities, Des Moines Area Community College designed curriculum for training water and wastewater designed curriculum for training water and wastewater operators. Now offered as either a certificate program operators. Now offered as either a certificate program or AA degree.or AA degree.

• Will be offered by every community college in Iowa.Will be offered by every community college in Iowa.

• Annual fundraiser held to finance scholarships for Annual fundraiser held to finance scholarships for students enrolled in the program.students enrolled in the program.

• Proclamation by Iowa’s Governor declaring last week of Proclamation by Iowa’s Governor declaring last week of July as Water and Wastewater Workers of Iowa Week.July as Water and Wastewater Workers of Iowa Week.

What Challenges Lie Ahead for What Challenges Lie Ahead for IAWEA?IAWEA?

• Membership Retention and Membership Retention and RecruitmentRecruitment

• Regulatory ChangesRegulatory Changes• Succession Planning - Employers and Succession Planning - Employers and

IAWEAIAWEA• Develop a Professional Image of Our Develop a Professional Image of Our

OccupationOccupation• Encourage Involvement in IAWEA by Encourage Involvement in IAWEA by

Front-line EmployeesFront-line Employees


Questions?Questions?

March, 2013

Documents

Iowa Water Environment Association Past, Present, and Future of IAWEA March, 2013