Watch and listen to the on-line State of the Association meeting hosted on May 4, 2010 by CWEA President Pei-Chin Low (MWH). Click the graphic below to launch the player.
The importance of safety at work can’t be over exemplified. Adaptation of safety measures not only ensures safety of our members but also of their family dependents.
Both agencies and employees tend to regard safety in the workplace as nothing more than legislation. When managers do not pay attention to safety in the workplace, employees too get complacent about their work environment and do not pay attention to following injury prevention processes. Eventually the organization as a whole starts paying scant regard to safety in the workplace.
This is why the CWEA Safety Committee would like to remind you that we are here to assist all CWEA Local Chapters with implementation of any safety topics to all or most of your educational events. We would like to encourage you to utilize our committee to its fullest.
Our commitment to safety is more than a job, but a lifestyle and our goal this year is to encourage and implement more safety topics in all local programs.
Please contact us so we can discuss and explore how together we can bring safety back to the forefront.
Safety, live with it.
Larry Olivan
CWEA Safety Chair
lolivan@oroloma.org
From Sophia Skoda, CWEA Government Affairs Committee
After nearly two years of workshops, stakeholder input and multiple drafts, on November 17, 2009, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) has adopted a new Water Quality Enforcement Policy (WQEP). The below is an edited summary of notes and comments on the policy originally drafted by Roberta Larsen, an attorney at Somach, Simmons, and Dunn with extensive experience with water quality issues.
The WQEP governs the manner in which the State and Regional Water Boards prioritize and pursue enforcement of violations of permits and water quality laws. The policy replaces the current version, which has been in effect since February 2002. Tri-TAC (comprising CWEA, the League of Cities, and CASA), CASA itself, and the Clean Water Summit Partners were active participants in the WQEP update process, and many of the changes requested were reflected in the WQEP.
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This is your opportunity to shine! We are looking for dynamic individuals with vision and energy to make this a memorable event. Whatever your unique skill set is, there is a place for you. Not sure how you can participate? No worries! If you are willing, able, and smiling, we’ll find just the right spot for you!
Contact John Mukhar at John.Mukhar@sanjoseca.gov to join the team or for more information…
Click icon to Play
Watch this narrated presentation from representatives of Los Angeles based Origin Oil about the development of their technologies which pair wastewater treatment plants, algae development systems and a biofuel processing facility.
A letter from (PDF) Chris Beaven of Origin Oil explains the Federal funding available right now and the wastewater partnerships the company is searching for.
Their system breaks down algae as a feedstock and produces a clean biofuel. Is algae the energy of the future? Everyone from the Feds to private industry to WEF’s Algae Working Group are trying to figure that out.
Contact information:
Chris Beaven
Business Development
OriginOil, Inc.
O: 323-939-6006
F: 323-315-2306
M: 310-490-0939
e: chris@originoil.com
w: www.originoil.com
The presentation and audio are from the March P3S meeting. Used with permission.
By Wendy Wert
Chair
CWEA Training Coordination Committee
Dr. Wes Eckenfelder – friend, colleague, and pioneer in the Environmental Engineering Profession – passed away Saturday evening, March 27, 2010. A few days before, on March 22, 2010 the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) hosted a tribute and technical seminar honoring Wes Eckenfelder’s contributions to the field. The seminar was held at the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant in Los Angeles. The program began with an outline of the program presented by moderator David Greenwood. Mr. Greenwood introduced the first speaker David Jenkins, professor emeritus of UC Berkeley.
Dr. Jenkins initiated proceedings by showing attendees a photograph of Wes Eckenfelder and presenting a brief biography of Eckenfelder. Wes has been deemed the “godfather” of wastewater treatment by many of his colleagues, former students and peers, Wes played a significant role in the development of wastewater treatment. Through research, numerous technical publications and multiple courses and seminars, his name has become well known in the industry. Wes’ sense of humor has enlightened many presentations. It has been noted that he has a way of presenting highly technical information such that it can be easily understood. He encouraged his students to expand think for themselves, and never hesitated to share his knowledge with others in his field, which as Dr. Jenkins noted, was the purpose of the CWEA seminar.
Record attendance at a recent training event, here’s a report from the SSCSC website…
On March 17th SSCSC held its annual “Inland Empire Workshop” at Eastern Municipal Water District in Perris, California. The most significant part of this workshop were the number of attendees. The 153 registered attendees surpassed the numbers attained at any of the previous 42 workshops. There were also 19 vendors attending - significant number.
The P3S Committee’s March 24th meeting features a presentation by the VP of Operations for OriginOil, a Los Angeles based company developing algaes that can be turned into biofuels. Some in the industry are exploring growing algae in wastewater. Join in person or on-line – the choice is yours.
P3S Committee Meeting
Wednesday, March 24th
10:00 – 11:00am
Webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/568503763
Call in number for audio: (888) 872-1176 passcode 4878#
We recommend joining the webinar a few minutes early
Or join in person and enjoy the lunch, RSVP to John Boyd at jboyd@lacsd.org:
City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation
2714 Media Center Drive
Los Angeles CA 90065
Learn more about algae after the jump…
To kick off February, CWEA launched a new and improved web calendar. The new calendar will connect our members to exciting educational opportunities throughout the state. Take a look at events by the day, week or month. View by category (Southern CA Events, Certification/Study Sessions, SSO-WDR Workshops + many more) or search the description text to find what’s happening that interests you most. Click on a listing to find out more, including key contacts, program flyers, on-line registration and even driving directions!
Local section and committee leaders may continue to send activities for posting to calendar@cwea.org.
We hope you find this improved membership benefit useful and can’t wait to see you at one of our events!
Join the fun at the monthly Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention and Stormwater committee meeting. The presentation and meeting will again be broadcast using CWEA’s on-line GoToMeeting account. Attendance is limited to the first 15 on-line attendees.
Wednesday Dec. 16th
10:00am to 1:00pm
A little before 10am join the meeting at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/939063082
Call in number for audio:
1-888-872-1176, code 4878#
Or join the meeting in-person:
LACSD
1955 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, California 90601
