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Editor: Rick Harmon
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Published by BUENA VISTA PUBLISHING for Florida Water Resources Journal Inc.
President: Richard Anderson (FSAWWA) Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority
Vice President: Joe Paterniti (FWEA) Clay County Utility Authority
Treasurer: Rim Bishop (FWPCOA) Seacoast Utility Authority
Secretary: Rim Bishop (FWPCOA) Seacoast Utility Authority
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Membership Questions
FSAWWA: Casey Cumiskey – 407-979-4806 or Casey@fsawwa.org
FWEA: Laura Cooley, 407-574-3318, admin@fwea.org
FWPCOA: Darin Bishop – 561-840-0340
Training Questions
FSAWWA: Donna Metherall – 407-979-4805 or Donna@fsawwa.org
FWPCOA: Shirley Reaves – 321-383-9690
For Other Information
FDEP Operator Certification: Ron McCulley – 850-245-7500
FSAWWA: Peggy Guingona – 407-979-4820
Florida Water Resources Conference: 267-884-6292
FWPCOA Operators Helping Operators: John Lang – 772-559-0722, oho@fwpcoa.org
FWEA: Laura Cooley, 407-574-3318, admin@fwea.org
Websites
Florida Water Resources Journal: www.fwrj.com
FWPCOA: www.fwpcoa.org
FSAWWA: www.fsawwa.org
FWEA: www.fwea.org and www.fweauc.org
Florida Water Resources Conference: www.fwrc.org
News and Features
4 Prepare for August National Water Quality Month!
8 Joan Fernandez Takes Office as 2025-2026 FWEA President
18 August is Water Professionals Month
20 Go Home, Go Home, Go Home: Now Let’s Make ‘Come Back’ Work—Kate Zabriskie
21 FWEA Biosolids Committee Update
24 Map Shows State of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Florida Waters—Dorothy Hagmajer
28 Broward County Pioneers Regional Biosolids Solutions and Partners With SEBA to Champion a Sustainable Future—Megan Ross
36 Caribbean Connections: Bridging the Florida and Caribbean Water Sectors from Across the Seas—Kevin Carter
39 Florida Becomes Second State to Ban Fluoride in Water
40 The 9 Core Traits of High-Performing Companies: Why Some Companies Outperform—And How Yours Can Too—Susan Quinn
41 Southwest Florida Water Management District Elects 2025-2026 Officers
44 News Beat
45 Where Do Invasive Species Spread and Why?
Technical Articles
12 Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for PFOA and PFOS— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Education and Training
11 CEU Challenge
32 FSAWWA Fall Conference Call for Papers
33 FSAWWA Fall Conference Highlights
34
FSAWWA Fall Conference Exhibitor Registration
35 FSAWWA 2025 Water Distribution System Awards
42
Florida Water Resources Conference
43 FWPCOA Training Calendar
Columns
10 Speaking Out—Lisa Wilson-Davis
16 Let’s Talk Safety: Achieve the Height of Safety When Climbing Elevated Water Tanks
22 C Factor—Kevin G. Shropshire
26 Reader Profile—Courtney Dantone
30 FWEA Focus—Joe Paterniti
44 Test Yourself—Charles Lee Martin Jr.
Departments
48 Classifieds
50 Display Advertiser Index
(photo: Randy Brown)
Prepare for August National Water Quality Month!
Water is used every day in a variety of ways: for drinking, household use, recreation, irrigation, transportation, industry, agriculture, and manufacturing, to name a few. Just try to imagine what life would be like for your utility customers without easy access to clean and plentiful water. There would be no fountains to quench their thirst when out on a hot day. No more swimming pools, and no lakes and rivers clean enough for recreational activities. No more long showers at home, or any running water for their businesses.
National Water Quality Month reminds us to take a moment to consider how important water sources are to humans and all of the other inhabitants of the ecosystem. By thinking about the little things that your customers do on a daily basis that could have a negative impact on water quality, and getting them to change their habits, you’ll be a step closer to improving water quality— for everyone.
History of National Water Quality Month
The United Nations declared 2005-2015 as the International Decade for Action “Water for
Life” in order to emphasize the importance of water quality as it relates to sanitation, human rights, geography, urbanization, and sustainability.
Emphasizing how interlinked water systems are, the Audubon Society points to the dangers of runoff from agriculture, forestry, construction, and people’s personal yards:
“Each individual household or business may not produce enough pollution to force a beach closing or cause a fish kill, but the combined output of all the homes and businesses in a community can be severe, considering that about half of the United States population lives within 50 miles of a coastline where runoff flows quickly to the ocean. This is why watershed protection, with attention not only to the body of water, but the area that drains into it, is important.”
What is Water Quality?
August is designated as National Water Quality Month by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but how is the quality of water in the United States determined?
Water quality is based on a set of standards and criteria that describe the desired conditions or level of protection and how the required
conditions will be established in waters of the U.S. in the future. These standards and criteria are provisions of state, territorial, authorized tribal, or federal law approved by EPA.
Although the majority of water is regulated and safe to drink, you and your customers should still be cautious about what could potentially be in pipes, faucets, and local waterways contaminating the water. According to the National Resources Defense Council, contaminated water could have higher concentrations of lead, atrazine, pathogens, chlorine, arsenic, nitrates, radioactive material, vinyl chloride, perchlorate, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and pharmaceuticals.
Standards of Water Quality
Water quality standards must include the following items:
Designated Uses of the Water Body
This requires states, territories, and authorized tribes to specify the goals and objectives about how each water body will be used, including fishing, recreating, drinking, agricultural irrigation, industrial uses, and navigation.
Continued on page 6
from page 4
Criteria for Protection of Designated Uses
States, territories, and authorized tribes must adopt criteria that protect the designated uses. These criteria can be numeric or narrative, but most entities typically adopt both types.
Antidegradation Requirements
These provide the framework of water quality protection by maintaining the current uses of the water and protecting the quality that has already been achieved.
General Policies for Implementation
Based on EPA approval, all states, territories, and authorized tribes are allowed to adopt policies and provisions for implementation of water quality standards.
Water quality standards are developed using federal guidelines of the Clean Water Act (CWA). All entities develop their own legal and administrative procedures for adoption of their standards. Generally, they use the following steps:
S Work groups or informal public meetings are held to develop the standards, which are then put out for public comment.
S Public hearings are scheduled to gather input from the public.
S Water quality criteria must be included to provide sufficient coverage and be stringent enough to protect the designated uses.
The water quality standards for each entity must be approved by EPA prior to implementation. If the standards are approved, they become applicable. After approval, entities must do a review of their standards at least once every three years. If all or part of an entity’s standards are not approved based on the requirements in the CWA, then EPA will outline necessary changes to meet the requirements.
How to Celebrate
National Water Quality Month reminds us to take a long, hard look at what households, businesses, farmers, and communities are doing to protect sources of fresh water, which is important to everyone in myriad ways. Research done by the American Chemical Society, for instance, demonstrates that showering leads to greater exposure to toxic chemicals in tap water than drinking the water does. A person can absorb up to eight glasses of water through the skin during a quick 10-minute shower. Due to this fact, it’s imperative that all of the water that enters homes and businesses is safe and free from contaminants.
What can your utility recommend that individuals, families, and businesses do to prevent water pollution from entering their homes, stores, and offices, especially during National Water Quality Month? Here’s a short list of things that can be done to help:
S Not using antibacterial soaps or cleaning products. Regular soap and water will do the trick. Many antibacterial soaps contain a registered pesticide that is known to harm marine life.
S Not flushing unwanted or out-of-date medications down the toilet or putting them down the drain.
S Not putting anything but water down storm drains because they carry water to local waterways.
S Fixing leaks that drop from cars, vans, and trucks and putting liners in driveways and garages to collect oil and other materials.
S Avoid using pesticides or chemical fertilizers, which can run off the soil and contaminate the waterways that feed drinking water supplies.
S Choose nontoxic cleaning products when possible.
S Pick up after pets as stormwater could wash the animal waste into waterways and contaminate the water.
S Don’t pave properties.
S Use a car wash. Washing a car at home can flush chemicals down the storm drains that flow into lakes and streams. Professional car washes are required to drain into sewer systems so that wastewater plants can treat the water before it’s reused.
S Have a private well tested and cleaned regularly. There can be bacteria buildup in wells.
S Encourage customers to read your water quality reports so that they know what the water quality is in their area.
Another option for your employees and customers could be for them to gather a group of family, friends, coworkers, or neighbors and volunteer to clean streets, beaches, rivers, and wetlands. They could bring a picnic and hold a contest to see who can clean up the most trash and debris, offering a prize to the winning team. It’s a great way to get everyone in a community together and enjoy an outdoor day full of fun doing something that’s good for the environment. Have someone take photos or videos of the event and share them on social media.
Be Aware Every Day!
Water that enters household, storm, and other drains goes into waterways before entering the treatment plants. Practicing these little changes year-round in all communities can make a big difference.
Together we can all make a big impact. Spread the word to your customers, the media, and the public that August is National Water Quality Month! S
Continued
WE STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.
As you would expect from Lakeside, our Raptor® Multi-Rake Bar Screen is an efficient, proven screen technology for rapid removal of inorganic solids in municipal and industrial applications. But what sets it apart is the simple fact that ours is built to Lakeside’s renowned standards and features superior quality. As with everything we do, our Raptor Multi-Rake Bar Screen is well-engineered, designed for optimum performance and durability, and is manufactured in the USA. That’s important on a lot of levels. When critical decisions are made on design and specifications, stand out with the Lakeside Raptor Multi-Rake Bar Screen, the gold standard of the industry.
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Speak to one of our experts at 630.837.5640, email us at sales@lakeside-equipment.com, or visit www.lakeside-equipment.com for more product information.
Joan Fernandez Takes Office as 2025-2026 FWEA President
Hello! My name is Joan Fernandez, and I am truly honored to serve as your Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) president for 2025–2026. This role has been a long-standing aspiration of mine, and now that it’s a reality, I find myself both humbled and energized for the journey ahead.
People often ask me a few core questions that get to the heart of who I am and what drives me:
S Can you tell us about your background— where you’re from, how you were raised, and how your journey led you here?
S What inspired your career in the water industry and what continues to fuel your passion?
S What kind of legacy do you hope to leave as FWEA president—for both the organization and the future of our profession?
I hope this introduction answers those questions.
From Puerto Rico to Professional Engineer
I was born and raised on the vibrant Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, La Isla del Encanto, where I lived until completing high school. My parents placed a high value on education and opportunity, and they believed that sending me to college on the mainland United States would broaden my horizons and help me master English, what my father called “the language of the future.” I’m deeply grateful for their vision.
With their support, I attended the University of Florida (Go Gators!), where I earned a bachelor of science in environmental engineering. After graduation, I began my engineering career as a consultant in south Florida. In 2008, I moved to Washington, D.C., where my career expanded in new and exciting ways, but I quickly realized I was not made for cold winters! In 2014, I returned to sunny south Florida, where I now live in Hollywood with my husband, Andre, and our beloved pitbull, Sassy.
Finding My People Through FWEA
My FWEA journey began in the early 2000s when I joined the student chapter at the University of Florida. I competed in the Student Design Competition at the Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC), and from that very first experience, I felt I had found my professional home.
Since then, my involvement with FWEA has steadily grown. I’ve served as chair of the Collection Systems Committee, led the Southeast Chapter, and gradually moved up through the board. Each step has offered me the opportunity to grow, give back, and connect with incredible professionals across the state. And now, here I am—president. What a ride it’s been!
A Time of Momentum and Opportunity
The past year has been an exciting one for FWEA, full of growth and innovation. A few highlights include:
S The onboarding of a dynamic new executive management team.
S The launch of the InFLOW program, providing opportunities for students and young professionals to attend FWRC.
S New global sponsorships.
S The formation of the Emerging Water Technologies Committee.
S Continued growth of the “Water Stories” initiative.
S The debut of our very own podcast: “Making Waves with FWEA.”
Looking ahead, I know that twelve months will pass in the blink of an eye. My focus this year will be to continue building on the strong foundation we’ve created. Many of these initiatives are still in their infancy, and they need time, care, and consistency to thrive.
One of my key goals is to improve connectivity across our chapters and committees.
So much great work is happening, but too often, it happens in silos. I believe that by fostering more collaboration, perhaps through ad hoc task groups or regular cross-committee discussions, we can amplify our collective impact, especially when it comes to public outreach and workforce development.
Bridging Generations and Inspiring the Future
We all know the challenges facing our industry: how to replace a retiring workforce and retain critical institutional knowledge. Instead of seeing this as a looming crisis, I see it as a tremendous opportunity. What if FWEA could become a true bridge linking the experience of seasoned professionals with the energy and curiosity of new talent?
We need to better tell our story. We need to show that careers in water—whether as treatment plant operators, engineers, technicians, or analysts—offer purpose, stability, and growth. Some of these roles don’t require a college degree, but all require dedication, skill, and heart.
These are the conversations I want to champion this year, because at the end of the day, our strength lies in our people and we are stronger when we work together.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I look forward to what we will accomplish together. S
Receiving the Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award at the 2013 Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference.
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2. DRIER CAKE SOLIDS: P6 PolyMix® technology optimizes the polymer and sludge mixing process, allowing INCREASE DEWATERED SOLIDS CONCENTRATION and INCREASED PERCENT SOLIDS CAPTURED. This unique mixing process results in more efficient sludge hauling, allowing customers to transport less water and more dewatered cake off-site.
3. ELIMINATION OF PUMP MAINTENANCE: P6 PolyMix® technology reduces pump parts and maintenance by utilizing the abrasion-resistant Discflo pumping principles of Boundary Layer/Viscous Drag. This principle can save the customer thousands of dollars in parts and maintenance over the lifetime of the equipment. All P6 PolyMix® systems in the municipal market include a 10-YEAR (extendable to 20 years) 100% WET END WEAR WARRANTY, No other pump manufacturer in the industry provides a wear warranty, let alone a 20-year wear warranty!
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6. HOW IS IT APPLIED: P6 PolyMix® systems entirely replace bulky, expensive, outdated traditional sludge feed pumps. You can now replace thousands of dollars in equipment and regain valuable real estate space by switching to P6 PolyMix® and utilizing its unique compact design, patented process for eliminating mixer/check valves, and ultra-efficient polymer mixing process. Contact us to learn how P6 PolyMix® can revolutionize the efficiency of your BELT FILTER PRESSES, GRAVITY BELT THICKENERS, ROTARY THICKENERS, SCREW PRESSES, AND CRENTIFUGES.
Water: The Irreplaceable Challenge We Must Embrace
WLisa Wilson-Davis Chair, FSAWWA
elcome to the third wave in my A-to-E-I-O-U series on the importance of water, where each article flows through a different vowel. We’ve already splashed around in “A” and “E,” and now it’s time for “I,” a letter that’s overflowing with influence, innovation, inclusion, integrity, ingenuity—and that’s just the beginning.
I’ll be cramming more “I” words into this column than a caffeinated intern with a thesaurus! Through these words, we can celebrate ideas, industries, and investments, but beneath the wordplay lies a serious truth: protecting water is a must and it’s imperative for our future.
Time for “I”
Water is more than a resource. It is an irreplaceable force that shapes our lives, our communities, and our future.
Today, we stand at an imminent crossroad. Across every industry, from agriculture to technology, water fuels the progress we celebrate. Yet, inefficiencies and aging systems reveal a hard truth: the need for ingenuity, investment, and innovation has never been greater.
It is imperative that we get involved. We must apply our collective intelligence and uphold our integrity to design a future where water is managed wisely, shared fairly, and protected fiercely. We must embrace an iterative spirit—testing, improving, and never settling— because water demands our best efforts every single day.
We have the tools: advanced ion exchange systems, groundbreaking influent treatment methods, and instrumental technologies that detect the infiltration of contaminants before it becomes a catastrophe. We have ideas that can invigorate communities, and we can incorporate ancient indigenous wisdom with the most innovative modern science. We know how to build impermeable protections, install smarter irrigation, and strengthen the integration of natural and built environments.
Our most powerful tool is inclusion: welcoming every voice, every perspective, and every idea to the table to build water solutions that leave no one behind.
From nations to cities, towns to villages, and every community in between, water is the thread that binds us together. It is a common cause, an international mission. Every action we take, whether installing new infrastructure or sharing vital information, helps build a stronger, more connected, and resilient future.
This is about more than impressive technologies or the next brilliant invention; it’s about realizing that water is integral to who we are, and protecting it is the most important work we can do.
We are the stewards, the innovators, the generation that must act boldly, wisely, and without hesitation. Because water finds a way forward, around, over, or through—and so will we.
Keeping Our “I” On the Ball
Water has been fueling life, innovation, and even a few bad hair days, for generations and it will keep doing so if we rise to the challenge. With ingenuity, integrity, and a whole lot of teamwork, we can protect this irreplaceable gift for every community and every future. Let’s stay smart, stay involved, and remember, saving water is important and it’s the coolest thing we can do. After all, the future is thirsty for heroes like us. S
Operators: Take the CEU Challenge!
Members of the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA) may earn continuing education units through the CEU Challenge! Answer the questions published on this page, based on articles in this month’s issue. Circle the letter of each correct answer. There is only one correct answer to each question! Answer 80 percent of the questions on any article correctly to earn 0.1 CEU for your license. Retests are available.
This month’s editorial theme is Biosolids and Bioenergy Management Look above each set of questions to see if it is for water operators (DW), distribution system operators (DS), or wastewater operators (WW). Mail the completed page (or a photocopy) to: Florida Environmental Professionals Training, P.O. Box 33119, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 33420-3119, or scan and email a copy to memfwpcoa@gmail.com. Enclose $15 for each set of questions you choose to answer (make checks payable to FWPCOA). You MUST be an FWPCOA member before you can submit your answers!
Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for PFOA and PFOS
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Article 1: CEU = 0.1 WW)
1. Which of the following is a key component of sewage sludge?
a) Carbon dioxide
b) Organic matter
c) Nitrogen gas
d) Sulfur dioxide
2. Which method is commonly used to treat sewage sludge?
a) Incineration
b) Anaerobic digestion
c) Filtration
d) Chlorination
3. Which regulatory body oversees sewage sludge management in the United States?
a) Food and Drug Administration
b) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
c) U.S. Department of Agriculture
d) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4. Which nutrient is commonly found in sewage sludge?
a) Carbon monoxide
b) Nitrogen
c) Hydrogen
d) Helium
5. What is one method to reduce pathogen levels in sewage sludge?
a) Filtration
b) Heat treatment
c) Chlorination
d) Evaporation
Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for PFOA and PFOS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). The draft risk assessment indicates, in some scenarios, EPA’s acceptable risk thresholds may be exceeded when sewage sludge containing PFOA and PFOS is land-applied for beneficial reuse or surface disposed.
The draft risk assessment focuses on people living on or near impacted farms or those that rely primarily on their products. The findings presented in the draft risk assessment are preliminary. The EPA expects to publish a final risk assessment after reviewing public comments
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and revising the draft risk assessment accordingly. Once finalized, the risk assessment will provide information on risk from use or disposal of sewage sludge and will inform EPA’s potential future regulatory actions under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The EPA is committed to partnering with states, tribes, territories, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to reduce risks from PFOA and PFOS that may occur through the management of sewage sludge, including its land application.
Sewage Sludge and Biosolids
When sewage from households and businesses is sent to a WWTP, the liquids
are separated from the solids, producing a nutrient-rich product known as “sewage sludge.” The EPA typically uses the term “biosolids” to refer to treated sewage sludge that is intended to be applied to land as a soil conditioner or fertilizer; sometimes, biosolids are distributed to farms.
While some states, tribes, or counties may have additional rules around the use of biosolids, federal rules currently allow biosolids to be applied to pastures, feed crops, and other crops for direct human consumption. Biosolids can also be applied to forests, tree farms, golf courses, turf farms, and other types of land. In other cases, biosolids are bagged and sold at stores to the general public and are often used on lawns or in home gardens.
Not all WWTPs create biosolids for land application; some incinerate sewage sludge and others send it to a landfill. Biosolids are different from manure or industrial sludge (like pulp from a paper mill), which are also sometimes used as a soil amendment. The EPA does not regulate the land application of manure or industrial sludges in the same manner it does for biosolids.
Creation of PFOA and PFOS
The two chemicals PFOA and PFOS are in a large class of synthetic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Both PFOA and PFOS have been widely studied and they were once high-production-volume chemicals within the PFAS chemical class. The PFAS have been manufactured and used by a broad range of industries since the 1940s and there are estimated to be thousands of PFAS present in the global marketplace that are used in many consumer, commercial, and industrial products. The PFOA and PFOS tend to persist in the environment for long periods of time and have been linked to a variety of adverse human health effects.
Manufacturers of PFAS voluntarily phased out domestic manufacturing of PFOA and PFOS and EPA restricted their use by the Significant New Use Rules issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Though concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in people’s blood have lowered since the voluntary phaseout, blood levels can be elevated in communities where there is significant environmental contamination and exposure.
Concerns About the Presence of PFOA and PFOS in Sewage Sludge
Although domestic manufacturing of PFOA and PFOS has been phased out and their uses restricted, multiple activities still result in PFOA, PFOS, and their precursors being released to WWTPs. Traditional wastewater treatment technology does not remove or destroy PFOA or PFOS, and these chemicals typically accumulate in sewage sludge. Both PFOA and PFOS have strong chemical bonds, which means they do not break down on their own in the environment or in humans. The chemicals can move from soils to groundwater or nearby lakes or streams, and can appear in fish, plants, and livestock. These factors combine to raise questions about the potential risks associated with the presence of PFOA or PFOS in sewage sludge that is land-applied as a soil conditioner or fertilizer (on agricultural, forested, and other lands), surface-disposed, or incinerated.
Potential Sources of PFOA and PFOS in Sewage Sludge
Current and historical activities include:
S Industrial releases, e.g., certain types of firefighting foam, pulp, and paper plants
S Commercial releases, e.g., car washes and industrial launderers
S Down-the-drain releases from homes, e.g., use of consumer products, like aftermarket water resistant sprays, ski wax, floor finishes, and laundering of stain or water-resistant textiles with PFOA or PFOS coatings
If products containing PFOA or PFOS are disposed of at a lined municipal solid waste landfill (the most common offsite management practice for landfill leachate is to transfer it to a WWTP), then that landfill’s leachate could be a source of PFOA and PFOS to a WWTP. Studies have found PFOA and PFOS in sewage sludge, even at WWTPs, that only receive wastewater from residential and commercial users. At different WWTPs across the United States, any of these release mechanisms may play a role in PFOA or PFOS entering the plant and contaminating the sewage sludge.
Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is a scientific process that is used to understand health risks to people, livestock, or wildlife across the U.S. The EPA uses sewage sludge risk assessments to help evaluate whether actions, including regulation, are needed to protect those who
may experience risks from sewage sludge use or disposal. In this sewage sludge risk assessment, EPA estimates potential human exposures and risks in modeled scenarios where sewage sludge has been land-applied or surface-disposed.
The draft risk assessment focuses on risks to humans because available data indicate that people are much more sensitive to exposures to PFOA or PFOS than livestock or wildlife. Finally, this risk assessment does not assess risks to people in the general population, who often have a diversity of sources for their food.
Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment
The draft risk assessment focuses on those living on or near impacted sites (e.g., farm families and their neighbors) or those who rely primarily on their products (e.g., food crops, animal products, and drinking water). The draft risk assessment does not model risks for the general public.
Based on the modeling in the draft sewage sludge risk assessment, EPA finds that there may be human health risks exceeding EPA’s acceptable thresholds for some modeled scenarios when land-applying sewage sludge that contains 1 part per billion (ppb) of PFOA or PFOS. The EPA also finds that there may be human health risks associated with drinking contaminated groundwater sourced near a surface disposal site when sewage sludge containing 1 ppb of PFOA or sewage sludge containing 4 to 5 ppb of PFOS is disposed in an unlined or clay-lined surface disposal unit. The EPA provides a qualitative description of the potential risks to communities living near a sewage sludge incinerator in the draft risk assessment, but it does not provide quantitative
risk estimates due to significant data gaps related to the extent to which incineration destroys PFOA and PFOS and the health effects of exposure to products of incomplete combustion.
The draft risk calculations are not conservative estimates because they:
S Model risk associated with sewage sludge containing 1 ppb PFOA or PFOS, which is on the low end of measured U.S. sewage sludge concentrations.
S Reflect median exposure conditions (e.g., 50th percentile drinking water intake rates), rather than high-end exposure conditions.
S Do not take into account nonsewage sludge exposures to PFOA and PFOS (e.g., consumer products and other dietary sources).
S Do not account for the combined risk of PFOA and PFOS.
S Do not account for additional exposures from the transformation of PFOA and PFOS precursors. As such, risk estimates that account from multiple pathways, multiple sources of exposure, and multiple PFAS would be greater than presented in the draft assessment.
Risk to Communities
The EPA recognizes that this draft risk assessment may raise many questions, especially for those who have had biosolids applied to their farms or properties. The EPA encourages utilities and others who are concerned to learn about PFAS, including actions that may already be underway and opportunities to reduce exposure, and it has created answers
Continued on page 14
to a list of important questions related to this announcement to help utilities and members of the public learn more.
If you are concerned about PFAS in your utility’s sewage sludge, EPA recommends you contact your state environmental agency or county government to learn about its efforts to address PFOA and PFOS, including in wastewater and sewage sludge. You may also contact your local agriculture extension program or your closest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center to learn more about the biosolids applied to property and to find out whether they have monitoring data for PFAS or can provide any specific recommendations for your community.
The EPA recommends that wastewater systems that find PFOA or PFOS in their biosolids that is land-applied take steps to inform their users of biosolids; undertake additional sampling to assess the level, scope, and source of contamination; and examine options for steps to limit exposure.
Current science indicates that lower levels of PFAS exposure present less risk, so these efforts to identify and reduce PFOA and PFOS in sewage sludge help protect public health.
If you have customers with a home drinking water well, ensure they are protecting, maintaining, and testing it; information can be found at www.epa.gov/ground-water-anddrinking-water.
There is more information about testing private drinking water wells for PFAS in the EPA factsheet for small and rural communities under the section, “Information for Communities and
Households Served by Privately Owned Wells,” which can be found at www.epa.gov/system/ files/documents/2024-04/pfasnpdwr_factsheet_monitoring_4.8.24.pdf.
Reducing Exposure to PFOA and PFOS in Sewage Sludge
The potential risks posed by PFOA, PFOS, and other PFAS demand that EPA address the problem on many fronts using all applicable statutory authorities. The EPA continues to fund research and take actions to reduce the concentration of PFOA and PFOS discharged to wastewater treatment plants, lower the concentration of these chemicals in sewage sludge, and reduce risk from use or disposal of sewage sludge. Specifically:
S EPA has provided over twenty million dollars in research funding through the Evaluation of Pollutants in Biosolids and Research for Understanding PFAS Uptake and Bioaccumulation in Plants and Animals in Agricultural, Rural, and Tribal Communities grants.
S EPA continues to work toward restricting industrial PFAS discharges to WWTPs using effluent limitations guidelines. Current actions include:
• Revising the organic chemicals, plastics, and synthetic fibers effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs) to address wastewater PFAS discharge from PFAS manufacturing facilities.
• Revising the metal finishing and electroplating ELGs to address wastewater discharge of PFAS from metal finishing and electroplating operations focusing
on facilities using PFAS-based fume suppressants and wetting agents.
• Revising the landfills ELGs to address PFAS discharges from landfill leachate.
The upcoming Publicly Owned Treatment Works Influent PFAS Study from EPA will also help it prioritize industrial point source categories for future study and, as appropriate, ELGs. To better understand occurrence, EPA has also announced the next National Sewage Sludge Survey to obtain national concentration data on PFAS in sewage sludge.
The EPA continues to track releases through toxics release inventory reporting and has updated the interim guidance on the destruction and disposal of PFAS and materials containing PFAS, which presents state-of-thescience information on methods to remediate, dispose of, and destroy PFAS contamination.
The EPA has published a report, Final Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Aquatic Life for PFOA and PFOS, which can be used for WWTP effluent permitting, and it has also released draft human health criteria for PFOA, PFOS, and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) which, when finalized, can be used for WWTP effluent permitting.
While the PFOA and PFOS sewage sludge risk assessment and these EPA actions are underway, EPA recommends that utilities monitor sewage sludge for PFAS contamination, identify likely industrial discharges and other sources of PFAS, and implement industrial pretreatment programs where appropriate. Doing so will help reduce downstream PFAS contamination and lower the concentration of PFAS in sewage sludge as described in Section C of the EPA December 2022 memorandum, Addressing PFAS Discharges in NPDES Permits and Through the Pretreatment Program and Monitoring Programs.
Resources
Other available resources include:
• EPA’s research on PFAS: www.epa.gov/ chemical-research/research-andpolyfluoroalkylsubstances-pfas
• EPA’s Meaningful and Achievable Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk: www.epa.gov/ pfas/meaningful-and-achievable-steps-youcan-take-reduce-your-risk
• National Academies of Science and Medicine Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up: www.nationalacademies. org/resource/26156/interactive
For more information go to www.epa. gov S
LET’S TALK SAFETY
This column addresses safety issues of interest to water and wastewater personnel, and will appear monthly in the magazine. The Journal is also interested in receiving any articles on the subject of safety that it can share with readers in the “Spotlight on Safety” column.
Achieve the Height of Safety When Climbing Elevated Water Tanks
The dangers of climbing elevated water storage structures should never be underestimated. Utility staff often must climb structures higher than 12 feet when climbing towers to check paint; look for rust or bullet damage; clean tanks; and inspect hatches, locks, and beacon lights. Without protection, a worker can fall several stories. Even if a worker is roped in, a fall in a safety harness can cause a loss of circulation or whiplash. Injury or sudden illness could also incapacitate an employee while working on a tower, requiring an emergency evacuation.
Safety Training
A qualified high-angle safety trainer can teach utility staff proper climbing techniques and how to use safety climbing ropes and harnesses, as well as how to correctly handle a fall.
Some water structures have fall-arrest rails on their ladders, so a climber merely attaches a rail-riding “slider” device into a D-ring on the harness that’s worn for protection. On older structures, however, climbers manually snaphook lanyards onto the ladder’s side rails—not its rungs—and maintain three points of contact (both hands and one alternating foot) while moving.
The transition from ladder onto an overhead catwalk, or from a ladder through a hatch (and vice versa), are the most dangerous parts of any climb. Climbers should always attach a fall-arrest lanyard onto good, thick steel before making a transition, or while working topside around an open hatch or near the edge.
The physical exertion involved in utility-tower climbing should not be underestimated. For the average person in reasonably
good condition, it can be a full-body workout—especially if carrying an extra load, such as tools attached to 15 or more pounds of harness and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
Climbing Procedures
Standard operating procedures for climbing any elevated structure should include these safety guidelines:
S Only personnel who have a legitimate need to climb and have completed basic climbing instruction with practical exercises are allowed to climb any water structure more than 12 feet high.
S Climbers must inspect and then wear proper fall-arrest equipment, including a full-body harness, double lanyards with one-hand operation, and an ascender/
descender (slider) device if the structure is equipped with a fall-arrest rail in good working condition.
S Hard hats must be worn at all times: on the ground, while climbing, at altitude, and while descending.
S Climbers must never ascend a structure while onsite alone; climbers should always use the buddy system. At a minimum, one employee with a cellphone or radio must be stationed on the ground, with the climber in visual and/or shouting range.
S If possible, climbers should also employ a buddy system of two or more trained personnel at altitude.
Additionally, the Rope and Rescue School, which was created in 1998 to provide organizations and individuals with technical and up-to-date expertise in rope and rescue techniques (with the motto: “Knowledge = Safety”), provides these tips to tower climbers:
S Don’t be cocky or a showoff, or have a competitive attitude when working at heights.
S If you are tired, take a rest. Fatigued muscles don’t respond as quickly.
S Do not work above people and do not let people work above you.
S Warm up. You’ll feel stronger and lighter, protect yourself from injuries, and improve your aerobic threshold and general endurance.
S Empty your pockets of possible objects that can hurt you or turn into projectiles.
S Start hydrated and stay hydrated.
S Stay 100 percent tied in while climbing, working in position, maneuvering around the tower, and descending.
Emergency Procedures
When an emergency arises, the ground-safety staffer or fellow climber is responsible for phoning 911. The emergency caller must:
S Specify the address of the emergency.
S Describe the nature of the problem.
S Identify the urgent need for high-angle rescue and emergency medical services.
If a climber gets into trouble and is incapacitated, the second person must not leave the structure until the stricken climber is down. The ground-safety staffer or fellow climber should provide rescue personnel with an approximate duration of time since the climber fell to help assess the medical effects of restricted blood circulation in the victim’s limbs from hanging in a full-body harness.
If a climber slips and falls, and the fall-arrest system is engaged, the body harness (and lanyard, if used) has been “shock loaded.”
After the climber returns to the ground, the harness can no longer be worn and must be taken out of service, as specified by the PPE manufacturer.
Phaseout of Fixed Ladder Cages
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection Standard, requirements around fixed ladders have been redefined and cages have been phased out as acceptable fall protection for the industry.
Fixed ladders provide stability when ascending to an elevated work surface because they are fastened to a building or a secure surface. In the past, OSHA has required cages for
ladders taller than 20 feet, but fall protection is now required on ladders taller than (or that extend beyond) 24 feet.
Several of the important changes are:
S New height requirement. As mentioned, fall protection is required on ladders taller than (or that extend beyond) 24 feet.
S Repair/replacement specification. A personal fall arrest system or ladder safety system must be used to replace any damaged or nonfunctioning section, cage, or well previously installed on a fixed ladder.
S New equipment specification. Cages are no longer considered compliant fall protection for newly installed ladders. To meet OSHA standards, a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system is required.
S General industry notice and deadline. As of Nov. 19, 2036, cages will no longer be accepted (and cannot be installed) as a form of fall protection, and all fixed ladders taller than (or that extend beyond) 24 feet high must use a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system.
All general industry workplaces, including warehouses, utilities, retail, and manufacturing, will have some time to transition. If there is already a cage attached to a fixed ladder, OSHA will accept its use for the next 11 years.
Resources
For more information about tank climbing safety go to:
• www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection
• www.caisafety.com
• www.fall-arrest.com S
August is Water Professionals Month
It’s time to recognize the workers who have played a significant part in operating and maintaining drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems in Florida.
Please send the proclamation letters to the water organizations in your region to help promote and celebrate the dedicated workers in the water field.
S Customize the proclamation template for the recipient organization.
S Modify the FWPCOA Water Professionals Month proclamation to include the name of the mayor/organization.
Contact debrae7@juno.com if you have any questions. The forms are also available at www.fwpcoa.org. Thank you for your help in proclaiming August as Water Professionals Month! S
Proclamation Request for Florida Water Professionals Month and Emergency Responder Status
Dear Mayor (Name):
The Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA) was organized in 1940 as a nonprofit trade organization to promote the sustainability of Florida’s water utility industry that works to protect our citizens’ health and preserve our state’s water resources. The FWPCOA offers water and wastewater treatment plant operator and water distribution system operator training courses for state licensing requirements, eight voluntary certification programs, and continuing education programs for license renewal.
Our state’s water industry employees work around the clock, 365 days every year, to ensure that safe drinking water is accessible to all Floridians and that our environment and natural resources are protected. The FWPCOA has celebrated “Florida Water Professionals Month” in the past to recognize their hard work and dedication. This year, the FWPCOA seeks to increase community awareness by designating the month of August as “Florida Water Professionals Month.”
Like other states, Florida depends on a network of aging underground pipes. The most recent report card from the Florida Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers graded our drinking water infrastructure a C and our wastewater infrastructure a C. This assessment highlights the importance of recognizing and supporting Florida’s water professionals more than ever—out of sight need not be out of mind.
In addition to recognizing our water professionals this August, the state of Florida elevated water professionals to essential first responder status with the rights and responsibilities implied. This status becomes critical during natural disasters when water professionals are expected to keep vital, safe drinking water and wastewater systems operating. We ask that (municipality) consider recognizing operators as essential first responders.
We invite you and the (municipality) to join us in supporting the efforts of water professionals in your community. You can help by executing a proclamation recognizing this important event. A sample proclamation is here for your reference. Please send your executed proclamation to the email in this article so that we can recognize the (municipality’s) participation in this year’s awareness month. If you would like an officer from our association to accept the proclamation at your commission meeting, please get in touch with the regional director.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated participation.
Sincerely,
(Name)
State Publicity Chair
(Address)
(City), Florida (Zip Code)
Florida Water Professionals Month
WHEREAS, the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association, organized in 1940, is a nonprofit trade organization that promotes the sustainability of Florida’s water utility industry through workforce development to protect the health of Florida’s citizens and to preserve the state’s water resources; and
WHEREAS, this organization offers water and wastewater treatment plant operator and water distribution operator training courses required for the state of Florida’s operator licenses, eight voluntary certification programs, and continuing education programs for operator license renewal; and
WHEREAS, this organization, in recognizing the importance of the Florida Statutes and Administrative Code that regulate the water industry, acts as liaison between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and industry personnel; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association recognizes all who have played a significant part in operating and maintaining drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems in Florida by celebrating Florida Water Professionals Month, which applauds their constant efforts to protect our health and environment; and
WHEREAS, water professionals are essential first responders, as defined by Florida Statute 403.865 (b), during storms and other catastrophic events, are working to ensure safe drinking water and safe disposal of wastewater for our communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, (name) by the authority vested in me as Mayor of (city), Florida, hereby proclaim
August 2025 as
“Florida Water Professionals Month” in (city) and extend greetings and best wishes to all observing Florida Water Professionals Month.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunder set my hand this _______ day of _______________, 2025.
Mayor
Go Home, Go Home, Go Home: Now Let’s Make ‘Come Back’ Work
Kate Zabriskie
If this article title sounds like a lyric from a confusing song, that’s because the message has been just as mixed. During COVID-19, the message to workers was, “Go home, stay remote, stay safe,” a chorus sung on repeat. Now, the tune has flipped to, “Come back, come back, come back,” and employees are understandably out of sync with the new rhythm.
and logistical whiplash. Employees spent years adapting to remote work, building routines, and redefining their work-life balance. Asking them to switch gears again is no small ask.
To smooth the transition, leaders need to acknowledge this shift head on.
S Validate the Journey. This change comes after years of adapting to remote work and it’s a big adjustment.
S Commuter-Friendly Schedules. For those with long commutes, consider three-day office weeks instead of five.
S Remote-First Roles Where It Makes Sense. Some positions don’t require constant face time. Be honest about which roles can stay remote and which need in-office presence.
Of course, many jobs in the water utility industry require in-person work, but some do have more flexibility. A lot of those employees have marched back to work, happy to leave behind barking dogs and lawn-equipment symphonies. Others are clutching their home setups like cherished vinyl records, unwilling to let go. It’s complicated, sure, but it’s far from impossible. With the right approach, the transition can hit all
S Be Transparent About the Why. Explain why the return is happening. Is it about collaboration? Team culture? Improved innovation? People are more likely to embrace the shift if they understand its purpose.
Balance Flexibility With Structure
Flexibility was the hallmark of remote work, and employees aren’t going to give it up lightly. A rigid “butts-in-seats” policy won’t fly, but neither will a free-for-all. What’s the sweet spot? A hybrid
Flexibility shows employees you respect their time and challenges, while structure keeps the team aligned and productive.
Bring Back Connection
For many, remote work was isolating, but also comfortable. Now, coming back to the office means relearning how to connect in person—and rebuilding relationships that may have faded. Make reconnecting a priority.
S Start With Social Moments. Host casual lunches, coffee chats, or team activities to ease the transition.
S Encourage Collaboration. Create spaces and opportunities for organic idea-sharing—think open workspaces, brainstorming sessions, or cross-departmental meetups.
S Celebrate the Return. Treat the transition as a fresh start. Celebrate milestones and acknowledge the team’s effort to adapt yet again.
When people feel connected, they’re more likely to embrace the change.
Expect Resistance— And Handle It with Empathy
Not everyone will be on board with coming back to the office, and that’s okay. Some will push back because they’re anxious, burned out, or struggling to adjust.
Here’s how to navigate resistance:
S Listen First. “I understand this change is hard. What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing with coming back?”
S Address Real Barriers. If someone is overwhelmed by their commute, could they shift their hours to avoid rush hour?
S Stay Firm When Necessary. While empathy matters, clarity does too. “I hear your concerns, but in-office collaboration is essential for this team. Let’s talk about how we can make it work for you.”
Resistance isn’t the enemy—it’s an opportunity to find solutions and show employees you value their input.
Reframe the Office as a Place People Want to Be
One reason employees resist returning to the office is that it doesn’t feel worth it. If they’re commuting just to sit in meetings they could attend virtually, who can blame them?
Shift the narrative by making the office a space that’s productive, engaging, and enjoyable.
S Make It Collaborative. Designate spaces for teamwork and brainstorming, not just rows of desks.
S Offer Perks. Provide things employees can’t get at home—free coffee, quiet focus rooms, or technical support.
S Show Appreciation. Small gestures, like weekly treats or recognition shoutouts, go a long way in boosting morale.
The goal is to create a workplace where people feel excited to show up—not obligated.
Be Ready to Adjust
This transition isn’t a “set it and forget it” scenario; it’s a process that requires regular evaluation and fine-tuning.
Here’s how to stay adaptable:
S Gather Feedback. Use surveys or team discussions to understand what’s working and what’s not.
S Adjust Policies as Needed. If commuting challenges are a major issue, could a two-day office week work instead?
S Keep Communicating. Transparency builds trust. Share updates on how the return-tooffice strategy is evolving and what’s driving decisions.
Flexibility and communication show
employees that the organization is evolving with them—not against them.
Adjusting to the New Tune
Switching from “go away” to “come back” is more than a logistical change—it’s a shift in rhythm that requires rebuilding trust, fostering connection, and redefining purpose in the workplace. Like any new song, it takes time for everyone to find their groove.
By harmonizing flexibility with structure, creating genuine opportunities for connection, and designing a workplace that feels worth the commute, leaders can transform this transition into a chance to grow stronger together.
The goal isn’t to drag people back to the office—it’s to compose an environment where they feel inspired to return. When that happens, the entire team hits the right note.
Kate Zabriskie is president of Business Training Works Inc., a Maryland-based talent development firm. She and her team provide onsite, virtual, and online soft-skills training courses and workshops to clients in the United States and internationally. For more information visit www. businesstrainingworks.com. S
FWEA Biosolids Committee Update
Biosolids Committee Mission
The mission of the FWEA Biosolids Committee is to promote education, networking, and sound public policy in the field of biosolids, while advocating proper management of biosolids by utilities, haulers, land appliers, and other biosolids end users. Every year the committee develops in-person technical education seminars. The committee also provides educational content with the assistance of the local chapters at their quarterly networking events throughout the year. In addition, the committee routinely conducts conference calls to keep its membership informed. It also coordinates with the WEF Residuals and Biosolids Committee to disseminate national information to local members.
The membership includes the environmental professionals and organizations that produce, treat, test, consult on, and manage most of the region’s biosolids and other large volume recyclable organic residuals. Together, the members advocate for biosolids issues, management, and education in Florida.
New Committee Chair
The committee has been chaired by Manuel Moncholi. The current vice chair, Alexandra Guillen, will become the new chair.
Committee Seeks Input
The committee values your input! We invite you to share your concerns and
suggest topics you’d like us to address in our upcoming seminars. Your valuable insights will help us create relevant and impactful sessions that cater to your needs and interests. Whether it’s regulatory updates, technological advancements, or management approaches, we want to hear from you. Together, we can make our seminars more engaging and informative.
Please take a moment to share your thoughts, and let’s work toward advancing biosolids management together. Send any comments to the chair of the committee at com.biosolids.chair@fewa.org.
Thank you for being an integral part of our community. S
Are You Networking to Get Educated?
Kevin Shopshire President, FWPCOA
irriam-Webster, a dictionary (for those of us old enough to have cracked one open), defines “networking” as “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.”
In 1998, with the continued advancement of computers, the term “social networking” was added, defined as “the creation and maintenance of personal and business relationships, especially online.”
Networking, in my opinion, can be an excellent avenue of learning, but are we really networking these days, when we spend so much time in front of our screens?
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to think we’re obtaining all the necessary
networking through our online activities. Whether we’re making connections online through social networks, “following” someone online, or attending a webinar/Zoom meeting/ etc., we’re becoming physically distanced from each other. Are we still meeting new people? Yes. Are we still making connections? Yes. But are we “networking” to advance ourselves?
I have obtained many certifications in my 21 years of industrial pretreatment. I already have my bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida. It’s getting challenging to find new courses in my field that are relevant to attend. I find that networking, through conferences and workshops, advances my knowledge and experience. I’m fortunate enough to have employment that allows me to attend some conferences, to represent my company, and advance my knowledge as well.
The first week of May, I attended the Florida Water Resource Conference in West Palm Beach as president of FWPCOA. I also attended (virtually) the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) Management Council as a member. I finished the week in Jacksonville, presiding over the
Florida Industrial Pretreatment Association (FIPA) spring workshop. I was able to meet, face-to-face, hundreds of individuals in my career field, within one week. I made a lot of new connections, reconnected with colleagues, shared ideas and experiences, and learned about many items, processes, and ideas from sales representatives. Granted, every week is not like this, but when I have the chance to go somewhere and learn something new—in person—I try to find a way. Sometimes I’m even fortunate enough to bring along the family.
I’m thankful to all of you I was able to look in the eye, shake hands, make introductions, or exchange business cards with. I try to log them all, with a note of why we spoke. I look forward to seeing each and every one of you in the future (again, in person) when our paths cross again, and refresh our connections, expanding each other’s knowledge with our new experiences. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to answer emails after being out of the office for a week, and I think some of the handshaking has caused me to pick up a cold along the way.
See you next month! S
Map Shows State of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Florida Waters
Dorothy Hagmajer
Like diamonds, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are forever.
The hardiest of man-made chemicals, PFAS are like gum on the bottom of your shoe, but harder to get rid of and far more sinister. Used in consumer and industry products since the 1940s, they can linger in the outdoors for decades, loiter in the human body for up to 35 years, and are linked to a growing list of negative health effects, including cancer.
Now, a team of researchers from the University of Florida (UF) are documenting just how many are found in the state’s surface water, including its prized freshwater springs, which provide 90 percent of the drinking water to the state’s inhabitants.
Chemical Detection and Analysis
John A. Bowden, Ph.D., an associate professor in the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, and a team of more than 100 UF undergraduates and citizen-scientist volunteers fanned out across 67 counties in Florida, conducting an in-depth analysis of chemicals in the state’s surface water, which included over 50 springs.
What they found was sobering.
In the initial study, published in November
The chemicals were detected in 63 percent of the spring vent samples (the actual opening in the ground where water from an aquifer first emerges to the surface) and 68 percent of the spring run samples (the flowing body of water that originates from the vent), with 13 quantifiable PFAS present across all samples. Green Spring, Blue Spring, and Gemini Spring held the highest PFAS concentrations.
“This issue isn’t something we can magically resolve,” Bowden said. “It will persist because, as a society, we demand the use of these chemicals for their practical benefits in thousands of everyday products, like preventing grease leakage or clothes staining, and nonstick cookware.”
For example, a new offender is the standard smart and fitness watch band, which is coated with PFAS to keep oils and sweat from staining the band, according to a recent study from the University of Notre Dame.
“Once objects with PFAS are disposed of, these chemicals can be released into the environment,” Bowden said. “Unfortunately, they retain the same properties that make them resistant to breakdown, which poses significant dangers.”
Notably, seven spring sites exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion, all within 10 miles of each other, on the east coast of Florida near
Chemical Mapping
Now, thanks to data collected from UF students, Bowden’s team has launched an interactive map to track PFAS in all Florida water systems, stemming from another recent study measuring PFAS in various water systems across the state.
The map displays PFAS concentrations across all of Florida’s water bodies, including natural springs, the result of a collection of more than 2,300 samples. A user can navigate through the map to see every location where Bowden’s team has collected data, as well as the PFAS concentrations found at every site.
“As I started learning about this, I realized that this was not just a temporary problem; it was one that would be around for a long time,” said Bowden, a chemist by training who applies novel techniques to solving environmental and wildlife problems. “What I found interesting early on was the juxtaposition of how long we’ve been using these chemicals and how little we knew about their behavior in the environment once they were released.”
Currently, most wastewater treatment facilities remove less than 10 percent of PFAS.
“Most of the contaminants in the processed material are dumped back into our waterways,” Bowden said. “If our drinking water comes from these sources, it will often contain PFAS. What should be alarming for all Floridians is
The Bowden Lab works to develop new ways to measure and study environmental chemicals of concern. (photo: Bowden Lab)
that in the springs, which are often destined for use as drinking water, PFAS are present.”
Bowden’s work measures these emerging chemicals in different contexts, including wildlife tissues, human blood, and waste streams, like landfills. It wasn’t surprising to find these chemicals in high levels across the state, especially in highly populated areas, Bowden said. What was surprising was how little people knew about them, considering there are thousands of distinct types of PFAS chemicals in use.
Recently, there has been more awareness, as EPA has begun to set guidelines for drinking water limits, but many still view the chemical class as a buzzword without understanding its ubiquity, Bowden said.
“They’re in cosmetics, clothing, textiles and food packaging—things that most of us are exposed to daily,” he said. “Understanding their widespread presence can help people make better decisions to limit their exposure.”
Involving Floridians
Thanks to the groundwork Bowden and his research assistants laid for the data collection, his lab has created a crowdsourcing-based network of Floridians invested in environmental health and helping with ongoing studies, like another 2024 study where they measured PFAS in over 400 drinking water taps across the state of Florida. Ultimately, the data collection was made possible by those outside of the lab— not just in it.
“The sheer scale of this undertaking, and the effort involved, is something that we wouldn’t have been able to complete if it wasn’t for the amount of help that we got from those who weren’t even directly involved with the project,” said Camden Camacho, Ph.D., a chemist in the engineering and analysis division at EPA and former graduate student who spearheaded the study at Bowden Lab. “Many
of the people who helped us obtain the data were concerned individuals who, at the end of the day, wanted to be a part of the science.”
To date, the citizen scientists and other stakeholders inform the lab about things happening in the community, like a sewage spill. In turn, the team shares data with the volunteers and explain its importance.
“Hopefully, we can make a difference in the state,” Bowden said. “While you can’t avoid PFAS entirely, it’s important to stay informed, think critically, and make good decisions when the opportunity arises.”
Anyone who wants to be part of future student- or citizen-based sampling projects or who wants to donate to help fund future PFAS projects in Florida can contact Bowden at john.bowden@ufl.edu.
Dorothy Hagmajer is a science writer and joined the University of Florida Health staff in October 2019. S
This graphic shows the different pathways PFAS can take to contaminate water, soil, and food. (source: U.S. EPA)
Courtney Dantone
Archer Western Construction, Tampa
Work title and years of service.
I’ve been the business development manager–water market for one and a half years with AWC and have more than 16 years of experience in the industry.
What does your job entail?
My role includes understanding the water market in Florida, what is driving the market, and finding the right opportunities with the right
FWRJ READER PROFILE
clients and the right partnerships for our company to pursue projects with. This includes staying connected with our project teams and networking with clients, engineers, other contractors, consultants, and supply vendors for the industry. I focus on developing relationships and resources to ensure our team is able to deliver and bring the best value to every project opportunity.
What education and training have you had?
I have a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Drexel University and a Project Management Certificate from Cornell University. I’m a Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) professional and have attended the WEF Water Leadership Institute.
What do you like best about your job?
I like developing relationships with people passionate about the water industry and construction. I love visiting our projects and seeing the pride in our team’s work. I enjoy developing younger team members and discussing their passions and how their careers can grow. Our company also values stewardship
so I get the opportunity to cultivate relationships with organizations within our community to give back and volunteer.
What professional organizations do you belong to?
I’m a member of Water Collaborative Delivery Association, DBIA/FLDBIA, WEF/ FWEA, AWWA/FSAWWA, and National Association of Women in Construction. How have the organizations helped your career?
When you work in construction, it’s very easy to only be focused on your assigned project at hand and not appreciate the bigger picture of what your work or project is contributing to. Becoming involved in FSAWWA and FWEA has been a great opportunity to put perspective on what value we bring to the greater water sector and our communities beyond our specific job role or project.
I consider myself an extroverted introvert so I appreciate the organizations for how welcoming they are to everyone and making it a safe environment for all backgrounds and levels of employment to share their ideas and offer perspectives toward working initiatives. Every seminar, conference, workshop, and social event has led to opportunities to network with people across the state and learn about what others are doing to help plan for a better tomorrow and a sustainable future for water in Florida. It’s exciting to hear about other projects and research that is being done, new technologies that companies are developing, and piloting that can improve our state’s water challenges.
What do you like best about the industry?
Water is an essential resource for everyday life and I love knowing that every brainstorming session, every work plan, every material order, and every project is contributing back to making a safe water and wastewater environment for myself, my family and friends, and the community we interact with every day.
What do you do when you’re not working?
I am pretty active in my church, whether it’s small group studies, single-day community volunteer opportunities, serving in our kids ministry on Sundays, or short-term missions to other countries. I am also a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Tampa Bay. I enjoy going to the beach and going kayaking, walks along the many trails across the state, day trips to explore small towns across the state, and travel trips around the world. This year I have traveled to Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire and will be heading to Colombia and Greece! S
Broward County Pioneers Regional Biosolids Solutions and Partners With SEBA to Champion a Sustainable Future
Megan Ross
Broward County (county) is taking a proactive approach to biosolids management by joining the Southeast Biosolids Association (SEBA) and leading the charge on a regional biosolids facility in collaboration with several municipalities. This effort, spearheaded by Mark Darmanin, director of water and wastewater operations for the county, represents a significant step toward sustainable biosolids management in the region.
Drivers Behind the Biosolids Study
The need for a regional biosolids management approach has been amplified by regulatory changes, including the implementation of the 2020 Florida’s Clean Waterways Act. This legislation has significantly reduced the number of land application sites available for biosolids disposal across the
state and introduced stricter monitoring and compliance requirements. These new regulations have moved utilities to explore additional alternative biosolids management solutions that are both sustainable and compliant with evolving environmental policies.
With limited land application options, the county and its partner municipalities recognized the urgent need for a long-term biosolids strategy. A Regional Biosolids Working Group study, conducted by Brown and Caldwell, evaluated various options for biosolids processing, including advanced treatment technologies, regional processing facilities, and various ownership and operating models. It also explored the feasibility of a regional biosolids facility that would optimize resources, improve environmental outcomes, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations.
Broward County Utilities and Biosolids Program
The county is home to nearly 2 million people, representing just over 10 percent of the state’s population, and it operates one of the largest utility systems in Florida. The county’s biosolids management program has historically relied primarily on Class B land application as a means of reuse and disposal; however, with the implementation of new rules promulgated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as a result of the Clean Waterways Act, available land application sites have been significantly reduced.
Through its water and wastewater services division, the county has been actively investigating technologies that enhance biosolids treatment efficiency, while reducing environmental impacts. The county explored, through the study, several options, such as thermal hydrolysis processing (THP) and thermal drying, as well as emerging technologies. All of the options considered attempted to acknowledge the evolving regulations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The primary goal of the study was to reduce the current volume, look for additional beneficial use options, and allow expansion for the potential for the future PFAS regulations. The regional biosolids facility under consideration would integrate some of these technologies to provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution for participating municipalities.
A Collaborative Approach to Biosolids Management
As mentioned, the county initiated a Regional Biosolids Working Group. The group is a partnership with multiple cities, including the City of Fort Lauderdale, Cooper City, Coral Springs Improvement District, Town of Davie, City of Hollywood, City of Margate, City of Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, and City of Sunrise.
Darmanin, who has been instrumental in leading this effort, emphasized the importance of regional collaboration. His leadership in bringing municipalities together has been a driving force behind this initiative,
Mark Darmanin, director of water and wastewater operations at Broward County.
ensuring that the county and its partner cities remain ahead of regulatory changes, while maximizing beneficial reuse opportunities for biosolids.
“Initiating this regional study was a necessary step to secure a sustainable future for biosolids management in Broward County,” said Darmanin. “By working together, we can create a resilient system that not only meets regulatory requirements, but also transforms biosolids into valuable resources for our communities.”
The Role of SEBA and Its Rapid Growth
The county’s recent membership in SEBA aligns with its commitment to sustainable biosolids management. In addition to joining the association, Darmanin has taken on a leadership role as a member of SEBA’s board, further reinforcing the county’s dedication to advancing biosolids solutions at a regional and national level.
Numerous organizations and municipalities recognize the importance of SEBA and are becoming members. As biosolids regulations continue to evolve, it provides a
unified voice advocating for science-based policies and practical solutions.
One of SEBA’s key focus areas is responding to the recently released biosolids draft risk assessment from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has prompted some states to consider bans or severe restrictions on biosolids reuse. It’s also actively engaging with utilities and policymakers to
ensure that biosolids remain a viable and sustainable resource.
Getting Involved
For those interested in SEBA’s mission, Darmanin encourages participation through membership and engagement. “The organization is at the forefront of the discussion and is creatively looking for innovation in biosolids management. By becoming a member and participating, we can work together to ensure biosolids are sustainably used for their highest and best purpose in the future. Visit www.sebiosolids.org to join and follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest developments.”
The county’s leadership in regional biosolids management sets a strong example for other communities. Through collaboration, innovation, and advocacy, the county and its municipal partners are paving the way for a more sustainable approach to biosolids management in Florida.
Megan Ross, P.E., MPA, ENV SP, is business development manager at Kiewit Water Facilities Florida in Tampa. S
Southeast Biosolids Association logo.
FWEA FOCUS
FWEA: A Year in Review
RJoe Paterniti, P.E. President, FWEA
eflecting on this past year, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible momentum we’ve built together across Florida’s water community. From the passion, collaboration, and commitment of all FWEA volunteers, we continue to grow as a unifying force, supporting professionals, elevating innovation, and protecting our state’s most valuable resource—water.
I would characterize this year as one of transitions. The Mish Agency is now our full-time association administrative and management team, led by Laura Cooley. We have installed a new executive director, Dr. Mike Sweeney, Ph.D., who has replaced Kart Veith. We have a new WEF delegate, Damaris Norinaga, and three new directors at large: Randy Brown, Mike Demko, and Nicole Cohan. These latest additions have brought new insights and energy to our board.
Our shared vision for a clean and sustainable water environment for Florida’s future generations is aspirational and actionable, and we made meaningful strides in advancing it this year.
From the launch of new educational initiatives, the expansion of our student and young professionals programming, policy advocacy through our Utility Council, and the incredible events and outreach led by our chapters and committees, every milestone has reflected our core mission: to unite our members,
serve the public, and promote sound science, education, and collaboration.
Putting Our Mission Into Practice
Here are just a few highlights of the ways we’ve put our mission into motion this year:
S Expanded professional development through exceptional technical seminars, workshops, and training opportunities statewide.
S Development of an on-demand training portal on our web page, where users can view recorded workshops and seminars and receive professional development hour (PDH) credits.
S We conducted over 90 events with over 4,050 attendees. We also conducted 24 seminars and workshops, issuing 1890 PDH hours.
S Expanding student empowerment with internships, scholarships, and careerbuilding competitions.
S This year, we provided over a dozen scholarships valued at more than $20,000.
S Increased public outreach with our many volunteers conducting water festivals and educational campaigns in our middle and high schools.
S Promotion of careers in water utilizing career opportunity videos. See the YouTube link at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=JXLow5Rxh6w&t=19s.
S Offered policy, advocacy, and regulatory leadership through the FWEA/FSAWWA Utility Council. The council provided valuable input to the new potable reuse regulations from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
S Improving operational excellence by
implementing professional accounting and association management teams, safety programs, awards, and hands-on operations challenges.
These accomplishments are the product of dedicated volunteers, passionate servant leaders, and a board that believes in people-first progress.
My Thanks
I want to offer special thanks to Suzanne Mechler, our past president, for her guidance throughout my tenure on the board. Also, I give a heartfelt thank you to our Executive Committee, directors at large, committee chairs, and chapter leaders. Your time and talents are the heartbeat of FWEA. And to each reader of this column, whether you’ve attended an event, mentored a student, submitted a presentation, or shared your voice, thank you. You make this community what it is.
New Leadership
As I conclude my term as president, I am excited to welcome Joan Fernandez, P.E., as your incoming president. Joan brings a deep understanding of our organization, a thoughtful leadership style, and a strong commitment to our mission. She will continue building on our momentum and leading FWEA to greater success.
Looking forward to the year ahead, I’m excited for what’s next—new partnerships, deeper engagement, and fresh opportunities to lead with purpose. Together, we will continue to uphold the values of integrity, inclusivity, service, and stewardship that define this vital association. S
AWWA
BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
Florida --- 2025 FALL CONFERENCE Water Equation Investing
The FSAWWA Fall Conference brings together utilities, consultants, manufacturers, regulators, and students. Register and learn from the industry's best through technical sessions, workshops, and exhibits. Network with water industry professionals. 208 exhibitors will give you first-hand information on the latest developments to help your utility take actions to implement Florida's future.
>> Exhibitor Registration Starts June 16
>> Attendee Registration Starts August 11 fsawwa.org/2025fallconference
For more information: fsawwa.org/2025fallconference
Hotel Accommodations: fsawwa.org/2025hotel
Host hotel is Rosen Shingle Creek
Benefits: The Roy Likins Scholarship, Water Equation, and Water For People
Technical Sessions
01 PFAS Removal - What Really Works
02 PFAS Disposal - The Next Big Challenge
03 Managing Your Assets for a Better Future
04 Water Quality in the Distribution SystemLead, Copper, Biofilms, and Corrosion
05 Potable Reuse for Florida's Future
06 Workforce Challenges - Keeping, Maintaining, Attracting, and Promoting
07 Why Water Matters! How We Can Get the Word Out
08 Treatment Innovations
09 Better Pipe Solutions
10 The Next Big Thing - Microconstituent Monitoring and Removal
11 Water Conservation
Conference Highlights:
■ BBQ Challenge & Incoming Chair's Reception
■ Operator Events: Backhoe Rodeo Tapping Competition Meter Challenge Top Ops Competition
■ Young Professionals Events: Luncheon Water Bowl Fresh Ideas Poster Session
Events:
Poker Tournament December 11 8:30 pm
Top Golf/Networking December 1113:30 pm
Photo Credit: Vecteezy.com
Let loose Join the at the RODEO! Tapping FUN!
CHEER for Meter Challenge!
BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
>> Exhibitor Registration Starts June 16
Premium Booth Space: $1,500
Includes:
■ Prime location within the Exhibit Hall
■ 8 x 1 0 Booth space
■ 1 - Draped table
■ 2- Chairs
■ Backdrop
■ Side draping
■ Company sign
■ Wastebasket
■ 3 - Exhibit staff registrations
■ Lead Retrieval ($199 value)
Standard Booth Space:$1,250
Includes:
■ 8 x 1 0 Booth space
■ 1 - Draped table
■ 2- Chairs
■ Backdrop
■ Side draping
■ Company sign
■ Wastebasket
■ 2- Exhibit staff registrations
Exhibit booth spaces can include heavy equipment on a case-by-case basis and with an additional fee, workshops, portable equipment and showrooms. Flammable materials are prohibited. No modifications will be made to the backdrops or sidewalls without prior approval from FSAWWA. All other services related to the trade show booth are the responsibility of each exhibitor. This includes but is not limited to costs such as: electricity, shipping, storage and handling. Once an exhibitor is registered and has provided payment, an exhibitor packet of information will be provided with the details and instructions on ordering and payment for additional services.
For more information: fsawwa.org/2025fallconference
Sponsorship opportunities will be available on the FSAWWA Conference website.
Hotel Accommodations: fsawwa.org/2025hotel
Host hotel is Rosen Shingle Creek Resort
Please Note:
All promotional activity other than product demonstrations must be approved by FSAWWA prior to the conference.
Photo Credit: Vecteezy.com
Caribbean Connections: Bridging the Florida and Caribbean Water Sectors From Across the Seas
Kevin Carter
Happy Caribbean American Heritage Month to all of this magazine’s readers! June is the official month1 (Figure 1) and has been since June 5, 2006, when a congressional bill was signed into law.
One of the greatest things about living in Florida is our proximity to the Caribbean. Figure 2 shows short flight time examples from Miami throughout the region (location, location,
location!). Importantly, another great thing about living in Florida is that so many families, friends, and colleagues are from the Caribbean. We are very fortunate to be immersed in its culture, music, art, sports, food, and the list goes on. Our workplaces and sector organizations benefit so much by having water professionals with Caribbean American heritage being part of our teams.
Of course, many of us also enjoy visiting the region for its scenic vistas and all types of nonstop fun activities available for leisure time, whether you are from there or here. Have you ever stopped to think, however, about how they produce drinking water and manage their wastewater streams? Who are these people and organizations who wake up each morning and share the same call to service that we do to provide their communities with the most important resource on the planet—water?
Please join me on a literary cruise around the Caribbean and learn about efforts to bridge the Florida and Caribbean water sectors.
FSAWWA and Caribbean Collaborations
I may not have found out about Caribbean utilities without the Florida Section
of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA). As many of you know, I am privileged to participate in the annual AWWA Water Matters D.C. Fly-In. During one of those trips several years ago, a discussion ensued on AWWA’s excellent international programs2, including the AWWA India Chapter and other collaborations, such as in Japan. Those are awesome programs, but then I asked the group, “Hey, how about the Caribbean?”, and began listing all the great people at Broward County Water and Wastewater Services who are either from there or have family heritage.
Fortunately, Peggy Guingona, then the FSAWWA executive director, told me of a past collaboration with a 2015 Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA)3 conference held in Miami. Please go back and review the excellent article4 from Mark Lehigh, the 2015 FSAWWA section chair, which details the joint conference experience.
Peggy directed me to Jason Johnson, now with WSP, who was the 2015 CWWA president. I am forever indebted to Jason, who is of Trinidadian heritage, for being so gracious with his time and shared his vast CWWA knowledge and experiences. Importantly, he told me, “You have to go to the 2019 conference in St. Kitts and Nevis.” I heeded his advice, and he introduced me to, I think, everybody in CWWA, as he knows everyone because of his great passion for and great service to the organization. I have been a proud CWWA member since September 2019 and I encourage you to join as well.
More recently, FSWWA Regions VI and VII continued collaborations with CWWA through three Caribbean-Florida H2O Link-Ups, which are information exchange webinars. The idea is based on radio stations in Florida and the Caribbean that would link up their respective shows, people would say hello to family and friends, and great music was shared. We said, “Why not do the same for water?” During our webinars, we covered a vast array of shared topics, such as water loss reduction, as well as emergency preparedness and management. We were joined by the Caribbean Water and Sewerage Association (CAWASA)5 which is an operator-focused organization from the region. In addition, the Puerto Rico Water and Environment Association (PRWEA)6, a joint Water Environment Federation and AWWA organization, participated in the virtual forums. While we took a break the last two years, the
Figure 1. Caribbean American Heritage Month emblem.
Figure 2. Air flight times from Miami to various Caribbean destinations.
FSAWWA Regions VI and VII are looking to bring the H2O Link-Ups back to life in 2025. Stay tuned to your inboxes for updates.
Another recent FSAWWA and CWWA collaboration occurred during the 31st annual CWWA Conference and Exhibition at Paradise Island, held in The Bahamas in October 2022. The CWWA member utilities are looking more closely at water reuse to augment water supplies. As many of you know, Florida is a national water reuse leader, and we have a treasure of experts around the state. The FSAWWA Executive Committee agreed to sponsor a water reuse workshop at the conference. Ed Torres, with Orange County, was joined by JEA-sponsored Ryan Popko, and I rounded out the group. During that workshop, several countries expressed interest in water reuse, including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and The Bahamas.
Since the conference, water reuse interest continues to increase in the region. For example, the Barbados Water Authority recently completed a major water reuse expansion project7. In 2024, CWWA developed a Wastewater Specialist Group, which has a WateReuse Committee named the Caribbean Water Reuse Action Plan and patterned after the Action Plan8 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. So, Ed and Ryan, as well as other water reuse experts, you may be getting an email or phone call from me soon to continue our water reuse information exchange.
What is the CWWA and What Does it Do?
The CWWA website3 states: “the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) is a regional nongovernmental organization established by an Act of Parliament in Trinidad and Tobago in 1991. The CWWA is a grouping of water, wastewater, and solid waste professionals in the public and private sectors.” I would add the members are a great group of people to know and be around and they share a common passion for the water and wastewater sectors (Figure 3). The CWWA is primarily comprised of the Englishspeaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM)9 countries; however, other countries participate in events and two past conferences were held in the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Typically, each country has one water utility (Figure 4), although there are some exceptions, especially where desalination is an important drinking water source.
Like our Florida water sector organizations, the annual CWWA Conference and Exhibition is the showcase event of the year. One of my great life experiences was serving on the CWWA 30th Anniversary Committee. I met many previous CWWA leaders and learned firsthand the rich and diverse CWWA history. Please take a moment and view the 30th anniversary
website10, especially the 30th anniversary magazine11 that is organized by each annual conference and exhibition. The 34th CWWA Conference and Exhibition will be held this year on October 20-2412 in Belize. It would be great to see some more Florida water sector professionals at the conference. Please contact me if you are interested.
What are the Current CWWA Hot Topics?
Some of the major topics at the conference include nonrevenue water reduction (NRW). Like many places around the world, NRW is a challenge for most Caribbean water utilities13. The CWWA conferences include a meeting of the high-level ministers with responsibility for water and wastewater (Figure 5) and NRW is one
of their top priorities. Fortunately, some recent efforts by Jamaica’s National Water Commission14 with Miya-Water illustrate the progress can be achieved.
The CWWA Water Loss Specialist Group (WLSG) was formed in 2021 to bring focus and seek solutions via dialogue, training, education, and information exchange within and outside the region. The CWWA WLSG is comprised of Caribbean water managers and their subject matter experts and private sector experts from the region, as well as many NRW professionals from around the globe. The CWWA WLSG and International Water Association WLSG partnered with the Trinidad and Tobago minister of public utilities and the Water and Sewerage Authority to host the region’s first Water Loss Conference in March 202315.
Continued on page 38
Figure 3. The CWWA Leadership at the 2024 33rd Annual Conference and Exhibition in Trinidad and Tobago. Laurayne Lucky, CWWA executive director, is at the far left and Candice Santana, the current CWWA president, is seventh from left.
Figure 4. Utilities active in CWWA. Though not to scale, the utilities’ logos are placed in relative geographical position.
6. “Puerto Rico Water and Environment Association.” Accessed May 9, 2025. https:// prwea.org/.
7. “Barbados will improve its climate-resilient water infrastructure with IDB support.” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://smartwatermagazine.com/ news/inter-american-development-bank-idb/ barbados-will-improve-its-climate-resilientwater.
8. “USEPA Action Plan Website.” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/ water-reuse-action-plan.
9. “Caribbean Community (CARICOM).” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://caricom.org/.
10. “Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association 30th Anniversary.” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://cwwa.net/cwwa-30th-anniversaryhome/.
11. “Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association 30th Anniversary Magazine.” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://cwwa.net/cwwa30th-anniversary-home/30th-anniversarymagazine/.
12. “34th Annual Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association Conference and Exhibition.” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://cwwa.net/cwwaconference-2025/.
13. Janson, Nils; Lindsay N. Burkhard; and Sara Jones. 2021. Caribbean Water
Study. Accessed May 9, 2025. https://doi. org/10.18235/0003755https://publications. iadb.org/en/publications/english/viewer/ Caribbean-Water-Study.pdf.
14. “NWC/Miya Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Reduction Co-Management Programme.” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://nwcjamaica. com/nrw.php.
15. “Caribbean Regional Water Loss Conference.” https://mpu.gov.tt/crwlc2023/.
16. “United Nations Environment Programme –Caribbean Environment Programme: Toilets of the Caribbean: small-scale solutions for better water and sanitation in the Caribbean.” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://www.unep.org/ cep/news/blogpost/toilets-caribbean-smallscale-solutions-better-water-and-sanitationcaribbean.
17. “United Nations Environment Programme –Caribbean Environment Programme: Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (GEF CReW+) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) Partnership Project.” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://www.unep.org/cep/gef-crew.
18. “The Caribbean Water Utility Insurance Collective (CWUIC – SP): Provides First Payout to Water Utility Following Hurricane.” Accessed May 9, 2025.
19. “Operators Without Borders (OWB).” Accessed
May 9, 2025. https://operatorswithoutborders. org/.
20. “Haiti National Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Initiative (HANWASH).” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://www.hanwash.org/
22. “8th Caribbean Water Operations Conference.” Accessed May 9, 2025. http://cawasa.org/ cawasa/cwo-conference-2025/.
23. “Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (AIDIS).” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://www.iso.org/ organization/351134.html.
24. “2025 Puerto Rico Water and Environment Association Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition.” Accessed May 9, 2025. https://prwea.org/project/prwea-annualconference-2025/.
25. “Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA).” Accessed May 9, 2025. AAAacueductos.pr.gov.
26. Brown, Jerry. “Not Just Another Day at Work: The Case for US Water Agency Involvement in International Operator Partnerships.” Journal AWWA, Volume 108, Issue 12: 35-40. Accessed May 9, 2025. https://awwa.onlinelibrary.wiley. com/doi/10.5942/jawwa.2016.108.0191. S
Florida Becomes Second State to Ban Fluoride in Water
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill banning fluoride in public water, making it the second state—after Utah—to do so.
DeSantis signed SB 700, known as the Farm Bill, which is to go into effect July 1 and prohibits local governments from adding fluoride and other “water quality” additives to the water supply.
DeSantis equated the use of fluoride in water to forcing medication on the public. “If people want to use it on their teeth, in their toothpaste, that’s great,” he said.
DeSantis framed the issue as one of “informed consent” and stated “forcing this in the water supply is trying to take the decision away from people who may rather not have this in their water.”
The bill reached DeSantis after having been approved by the state’s House in a 88 to 27 vote in late March and the state’s Senate on April 16 in a 27 to 9 vote.
Florida’s ban comes after Utah, in late March, became the first state to prohibit fluoride in its public water and as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) review potential health risks associated with the long-held medical practice.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of HHS, has claimed that fluoride is associated with an assortment of diseases, including cancer, and he called it “an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopment disorders, and thyroid disease.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced its intention to remove fluoride supplements from the market staring in October.
Cities in the United States have fluoridated their drinking water for decades in an effort to fight tooth decay, with Grand Rapids, Mich., becoming the first to do so in 1945.
The American Dental Association has continued to be a vocal supporter of fluoridated tap water amid the controversy and recently included information on its Facebook account showing that the practice reduces cavities by 25 percent in both adults and children, and is safe. S
The 9 Core Traits of High-Performing Companies: Why Some Companies
Outperform—And How Yours Can Too
Susan Quinn
In today’s business landscape, competition is relentless. Disruptions emerge overnight. Customer expectations evolve rapidly. Talent is harder to retain than ever. Yet, some companies consistently outperform their peers, growing faster, attracting top talent, and building unshakable customer loyalty.
S The Learning Organization Mindset
How can your company embed them into its DNA? Let’s explore them in detail.
A Foundation Built on Purpose and Values
High-performing companies don’t drift. They operate with a clear purpose that drives their strategy, decisions, and culture. Their guiding principles—vision, mission, and core values— aren’t just corporate jargon. They’re actively demonstrated at every level of the organization.
Customer-Centricity as a Growth Engine
For high-performing companies, customer satisfaction isn’t enough—they aim to create customer advocates.
They analyze customer journeys, remove friction points, and actively seek feedback. More importantly, they take action on that feedback, refining their offerings and personalizing experiences to create deep relationships.
What sets these companies apart?
An in-depth study was conducted of companies to identify the characteristics of top performers. The findings revealed a critical truth: high-performing companies aren’t just lucky; they operate with a set of core traits that drive sustained success. These organizations don’t merely aim to be “best in class”—they execute a repeatable, scalable, and measurable strategy that fuels their growth.
Nine Traits of High Performance
The nine traits are:
S A Foundation Built on Purpose and Values
S The Employee Experience Advantage
S Customer-Centricity as a Growth Engine
S Quality as a Cultural Cornerstone
S The Adaptability Imperative
S Data-Driven Decision Making
What makes them different? Leaders continuously reinforce these principles in communication, hiring, and decision making. Employees understand how their roles contribute to the company’s broader mission. This alignment creates a culture of accountability, engagement, and trust—three factors that significantly impact performance.
The Employee Experience Advantage
Talent is the fuel that drives a business forward, and high-performing companies treat their employees like their most valuable asset. They don’t just offer jobs; they create environments where employees thrive.
These companies invest in professional development, employee well-being, and company culture. They prioritize engagement, conduct regular satisfaction surveys, and actively act on feedback. As a result, their employees become
Data from a global management consulting company show that fluctuations in a company’s net promoter score can explain 20 to 60 percent of its organic growth. This statistic alone highlights why top companies prioritize customer experience—it directly impacts revenue.
Quality as a Cultural Cornerstone
High performers don’t just meet quality standards—they set them.
They integrate quality into every process, ensuring it’s not just a final checkpoint, but a guiding principle from the start. This commitment to excellence builds trust and differentiates them from competitors.
Apple, for instance, isn’t just known for technology, but for meticulous attention to detail. High-performing companies operate with the same mindset—whether it’s in their service delivery, internal processes, or employee training.
The Adaptability Imperative
Disruption is inevitable. The question is: Will your company adapt fast enough to stay ahead?
High-performing companies don’t resist change; they embrace it. They anticipate market shifts, monitor industry trends, and pivot when necessary.
Research has shown that many companies failed during crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, not because they lacked resources, but because they failed to adapt. Meanwhile, organizations that were agile in their strategy and execution thrived.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Top companies leverage data to make strategic decisions and track real-time key performance indicators through dashboard systems that are visually engaging. Through the utilization of artificial intelligence and other software programs they aggregate information across the enterprise for a holistic view and understanding of how all elements fit together.
This ensures leaders have access to clear information and actionable insights. More importantly, they align their data collection with business objectives, avoiding “data for data’s sake.”
Ecosystem Intelligence and Collaboration
The best companies don’t just monitor their competitors—they understand the full ecosystem in which they operate.
They recognize that value creation often requires collaboration. Whether through strategic partnerships, industry alliances, or supplier relationships, they position themselves at the center of innovation and market shifts.
Operational Excellence Through Simplification
Complexity slows companies down. High performers know this and focus on making operations lean and efficient.
Steve Jobs famously said, “Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.”
Top companies take this to heart. They continuously refine workflows, eliminate unnecessary steps, and automate where possible. The result? A more agile, costeffective, and scalable operation.
The Learning Organization Mindset
Perhaps the most defining trait of highperforming companies is their relentless pursuit of improvement.
They don’t assume they have all the answers—they continuously learn, evolve, and refine their strategies. They invest in leadership development, create knowledge-sharing platforms, and encourage experimentation.
These organizations view failure as a stepping stone to progress, not a setback. This mindset allows them to stay ahead of industry changes and maintain a competitive edge.
Becoming a High-Performing Organization
If you want to build a company that stands out, start by assessing where you currently stand on these nine traits. Ask yourself:
S Are our purpose and values deeply embedded in everything we do?
S Do we treat employees as our greatest asset?
S Are we truly customer-centric, or do we just say we are?
S Is quality a guiding principle in all areas of our business?
S How adaptable are we to change?
Southwest Florida Water Management District Elects 2025-2026 Officers
The Southwest Florida Water Management District governing board voted to elect officers for the 2025-2026 term.
John Mitten
John Mitten was elected chair of the governing board. He represents Hernando and Marion counties and is the franchise owner of Chick-fil-A in Spring Hill. Mitten was appointed to the governing board in October 2020 and was reappointed in August 2024.
Jack Bispham
Jack Bispham was elected vice chair of the governing board. Bispham represents Manatee County and is the owner and operator of Red Bluff Plantation. He was appointed to the governing board in November 2019 and was reappointed in May 2021.
Ashley Bell Barnett
Ashley Bell Barnett was elected secretary of the governing board. Bell Barnett represents Polk County and is a former educator and community advocate. She was appointed to the
governing board in December 2020 and was reappointed in August 2023.
John Hall
John Hall was elected treasurer of the governing board. He represents Polk County and is the owner of Polk Community Association Management and a former Polk County commissioner. Hall was appointed to the governing board in May 2021.
S Do we make decisions based on data—or gut instinct?
S Do we understand our industry ecosystem and leverage partnerships?
S Have we eliminated unnecessary complexity in our operations?
S Do we foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement?
Achieving high performance isn’t about making one major change—it’s about consistently refining these areas over time. The question isn’t whether these traits matter; the real question is:
How quickly can your organization begin embedding them into its DNA?
Susan Quinn has worked for more than 30 years with Fortune 500 to middle-market firms across the Unites States developing strategies that spur growth. As chief executive officer of circle S studio, she supports companies in their quest to “better their best” and brings a keen understanding of how to create a winning strategy. Quinn is the author of the book, “Does Your Business Show Up or Stand Out?”, a leader’s playbook for implementing the nine traits. For more information, visit www. circlesstudio.com/business-playbook. S
The officers will assume their positions for the 2025-2026 term 24 hours before the June governing board meeting. The governing board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the Florida governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The governing board sets policy for the district. Its mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks, and ensure the public’s water needs are met. S
for attending, sponsoring, speaking, exhibiting, volunteering and more at the 2025 Conference! See you in Daytona Beach in 2026.
What Do You Know About Nitrogen Removal? Test Yourself
Charlie Lee Martin Jr., Ph.D.
1. The harmful effects of nitrogenous compounds within the environment include
a. increased dissolved oxygen depletion.
b. reduction of chlorine disinfection.
c. ammonia toxicity to fish.
d. all of the above.
2. Nitrogen concentrations in raw municipal wastewater range from
a. 10 to 30 mg/l.
b. 15 to 50 mg/l.
c. 30 to 60 mg/l.
d. 40 to 100 mg/l.
3. Ammonia nitrogen can be removed from wastewater via
a. biological nitrification.
b. breakpoint chlorination.
c. ion exchange.
d. all of the above.
4. The columns used to remove ammonium ions within ion exchange units are typically packed with
a. clinoptilolite.
b. zeolite.
c. neolith.
d. nitrophenolate.
5. The concentration of chlorine needed to remove 1 mg/l of ammonia nitrogen is approximately
a. 20 mg/l.
b. 10 mg/l.
c. 5 mg/l.
d. none of the above.
6. The amount required to remove 1 lb of ammonium nitrogen is
a. 3.5 lbs.
b. 5.5 lbs.
c. 4.6 lbs.
d. none of the above.
7. The oxygen requirement to remove 2,000 lbs of ammonia nitrogen is
a. 9,200 lbs of oxygen.
b. 6,000 lbs of oxygen.
c. 1,000 lbs of oxygen.
d. all of the above.
8. The ammonium nitrogen load in lbs per day for a 10-million-gallon-per-day facility with an average ammonium nitrogen concentration of 45 mg/l is
a. 3,753 lbs/day.
b. 5,000 lbs/day.
c. 2,500 lbs/day.
d. none of the above.
9. The pH at which nitrification is greatly reduced is below
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has awarded $25 million through the Local Government Water Supply Pilot Grant Program to fund 13 projects that will improve water supply infrastructure in northwest Florida. These projects will help enhance water supply resilience in the region, reduce water loss, and ensure residents have dependable access to drinking water and essential resources for firefighting.
“The FDEP remains committed to securing Florida’s water future through proactive investments in infrastructure and natural resource protection,” said Alexis A. Lambert, FDEP secretary.
Northwest Florida’s long-term water supply strategy addresses the region’s unique water challenges, including the protection of the coastal Floridan aquifer. To be eligible for the pilot program, projects must be located within Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. Many of the largest public supply water users are located in fastgrowing coastal communities with water supply infrastructure needs.
These awards are expected to support the water needs of approximately 170,000 residents across these counties through key projects, including:
• $3 million for the City of Gulf Breeze’s Gulf Islands National Seashore Water Transmission Main Replacement and Upgrade Project, which will replace an undersized, 50-year-old concrete main with a larger main to more reliably serve the community and to act as an emergency supply main for the Pensacola Beach water system operated by Emerald Coast Utility Authority.
• $3.5 million for the City of Mary Esther to replace mains to address issues with water supply, water loss, water quality, and insufficient flow capacity due to older, undersized piping.
• $773,419 for the City of Paxton to replace existing 2-inch water lines with 6-inch water lines to meet water supply and firefighting needs.
A list of Local Government Water Supply Pilot Grant projects can be found at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/Grants.
The FDEP is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve, and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The FDEP enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention, and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails, and aquatic preserves. Visit the FDEP website at www.FloridaDEP.gov. S
Where Do Invasive Species Spread and Why?
UF/IFAS researchers take a novel approach to find the answer
Throughout the world invasive species are always on the move. Scientists face a challenge in simulating their spread and further predicting where they will go next.
Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) took a deep dive to understand why certain locations are more susceptible and attractive to invasions by non-native plants or animals, making them prime targets for these species to spread.
What they came up with is a novel approach, updating what scientists call environmental resistance (ER) modeling, which adds a layer researchers feel has been missing from other modeling strategies.
The study focused on the eastern United States, a hotspot for invasive species.
“Florida has more invasive vertebrates than any other state, while the Great Lakes region and the Northeast are major battlegrounds for invasive plants,” said Yunpeng Liu (pictured at top), a postdoctoral researcher affiliated with the UF/ IFAS Invasion Science Research Institute and lead author of the research. “By analyzing patterns of invasion in these areas, the researchers identified which kind of environmental resistance modeling plays the biggest role in stopping or allowing the spread of invaders.”
Identifying Invasion Areas
The findings, published in the Journal of Biogeography, offer a roadmap for identifying invasion-prone areas before new species get a
foothold that can serve as a fundamental tool for conservationists and land managers battling biological invasions.
“Traditionally, scientists have used climatebased models to predict where invasive species might spread,” said Liu. “These models assume if a species thrives in one climate or condition, it will do well in a similar environment elsewhere.” He argues this approach has limitations because it lacks the ability to consider how quickly invasive species can adapt or how local ecosystems can resist new potential invaders.
“Most importantly, traditional modeling strategies do not predict invasion spread well if we do not know much about the suitable climates of the invasive species or we are not sure about their adaptation after they colonize into new habitats,” said Liu. “What we came up with is an update to ER modeling that adds the necessary layer that has been missing.”
The ER modeling measures how difficult it is for invasive species to establish in a new area. The difficulty is determining how similar a location’s existing variety of species is to that of its neighboring invaded area. The more similar the species gather in a place to the already invaded place, the more likely a place is to be invaded.
Alternative Models
The authors improved the ER modeling strategy with a new approach. Besides considering species similarity, they also developed alternative ER models by measuring environmental resistance using other factors, such as soil type and human activity. They simulated the observed invasive distributions with each ER model and identified the best one that most accurately simulated invasive distributions. Then, the best model was used in predicting the invasion spread in the eastern U.S.
“The ER model based on native species similarity was the best one for predicting current spread; not just for invasive plants, but also a suite of invasive animals. This means that the key drivers on invasion spread in Florida are native species similarity, rather than other factors, including climate, soil type, or human activity,” said Liu.
The study also explored how temperature shifts might alter invasion risks. As temperatures and ecosystems change, the movement of native species varieties also changes, resulting in some areas becoming more vulnerable to invasion, while others may develop stronger natural defenses.
“The findings suggest that native species groupings could become more similar in the future than what they are today, leading to an increase in the spread of most of the invasive species, especially for those who have already occupied a wide range of habitat,” said Liu. “The regions near large cities, which were Florida’s invasion hotspots, will be under high invasion risk in the future.
Protecting Nature’s Balance
This research provides valuable insights for ecologists, land managers, and policymakers working to combat the spread of invasive species. Understanding the interplay between invasive species and their new environments could lead to more-effective strategies for protecting native biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance. S
JEA is hiring dedicated professionals to operate a state-of-the art membrane purification facility as part of JEA’s H2.O Purification Program.
Be a part of Florida’s operational history by joining our team today.
Please visit www.jea.com/careers and look for Advanced Treatment Water Facility (ATWF) positions for more details.
WHY Choose US
• Top-tier Operator Pay Scale
• Excellent Benefits
• Advancement Opportunities
• Award-winning Facilities and Operations Team
THE Center
JEA is constructing a 1.0 MGD membrane-based Advanced Treatment Water facility as part of the H2.O Purification Program. “The Center” is designed to exceed water quality goals needed for aquifer replenishment. Operational processes include membrane filtration, reverse osmosis and UV advanced oxidation.
C L A S S I F I E D S
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES - Classified ads are $22 per line for a 60 character line (including spaces and punctuation), $60 minimum. The price includes publication in both the magazine and our Web site. Short positions wanted ads are run one time for no charge and are subject to editing. ads@fwrj.com
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Utilities Director
$132,457 - $214,338/yr.
Utilities Treatment Plant Operator I or Trainee
$57,208 - $80,496/yr. or $51,889 - $73,012/yr.
Utilities System Operator Foreman
$57,208 - $80,496/yr.
Utilities Lift Station Operator I
$49,418 - $69,536/yr.
Utilities Lift Station Operator II
$57,208 - $80,496/yr.
Utilities System Operators I or Trainee
$44,823 - $63,071/yr. or $42,690 - $60,068/yr.
Apply Online At: http://pompanobeachfl.gov Open until filled.
Class C
Class B
Class A
Trainee
City of Melbourne
Water Treatment Operator C, B, A or Trainee
$44,640 – 74,996
$46,649 – 78,371
$48,748 – 81,898
$38,345 – 63,270
Learn more and apply online at www.melbourneflorida.org https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/melbourneflorida
City of Melbourne, Operations Supervisor
Reverse Osmosis and Actiflo Surface Water Treatment Plants
Must possess a Class A Drinking Water Treatment Operator License with a minimum of two (2) years in the supervisory capacity of a Class A water treatment facility.
Learn more and apply online at www.melbourneflorida.org
Apply Online at: City of Avon Park Employment ApplicationOpen until filled
City
of Avon Park FL – UTILITIES MANAGER
Public Works Utilities Manager
$70,000 DOQ
Apply Online at: City of Avon Park Employment ApplicationOpen until filled
Water Treatment Plant Operators
The Water Treatment Plant at the Village of Wellington is currently accepting applications for a full-time WATER OPERATOR and an INSTRUMENT TECH/OPERATOR positions. Apply online. Job postings and applications are available on our website: https://wellingtonfl.munisselfservice.com/employees/ EmploymentOpportunities/
We are located in Palm Beach County, Florida. The Village of Wellington offers great benefits. For further information, call Human Resources at (561) 753-2585.
WATER & WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATORS NEEDED
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is seeking state certified water & wastewater treatment plant operators for Hollywood, Florida. All applicants must hold at least a State of Florida “C” operator’s license. Background check and drug screen required. Excellent Compensation and benefits. Please email resume to ivonnefigueroa@semtribe.com.
PROJECT ENGINEER NEEDED
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is seeking a Public Works Project Engineer for Hollywood, Florida. All applicants must possess Bachelor’s Degree and Engineering Exp. Background check and drug screen required. Excellent Compensation and benefits. Please email resume to ivonnefigueroa@semtribe.com.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is seeking a Public Works Data Administrator for Hollywood, Florida. All applicants must possess Bachelor’s Degree and GIS Exp. Background check and drug screen required. Excellent Compensation and benefits. Please email resume to ivonnefigueroa@semtribe.com.
Orange County Utilities is accepting applications for multiple Senior Engineer positions in the Capital Improvement Program of the Engineering Division. Successful candidates will possess strong project management skills and have experience with renewal/ replacement of gravity sewer and pump stations, septic-to-sewer conversion projects, and management of grants from federal, state, or local agencies. Excellent benefits and salary commensurate with experience and education. Search Job Code:7037 Apply at: www.ocfl.net/jobs
City of Palm Coast, FL – Director of Utility
Under the direction of the City Manager, the purpose of the position is to direct responsible professional, technical, managerial, and administrative work over regulatory and operational activities of utility services throughout the city. Employees in this classification function in an executive capacity and are responsible for ensuring adherence to and compliance with all applicable City, State, and Federal codes and regulatory requirements regarding water and wastewater processing. The objective is to ensure the safety, health, and general welfare of the public and business community.
Salary Range $110,000-$160,000. Contact Renina Fuller, 386986-3725, palmcoast.gov for additional information. EOE. Under Florida law, applications are subject to public disclosure.
Coral Springs Improvement District
Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Department Supervisor
• Studies proposed projects to evaluate the most feasible approach for excavations and repairs.
• Supervise, direct, plan, schedule, and assign the work of crews to specific jobs requirements and manpower ability.
• Responds to calls for emergency service and effectively resolves complaints from the public regarding maintenance work, projects, and/or staff activities.
• Experience working with gravity sewer systems, force mains, and lift stations is required.
• Responsible for keeping up with all current and future regulations and compliance with all local, county, and state mandates.
• Class A water Distribution and wastewater collection licenses preferred.
• Salary range $60,000 – $84,000. Salary to commensurate relative to level of license and experience in this field.
Benefits:
• Excellent benefits which include health, life, disability, dental, vison and a retirement plan including 457b with a 6% match and 401a 6%
Please send resume to .jimmyh@csidfl.org Director of Human Resources
Continued from page 44
Editorial Calendar
January
March
April ....................Water Conservation and Reuse
Stewardship
May .....................Operations and Utilities Management
June ....................Biosolids Management and Bioenergy Production
July .....................Stormwater Management; Emerging Technologies
August ................Disinfection; Water Quality
September..........Emerging Issues; Water Resources Management
October ..............New Facilities, Expansions, and Upgrades
November...........Water Treatment
December ...........Distribution and Collection
Technical articles are usually scheduled several months in advance and are due 60 days before the issue month (for example, January 1 for the March issue).
The closing date for display ad and directory card reservations, notices, announcements, upcoming events, and everything else including classified ads, is 30 days before the issue month (for example, September 1 for the October issue).
For further information on submittal requirements, guidelines for writers, advertising rates and conditions, and ad dimensions, as well as the most recent notices, announcements, and classified advertisements, go to www.fwrj.com or call 352-241-6006.
1. D) all of the above. The harmful effects of nitrogenous compounds within the environment include increased dissolved oxygen depletion, reduction of chlorine disinfection; and ammonia toxicity to fish.
2. B) 15 to 50 mg/l.
The concentrations in raw municipal wastewater range from 15 to 50 mg/l.
3. D) all of the above. Ammonia nitrogen can be removed from wastewater via biological nitrification, breakpoint chlorination, and ion exchange.
4. A) clinoptilolite.
The columns used to remove ammonium ions within ion exchange units are typically packed with clinoptilolite.
5. B) 10 mg/l.
The concentration of chlorine needed to remove 1 mg/l of ammonia nitrogen is approximately 10 mg/l.
6. C) 4.6 lbs.
The amount required to remove 1 lb of ammonium nitrogen is 4.6 lbs.
7. A) 9,200 lbs of oxygen. The oxygen requirement to remove 2,000 lbs of ammonia nitrogen is 9,200 lbs of oxygen.
8. A) 3,753 lbs/day.
The ammonium nitrogen load in lbs per day for a 10-million-gallonper-day facility with an average ammonium nitrogen concentration of 45 mg/l is 3,753 lbs/day.
9. C) 7.
The pH at which nitrification is greatly reduced is below 7.
10. D) all of the above.
The nitrogen in wastewater consists of organic nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrate/nitrite nitrogen.
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