Over 100,000 Installations throughout North America
Our Snout ® system has been leading the charge in stormwater management for over 25 years. Designed to last, it captures pollutants at the source and reduces downstream pollution. For optimal performance, add the Bio-Skirt ® and Turbo Plate ® .
80 GHz level sensor with fixed cable connection (IP68)
- Accuracy and reliability meet affordability
- Easy Bluetooth setup via the VEGA Tools app for smart devices
- Optional remote display available
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WE TAILOR OUR SCREENING EQUIPMENT TO FIT YOUR NEEDS.
All wastewater treatment plants are not alike. That’s why plant designers prefer our Raptor® line of screening products, the innovative all-in-one units that screen, wash, convey and dewater screenings efficiently, capturing more fine solids and long fibers than other available screens. Raptor® products are adaptable to a wide range of configurations, giving you more choices for better performance in your unique application. They are preferred among plant operators for their simple operation, ease of use, and minimal maintenance. When performance counts, count on the industry leader for more than 90 years—Lakeside Equipment Corporation.
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.
President Todd Swanson – todd.swanson@steptoe-johnson.com
President Elect
McKenzie – charliemckenzie@servicepump.com
1st
Zach Thompson – zthompson@thethrashergroup.com
2nd Vice President
Jacob Daley – jdaley@csb-wv.com
Reliably Operate:
applications AWWA Certified/BABA Compliant
All while offering integral motor controls and compatible interfaces for a variety of plant control systems.
mailbox@auma-usa.com www.auma.com
Large water infrastructure projects are complex, involving multiple teams and disciplines. In addition to the pressures of meeting schedule and budget, these projects and programs are expected to achieve lasting value for the environment and society.
We are committed to your success in delivering a resilient tomorrow. SEAMLESS PROGRAM DELIVERY WITH MEANINGFUL OUTCOMES.
Our local team of experts partner with you at every stage to help you plan better and deliver efficiently. We provide the right team to help you achieve your desired outcomes at every milestone through our integrated and seamless approach that will satisfy your objectives, maintain the highest standards of quality, and proactively mitigate risk.
2025 WV WEA Board Members
TODD SWANSON President todd.swanson@steptoe-johnson.com
ZACH THOMPSON
1st Vice President zthompson@thethrashergroup.com
CHARLIE McKENZIE President Elect charliemckenzie@servicepump.com
SCOTT KELLY POTW Director skelley@huntingtonsb.com
JACOB DALEY
2nd Vice President jdaley@csb-wv.com
MATT DAWSON Secretary/Treasurer matt@ghosheng.com
MELISA POWERS
National Delegate melisa.powers@k12.wv.us
NICK AKERS
Immediate Past President nakers@centec-engineering.com
Fortiline delivers innovative metering technology to water utilities with Kamstrup’s smart water solutions. With integrated acoustic leak detection, our solution can help you identify leaks faster, improving your operational efficiency while saving you time and resources.
· Complete packages with
Water Conference Around the Corner
Todd M. Swanson President, West Virginia Water Environment Association
The West Virginia Water Environment Association and the West Virginia American Water Works Association are excited to continue building our connections and share valuable knowledge within the two organizations. The annual West Virginia Water Conference will be held at the Canaan Valley Resort from May 18–21, 2025 . This exciting event marks a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues, share knowledge and best practices, and stay at the forefront of the ever-evolving water environment field.
The conference will include informative presentations, operator training sessions, networking opportunities, a golf tournament, and vendor showcases. The ability mingle with others in the industry provides an excellent opportunity to share best practices, exchange ideas, and make connections that can benefit your professional development.
For detailed information on the conference schedule, speaker lineup, and registration process, please visit our website at https://wvwaterconference.com. We encourage you to register early.
The West Virginia Water Environment Association looks forward to seeing everyone at Canaan Valley Resort in May 2025!
THE ANNUAL WEST VIRGINIA WATER CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CANAAN VALLEY RESORT FROM MAY 18–21, 2025.
H.M.W.P.E. Man -Hole Inserts
SPECIFICATIONS :
• The insert is made of High Molecular Weight Polyethylene material that meets ASTM specifications designation D 1248, Class A, Category 5, Type 111 with a minimum impact brittleness temperature of -180°F. The thickness shall be uniform to .187 or greater.
• The lift strap is made of 1-inch-wide woven polypropylene web and is attached to the bowl of the dish by a wide head stainless steel 3/16” rivet and a stainless steel ¾” backup SS washer. All cut edges are seared to ensure against raveling.
• Ventilation is provided by a 1/8” vent hole and/or a valve (see valve information under the SS specifications ), vent hole located on the side wall of the bowl, valve threaded into the side -bottom of the insert. The hole or valve allows maximum release of 5 gallons of water per 24 hours and is not affected by debris that might collect in the bottom of the dish. Sewer gas is vented at one P.S.I. or less.
• The gasket is made of closed cell neoprene and is attached by a pressure sensitive adhesive to the weight bearing surface of the dish.
Stainless Steel Man -Hole Inserts
SPECIFICATIONS :
INSERT- The manhole insert is manufactured of 16 gauge , 304T Stainless Steel. The insert shall have a bowl size large enough to receive the design of the underside of the manhole lid. The bowl size shall also be designed to allow easy removal from the manhole frame. The insert shall have a load test greater than 3000 pounds.
GASKET- The gasket is made of closed cell neoprene and is attached by a pressure sensitive adhesive to the weight bearing surface of the dish.
HANDLE- The handle, cable terminal, and cable eye end are manufactured from stainless steel. The handle is manufactured from 3/16” plastic-coated stainless-steel cable and is attached with a #66 stainless steel rivet and a 1” diameter SS washer. The cable is braided in a manner which resists cutting with bolt cutters.
TETHER- The tether is manufactured from 3/16” braided stainless steel and is attached to the insert using #66 stainless steel rivet. The cable terminal end and eye are manufactured from stainless steel.
RELIEF VALVE - The gas relief valve is designed to, release at a pressure of .5 to 1.5 PSI and release less than 5 gallons of water in 24 hours. The valve is threaded and screwed into a hole drilled in the bottom of the insert. The valve is made from material that is inert against Sulfuric Acid, Hydrogen Sulfide and other substances found in the sanitary sewer systems.
H.D.P.E. or A.B.S. Valve Box Inserts
SPECIFICATIONS :
• The valve box insert is made of High Molecular Weight Polyethylene material that meets ASTM specifications designation D 1248, Class A, Category 5, Type 111 with a minimum impact brittleness temperature of -180°F. The thickness shall be uniform to .187 or greater.
• The lift strap is made of 1-inch-wide woven polypropylene web and is attached to the bowl of the dish by a wide head stainless steel 3/16” rivet and a stainless steel ¾” backup SS washer. All cut edges are seared to ensure against raveling.
Brian Persing Representing WEF at Conference
Melisa Powers
Brian Persing will be the WEF representative for the WV WEA annual conference. Mr. Persing is a member of the 2024-25 Board of Trustees for WEF.
Mr. Persing is a distinguished professional in the water sector who brings more than two decades of comprehensive experience to his role as plant superintendent/division manager at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission in Maryland. He oversees the operations of a 30 MGD Water Resource Recovery Facility.
His career trajectory began in the field of analytical chemistry within the manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries, which laid a solid foundation for his transition into the water sector. Persing’s expertise is extensive, covering areas from certified environmental laboratories to the operation/management of water, wastewater, industrial wastewater and biosolids facilities. His experience is further enriched by a blend of contract operations and direct municipal employment.
An active contributor to the field, Mr. Persing currently holds the position of vice chair of WEF’s Utility Management Community and is a member of WEF’s Water Leadership Institute Steering Committee, where his insights and leadership continue to shape the future of water management and environmental stewardship. The WV WEA Board is excited to have Mr. Persing join us for the Conference this May, being held at Canaan Valley Resort.
Brian Persing, 2024-2025 Board of Trustees Member
Another note that I would like to pass along is the upcoming WEFMAX events that are scheduled for 2025. It is an opportunity for Member Associations to share successes and lessons learned. Any member is welcome to attend. The Delegates are expected to attend a WEFMAX each year but any member is welcome to attend. There is no registration fee to attend WEFMAX. There are three in-person WEFMAX events this year:
• April 2, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• April 30, Salem, Massachusetts
• September 4, Palm Springs, California
Each WEFMAX has a unique agenda. For more information, please visit the WEFMAX page on WEF’s website.
BRIAN PERSING WILL BE THE WEF REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE WV WEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE. MR. PERSING IS A MEMBER OF THE 2024-25 BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR WEF.
2025 Annual WV AWWA/WEA
May 18-21, 2025
Canaan Valley Resort, Canaan Valley, WV
Conference Welcome
WV-AWWA and WV-WEA Members and Families,
On behalf of the West Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association (WV AWWA) and the West Virginia Water Environment Association (WV WEA) Board of Directors, please allow us to extend a warm welcome and invitation to you to attend the 2025 Annual Joint Water Conference. This year’s conference will take place at Canaan Valley Resort in Davis.
We are going to keep our schedule from last year. Festivities will begin on May 18, 2025, with our annual cocktail hour. The Terry Smith Memorial Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday after lunch. For those that don’t golf, we’ll be hosting a networking event Monday after lunch, with games and prizes!
We’ll be providing numerous WVBPH approved CEH credit opportunities for water and wastewater, with certificates at the conclusion of each seminar session. We are also going to offer additional training and CEH credit opportunities on Wednesday of the conference!
We also anticipate a full exhibit hall with the latest water and wastewater industry related technology displayed and expert technical representatives to present their information. This year the exhibit hall will be set up in the foyer, so conference attendees have access to the displays during breaks and in between classes throughout the conference. Their participation helps make our conference possible each year through their generous support, so please check out all they have to offer.
Tuesday evening, we will host our annual Awards Banquet where we will recognize water and wastewater industry leaders for their unwavering dedication to protection of public health and the environment. We will celebrate with dinner, drinks, and some storytelling!
The conference will conclude on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, with the Board Meetings – or our final training classes for those that are interested in additional CEH credits.
We encourage you to come and take advantage of everything that this year’s conference has to offer – great food, fun, fellowship, professional development, and the latest technologies in the exhibit hall.
See you at Canaan!
Rocky Bragg Chairman, WV-AWWA
Todd Swanson President, WV-WEA
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING THAT THIS YEAR’S CONFERENCE HAS TO OFFER –GREAT FOOD, FUN, FELLOWSHIP, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES IN THE EXHIBIT HALL.
Event Venue
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
230 Main Lodge Road, Davis, WV 26260
The Canaan Valley Resort State Park states on its website that it can be found at the intersection of relaxation and recreation.
With 160 rooms, 23 cabins, and 59 campsites, the resort provides lodging for any occasion. Perfect your swing on the championship golf course, swim in the outdoor and indoor pools, or ski down the resort’s 47 slopes and trails. No matter the season, you’ll find no shortage of family-friendly activities.
The resort also offers conference and event spaces, on-site restaurants, and a fully equipped fitness center. Learn more at www.canaanresort.com and call 800-622-4121 to book your lodging.
Terry Smith Memorial Golf Tournament
DATE: Monday, May 19
TIME: 2:00 pm (Please arrive by 1:30 pm)
FORMAT: Scramble format
PRIZES: Team prize winners will be announced. Prizes will be awarded for 3 flights as well as cash prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin, & longest putt.
Any questions please contact Charlie McKenzie at 304-417-3525 or charliemckenzie@servicepump.com
Alternatively, call Chas Turner at 304-731-1227.
Fun! That’s what this is all about, whether you are a scratch golfer or scratch at golfing.
PLEASE SEND REGISTRATION FORM AND ENTRY FEE ASAP by scanning the QR code.
You may enter as a team or as an individual. If registering as an individual, we will place you on a team. All players who are registering as a team must be placed on one form. If your company wants to sponsor a team, we will supply players who work in the water/waste industry & could be your customers or future customers!
Schedule at a Glance
SUNDAY, MAY 18
5:00 pm
MONDAY, MAY 19
7:00 am Breakfast and Registration
8:30 am Opening Session | Welcome by WV-AWWAA Chairman and WV-WEA President
9:00 am CEH Classes
9:45 am CEH Classes 10:45 am Morning Break 11:00 am CEH Classes
12:00 pm
and Keynote
2:00 pm Terry Smith Memorial Golf Tournament and Networking Event 7:00 pm
TUESDAY, MAY 20
7:00 am
pm
pm
3:30 pm Tase Test Competition
4:00 pm Water Utility Council Meeting 6:00 pm Banquet
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21
7:00 am
8:00 am
the ofpower
ENHANCE YOUR INDUSTRY SKILLS
Stay on top of advances, trends, and proven solutions through WEF’s highly regarded technical education and training opportunities.
FACILITATE LIFELONG LEARNING
Choose your training and earn CEUs and PDHs through WEF’s educational programs, including: WEFTEC®, WEF Specialty Conferences, hot topic seminars, workshops, and webcasts.
CHAMPION
PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS
Within WEF and Member Associations (MAs), members work to help each other develop and grow professionally, while building valuable relationships with industry partners and prospects.
ENRICH YOUR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL
Gain leadership skills that can be applied to your career by volunteering your service to WEF and a WEF MA committee.
INCREASE AWARENESS AND RECOGNITION IN YOUR FIELD
Each year, WEF presents awards for outstanding contribution to the water environment profession.
MASTER YOUR CAREER GOALS
Tap into the leading career network for the water community, WEF’s Job Bank, where dozens of new jobs are posted each month.
Join WEF’s membership community of more than 35,000 water professionals, and experience the power of “we”, through leadership, passion, collaboration, scholarship and service.
NEWSLETTER AND WEBSITE COMMITTEE
The Newsletter and Website Committee is pleased to present the third edition of Mountain Currents , our bi-annual publication. We trust that you will find the information and articles within both insightful and valuable as a member of our industry. Our goal is to provide content that enhances your understanding and engagement with current topics. For further details about our organization and how to become a member, we encourage you to visit and bookmark our website at https://westvirginiawea.org. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Water Environment Federation (WEF) for their continued support of our rebranding, communication, and outreach initiatives. Their partnership is instrumental in helping us engage with our existing members and attract new members to our community. This collaboration plays a vital role in advancing our mission: To inspire the West Virginia water community in pursuit of human and environmental well-being.
By
Justin Jacques, Editor, Stormwater Report
From the rise of artificial intelligence for flood detection to the rise of strategic beaver deployment, from reimagined golf courses in Houston to living shorelines along the Florida coast, and from centralizing green infrastructure guidance to expanding the Saffir-Simpson scale, 2024 has been a banner year for the stormwater sector. With 2025 upon us, take a fresh look at Stormwater Report’s five most popular articles of 2024.
In a sobering report delivered to U.S. Congress on May 13, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) researchers estimated that the combined wastewater and stormwater sectors require approximately USD $630 billion in new federal funding during the next 20 years to address existing and anticipated water quality problems.
This figure resulted from EPA’s first Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) administered since 2012, which polled more than 17,500 publicly owned wastewater and stormwater management providers nationwide about their financial needs. Compared to the previous CWNS installment, stated needs among stormwater managers saw the most significant increase of any segment polled –approximately USD $115.3 billion, a 385% increase over 2012 estimates.
The most recent Clean Watershed Needs Survey (CWNS), administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), estimates that the U.S. wastewater and stormwater sectors will require more than USD $630 billion over the next 20 years to meet the goals of the Clean Water Act. Although this is the 17th CWNS produced by EPA, it is the first since 2012 and the first ever to include data from all 58 U.S. states and territories. Image courtesy of EPA.
Drilling down further, needs associated with designing, deploying, and maintaining green infrastructure represented the fastest-growing expenses among U.S. stormwater managers. Green infrastructure-related expenses increased from 15% to 43% of the stormwater sector’s total stated needs since the 2012 CWNS. The survey also found stormwater needs to be highly concentrated by region. Only three U.S. states – Virginia, California, and Florida – together reported roughly half of the country’s stormwater funding gaps.
2NEW FEMA POLICY REWRITES FLOODPLAIN RULES
Certain critical infrastructure projects are facing more stringent regulatory requirements in light of the new Federal
U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will use this flowchart to determine whether a given site constitutes a regulatory floodplain, representing the first step of FEMA’s 8-Step Decision Making Process by which they decide whether the agency’s new Federal Flood Risk Management Standard rules apply to a potential project. Image courtesy of FEMA.
Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) policy, implemented by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on September 9.
The FFRMS, which applies to federally funded development projects, climate adaptation measures, and substantial repairs to critical structures, expands the criteria for what qualifies as a regulatory floodplain. Previously, any critical infrastructure project located in an area that met conventional definitions for a
“500-year floodplain” was subject to more stringent design standards to ensure resilience against major flood events. In place of this one-size-fits-all measure, the FFRMS incorporates the latest projections of potential flood extent and elevation for a given project area to determine whether that project should conform to the heightened design standards. FEMA also announced that the federal government would cover up to 75% of the costs associated with FFRMS compliance.
The FFRMS elicited strong reactions from the stormwater management community. Professionals lauded the inclusion of climate projections into floodplain determinations, but expressed concerns about the increasing complexity of design and siting for critical infrastructure that could expand project timelines –particularly for small communities with fewer financial and technical resources. They also voiced doubts about FEMA’s bandwidth to implement the new policy in an equitable manner.
SOLVING A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT MYSTERY IN PHILADELPHIA
In May, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PDOT) announced results from a four-year investigation into the health of the city’s roadside bioretention basins, conducted alongside researchers from Temple University (Philadelphia) and Villanova (Pennsylvania) University. Their conclusions have the potential to improve the design of these critical green infrastructure elements in similar settings worldwide.
It is normal for vegetation-based infrastructure in climates with cold winters to enter dormancy and turn from green to brown for part of each year. In Philadelphia, however, PDOT noticed that roadside bioretention basins citywide remained brown even during peak-bloom season – severely undermining the basins’ treatment functions. A thorough investigation pinpointed excessive roadway de-icing salt as the culprit, accumulating to a point where some basins had the same salinity as ocean water even despite effective drainage.
Findings from this study informed a new paradigm for how PDOT selects suitable plants for roadside bioretention basins. Regarding salt tolerance as a spectrum more than a binary trait, they identified a list of 13 native plant species of suitable size for bioretention basins able to better withstand the impacts of road salt, such as seaside goldenrod, common rush, and feather reed grass.
TINY FORESTS REACH THE BIG APPLE
New York City plunged deeper into the green infrastructure pool this year, unveiling a USD $6 billion plan to floodproof the city’s transit system and
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation commissioned a research team, including Josh Caplan (right), Associate Professor of Horticulture at Temple University (Philadelphia), to investigate why plants were dying in Philadelphia’s bioretention basins. Image courtesy of Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University.
Hundreds of volunteers gathered to plant the 1,500 trees and shrubs included in New York City’s first “pocket forest.” The planting event also featured speakers, dancers, and musical performances. Image courtesy of Dino Kuznik/SUGi.
The City of Montreal is constructing its largest-ever “sponge park” – a green infrastructure-focused public space meant to maximize stormwater infiltration – as part of a long-term campaign to mitigate combined sewer overflows and improve the city’s flood resilience. The park, located in the Verdun neighborhood, is one of more than 30 such parks under construction by the end of 2025. Image courtesy of City of Montreal.
installing an unprecedented 11 km (7 mi) of porous pavement along Brooklyn roadways, among other largescale efforts. However, one New York City-based project caught the eyes of Stormwater Report readers more than any other: the city’s first pocket forest planted on Manhattan’s Roosevelt Island.
In April, a coalition of nature-minded nonprofits planted the seeds of the Manhattan Healing Forest, a series of 1,500 trees planted within an ultracompact 372-m 2 (4,000-ft 2) space. This pocket forest is emblematic of a new type of green infrastructure gaining worldwide prominence, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. It involves planting dense, multi-layered forests consisting of many different tree species, with plantings as close together as three to four saplings per square meter arranged in a randomized pattern.
drinking water treatment facility – a low-lying area straddling two of Verdun’s busiest avenues that experiences chronic flooding during even modest storms.
The project, with a cost just below CAD $2.5 million, features numerous strategically placed amenities that strike a balance between sound stormwater management and recreation for the
surrounding community. For example, the design calls for a new dog park and bike path as well as a network of carefully designed ditches and vegetated pits. Drinking fountains around the property discharge undrunk water into the ditches rather than back into the municipal water supply to help moisten the soil and preserve infiltration capabilities.
Conveyance Conveyance
Pocket forests grow up to ten times faster than monoculture forests while providing outsized ecological benefits for the footprints they occupy. These benefits include, for example, enhanced carbon capture, pollution filtration, resistance against flooding, reduced urban heatisland effects, and protection against storm surge.
5MONTREAL SPONGE PARKS Balance RESILIENCE AND RECREATION
On the opposite end of the size spectrum from pocket forests, in Montreal, municipal stormwater professionals are embracing a maximalist approach to green infrastructure with an ongoing sponge park campaign. The city is midway through an initiative to construct more than 30 sponge parks –large, public amenities designed around green infrastructure at the foundational level – by the end of 2025. City crews broke ground on the campaign’s largest planned sponge park in May.
Montreal’s largest sponge park, located in the riverside Verdun neighborhood, spans 4,300-m 2 (152,000-ft 2) with a total stormwater retention capacity of approximately 1,067,000 L (282,000 gal). It transforms an empty lawn located on land adjacent to Montreal’s Atwater
Bipartisan Legislation Reintroduced to Protect Utilities, Ratepayers from PFAS Costs
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has expressed strong support for the reintroduction of the Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act. This bipartisan legislation, led by Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) and Celeste Maloy (R-UT), aims to protect water utilities from undue financial burdens associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cleanup under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The bill ensures that PFAS producers, rather than the public, bear the cost of remediation.
“Water utilities and their customers should not be forced to pay remediation costs for issues they did not create,” said Ralph Exton, WEF’s Executive Director. “We applaud Representatives Gluesenkamp Perez and Maloy for their leadership in championing this critical legislation.”
to potential lawsuits from PFAS manufacturers. These entities may attempt to shift financial responsibility onto utilities through litigation, increasing operational costs that ultimately affect ratepayers.
“The Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act is a crucial step in ensuring that water and wastewater utilities — and, ultimately, the communities and ratepayers they serve — are not unfairly burdened with the costs of PFAS contamination cleanup,” said Exton. “These utilities are involuntary receivers of PFAS and did not create or profit from PFAS. However, without congressional action, they could be forced to bear immense financial and operational challenges.”
This legislation is necessary to protect utilities after their systems have been involuntarily affected by PFAS, but source control at the industrial and residential levels is a more efficient and cost-effective solution. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency found that PFAS can be bought for $50 - $1,000 per pound. However, it costs between $2.7M and $18M per pound to remove or destroy from municipal systems depending on facility size.
WATER UTILITIES AND THEIR CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO PAY REMEDIATION COSTS FOR ISSUES THEY DID NOT CREATE.
The reintroduction of this legislation follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) designation of PFOA and PFOS – two PFAS chemicals – as hazardous substances under CERCLA. This designation compels water utilities nationwide to remove these chemicals from drinking water, a process that involves significant financial costs.
By classifying PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances, the EPA’s designation leaves water and wastewater utilities
Originally introduced in the previous Congress by Rep. John Curtis (R-UT), the bill received broad bipartisan support and remains an essential step toward ensuring fair and just accountability for PFAS contamination.
ABOUT WEF
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of more than 30,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. Established in 1928, WEF’s mission is to inspire the water community in pursuit of human and environmental well-being. WEF’s goals are to attract and develop a passionate workforce, cultivate a purpose-driven community to sustainably solve water challenges for all, and lead the transformation to the circular water economy.
The Events Industry Council announced today that WEFTEC 2024, an annual event hosted by the Water Environment Federation (WEF), has achieved PLATINUM level certification to EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards. WEFTEC’s 2023 event previously achieved GOLD certification from EIC.
Last year, WEFTEC drew more than 21,000 registrants and 1,000 exhibiting companies last. As of January 2025, WEFTEC is one of only four events to become EIC Platinum certified.
“Achieving the highest level of certification to the Events Industry Council’s Sustainable Event Standards is a testament to our dedication to sustainability and commitment to advancing practices that benefit the communities we serve,” said Stephanie Jones, WEF’s Managing Director of Event Strategy. “EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards have provided us with a clear path to elevate our efforts and set a new benchmark for sustainable events in our industry.”
The EIC Sustainable Event Standards were created through a global collaborative process with participation from subject matter experts in all sectors. They provide a framework for collaboration and a strong focus on guidance and metrics so that event professionals at all stages of their sustainability journey have the support needed to implement and measure sustainable practices.
“This milestone reflects our mission to not only inspire innovation in the water sector but also to lead by example in minimizing our environmental footprint,” said Ralph Exton, Executive Director of WEF. “I’m extremely proud of our WEF events team and all our staff who contributed to this achievement.”
The standards specify performance criteria in the areas of organizational management; marketing; communications and engagement; climate action; water management; materials and circularity; supply chain management; diversity, equity and inclusion; accessibility; and social impact. “WEFTEC’s achievement exemplifies what is possible when event organizers commit to integrating sustainability into every facet of their operations,” said Amy Calvert, CEO of the Events Industry Council. “This certification not only reflects WEF’s leadership but also demonstrates their dedication to setting a high standard for environmental and social responsibility in the events industry.”
The Alliance for Audited Media, a not-for-profit auditing organization, performed the independent third-party certification of WEFTEC’s compliance with the Event Organizer standard.
“Certifying WEFTEC at the PLATINUM level highlights their extraordinary commitment to sustainability and transparency. We applaud WEF’s team on this achievement,” said Richard Murphy, CEO, president and managing director, Alliance for Audited Media.
ABOUT WEF
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of more than 30,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. Established in 1928, WEF’s mission is to inspire the water community in pursuit of human and environmental well-being. WEF’s goals are to attract and develop a passionate workforce, cultivate a purpose-driven community to sustainably solve water challenges for all, and lead the transformation to the circular water economy. Learn more at wef.org
ABOUT INDUSTRY EVENTS COUNCIL
The Events Industry Council’s global federation includes 33 Association Members representing 103,500 individuals and 19,500 entities, and 22 Corporate Members with global operations and event teams in countries around the world. EIC is the global champion for event professionals and event industry excellence. It promotes high standards and professionalism in the events industry with the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program and signature program activities. The CMP credential is recognized globally as the badge of excellence in the events industry. The qualifications for certification are based on professional experience, education and a rigorous exam. Learn more at www.eventscouncil.org.
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR AUDITED MEDIA
As the largest not-for-profit media assurance organization, the Alliance for Audited Media delivers impartial, credible data to help media buyers buy and sellers sell. AAM works alongside the media and advertising industry to establish standards that can be verified independently, ensuring the legitimacy of the businesses that drive media’s progress. AAM also provides verification for compliance programs including brand safety, privacy, sustainability and tech assurance. Learn more at auditedmedia.com
ADVERTISER PRODUCT & SERVICE CENTER
Mountain Currents is made possible by the companies below who convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of WV WEA and its publication and encourage you to contact them when making your purchasing decisions. To make it easier to contact these companies, we have included the page number of their advertisement, their phone number, and, where applicable, their website.
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