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NewsLEAKS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE INDIANA SECTION AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

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2025 WATER INSTITUTE & EQUIPMENT EXPO

RECAP

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Table of Contents P.O. Box 127 www.inawwa.org Brownsburg, IN 46112 Ofﬁce: 866-213-2796 Fax: 866-215-5966

Features

2025-2026 Board of Trustees

2025 Water Institute and Equipment Expo Recap ACE25 Earns Elite Distinction for Sustainability

25 29

CHAIR Mr. Neal McKee 765-648-6420 nmckee@cityofanderson.com CHAIR-ELECT Mr. Chris Johnsen 219-221-3916 cjohnsen@mcwaterdept.com VICE CHAIR Mr. Larry Haag 812-549-5341 larry.haag@egis-group.com PAST CHAIR Ms. Cathy Lance 574-254-9050 cathy.lance@peerlessmidwest.com SENIOR PAST CHAIR Ms. Jaimie Foreman 317-571-4144 jforeman@carmel.in.gov SECRETARY- TREASURER Mr. Josh Castor 765-648-6420 jcastor@cityofanderson.com ASSISTANT SECRETARY-TREASURER Ms. Katie Armenta 812-358-3654 karmeta@cityofberne.in.gov DIRECTOR Mr. Ed Nugent 317-501-0956 ednugent@utilitysupply.com

Departments Message from the Chair

Direct from the Director

District Reports

Committee Reports

Upcoming Events & Activities

Advertiser Product & Service Center

TRUSTEE – SMALL SYSTEMS SOUTH Mr. Bill Jones 812-350-1732 bjones@edinburgh.in.us TRUSTEE – NORTHEAST DISTRICT Mr. Brad Semon 765-438-6426 bsemon@utilitysupply.com TRUSTEE – SOUTHEAST DISTRICT Ms. Donna Ennis 502-612-2930 donna@dcdevelopco.com TRUSTEE – CENTRAL DISTRICT Mr. Bryan Forkner 317-339-8241 bryan.forkner@amwater.com

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TRUSTEE – SMALL SYSTEMS NORTH Mr. Justin Shaffer 260-692-6909 jshaffer@townofmonroe.com

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TRUSTEE – NORTHWEST DISTRICT Ms. Cara Lance-Emerick 574-315-2752 caral@mesimpson.com TRUSTEE – SOUTHWEST DISTRICT Mr. Jeremy Ferrar 812-872-2212 jeremy.farrar@poseyville.us

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Message from the Chair Neal McKee, Chair Indiana Section Board of Trustees

Much To Do In 2026

reetings to all Indiana Section AWWA members. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and if you are like me, you are probably still in a food coma. Well, winter is finally here. I hope all of you are staying warm and your systems are holding up for you. It has been busy the last four months with Operator School, the intensive drinking water operator exam review, workshops, fall district meetings, and the Water Institute & Equipment Expo in French Lick. I hope you were able to attend at least one of the events put on by the Indiana Section AWWA. I would like to take a moment to give a shout-out to Chris Johnsen, Michigan City Superintendent, for his dedication to operator education and certification as the Chair of the Operator School Committee for the past five years. He has done a fantastic job of leading that group to further the education of our state’s utility personnel and preparing them to pass the state certifications. I also want to thank Scott Ham, who has also long been involved in operator education and certification and led our first Intensive Drinking Water Operator Exam Review. This was a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Indiana Section, the Alliance of Indian Rural Water, Indiana American Water and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to provide an intensive one-week training session that culminated in taking the exam on the final day of the training. From everyone I talked with who took the class, they either passed or improved their scores. IDEM associates provided follow-up to be very proud of – overall, there was an increase in the passing percentage, which is usually around 48% and increased to 61% with those who completed this training. Most notable was the 26% increase in raw scores for the distribution exam, taking it up to 76%. Congratulations to the passing students and all involved in planning, coordination and execution of this training. If you were unable to attend a longer session, such as the conference or weeklong training, I hope you were able to take advantage of the many one-day workshops that provide a wealth of information and get you those needed CEUs for renewing your certifications. I sincerely hope many of you were able to join us in French Lick for the Water Institute this year. It is such an awesome venue, and because it is held in December, it provides a beautiful backdrop of Christmas. We had attendance of

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602 with 78 vendor booths and four equipment spaces. The atmosphere was great, the classes informative and thought-provoking, and as usual, the networking with fellow industry professionals and operators was fantastic. There is much to do in 2026, as well as our 118th Annual Conference, which is a little earlier in 2026, taking place March 23-26, 2026. Please visit our website early and often to keep up with the training that is offered, as well as scheduled events, and industry information. I will see you all at our upcoming events, and I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Direct from the Director Ed Nugent, INAWWA Director

Thank You For Your Time and Committment To the doers of this association, I would like to thank you for your time, effort and commitment to whatever cause you feel strongly about.

oliday Greetings to you all! Wow, did the year 2025 just speed by or what? Between conferences, meetings, symposiums, workshops and NewsLeaks articles, it is sometimes difficult to fit in your actual job. Throw in my Water and Sewer Distributor Association (WASDA) obligations, and it is a small wonder anything else gets done. But I really feel like I am not alone in that thought. Each of us has many obligations and preferences we hold onto and somehow “fit” them all in. To the doers of this association, I would like to thank you for your time, effort and commitment to whatever cause you feel strongly about. On the AWWA front, the Association has also been busy. National membership as of the end of October stands at 48,882. Slightly short of their goal, but still a significant number of members. The Water Equation is at 90% of their $50,000 yearly goal. So if you have an inkling to donate some money, I am sure they would be happy to take it from you. AWWA continues to participate with foreign partners as well. National AWWA executives visited Korea in early November and also Taiwan (Chinese Taipei Water Works Association) and the Japan Water Works Association. Global outreach and cooperation are a top goal of AWWA. The winter board of directors meeting is on January 29-31 of 2026 in Vancouver,

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BC if any of you are curious about what the group does? 2026 ACE premier sponsors have also been named. Mueller and Xylem will be the premier sponsors at ACE 2026.

At the Indiana level, we are now gearing up our own annual conference and looking forward to seeing everyone in downtown Indy in a few months. Be safe and try to stay warm and dry!

WINTER 2025

District Reports

Northwest District Cara Lance-Emerick, Trustee

The Northwest District Fall Meeting was held on Friday, September 26, at Avalon Manor in Merrillville. We had three and a half hours of content, which included: • Case Study – Releasing & Exercising Seized Valves in 3 Water Distribution Systems – Aaron Horbovetz with M.E. Simpson Co., Inc. • Televised Well Surveys – Zach Kleyn with Peerless Midwest • Hydrant Demo – Tyler Lucas with American Flow Control Ian Caig with IDEM gave an update and announced an impressive number of Hurty Awards. We had 45 (yes 45) awards to give out, including two 50-year awardees – John Renolds and Paul Holley from Indiana American Gary.

Clifton Wood with Indiana American Gary was a 45-year awardee. Congratulations to them and all the Hurty awardees this year. Your careers and dedication to public safety are inspiring! On the agenda for the Fall Meeting was the Election of Officers for 2026. We are pleased to announce the following slate of officers: President – Greg Burnett with Michigan City Water Vice President – Bruce Long with Hammond Water Works Secretary – Jim Riegsecker with Midwest Meter Trustee – Cara Lance-Emerick with M.E. Simpson Co., Inc. Our outgoing District Officer was Owen Keenan. Thank you, Owen, for your volunteerism during your retirement and for all of your support and dedication to AWWA and the water industry.

Southwest District Jeremy Farrar, Trustee

The INAWWA SW District held its spring meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the Taylor Township Fire Department in Newberry, IN. Don Walker with Kennedy Hydrants and Valves presented on Fire Hydrant Installation and Maintenance. Johnna Bingham with Indiana 811 spoke on 811 overview, and the new 2025 law changes, and Josh Hawley with Ziptility presented on Building Efﬁciency with a good Work Order System. Alex Powers with IDEM informed us on IDEM updates. Lunch was followed by a tour of the Crane Naval Base Water Treatment Plant. We received a lot of great feedback from this meeting. The Southwest District fall business meeting became a struggle this year, with our venue and meeting date needing to be changed in early fall. The fall meeting was held on November 6 at Paoli Water in Dubois, IN. An “All Things Brass” presentation was given by AY McDonald Company. Justin Lagrange with On the Spot presented on 811 dig law from a contract locator service perspective. This presentation was

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unique and a good follow-up to the 811-presentation given at the Spring Meeting by Johnna Bingham, as the new law changes have impacted day-to-day utility operations statewide. Sarah Hudson with the IFA gave an update on the new “Indiana Water Studies” initiative by the IFA. Karla Goodman with IDEM gave the IDEM updates. The annual district business meeting welcomed Adam Ferree with GRIPP as our new Secretary Treasurer. David Knott with Utility Pipe Sales will move up to Vice President, Matthew Lindsey with Vincennes Utilities will move up to President and Justin Guetling with EWSU will serve as the Southwest District Trustee. The Southwest District would like to give a Big Thank You and a written appreciation to Megan Fleming, our Program Manager with the INAWWA, for her perseverance after being hit by a deer the morning of the meeting. She overcame terrible personal circumstances to make sure our business meeting happened and that all attendees received their CEUs. Thank you, Megan!

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Committee Reports

Operator School Committee Chris Johnsen, Committee Chair

What a crazy year it has been. Somewhere along the way, summer ended, and Operator School began. This year, we had classes in all five districts, with 34 students spread throughout. I would like to thank the instructors who helped provide this educational opportunity: Carrie Lowe in Lafayette, Sarah Block in Fort Wayne, Tim Nelson in Ramsey, and the team of Brenna Caudill, Jacob Wallace and Ethan Elleser in Evansville. The fifth class, which I instructed, was in Michigan City. We all wish our students the best of luck with their continued efforts to study and pass the exams. There are plans to continue to host Operator Schools again this coming year. Please keep your eyes open for the next opportunities. We are truly excited to announce a new program that was held in the first week

of November. 76 students participated in the first-ever one-week intensive water examination review course for treatment and distribution. The students were in intense classes for four whole days, and then IDEM proctored the paper exams on the Friday following the course. This program was a great collaboration between Indiana American Water Company, the Indiana Section AWWA, the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water and IDEM. This program showed real promise in improving the results for those who tested that Friday. As a result, there are plans to have this course again in 2026. The plans are for the first week of May and the first week of November. Keep your eyes open for announcements from the Section. I especially want to thank Scott Ham for making this program happen.

Finally, this will be my last article as chair of the Operator School Committee. The last ﬁve years as chair have been interesting, especially starting just as COVID hit. My workload and other Section responsibilities have changed signiﬁcantly, and I just cannot provide the level of attention this committee needs. I want to thank Brenna Caudill and Jacob Wallace of Evansville Water and Sewer Utility for their willingness to take on this great responsibility as the new co-chairs. Their enthusiasm will be a breath of fresh air into the program. I do want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved with the Committee, been an instructor, and has helped with IDEM’s review and improvements of the test questions and study materials. I know you all will help the new co-chairs make the programs even better.

Philanthropy Committee Jamin Beisiegel, Committee Chair

The start of another year is upon us! As we approach the new year, the Philanthropy Committee encourages everyone to think about ways to educate our youth about the importance of water to our lives. Let your local schools know if you are able to talk to students about your job or how to protect water resources. In line with that, remind teachers and other educators about our Youth Water Science Education Grant. Information packets will be sent out at the beginning of 2026. We hope to have several schools apply for the grant, which will be awarded at the Annual Conference in April.

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Please share the grant application with your school system, especially science teachers. We are always eager to increase education in the environment and water resources. The Annual Conference is coming up soon, so make your plans to attend. If you know of anyone who has not attended in the past, encourage them to apply for either the Bessozzi or Gambold Education grant. This is a great opportunity to attend the conference for free! Application information can be found on the Indiana AWWA website. Please be safe and healthy in the new year!

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Committee Reports

Water Loss Committee Paul Dicken, Committee Chair Our committee has held numerous virtual meetings during the year and met in person at the Annual Confernece on April 22. The committee is planning for the Auditor training in January and will also be planning for the webinars next year. The committee will be available for any District meetings.

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• • • • •

Our short-term goals that we continue to work on: IFA Educational Support – via examples of policies, operational and billing, code changes. Training for utilities – webinars as requested. Future Activity with IDEM – assisting with transitional processes and the Real Loss %. Strategic Recruiting to obtain a few more members from the districts that represent the smaller utilities. We are currently at 10 members. Prepare for training presentations, workshops, webinars, and conferences.

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Committee Reports

Young Professionals Committee Dylan Buechler, Committee Chair Over the past several months, the Indiana Section AWWA Young Professionals (YP) Committee has been putting together many initiatives aimed at empowering emerging leaders in the water industry. Through educational activities and networking events, the committee continues to create meaningful opportunities for professional development and community engagement. One of the highlights of the past couple of months was our visit to the Carmel Water Treatment Plant for an in-depth facility tour. We extend a huge thank you to Lane Young of Carmel Utilities and Jaimie Foreman, Drinking Water Regulatory Compliance Supervisor, for making this experience possible. The event drew 24 attendees who had the opportunity to learn about Carmel’s drinking water source, capacity, and treatment processes. The photo shown was taken in front of the impressive ﬁlter gallery, located in a well-maintained building. After the tour, the group continued connecting over lunch at Arni’s Restaurant. Community engagement and volunteerism remain core values for the YP group, providing opportunities to give back and connect. We aim for at least two volunteer events each year. Our latest was a city clean-up with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, followed by a YP social at a local brewery. It was the perfect day to enjoy the outdoors while making a positive impact on our community. Even our youngest YP joined in (pictured)! Recently, the YP group proudly sponsored a Purdue student design team at the Central States Water and Environment Association Competition. Their outstanding performance earned them a spot at WEFTEC, where they placed fourth in their category. Competing on a national stage is not easy, and this team should be very proud of its accomplishment. These talented future

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water professionals represent the next generation of our industry, and we look forward to welcoming them into the YP community soon. If your company has Young Professionals, deﬁned as individuals who are younger than 35 years old or

who have been in the industry for less than ten years, we invite you to connect them with our committee. To stay informed about upcoming events and opportunities, please reach out to us at indianaawwaiweayp@gmail.com or visit our INAWWA YP website.

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Committee Reports

Awards Committee John Crider and Jeff Cunningham, Awards Committee Co-Chairs At December’s Water Institute, Lew Grasser, with Ramsey Water Company, was named the 2025 Large System Water Operator of the Year. Lew has 25 years’ experience in providing safe drinking water to the citizens of Southern Indiana. For the last 15 years, he has been with Ramsey Water Company. He currently serves as the utility’s Chief Water Treatment Operator. In addition to this vital role, he also manages Ramsey’s GIS and Mapping Department. In his tenure, Ramsey has transitioned from a disinfection-only system to a full WT3 treatment facility.

Lew is always quick to take the initiative on any task the utility faces. In his nomination letters, his board members, manager and peers all pointed to his dedication to the utility and the residents they serve. His leadership in mentoring and training new employees is unparalleled. To quote his nomination letter – “as a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, through his leadership at RWC, Lew is the consummate Water Professional.” Congratulations and thank you to Water Professional Lew Grasser for going

Competitions Committee Justin Shaffer, Committee Chair As I am writing this article, we are only two weeks away from our Section Championship Meter Challenge. I hope you all had a relaxing and fulﬁlling Thanksgiving and that you are ready for the Christmas season and a Happy New Year. What a crazy year it has been for the competitions. As we struggled getting meters for the Meter Challenge, we were told that there would be no Hydrant Hysteria at ACE26. We also struggled getting competitors for the Meter Challenge because of everyone’s busy schedules, and also because of the lack of time there would be to practice for the events. That being said, we made it happen! Meters started arriving, and everyone was able to start practicing. It has been very interesting, to say the least. Currently, we have our returning Champion, Tom Wolf, looking to retain

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his status at the top of the Meter Challenge world in the Indiana Section. We also have three others around the Section looking to oust him from his perch. Jeremy Estrada of Hammond, Rich Mesaros of West Lafayette, and Bill Jones of Edinburgh. It’s anybody’s Championship to win, and these guys are all very capable of putting up some great times! I am looking forward to the Challenge and watching it all unfold. If you were at the Water Institute, then you already know who the winner is who will be representing the INAWWA Section at ACE26 in Washington, DC. Please be sure to show your support and root him on as he advances to the National Competitions. Thank you to everyone who competes in our competitions each year and to all of the volunteers who make the competitions a huge success in the INAWWA Section.

above and beyond in service to his utility, the state and the Drinking Water Industry. The Awards Committee is in the process of an overhaul of our recognition program. Our goal is to revitalize pertinent awards that have not been utilized for the last couple of years and to bring a renewed focus to recognizing deserving individuals. The awards are listed at this link: https:// www.inawwa.org/awards-and-recognition. Currently, we are accepting nominations for awards for 2026. Please email any questions to awards@inawwa.org.

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Committee Reports

Membership Committee Josh Dixon, Committee Chair Summer/Fall 2025 New, Reinstated, Renewing Member Update The Indiana Section AWWA added, renewed, or reinstated 55 Individual members, two student members, 15 Op/ Admin members, two Service Providers, and one Utility Individual Members Adam Ferree – Gripp, Inc. Jeffrey Meyer Josh Byrant – Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District Kevin Slick – Town of Centerville Michael Oglesby – Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors, LLC Gregory Shook – Rushville City Utilities Brent Nibarger – Grundfos Pumps Corporation USA David Knott Eric Stover – Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors, LLC Keith Penney – Evansville Water & Sewer Utility Scott Handler Diana Luper – Town of Clarks Hill Susan Walker – Rockwell Automation Alan Armstrong – Evoqua/Xylem Brandon Kiel – LaCrosse Water Department K. King – Town of Otterbein Joel Pontius – City of Bloomington Utilities Aaron Shaw – Town of Bargersville Rob Cross – Citizens Energy Group Joe Turnquist – Citizens Energy Group Kade Hoover – Anderson Water Plant Abiagil Hogan – Innovative Irrigation, LLC Aaron Schwendenmann – Greensburg Municipal Water Works Michael Lassiter – Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors Danny Bowman II – BBP Water Corporation Bob West – Jasonville Utilities Sydney Kalinger – Wessler Engineering Jessica Wilson – Whitestown Municipal Utility Ryan Schipper – American Structurepoint Kayla Pearson – Colfax Waterworks Company Jeremy VanErman Jim Gamble – Press-Seal Corporation Cole Ferguson – Commonwealth Engineers Bill Hunt – M.E. Simpson Company, Inc. Morgan Flaugher – Rural Community Ass. Program Craig Cordi – HIS Management Corporation Gabriel Williams – Euroﬁns Eaton Analytical Jessica Hall – US Pipe Damen Miller – City of Garrett Hugh Mikel – Inﬁltrator Water Technologies Mitch Sattison – Angola Water Department TJ Whitehead – Indiana RCAP

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Charles Kist – Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors, LLC Michael Rezk – Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors, LLC Benjamin Hoffman – Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors, LLC Josh Miller – C&J Well Company Layla Mezel – Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd. Corryn Berlin – Peerless-Midwest, Inc. Andrew Kent – Peerless-Midwest, Inc. Todd Watson – Peerless-Midwest, Inc. Eric Irwin – Peerless-Midwest, Inc. Eric Vance – Wessler Engineering, Inc. Anthony Wood – Mid-Western Engineers, Inc. Mike Bultema – Town of St. John Public Works Department Kellen Hurst – CHA Solutions Service Provider Member Innovative Irrigation, LLC USIC Student Number Romany Taﬁd Anastasia Rosenow – Marion Utilities Utility New Castle Water Department Operations and Administrative Members Matt Dabertin – City of Bloomington Utilities Randy Meny SR Meny Inc. Lester Downs Dan Weinzapfel – Weinzapfel Well Drilling & Plumbing Leslie Day – D&S Water and Wastewater Services Paige Momberg – HydroBlast Restoration Chris Moody – Evansville Water & Sewer Utility Jesse Hohl – Evansville Water & Sewer Utility Jill Minor – Evansville Water & Sewer Utility Andy Eubank – Evansville Water & Sewer Utility Danny Bailey – Evansville Water & Sewer Utility Layne Cox – Evansville Water & Sewer Utility Brock Strader – USG Water Solutions Jill Gast – Indiana 811 Amy Moore – VS Engineering Indiana Section Membership Snapshot Life Members – 21 Retirees – 19 Student Members –12 Partner Agencies – 1 Utility Members – 268 Individual Members – 1015 Service Providers – 34 Total Section Membership – 1370

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Committee Reports

Safety Committee Tracy White, Committee Chair The Safety Committee is always accepting applications for the Wendell R. Ladue Safety Award. This prestigious award will be awarded to one winner in each of four classes (under 10 employees, 10-100 employees, 100-500 employees, and over 500 employees). Applications are available on the INAWWA website. Some of the information needed will be from your OSHA 300 log (previous ﬁve years). Indiana Section AWWA nominees will be announced at the Indiana Section Annual Conference in the spring of every year. Celebrate your commitment to safety and nominate your company for the award! We would love to recognize your commitment to your employees for having a safe working environment. As winter weather is coming to your area soon, it serves as a good reminder to check the parking lot/sidewalk conditions and do the penguin walk when walking across those icy areas.

Bundle up to stay warm when you are doing your work outside. Additionally, road conditions can deteriorate very fast from one area to another. Pay attention and adjust your speed according to the current road conditions. Be aware that drivers may not be able to stop at the light/stop sign, so ensure that the oncoming trafﬁc is at a stop before proceeding into that intersection. Stop by the Safety Room at the next conference you attend and play Plinko for Safety! You will not leave the room without a prize, and you will get to learn something about safety. If you are interested in serving on the Safety Committee, please let us know when you visit the Safety Room. We would love to have some new members. Stay healthy and safe! Remember: Safety starts with you. So continue to Think Safety in all things you do!

Workforce Development Committee Charles Gill, Committee Chair

Hello water professionals! The Workforce Development Committee has had a busy year in 2025! We have been able to speak at the Water Institute, IWEA, the AlRW conferences and the Indy Workforce Summit. We will be working to speak with students, veterans, and adult workers at job fairs, science days or during agriculture events, to speak about the Water Industry and the wonderful career path that it can be for the future. To show our industry has many paths and opportunities for any candidate to pursue their career in science, technology, security, and beyond. Our utilities need people who are ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges head-on and to bring about the technological advancements needed to serve Hoosiers for the next generation. The Workforce Development Committee is one point on the wheel of reaching out to that untapped pool of talent out there. We welcome Indiana Section Members from all utilities to join us in bringing our trades out into the open, where the public can see the hard work and dedication shown by our teams. We will be presenting and remain ready to serve the Indiana Section and all our friends, neighbors and family for many years to come. We need to maintain communications with our colleagues, state Senators and Representatives, and our own local governments to ensure that the right investments are being made in our human infrastructure as well as the physical infrastructure. I only have one question: are you ready to see what we need to see happen?

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WINTER 2025

Committee Reports

Small Systems Committee Justin Shaffer, Committee Chair The Small Systems Committee has been working diligently to reboot and bring back some missing pieces from the past. Next year, we will be bringing back the FYI Small Systems publication. It will take the form of a digital publication, and the hope is to have it emailed to our small systems at least twice per year. As we move forward with it, we may be able to send it quarterly, but for now, we just need to get our toes in the water. If you have an idea for an article to put in the FYI, please send it to myself or someone on the committee. The Small Systems program was very good this year at the Water Institute. Thank you to RCAP for volunteering their time, assisting our small systems with a full day of training

at the Water Institute, as well as those who gave presentations during the Wednesday sessions, which discussed issues surrounding our small systems and education in general. We are always looking for topics you would like to see addressed in our Water Institute and Annual Conference. Please let us know. We cannot make improvements without your input. With the ever-changing landscape of the water industry, there is no topic too big or too small to bring to the table. There is still a lot to hear about with the Lead and Copper Rule and PFAS. Now, we must learn to navigate through the new piece of legislation surrounding the Asset Management Programs. How will that work?

What are your concerns? There were some excellent presentations about the Asset Management legislation at the Water Institute, and now we must build on those presentations and learn how we can assist you moving forward. We continue to challenge you all to help us, help you. We want to know what we need to do to better serve you through these changing landscapes. We want to better understand our small systems’ needs so that we can share with other small systems that may be facing a similar situation. How to operate day to day with fewer staff and small budgets? Remember, your issues are also our issues, and we want to know what issues are that your small system is facing.

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Committee Reports

Water Utility Council Justin Schneider, Committee Chair About a year ago, members of the Water Utility Council (WUC) were preparing for a push to support legislation to protect water utilities from lawsuits related to PFAS in water. I am proud to say that the Indiana General Assembly included language protecting utilities in Senate Enrolled Act 426, which went into effect on July 1. That bill bars lawsuits against utilities for claims arising out of an alleged exposure from drinking water if the utility met applicable water quality standards. This upcoming legislative session, the WUC has no such pressing issues that we will be supporting. It is likely that utilities will be in the discussion due to the focus on energy utility rates that have been driving much of the attention on utilities over the last several months. We will remain actively engaged in monitoring legislative developments to help ensure that any proposals serve the best interests of utilities and, most importantly, the customers who depend on them for safe and reliable service. Occasionally, we will get the question, “How does the WUC decide what to support?” The simplest answer is that policy issues, including legislation, which is ﬁled by the General Assembly, are brought before the members of the WUC, and the pros and cons of the issues are discussed. Those discussions then determine whether the WUC should engage on an issue. The information from our members guides the direction of the individuals who engage on behalf of the Indiana Section of the AWWA at the Statehouse and back home in conversations with legislators. The WUC is always interested in discussing policy issues. If there is something that is creating a challenge for your utility and customers, feel free to reach out to me, and we can discuss getting the item on the WUC agenda. Additionally, we are always looking for new members for the WUC. We especially

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You do not need to be an expert on an issue or someone who likes to talk to legislators. Believe me when I say that we have plenty of members who want to engage with legislators. However, we do need your input!

need engagement from smaller utilities. The time commitment is only a few hours-long phone calls per year. You do not need to be an expert on an issue or someone who likes to talk to legislators. Believe me when I say that we have plenty of members who want to engage with legislators. However, we do need your input! There are also opportunities to participate with other WUC members in connecting with legislators at a reception in Indianapolis during the legislative session. Five members of the Indiana Section also annually attend a D.C. Fly-In, where we meet with representatives of other state sections to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and advocate for policies that support utilities and our customers. Generally, the attendees come from the WUC roster. This year’s Fly-In will take place on April 13-15. If you are interested in participating in a future Fly-In, please let me know so we can add you to the list of potential attendees and, if you’re already not involved, help you get connected with the WUC. The members of the board and I have been thinking about how the WUC can best serve the needs of our members. We recently held a WUC meeting at which IDEM, IFA and the IURC presented on regulatory and funding issues. We want

to do more of these types of events and make sure that the information is shared with all our members. If you have suggestions on how we can better serve you or provide you with information, please do not hesitate to reach out. For those utilities regulated by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), the end of 2025 is bringing a change in the makeup of the IURC with the expected appointment of three new commissioners. Chairman Jim Huston is retiring from the IURC, and Commissioners Sarah Freeman and Wesley Bennett both resigned for other opportunities in October. As of the time of the writing of this article, the names of the nine ﬁnalists (three for each open position) have been sent by the nominating committee to the Governor for his consideration. If you are interested in participating in the WUC, attending the D.C. Fly-In, have policy questions or ideas, or want to provide insight into how we can better serve you, please let me know at justin.schneider@amwater.com. Also, feel free to look me up at the AWWA Annual Conference in Indianapolis, March 23-26. We will have the annual policy update presented by the WUC. We hope to see you there!

WINTER 2025

December 2-4, 2025 French Lick Springs Hotel & Casino, French Lick, IN

2025 WATER INSTITUTE & EQUIPMENT EXPO

RECAP

We enjoyed three days of education and activity in beautiful French Lick, IN. We had the opportunity to network with utility operators, superintendents, managers, and decision makers representing small and large water and wastewater utilities and many others in the industry. Thanks to everyone who attended the 2025 Water Institute and Equipment Expo in French Lick!

2025 STATS 74 Booths

602 Attendees 4 Large Equipment Spaces

Gambold Education Fund Awardee: Aiden Feasel from City of Berne, presented by Philanthropy Chair Jamin Bieseigel

Operator of the Year: Lew Grasser, Ramsey Water Company, presented by Past Chair Cathy Lance.

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INAWWA Staff Terry Foster and Cheri Lankford.

WINTER 2025

2025 WATER INSTITUTE & EQUIPMENT EXPO RECAP

Meter Challenge

Water Institute

| WINTER 2025

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Indiana Section AWWA thanks our …

2025Indiana WATER INSTITUTE SPONSORS Section AWWA thanks our … whose generosity helps support INAWWA in itsSPONSORS mission of service to Indiana’s 2025 WATER INSTITUTE water and wastewater utilities throughout the year. whose generosity helps support INAWWA in its mission of service to Indiana’s water and wastewater utilities throughout the year.

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS SPONSORSHIP LEVELS SOURCE WATER PARTNER TRANSMISSION PARTNER SOURCE WATER PARTNER

TRANSMISSION PARTNER

STORAGE PARTNER

METER PARTNER

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WINTER 2025

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BUILDING, REHABILITATING, AND EXPANDING WATER & WASTEWATER SYSTEMS 28

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ACE25 Earns Elite Distinction for Sustainability AWWA Connections

he Events Industry Council (EIC) recently recognized AWWA’s 2025 Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE25) with its highest distinction – a Platinum Level Certiﬁcation – for its event sustainability practices. This recognition places AWWA’s premier conference among an elite group of events around the world focused on enhancing sustainability. “We are so appreciative of the AWWA community – not only its staff, but also members, volunteers, and leaders – whose dedication and investment have been instrumental in driving ACE’s initiatives forward,” said Joanne Gaglia, director of conferences and events. “Their commitment to responsible practices continues to inspire meaningful change across the industry,” she added. The EIC’s standards, recognized globally, specify performance criteria in 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. To date, more than 300 professionals have participated in the review of the standards. At ACE25, which attracted over 11,000 water professionals from around the world, AWWA achieved each of the goals it aspired to: • Increase waste diversion from landﬁll to 43% (up from 21% in 2024). • Establish a sustainable procurement policy for all ACE materials. • Raise awareness of the ACE Carbon Offset Dashboard, which allows individuals to understand the carbon footprint of their travel to and from ACE. • Strengthen the Exhibitor Sustainability Pledge, which encourages at least one action from each participating exhibitor relating to energy use,

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ACE25 earned event industry’s highest honor for sustainability.

waste diversion, and reduced food and beverage packaging. “Our partners and exhibitors signed the pledge, which expands the impact of our sustainable approach across the show floor and beyond,” Gaglia said. These 2025 Sustainability Allies are still currently featured on the ACE Sustainability and Impact page. ACE25 earned an exemplary audit point for offsetting the event’s total water use – 420,000 gallons – through the purchase of Water Restoration Certificates® from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. This action demonstrates ongoing commitment to the water sector and reinforces support for forward-looking sustainability efforts as represented in AWWA’s Water 2050 initiative. The Alliance for Audited Media conducted a comprehensive third-party audit, and AWWA collaborated with Honeycomb Strategies (HCS), event industry sustainability consultants, on the planning and certification process. HCS compiled the ACE25 Sustainability Report,

which captures the effects of AWWA’s sustainability initiative, ﬁrst launched in 2023. It also provides recommendations for continued growth. “AWWA shares this report to foster transparency, encourage accountability, and inspire ongoing action across the ACE community,” Gaglia said. ACE26, taking place June 21-24 in Washington, D.C., will build on the success of ACE25 by: • Purchasing strategic offsets for travel, energy, and water. • Procuring materials through sustainable sourcing. • Offering a volunteer activity that supports the community. • Hosting a Wellness Lounge to promote attendee well-being. • Including Water Equation engagement to support future water professionals. “These returning initiatives reﬂect AWWA’s commitment to continuous improvement and long-term impact,” Gaglia said. “They build on what worked and will evolve with purpose.”

WINTER 2025

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Upcoming Events & Activities Please visit our website – www.inawwa.org – for details and registration information. Water and Wastewater Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are to be approved by IDEM. Well, Driller and Pump Installer hours are to be approved by IDNR, as applicable. Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for engineers are available, as applicable. Other events are being planned, so please check our website regularly, or call our ofﬁce at 866-213-2796 for updates. DATE

EVENT

January 13-15, 2026

Water Loss Audit &Validator Training Plainﬁeld

February 2, 2026

Legislative Reception – Weber Grill Downtown Indianapolis

February 4, 2026

Joint Utility Management Seminar Bowen Engineering Indianapolis Ofﬁce

February 4, 2026

Operator Certiﬁcation Training Indiana American Water Kokomo

March 23-26, 2026

118th Annual Conference Downtown Indianapolis

May 12, 2026

Operator Certiﬁcation Training Indiana American Water Gary

May 13, 2026

Operator Certiﬁcation Training Lafayette Water Works

June 4, 2026

Operator Symposium North Culy Contracting Winchester

June 25, 2026

Operator Symposium South Utility Supply Company Huntingburg

July 22, 2026

Northeast District Meeting + Tin Caps Baseball Game Fort Wayne

July 29, 2026

Annual Golf Outing Eagle Creek Golf Course Indianapolis

August 5, 2026

Operator Boot Camp Miami County Fairgrounds Peru

December 1-3, 2026

Annual Water Institute & Equipment Expo French Lick

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WINTER 2025

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| WINTER 2025

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Advertiser Product & Service Center NewsLeaks is made possible by the companies below who convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of INAWWA 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. You can also go to the electronic version of NewsLeaks at www.inawwa.org and access direct links to any of these companies.

COMPANY

PAGE

TELEPHONE

WEBSITE

AMERICAN Ductile Iron Pipe

205-325-7701

www.american-usa.com

American Structurepoint, Inc.

317-547-5580

www.structurepoint.com

AUMA Actuators, Inc.

724-743-2862

www.auma-usa.com

Bastin-Logan Water Services

317-738-4577

www.bastinlogan.com

Baxter & Woodman, Inc.

815-459-1260

www.baxterwoodman.com

Brenntag Mid-South

812-454-4658

www.brenntag.com

Commonwealth Engineers, Inc.

317-888-1177

www.commonwealthengineers.com

Core & Main

317-545-6088

www.coreandmain.com

Dixon Engineering, Inc.

616-374-3221

www.dixonengineering.net

E.J. Prescott

800-357-2447

www.ejprescott.com

Egis

317-849-5832

www.egis-group.com

Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc.

317-843-0022

www.fveng.com

Ford Meter Box Company

260-563-3171

www.fordmeterbox.com

George E. Booth Co., Inc.

317-247-0100

www.gebooth.com

GRW Engineers, Inc.

317-347-3650

www.grwinc.com

Hawkins

877-418-3330

www.hawkinsinc.com/groups/water-treatment

HydroBlast Restoration

317-939-3066

www.hydroblastrestoration.net

Infrastructure Systems Inc.

812-865-3309

https://infrastructuresystems.com

Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd.

419-473-9611

www.jheng.com

Kirby Risk Electrical Supply

877-641-0929

www.kirbyrisk.com

Kokosing Industrial, Inc.

317-891-1136

www.kokosingindustrial.com

M.E. Simpson Co., Inc.

800-255-1521

www.mesimpson.com

National Water Services, LLC

812-723-2108

www.national-water.com

Neptune Technology Group Inc.

800-633-8754

www.neptunetg.com/home

Ortman Drilling & Water Services

765-459-4125

www.ortmandrilling.com

Peerless-Midwest, Inc.

574-254-9050

www.peerlessmidwest.com

Pittsburg Tank & Tower Group Inc.

270-826-9000

www.pttg.com

S & K Equipment Company, Inc.

34, 35

812-886-0245

www.skequipment.com

Strand Associates, Inc.

812-372-9911

www.strand.com

United Consulting

317-895-2585

www.ucindy.com

Waller's, Inc.

888-485-7018

www.wallersmeterinc.com

Water Solutions Unlimited, Inc.

800-359-3570

www.getwsu.com

Wessler Engineering

317-788-4551

www.wesslerengineering.com

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WINTER 2025

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