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As we look forward to the 2025 Water Environment Federation (WEF) Water Leadership Institute (WLI), I am happy to reflect on my experience as a participant in the class of 2024.
The WEF Water Leadership Institute (WLI) is a program that provides development and networking opportunities for leaders within the water industry. While WLI has been offered to participants for over a decade, the 2024 class accepted two groups of participants, called cohorts, a first for the program. Over 200 applications were received, with 84 being accepted into two cohorts of 42 participants each. The cohorts contained professionals at various levels from public utilities, consulting engineering firms, construction firms, universities, research foundations, and non-profit organizations.
The program included monthly webcasts that covered and discussed topics such as strengths-based leadership, impactful communication, emotional intelligence, and effective management strategies. In May, each cohort attended their face-to-face workshop at AlexRenew (formerly Alexandria Sanitation Authority) in Alexandria, Virginia. The two-day workshop included in-depth discussions about unconscious bias, effective public speaking, engaging presentations, establishing SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals, and more.
The participants were then split into groups of seven and given final projects based on the 2024 program theme, the intersection of leadership and communication. Each team developed a webinar presentation for WEF members and an article for WEF’s Water Environment & Technology magazine based on one of twelve water challenges. My project group focused on strategies for workforce development. Our webinar and article, presented in August, provided various strategies for employee retention, such as improving workplace culture, communicating employee value, emphasizing professional development and training programs, and improving knowledge transfer for newer employees.
In October, both cohorts attended the final one-day workshop and graduation together at WEFTEC in New Orleans, Louisiana. This workshop included peer networking, intentional communication strategies, leadership strategies, updates on previously established SMART goals, a panel discussion on emotional intelligence in the workplace, and finally, graduation from the 2024 Water Leadership Institute.
I am extremely grateful to have been selected for this program. I am also truly impressed with the time and effort WEF has put into creating opportunities for emerging leaders in the water industry. I learned about my strengths and leadership style, set realistic goals for my career development, explored diverse perspectives, made many lasting connections, and had a fantastic experience. I enjoyed this experience so much that I became a member of the steering committee for the 2025 Water Leadership Institute. I highly recommend this program to any water professional who is interested in learning and developing as a leader in the water sector.
The 2025 WLI Steering Committee looks forward to welcoming this year’s participants. The 2025 Water Leadership Institute has five participants from Oklahoma:
• Andrew Doerflinger, STV, Inc.
• Charles (Beau) Howard, Inframark
• Krysten Marshall, Garver
• Hunter Nelson, LabWare Global Services
• Afiya Wilkins, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
In Oklahoma, new legislation that seeks to ban the land application of biosolids has become a hot topic for water professionals, wastewater utilities, and municipalities.
As of March 2025, multiple bills have been introduced in the Oklahoma state legislature this year that aim to ban or restrict the land applications of biosolids due to concerns over environmental and health risks and PFAS contamination.
Most notably, Senate Bill 3 (SB3) proposes an aggressive phase-out of land application of biosolids. It proposes a 25% reduction by September 2025, a 50% reduction by 2026, and a full ban by July 1, 2027. Operators with active permits would also need to submit plans to halt land applications by September 2025. With an emergency clause attached, the bill would take effect immediately upon passage and task the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) with developing specific rules for implementation. The department would also retain discretion over the renewal of any land application permits during the transition period.
This bill originated in the Oklahoma Senate’s energy committee and was approved unanimously by the committee, and was passed by the Senate as a whole on March 26 by a vote of 42-4.
As a nutrient-rich byproduct of wastewater treatment, biosolids are widely used in agriculture as fertilizers or soil amendments through the state of Oklahoma and nation-wide. This proposed legislation, if passed in the legislature this session, would have wide-reaching impacts for farmers across the state of Oklahoma.
A major driver behind these bills is heightened public concern over odors associated with land-applied biosolids, as well as the potential presence of PFAS contaminants in biosolids when spread on fields. Nearby residents have increasingly voiced complaints about the unpleasant smells, particularly as suburban development expands closer to farmlands. This issue has sparked growing opposition to biosolid land application, pushing lawmakers to seek this legislative solution.
“ Water professionals throughout the state are also encouraged to participate in the upcoming Water Appreciation Day at the Oklahoma Capital building on May 13.”
As this issue moves through the legislative process, the Oklahoma Water Environment Association (OWEA) is taking an active role in providing insights and guidance to policymakers and operators.
Water professionals throughout the state are also encouraged to participate in the upcoming Water Appreciation Day at the Oklahoma Capital building on May 13. As the regulatory landscape changes, this is an important opportunity for water professionals to engage with lawmakers and advocate for solutions that balance public concerns with practical, cost-effective biosolid management strategies.
The proposed ban on biosolid land application in Oklahoma presents a significant challenge for water professionals, wastewater utilities, and municipalities. While the bill is driven by concerns over odors and public health, its potential impact on biosolids treatment, plant energy usage, disposal costs, landfill capacity and the agricultural industry cannot be ignored.
As Oklahoma considers this change, all stakeholders must explore innovative solutions that reduce biosolid volume, manage costs, and protect the environment. The outcome of this legislation will have lasting implications for biosolid management in Oklahoma and the broader water industry.
For more information on these bills and to stay updated, visit the Oklahoma State Legislature’s Bill Tracking Reports at www.oklegislature.gov/AdvancedSearchForm.aspx
The Collection Systems Committee (CSC) of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a driving force in promoting innovation and sustainability within wastewater collection systems. With a focus on advancing design, maintenance, and operation, the CSC develops technical resources, organizes training programs, and fosters collaboration among professionals to protect public health and water resources. Recognizing the growing complexity of the water industry, the committee is dedicated to addressing challenges such as aging infrastructure, climate resilience, and workforce development.
To deliver WEF’s vision for the Collection System Committee, the Collection System Committee within the Oklahoma Water Environment Association (OWEA) has historically held training workshops and provided water and wastewater operator hours and Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for attending.
In an effort to revitalize this tradition, OWEA and the Southwest Section of the American Water Works Association (SWAWWA) are hosting an Operator Training Short-School on June 3, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This one-day, eight-hour training event will feature two educational tracks: water and wastewater. While the event will include content related to collection systems, it will also cover a broad range of essential industry topics, such as water and wastewater treatment, maintenance and operations, and new regulations. Participants will earn eight operator hours (approved by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality – ODEQ) and eight professional development hours (PDHs).
Date: June 3, 2025, from 8 am to 5 pm
Location: Marriott Tulsa Hotel Southern Hills (1902 E. 71st Street, Tulsa, OK 74136)
Cost: $25 (includes lunch and soft drinks)
Registration: Now open!
Please visit www.owea.org/events to register!
The Collection System Committee plans to work with other OWEA committees to make this workshop possible. Additionally, the CSC is seeking new committee members to assist in planning future events. Please reach out to Jacob Brumbaugh at jbrumbaugh@rjnmail.com to get involved.
Amber Wooten, OWEA President-Elect and Conference Planning Committee Chair Crystal Kowalik, OWEA Vice President and Awards Committee Member
The 2025 APWAOK | OWEA Joint Technical Conference & Trade Show is May 19-21 at the Embassy Suites in Norman. Sponsorship and conference registration are open at https://clgtostate.org/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=25APWA0519 APWAOK and OWEA have worked together to develop a conference agenda that provides exceptional value for public works, transportation, water, and wastewater professionals. Below are highlights for this year’s conference.
MONDAY, MAY 19
• Golf Tournament
• Heavy Equipment Road-eo
• Exhibitor set up
• Social Event sponsored by Hartwell and EI2
TUESDAY, MAY 20
• Opening Remarks and Welcome by Larry Heikkila, Mayor of Norman
• Keynote presentation by Dr. Nathan Mellor, Strata Leadership LLC
• Technical Sessions
• Exhibit Hall open
• Operations Challenge
• Water’s Worth It silent auction
• Women in Water Happy Hour
• Social Event sponsored by Haynes Equipment
• OWEA Board Meeting (lunch) and Annual Meeting (5 pm)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21
• Keynote presentations by Walid Khoury, WEF Board of Trustees, and Matt Holmes, National Rural Water Association
• Technical Sessions
• Exhibit Hall open
• Water Taste Contest
• Operations Challenge
• Water’s Worth It silent auction
• An extra gift card drawing will be held in the last technical sessions
Technical sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday (May 20-21) will provide participants with the opportunity to earn up to 10 professional development training hours. Sessions will cover the following topics:
• Bridges & Stormwater
• Capital Planning
• Collection System
• Conveyance – Large, Pipelines, and Pumping
• Cybersecurity
• Leadership
• Parks
• PFAS
• Reuse
• SCADA/Instrumentations & Controls
• Transportation
• Treatment
• Young Professional Presentations
• And many other topics
Contact Cameryn Edwards at cameryn.edwards@stvinc.com if you are interested in providing a donation for the Water’s Worth It silent auction. Money raised from past auctions has provided water-related books to school children, sponsored Discovery Labs (Tulsa), Introduce a Girl to Engineering activities, and other outreach endeavors.
Contact Michael Taylor at michael@cowangroup.co if you would like information on the Water Taste Contest. The Oklahoma winner will compete against the Arkansas and Louisiana winners at the Southwest Section AWWA (swawwa.org) for the opportunity to compete at the national taste contest held at ACE (ace.awwa.org).
Reach out to Lou Ann Fisher at lafisher@brokenarrowok.gov if you are interested in serving as a session moderator.
Reach out to Amber Wooten at awooten@carollo.com if you have other questions about the conference.
Discovery Lab is a children’s museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, focused on igniting curiosity through Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) exhibits. At the museum and in local Tulsa classrooms, they host a variety of classes and events focused on STEAM topics. Each year, Discovery Lab hosts a celebration of Engineers Week, namely “Introduce a Girl to Engineering,” to help inspire K-12 students to enter the field. Carollo Engineers was able to be a part of both Discovery Lab’s “Introduce a Girl to Engineering” activities this year (February 16-22, 2025) and has done so in years past. “Community Night” was one of two events of the “Introduce a Girl to Engineering” celebration, where Discovery Lab staff, local engineers, or educators led hands-on engineering activities. For this activity, Carollo OKC staff, Sarah Jones and Amber Wooten worked with attendees to build boats with simple materials such as foil, corks, popsicle sticks, and tape that would carry small toys without sinking as a demonstration of buoyancy. Other engineering activities included building binary code bracelets, coding with Ozbots, building egg-drop receptacles, and more! Participation was free upon registration.
“Takeover Day” was the second of two events and was included with museum admission. Event sponsors incorporated educational activities within the museum’s various exhibits. Four Carollo OKC staff members (Sarah Jones, Amy Ju, Rebecca Poole,
and Amber Wooten) were a part of the “HydroLab Takeover,” where they set up four booths among Discovery Lab’s water features. Attendees were able to pose with a typical engineer’s gear (e.g. Carollo hard hats, safety vests, chemical storage bottles, etc.) and a photo frame at the photo booth. Another station was set up to remind attendees of the “Three P’s” (pee, poo, and paper) of wastewater treatment. Attendees were asked to toss the “Three P’s” into the “toilet” and toss the rest in the “trash.” The other two booths were related to the water cycle. Carollo brought paper-plate wheel activities that attendees could color. Condensation and precipitation were demonstrated in a cloud shaving cream activity. Attendees guessed the number of drops it would take for it to “rain” through the cloud of shaving cream and counted to see how well their hypothesis aligned with the outcome. Carollo OKC staff is excited to be a part of inspiring so many future engineers!
The ECO SMART STATION™ is housed in the innovative, multiple compartment ARC ARMOR™ Enclosure, reducing the risk of injury resulting from electric shock and exposure to arc flash.
Danger Zone: This zone contains dangerous arc flash potential and the risk of electrical shock. Workers may require Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when entering. “Lockout/Tagout” is supported.
Danger Zone: When zone 1 is energized, workers cannot gain access to zone 2, thereby reducing accidental exposure to arc flash. “Tagout/Lockout” is also supported.
cogentcompanies.com/ae
Chris French
Since the opening of its first dedicated wastewater treatment plant 30 years ago, The Clear Creek Conservancy District (CCCD) has more than doubled flow capacity at the coveted Heritage Lake in Indiana from 400,000 gallons a day to 900,000 gallons a day.
In expanding the plant, which has added a third oxidation ditch (and re-rated the existing two), a third Clarifier and converted the chlorine-contact tank to an Ultraviolet light system, the upgrade has also included intricate refurbishment of around 50% of the inlet equipment, which was found to be in excellent working order, despite being in service for over three decades.
Located just 30 miles west of Indianapolis, surrounded by natural beauty that provides waterside living that is second to
none, the 320-acre Heritage Lake certainly appears to have it all for the residents of its 3000 lots (1689 homes). It most certainly has an exemplary wastewater treatment operation that has served this community that began life there in 1972.
As the plant approached 90% of its design capacity due to inevitable population growth, CCCD began looking keenly at the measures needed to continue to provide the best possible wastewater treatment service. An early warning sewer-ban letter from the IDEM (Indiana State Department of Environmental Management) had been received as a polite nudge that action would be necessary at some point. Not that this very well-run plant needed any reminder. Wastewater Treatment Operator and Operations Manager, Doug Clodfelter has been at CCCD since 1990
Jim Alsatt, Vice President of Patterson Horth, commented: “The plant is built on a very small peninsula out in the lake that sticks out like a thumb, so structures had to be built within 20 feet of the water, which, of course, we took great care to protect. We found more issues than anticipated, but still completed ahead of schedule. The installation of the new oxidation ditch and clarifier all went very smoothly.”
Jay Jeffries, Project Manager at Patterson Horth, added: “This was a learning experience, so there are some things we’d attack a little differently in future,” said. “We all want to make the best out of our site time with no delays, but that said, Clear Creek Conservancy District achieved a very good price ($5M) for the work, and the new-look plant is performing very well indeed.”
Ken Sobbe from FACO continued: “Patterson Horth ensured that there was a smooth transition from the existing to the new equipment, with no major by-passes required. Excavating out the clarifier tank was tricky, but they achieved that with no problems. Despite all the challenges, they did a truly great job, especially in still finishing the work ahead of schedule.”
The number of homes at Heritage Lake now stands at 1,689, with its popularity certain in time to take it up to its predicted maximum capacity of 2,700. The expansion to 900,000 gallons per day can comfortably handle this anticipated rise in population, with the plant (like the lake) held exclusively for its own community, with no outside sewage coming into it.
CCCD’s Doug Clodfelter continued: “30 years ago, Curry & Associates had the vision to design the original facility with room to add an
extra oxidation ditch, so that was very good thinking for the future. We’ll always continue to learn and look ahead, and make sure we’re ready.
“The upgraded Lakeside plant benefits from automatic controls, which we didn’t have before. This allows us to run the plant in storm mode, so in the event of heavy rain, the new system will help prevent us from getting washed out. Now we can control things without always having to be on site or having to turn up in the middle of the night!
“We now have far more in the way of operating options with three ditches. We can very gently increase oxygen levels so that the rotors only need to turn at a very slow speed, which thins out our bug population and saves energy.
“I’ve never seen rotors run so slow before, but it’s great because, unlike before, there’s no foam being created. Previously, half of my tank would often be covered with foam, which looked bad, although all our results were just fine.”
He concluded: “Back in the 1990s, we considered the Lakeside equipment far more forgiving with flows, allowing us to have firm control on handling the strength of the sewage. Over three decades, we’ve had to work on a few gearboxes, but it has an outstanding track record, with the refurbishment of much of it allowing it to continue even further. I liked the equipment over 30 years ago, and I like it even more now. Everyone has contributed to ensuring that Heritage Lake continues to be a special place, with an excellent wastewater infrastructure.”
• Because hydrogen sulfide production occurs primarily in anaerobic conditions, the level of dissolved oxygen (DO) directly contributes to H2S generation. The lower the DO, the higher the H2S generation. To stifle SRB growth, DO levels must be above 1 mg/L (Prathna & Srivastava, 2021).
• SRB flourish in a pH of 6 and 8, thus leading to higher H2S generation (Prathna & Srivastava, 2021). Operations must be optimized to increase pH and inhibit sulfur-reducing bacteria growth.
• Higher temperature creates an environment that decreases hydrogen sulfide solubility resulting in a greater transfer rate or release of hydrogen sulfide (Water Environment Federation, 2004).
• The more turbulent and higher velocity of the wastewater, the more H2S is released to the system. The turbulence causes compounds in the wastewater to convert from their soluble liquid phase to a gas phase, primarily H2S.
• Long retention of the wastewater can create an anaerobic environment that allows sulfate-reducing bacteria to flourish and generate the H2S. This can be seen in the collection system when sludge is allowed to build-up in a pipe with little to no movement, or in clarifiers when the sludge blanket builds up.
• Free surface area allows contact from the wastewater to the atmosphere, giving H2 S the opportunity to transfer from the liquid phase to gas phase. Evaporation can also expedite this process.
Throughout a wastewater treatment plant there are multiple point sources of odor. Using odor emission sensors and modeling, the high odor locations can be identified. Figure 1.1 shows a typical distribution of odor generation and release in wastewater treatment plant.
Raw untreated wastewater is conveyed directly from residential, commercial, and industrial sources, through a series of gravity pipes to the treatment plant. This environment may introduce turbulence,
long retention times, high velocities, and free surface area to allow the generation and release of hydrogen sulfide. If there is not enough velocity, the solids can settle, creating an anaerobic environment. If there is velocities are too high, turbulence is created. Because the sludge is untreated, there is a high concentration of organic matter and sulfur that can form H2S and organic sulfide compounds. The collection system, if openly vented, is a major source of the odor.
Once the wastewater reaches the treatment facility it undergoes physical separation technology. This may include physical screening such as bar screens, grit removal, and pumping. These technologies create conditions with high velocities and turbulence, leading to the release of H2S into the air. High amounts of H2S can be released in preliminary treatment from anaerobic conditions and off-gassing of soluble H2S in the raw wastewater. Preliminary treatment has proven to be the highest source of odor at many wastewater treatment facilities (Water Environment Federation, 2004).
Primary treatment is a notable source of odors in wastewater facilities. During this stage, untreated wastewater, rich in organic matter and sulfur compounds, remains in the primary clarifier for an extended period. The clarifiers have extensive free surface areas where evaporation occurs, facilitating the release of odorous compounds. Additionally, turbulence caused by primary effluent cascading over weirs exacerbates odor emissions. Prolonged retention times can lead to the accumulation of a deeper sludge blanket, creating anaerobic conditions that further promote the release of odors due to the breakdown of high organic content (Water Environment Federation, 2004).
Once solids are separated from the liquid treatment, it is then sent to the solids handling sidestream process. Many solids handling facilities include a form of blending or storage, a physical separator, stabilization and further storage. Due to high organic concentrations, this can be one of the highest contributors to hydrogen sulfide generation and release, especially if the solids concentration has a higher percentage of primary sludge. There is the retention of the solids in the storage component, turbulence in the physical separation, and stabilization can create odors.
An example of this is a treatment train in which a commingled 60/40 primary/secondary sludge is sent to a sludge holding tank for storage. Improper aeration and high retention can create an anaerobic environment. The solids are then sent to belt filter presses in which the stream is exposed to the environment and turbulence occurs when solids tumble onto the belt of a belt filter press and filtrate splashes into the containment below. The cake is then dropped into a screw conveyor that transports the cake approximately 100 feet to an uncovered stacking pad outside.
“ By understanding the underlying causes and sources of odors, facilities can adopt a combination of prevention and mitigation strategies tailored to their specific needs.”
Carbon Adsorption
Carbon adsorption, also known as a dry scrubber, is a simple yet effective method of odor filtering. The odorous air is directed through a packed bed of activated carbon to remove organic and some inorganic compounds (Michael R. Lindeburg 2004). This is a commonly used technology that is effective at removing trace odors and can adsorb a large variety of odorous contaminants. However, the media is expensive can undergo plugging and breakthrough and may not be suitable for waste streams with high concentrations of impurities. Odor scrubbing becomes less efficient when biological growth clogs the gap between carbon particles, known as plugging. When carbon becomes fully saturated with odorous compounds, odors can break through and can contaminate the treated air (Michael R. Lindeburg 2004).
Covers/Containment and Dilution
One way to reduce odors is to enclose the source of odor and/or have connections to an odor remediation system such as a scrubber. A few examples of this include launder covers on a primary clarifier, a hood containment system for a belt filter press, or covers on tanks. Dilution involves the mixing of clean air with foul air to lessen the odor concentration. An example of this is using chimneys and dispersion fans to dilute an odorous stream (Water Environment Federation, 2004).
Vaporization
Vaporization involves misting an odor-neutralizing agent in the air surrounding an odor source. This can often be perceived as masking the odor, akin to using Febreze. The purpose of this strategy is to lessen the impact of odors on the surrounding environment. This approach has a low capital cost and a quick start-up time. A disadvantage is that has questionable effectiveness and ultimately masks the odor without treating it.
Effective odor management is critical for the sustainable operation of wastewater treatment facilities, particularly as urbanization encroaches on plant boundaries. By understanding the underlying causes and sources of odors, facilities can adopt a combination of prevention and mitigation strategies tailored to their specific needs. Innovations in process configurations, chemical treatments, and advanced biological and physical technologies provide a comprehensive toolkit for reducing odors and fostering better community relations. Moving forward, wastewater treatment plants
must prioritize continuous monitoring and optimization of odor control measures to meet the dual goals of operational efficiency and environmental stewardship.
Alinezhad, E., Haghighi, M., Rahmani, F., Keshizadeh, H., Abdi, M., & Naddafi, K. (2019). Technical and economic investigation of chemical scrubber and bio-filtration in the removal of H2 S and NH3 from wastewater treatment plant. Journal of Environmental Management, 32-43.
CP&Y, Inc, Black & Veatch. (2020). The City of Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust Wastewater Treatment Plants Biosolids and Odor Management Needs Assessment Memorandum.
EPA. (2000). Biosolids and Residuals Management Fact Sheet; Odor Control in Biosolids Management. Washington, D.C.: EPA.
Michael R. Lindeburg, P. (2004). Chemical Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam (Sixth Edition ed.). Professional Publications, Inc.
Omri, I., Aouidi, F., Bouallagui, H., Godon, J.-J., & Hamdi, M. (2013). Performance study of biofilter developed to treat H2S from wastewater odour. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 169-176.
Omri, I., Bouallagui, H., Aouidi, F., Godon, J.-J., & Hamdi, M. (2011). H2S gas biological removal efficiency and bacterial community diversity in a biofilter treating wastewater odor. Bioresource Technology, 10202-10209.
Prathna, T., & Srivastava, A. (2021). Ferric chloride for odour control: studies from wastewater treatment. Water Practice & Technology, 16(1), 1-7.
Senatore, V., Zarra, T., Galang, M., Oliva, G., Buonerba, A., Li, C.-W., Naddeo, V. (2021). Full-Scale Odor Abatement Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs): A Review. Water, 13(3503), 1-21.
Talaiekhozani, A., Bagheri, M., & Khoozani, M. R. (2016). An overview of principles of odor production, emission, and control methods in wastewater collection and treatment systems. Journal of Environmental Management, 186-206.
Toledo, M., & Munoz, R. (2022). Odour Control Strategies in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Activated Sludge Recycling and Oxidized Nitrogen Recycling. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 95, 253-258.
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Wysocka, I. (2023). Absorption processes in reducing the odor nuisance of wastewater. MethodsX
At its January 21, 2025, meeting, the Environmental Quality Board elected its leadership for the coming year. Shannon Ferrell, PhD was elected as the Chair for calendar year 2025. Alexie Kindrick, PE, was elected as Vice-Chair.
During Alexie’s term as Past-President of the Oklahoma Water Environment Association (OWEA), she was first appointed to the Water Quality Management Advisory Council (WQMAC) by Governor J. Kevin Stitt in the State Fiscal Year 2017, representing a statewide environmental organization. This was the first time an OWEA representative was appointed to a state board or commission. After serving approximately
two years on the WQMAC, Governor Stitt appointed her to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) in 2019. She quickly gained the respect of her fellow Board members, leading to her election as Vice-Chair.
During her tenure serving on the WQMAC and EQB, Alexie has cast crucial votes to protect public health and the environment. She has been instrumental in setting up the regulatory framework for DEQ to implement Oklahoma’s Water Quality Standards after the Legislature moved the program from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to DEQ. Additionally, she was involved with the hiring of DEQ’s new Executive Director, Robert Singletary.
With her reappointment in FY 2024, Alexie is poised to serve on the EQB through at least 2029. With her new position as the Managing Director for Community Engagement, she will bring not only her engineering perspective, Oklahoma environmental perspective, but also a national water sector approach to reviewing and approving regulations for the protection of public health and the environment.
Our concern for the environment is more than just talk
