TEX Sh2o | Post Conference 2022 |
The Official Newsletter of the Texas Section AWWA | Every Drop, Every Day, Everywhere©
San Antonio Hosted the Largest Texas Water Yet!
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| fuller award |
Melissa Bryant, Sally Wright Honored with Fuller Award
O
ne of the most prestigious awards in the water profession is the George Warren Fuller Award for distinguished service to the water supply field in "commemoration of the sound engineering skill, the brilliant diplomatic talent and the constructive leadership, which characterized the life of George Warren Fuller." Because of our membership growth, TAWWA has two Directors on the AWWA Board. With that achievement, we also can award two Fuller awards each year if we have qualified candidates. This year we are honored to present the George Warren Fuller Award to both Melissa Bryant and Sally Wright. Bryant is past chair of the Texas Section AWWA and has been an AWWA member for more than 15 years. She is the director of technical services for the San Antonio River Authority. She is recognized for her leadership role in the protection of the San Antonio River and the source waters of Texas, as well as her continuing service and leadership of the Texas Section. Bryant's service also extends to AWWA as she is cochair of the ACE22 Local Planning Committee.
Wright has been an AWWA member for nearly 25 years and has actively contributed to the water industry, from being a leader in water utility operations to her service on the Water Sector Veterans Workforce Initiative and for serving as an AWWA Director at Large in 2015. She was recognized as the 2018 AWWA Volunteer of the Year and last year, Wright was named the first women to Chair the AWWA Standards Council, which was organized by George Warren Fuller.
Sally Wright is recognized as a George Warren Fuller Award winner at Texas WaterTM 2022. Due to the growth of Texas AWWA, two Fuller awards can be given out each year.
We are honored to present Melissa Bryant and Sally Wright with the distinguished George Warren Fuller Award.
Melissa Bryant is recognized as a George Warren Fuller Award winner at Texas WaterTM 2022. The award recipients are selected by previous award winners and kept a secret until the Awards Luncheon.
www.tawwa.org
TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 3 |
| letter from the texas section chair |
Texas Section American Water Works Association P.O. Box 80150 Austin, Texas 78708 www.tawwa.org Drew Molly, Chair 832-395-3785 Amy Middleton, Chair-Elect 210-510-0888 Karen Menard, Vice-Chair 214-670-5887 Melissa Bryant, Imm. Past Chair 210-302-3611 Mike Howe Executive Director/Secretary-Treasurer 512-238-9292 Fax: 512-238-0496 mikehowe@tawwa.org This publication is distributed bi-monthly to the more than 3,500 members and friends of the Texas Section – American Water Works Association. Contributing writers can contact the editor: Cliff Avery GCP Association Services, LLC PO Box 676 Pflugerville, TX 78691 512-251-8101 Fax: 512-251-8152 TXh20@tawwa.org The publication name, TexasH2O: © 1996-2022 Texas Section – American Water Works Association, Inc. © 2022 Texas Section – American Water Works Association, Inc.
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San Antonio 2022 Proves to be Monumental! BY DREW MOLLY texas section chair
T
exas Water did not disappoint, and after two years of virtual purgatory, we were back in monumental form! I think it was clear from polls, surveys and just downright first-hand experience, Texas WaterTM 2022 was a conference that none of us will forget. Who cannot appreciate the San Antonio landscape with our gracious and firstclass hosts, led by Jeff Haby and Alissa Lockett. DREW MOLLY A big thank you to Jeff and Alissa, as well as the 832-395-3785 countless volunteers who made this conference andrew.molly@houstontx.gov a huge success. I would also like to thank GCP Association Services, mostly notably Clay and Cliff Avery and their wonderful team, including Liz Davidson, Lisa Nejtek and Tracy Wagner for their tireless effort. Many people assume they are actually AWWA staff because well, they pretty much know everything there is to know about making a water conference successful! They have such a positive spirit, which explains why they are strategically placed in the registration area and are generally the first people you meet when checking into the conference! And then there is Mike Howe, our Executive Director, who shows a little gray hair for his years of wisdom and knack for game-time performance. It doesn’t hurt that he has a sense of humor to off-set and distract when the occasional things do not go as planned—which never happens. Thank you, Mike, for another great conference! Together with our TAWWA Leadership Team, I must say, it doesn’t get any better than this! The Houston conference in 2019 held a number of records, however, San Antonio was able to reclaim the throne. The San Antonio conference had a total of 5,215 registered attendees as compared to 4,987 registered attendees in Houston. San Antonio also had a record 187 presentations, 27 posters, 670 exhibitor booths and 61 sponsors. WOW! We were also able to provide 11.5 TCEQ approved hours for water and wastewater operators. If you were like me, it was both daunting and
| 4 | POST CONFERENCE 2022 TEXASh2o
CONTINUED PAGE 42 | letter from the texas section chair
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| executive director report |
Everything Old is New Again! BY MIKE HOWE tawwa executive director
I
realize this is all a blur and exhausting to think about, so I will try to keep it short and simple. When we started planning for Texas Water™ 2022 last August, we were still deep in the variants of the pandemic with some folks just getting vaccinated while others were getting their booster shots. The COVID variants were still pushing numbers up and everyone’s comfort level for meeting in person just wasn’t there. Our conference planning meetings were virtual even though in our minds we were absolutely going to be meeting in person in San Antonio when April 2022 rolled around. No one wanted to have another virtual conference, particularly our exhibitors. They already made it clear that an in-person face-to-face conference without masks was the only way they were going to commit to being part of the 2022 conference. And their participation is critical for a number of reasons, not the least being that their support keeps attendee costs down to the perfect price point of $295 for full registration attendees. Throughout our planning meetings, including our hybrid meeting in January when a small group of the planning committee toured the convention center, we remained convinced the stars would align in our favor. In January, we were seeing rapid downward improvement in COVID case numbers in various parts of the country. We were becoming more and more confident that the March and April numbers would be good. But even as the news and numbers were good, there were times when I felt like I was standing at a gambling table shaking dice in my hand and I was playing for all the marbles. I was rolling the dice in hopes of being a winner! When we rolled the dice, we firmly believed a number of things. First, it was time for everyone to get back together, face to face. As much as we believed a full inperson meeting was going to work, we remained
| 6 | POST CONFERENCE 2022 TEXASh2o
worried about the risks involved. Second, we knew exhibitors were all in for a face-to-face event, both professionally and financially. We knew and they knew the best opportunity for our exhibitors was to be all together, in person, at the MIKE HOWE conference. And, 512-238-9292 mikehowe@tawwa.org philosophically, we knew it was time to take the chance. As protectors of public health, we were not going to throw caution to the wind, but we knew the Largest Regional Water Conference in the U.S.© needed to gather the water professionals of Texas together— together! As you know or have heard, Texas Water™ 2022 was a winner! It was the largest number of attendees ever. The biggest group of exhibitors. Ever! And we underestimated the total attendees. Many of the technical sessions were standing room only while at the same time the exhibit hall traffic was large, busy and steady. Much of my time during every conference is double checking on rooms in advance, counting attendance, looking for issues and finding solutions, and getting a general feel for what the attendees, exhibitors and presenters are experiencing. In all of my conferences— and remember, I have planned and been at every one of the Texas Water™ Conferences since 1996 (it’s true)—I have never felt or experienced such an energy or "vibe" as I did from this conference. Maybe it was because we were finally back together. But to me, it was more than that. Of course, there was a pent-up CONTINUED PAGE 34 | executive director report
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| maverick award |
Michael McBee Receives Maverick Award
M
ichael McBee was honored with the Young Professionals Maverick Award at Texas WaterTM 2022 in San Antonio. The Maverick Award recognizes a young professional in the Texas Section who exemplifies qualities in volunteerism, community involvement, leadership and outstanding service in the science of water supply, treatment, operations and water quality. McBee is active in the North Central Texas Chapter, serving as co-chair of the YP Committee and on the executive committee. He helps lead a committee that plans social and service events, as well as fundraisers, for the chapter's young professionals. McBee is a project manager in Freese and Nichols, Inc.'s water/ wastewater transmission and utilities group in Fort Worth. He is a past nominee for the AWWA 5 Under 35 Outstanding Young Michael McBee is presented with the Maverick Award Professionals Award and has presented at the 2018 ASCE at Texas WaterTM 2022 from AWWA Vice President Pipelines Conference and the 2019 Texas Water Conference. Heather Collins.
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TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 9 |
| wfp award |
Marcela Sion Receives Water For People Award
M
arcela Sion received the Water For People Kenneth J. Miller Founder's Award at Texas WaterTM 2022. The Kenneth J. Miller Founder's Award honors outstanding volunteer service to the international humanitarian effort to ensure safe drinking water in developing counties. Scion has been involved in Water For People in Texas and several other states, most recently serving as a key member of the Texas Water silent auction planning committee. She recognizes the importance of not only raising funds but also growing awareness, and contributes to both. Scion uses her personal and professional network to advance the message of Water For People and water and sanitation issues in developing countries. Her passion for Water For People has inspired numerous Marcela Sion receives the Water For People Kenneth J. Miller people and companies to greater align themselves with Founder's Award at Texas WaterTM 2022. From left: Jeff Caffey, WEAT Water For People’s mission. She is a creative, vibrant, President; Ifetayo Venner, WEF President-Elect; Marcela Sion; Drew Molly, TAWWA Chair; and Heather Collins, AWWA Vice President. dedicated and solutions-oriented leader.
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| outstanding public servant |
Rep. Lyle Larson Receives Outstanding Public Servant Award
R
ep. Lyle Larson was recognized with the Outstanding Public Servant Award at Texas WaterTM 2022 in San Antonio. The Outstanding Public Servant Award honors those who have made outstanding contributions in public service or government in support of the water community. Rep. Larson serves as past chair of the House committee that oversees water policy in the Texas Legislature. Rep. Larson’s commitment to securing Texas’s water future and advancing the state’s role in water planning and project implementation is unmatched. He has passed numerous pieces of legislation to advance the development of innovative water strategies in Texas, including brackish groundwater desalination, seawater CONTINUED PAGE 28 | outstanding public servant
www.tawwa.org
Rep. Lyle Larson is presented with the Outstanding Public Servant Award from AWWA Vice President Heather Collins at Texas WaterTM 2022.
TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 13 |
| longevity awards |
Members Receive Longevity Awards
A
t Texas WaterTM 2022, the Texas Section honored water professionals for longtime membership in AWWA and service to the industry.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARDS Receiving Life Membership Awards, recognizing members who previously achieved Silver Water Drop Award status and are now at least 65 years old, were Sam Arnaout, Barbara Crumbie, Bruce Curtis, Alicia Diehl, Rhonda Harris, Mike Howe, Timothy Lackey, Danny Masella, Owen Matherne, Nancy Matthews, David Mueller, Kyle Reed, Dave Reed, Coy Veach, Jay Wagner and George Westhoff.
| 14 | POST CONFERENCE 2022 TEXASh2o
SILVER WATER DROP AWARDS Recognizing members who have achieved 25 years of service to the water community and AWWA: Carolyn Ahrens Wieland, Cliff Avery, Kathy Berek, Robert Boswell, Mark Bowsher, Joe Buchanan, Joel Cantwell, Ronald Emmons, Fekade Girma, George Gilspin, Mary Gugliuzza, David Hawkins, Jonathon Howard, Dan Jackson, Jeff James, Harold Kidder, Sunil Kommineni, David Lundquist, Macario Marquez Jr., Thomas McDonald, James Naylor, Curt Rabbe, Madelene Rafalko, Eric Rauschuber, Todd Reck, Pat Riley, Donald Ripley, Brian Syzdek, Michael Vanderbosch, Becky Weems, Mark Woodward and Guang Zhu.
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| watermark awards |
Watermark Awards Applaud Communication
T
exas Section AWWA and WEAT honored members for their efforts to communicate with the public. At Texas WaterTM 2022, the winners of the annual Watermark Awards were recognized. CATEGORY I Communications programs: internal campaigns, external campaigns, crisis communications. Large Utility » City of Corpus Christi: Crisis Communication: Corpus Christi’s Christmas Complication. River Authorities or Districts » North Texas Municipal Water District, Tarrant Regional Water District and City of Dallas: “Water is Awesome” Regional Water Conservation Public Awareness Campaign. Honorable Mention » City of Fort Worth: MyH2O Behind the Scenes. San Jacinto River Authority: SJRA Wide Viewer. Garver:
www.tawwa.org
Behind the Scenes Operators - A Recognition Initiative. CATEGORY II Publications: annual reports, water quality reports, brochures, postcards, etc. Small Utility » McAllen Public Utility: Annual Yearbook. Large Utility » City of Fort Worth: Annual Water Quality Report. River Authorities or Districts » Upper Trinity Regional Water District: Lake Ralph Hall Publications. Honorable Mention » City of Corpus Christi: Annual Water Quality Report. CATEGORY III Digital Content: websites, social media, infographics, logos, etc. Large Utility » City of Georgetown Water Utility: Let CONTINUED PAGE 31 | watermark awards
TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 17 |
| conservation & reuse awards |
Water Conservation and Reuse Awards Recognize Conservation, Reuse Efforts
E
ach year, the Texas Section AWWA Conservation and Reuse Division recognizes those who have demonstrated excellence in Water Conservation and Reuse Practices. Small Utility Direct: Fort Bend County MUD No. 118: Reclaimed Water System Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 118 completed facility improvements at their wastewater treatment plant to accommodate a reclaimed water system. The project reduces the dependency of purchased surface water from North Fort Bend Water Authority while minimizing groundwater withdrawals from irrigation demands. By using Type 1 reclaimed
water, the district was able to irrigate a portion of the community while promoting water conservation. The Board of Directors advocated the need for a reclaimed water system to the community and the district was able to finance the project through a series of bonds and general operating funds without raising O&M taxes and water/sewer rates. The initial planning phase involved a feasibility study to determine the capacity and limitations for the system. The design team consulted with the TCEQ to confirm the design approach and discuss unique project challenges. The design phase laid out the framework for the 0.375 MGD capacity reclaimed water CONTINUED PAGE 32 | conservation & reuse
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| competition winners |
Congrats to our Texas WaterTM 2022 Competition Winners! Best Tasting Drinking Water: Trinity River Authority of Texas Hydrant Hysteria: City of San Antonio: Alejandro Martinez (Coach), Rueben Maldonado and Christopher Contreras (Men’s Team) City of Sugar Land: Joe Reyes (Coach), Jennifer Garcia & Keisha Seals (Women’s Team) Meter Challenge: Leamon Anderson, San Antonio River Authority Pipe Tapping: City of Fort Worth: Fort Worth Outlaws: Gumaro Zavala (Coach), Jose Garcia, Eugene Kwan and Ezekiel Perez (Men’s Team) Dallas Water Utilities: Big D Lady Tappers: Rosaerlinda Cisneros (Coach), Jessica Davila, Jessica Staggs, and Ana-Alicia Zuniga (Women’s Team) Top Ops: Houston Water: Julius Guidry, Margaret Cockerell and Hector Montanez-Rivera
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Women in Water: Going against the norm and carving your own path
No matter the industry or field we choose to enter, role models can help us set a foundation for our careers by showing us the possibilities if we work hard and push the boundaries. While civil engineering has predominantly been a male-dominated industry, many women have carved their own path and built reputations of integrity and success. Two such women are Laura Wilson, Deputy Director with the City of Fort Worth’s Water Utility, and Tina Hanson, Garver’s West Texas Water Team Leader. Inspired by a desire to help others and their community, both women saw civil engineering as an opportunity to do just that. Laura’s role is instrumental in the growth and success of her community.
Fort Worth is the 12th largest U.S. city with nearly 1.3 million consumers and that growth has not slowed. Managing Fort Worth’s capital improvement plans, Laura makes sure Fort Worth has smart, sustainable growth that keeps pace with the city’s water infrastructure. Laura also manages the City’s field operations division, supporting operations staff to make sure the facilities, infrastructure, and equipment are working properly and efficiently to support the large community. Tina oversees the critical projects that are necessary to keep infrastructure and facilities like Laura’s and many others running smoothly. She not only creates designs that support growth, but she also creates opportunities for
“Whether you’re a woman or man in this industry, we still have the same goals – providing safe, clean water.”
growth within her team, especially younger engineers. “Helping to solve problems, whether for the clients or my own team, and partnering collaboratively to solve them, that’s what I enjoy most – creating solutions that make sense for the community and environment,” Hanson said. “We’re very privileged in this country to have the resources and access to clean water like we do. Not every country is so fortunate.” Both women also support and encourage young girls to become involved in engineering. They want them to know it’s a very rewarding industry and perfect for those who are confident and willing to go against the norm of what others might expect. And while being a woman in a maledominated industry can be difficult, when men and women share a dedication and commitment to the community, they find a common ground and mutual passion for creating solutions that best suit their clients.
Laura Wilson | Deputy Director
Building a new pipeline Laura and Tina are committed to the future of the industry in Texas through volunteering with the next generation of water and wastewater professionals. Garver’s corporate giving program, GarverGives, provides a platform through which its employees can advance STEM education and strengthen Garver’s communities. GarverUSA.com/GarverGives
| university forum |
University Forum at Texas WaterTM 2022 Showcases Novel Approaches to Water and Wastewater Treatment
F
or the University Forum, graduate students present related, novel research to stakeholders within the Texas Water community. Current and past topics have included innovative treatment strategies and emerging water issues in Texas. To compete, prospective participants submit a technical paper describing their research, and the top 5-6 papers receive oral presentations at Texas Water. Presentations are judged by consultants and engineers from throughout the state, and winning presenters receive cash prizes and additional presentation opportunities through AWWA and WEF. Overall, students in the University Forum competition receive practical feedback on their research endeavors and networking opportunities with leaders in the Texas water/ wastewater industry. We are pleased to announce the following students as 2022 University Forum winners, based on their doctoral research: Luis Carlos Soares Da Silva, Jr. (Texas Tech University) placed third, Behnaz Jalili (Texas Tech University) placed second, and Kyongho Kim (Texas A&M University) won first place. This year’s judges were highly complementary of all student presentations, and presentations that placed will receive cash awards and complimentary memberships in TAWWA and WEAT. Kim is additionally invited to Texas at the ACE22 conference and will present his
research findings titled "Iron Electrocoagulation of Non-enveloped and Enveloped Virus: Mechanisms and Viral Component Alterations." The University Forum is chaired by Dr. Kayleigh Millerick at Texas Tech University. This year’s competition was sponsored by Burgess & Niple, with additional support from both TAWWA and WEAT. Texas engineers from Kennedy Jenks, Garver, Plummer and Associates, CDM Smith and Clean Water Strategies all kindly provided their time and expertise in the form of reviews. This competition would not have been possible without their contributions, and we are sincerely grateful for their efforts.
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TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 23 |
| thankful |
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| el paso water |
A Collaborative Program to Promote Water Education in the Chihuahuan Desert BY JESSE HALL water conservation technician, el paso water
E
l Paso Water and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)’s Centennial Museum offered a family fun day on Saturday, April 23, 2022, to highlight conservation efforts and to bring awareness of the value of water in the Chihuahuan Desert. The event was held in conjunction with Water/Ways, a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution that was making a three month stop at the Centennial Museum. "The free event was a great opportunity to attract
Participants calculate the water footprint for their favorite lunch.
CONTINUED PAGE 36 | el paso water
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TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 25 |
| water |works swift festival program| |
City of Houston Public Works Department’s Water Works Festival BY VARENYA MEHTA & MAHITH NADELLA yp co-chairs, southeast chapter of texas awwa
T
he Southeast Chapter of Texas AWWA (SE TAWWA) set up a booth at the City of Houston Public Works Department’s annual Water Works Festival, held at the Houston Botanic Garden on Saturday, May 7, 2022. There were more than 50 exhibitors at the event, with experts on topics such as sustainability, water conservation, water infrastructure, recycling, the water cycle, local water systems, native plants, weather and ecology. SE TAWWA also sponsored Jack Golden, one of the main entertainment acts on the festival’s main stage, who performed his hit show "Water Water Everywhere." The performer’s act was a major crowd puller and kept the kids entertained and engaged while imparting waterrelated knowledge to kids in grades K-8. Dressed in all blue, Jack’s character, Brook Rivers, shared knowledge about water molecules, water cycle, clean water and wetlands.
www.tawwa.org
The SE TAWWA team had a strong presence at the event with multiple volunteers contributing. The team decided to showcase the theme of water filtration this year and had a water filtration exhibit set up where they demonstrated muddy water passing through different mediums such as gravel, sand, charcoal and filter paper acting as sieves. The SE TAWWA team also distributed fun activity sheets such as eye spy and water maze, which follows water from its source to disposal along with some freebies such as bubble wands, stress balls and candies.
TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 27 |
| outstanding public servant |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 | outstanding public servant desalination, and aquifer storage and recovery projects. Since 2011, Larson has visited more than 65 groundwater conservation districts, 12 river authorities, all large public utilities, industrial users, agricultural interests and numerous municipalities and water districts in an effort to learn how to best meet the water needs of the fastest growing state in the country. He has traveled internationally to Israel and Australia to observe the technology, environmental mitigation and funding strategies for their desalination programs. Larson also serves as co-chair of the Southwestern States Water Commission and has worked with the
International Boundary and Water Commission on compliance issues with the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico, as well as possible water deals with neighboring state. A lifelong resident of the San Antonio area, Larson served as San Antonio City Councilman, District 10 for two terms and as Bexar County Commissioner, Pct. 3 from 1997-2008. In 2010, Larson was elected state representative for District 122.
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| watermark awards |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 | watermark awards Your Lawn Relax: City of Georgetown. River Authorities or Districts » Upper Trinity Regional Water District: Lake Ralph Hall Website. CATEGORY IV Community Outreach and Education Programs: events, curriculums, programs. Small Utility » City of Mansfield Water Utilities: Educating the Public during a Pandemic. Large Utility » Houston Public Works: Protect Our Pipes - SSO Prevention Outreach Program. River Authorities or Districts » Upper Trinity Regional Water District: Watershed Story Map Website for School Outreach and Education. Honorable Mention » North Texas Municipal Water District: Water4Otter Online Youth Education Curriculum.
Code Updates In-Service Cleaning
CATEGORY VI Multimedia: video and photography. Small Utility » McAllen Public Utility: RGV Women in STEM series. Large Utility » El Paso Water: We Are El Paso Water Video. River Authorities or Districts » San Jacinto River Authority: Mini Series.
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| conservation & reuse awards |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 | conservation & reuse system. Construction broke ground in 2018 and was completed in 2019. The overall project duration covered five years. The board was involved throughout the design process, challenging the team to find cost effective solutions to complete the project while meeting the objectives. The district has successfully converted 3,750,000 gallons of irrigation demand to the reclaimed water system since 2019. Small Utility Indirect: City of Round Rock: DIY Water Saving Toolkit The DIY Water Saving Toolkit is a physical toolbox that Round Rock Public Library patrons can check out and take home for up to two weeks. The toolkit’s purpose is to educate residents about where their water comes from, how water is used in their home, how to read their water meter and bill and make simple changes around their homes to reduce water use. The DIY Toolkit contains many water-saving plumbing fixtures, as well as the tools needed to perform simple plumbing repairs that the resident can keep and use, free of charge. Large Utility Direct: Houston Public Works: Smart Utility Checkup Program In January 2021, Houston Public Works launched its inaugural Smart Utility Checkup Program in partnership with Imperial Utilities and Sustainability Inc. Aimed at promoting water conservation in Houston’s commercial sector, this program provided one year of free professional water, electricity and gas utility assessments to 14 commercial buildings throughout 2021. Each assessment included data analysis on water, energy and gas consumption, along with a monthly break-down of cost and consumption patterns. These assessments identified inefficiencies within each building and provided recommendations on the most cost-effective projects to improve overall efficacy. The program included assistance in identifying and providing rebates and identifying other areas to reduce monthly costs. The free utility assessments provided by this program not only increased knowledge of current water and energy consumption for each building but
| 32 | POST CONFERENCE 2022 TEXASh2o
provided actionable solutions to reduce water and energy demand, including cost-benefit analyses for these solutions. As a result of quantifying the value of overhead cost reductions, this program yielded actual capital investments towards improved efficiency. Participating buildings collectively saved an estimated 4,739,679 gallons of annual water from capital improvements and infrastructure updates. The program also resulted in an estimated $56,580 in direct dollar savings from rebates and credits. These include rebates from CenterPoint Energy, evaporation credits and sales tax rebates. Large Utility Indirect: North Texas Municipal Water District: Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Analysis In an effort to better understand customer water use the North Texas Municipal Water District undertook a project to take a closer look at how different sectors of business and industry use water across member cities. The tasks were to establish a baseline of historical and current water use; categorize water use data as industrial, commercial, institutional, or multifamily; analyze the data for outliers and for areas where conservation efforts might be concentrated, and develop conservation programs based on that analysis. Once armed with NAICS codes, customer accounts can be geo-coded and grouped. This allowed NTMWD and its member cities to benchmark and analyze sector-specific norms. Benchmarking provided an understanding of water use, established metrics to rank water use performance against other similar businesses, and formed a baseline of a water management plan. Metrics chosen for benchmarking when using NAICS coding uses business/industry specific metrics. In this way, benchmarking with business specific metrics will allow NTMWD and its member cities to develop targeted incentives and programs for promoting water efficiency as an alternative to a traditional voluntary approach for water consumption improvement. Non-Utility Indirect: Tarrant Regional Water District: DIY Rainwater Harvesting Painted Barrel Displays Tarrant Regional Water District's painted rain barrels
www.tawwa.org
| conservation & reuse awards |
include accompanying educational materials describing the benefits of rainwater harvesting, and how residents can build their own rainwater barrel. The display materials also include a QR code that leads to a web page with instructional videos, a materials list, and a photo gallery of other painted rain barrels. The display barrels are painted by volunteer artists and include scenes of Texas sunsets and native wildflowers and are on display throughout Tarrant County in various public buildings. Bob Derrington Reclamation Award: City of Rosenburg: Seabourne Creek Park Reclaimed Water System The City of Rosenberg recently completed its fifth and sixth projects in a series of reclaimed water facility and pipeline infrastructure improvements that it has undergone over the last 10 years. The Seabourne Creek Reclaimed Water System uses over 40,000 linear feet of 4-inch to 10-inch pipelines, tertiary wastewater treatment, a 500,000-gallon earthen storage pond, cloth media filter units and a four-pump skid to treat and distribute up to 280,000
gallon per day of reclaimed water. The system currently serves an annual average of 170,000 gallons per day of reclaimed water to sports ball fields, high school fields, parks and trails, a duck pond, and even helps sustain an artificially created wetlands and native prairie attraction. The Seabourne Creek Park uses reuse water as sprinkled irrigation in addition to drop structures for filling ponds and artificial wetlands. Over 25,000 linear feet of reclaimed water piping has also been extended beyond the park to serve commercial customers. Using reuse water is a major component of the city’s overall strategy to reduce their reliability on groundwater in accordance with the Fort Bend Subsidence District groundwater reduction mandates and to achieve the city’s plans of overall water conservancy and sustainability. The city has invested over $3.5 million to construct, operate, and maintain this reclaimed water system over the last 10 years. This effort has proven that treated wastewater can be used for a variety of sustainable ecological, amenity and practical uses.
Water Changes Everything www.waterforpeople.org
Thank you to our Cash and Item Donors, as well as Bidders! We raised nearly $20,000 net for Water For People. Thank you to the volunteers (Matt Berg, Christine Kirby, Melissa Mack, Liz Coy, Alex Castillo, Spencer Lindsay, Marcela Sion, Jonathan Vorheis, Walter Chandler, Christina Gildea, Sarah Richards, George Bowden, Erin Mills, Hector Hinostroza, Rob Jenkins, Swapnil Dusane, Adam Conner)
Cash Donors
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TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 33 |
| executive director report |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 | executive director report energy to be back in person, but from the technical sessions to the exhibit hall, to the awards events, to the dinner night out, it just felt right, complete and satisfying. Conferences are more than just an opportunity to be in the exhibit hall or the trainings, or the competitions, or just being together. Events the size of Texas Water have an energy that can’t necessarily be defined but must be experienced. My spouse jokes that it's like putting on a wedding for 5,000 of your closest friends. Being a child of the '60s or so, I see it as an "experience." Like Woodstock for WaterGeeks! And our "mind bending" experience of choice is nothing more than the opportunity to bring an incredible group of like-minded thinkers together to share the experience of just being together. I am tripping down a road that could go into a ditch, but to sum it up, "A Good Time Was Had by All." We could not have created such a "Good Time" if not for the incredible hard work by the entire team of
volunteers in San Antonio led by Alissa Lockett and Jeff Haby. Many of them were from SAWS who did so much without hesitation to make sure everything works. I can’t say enough to thank all of the volunteers and the team from SAWS along with the support of the SAWS CEO Robert Puente. Volunteers have always been the engine of success of all 27 of the Texas Water™ Conferences. Our amazing success using volunteers amazes our counterparts around the country. But, if you understand the passion of water professionals, then you can understand how their passion makes Texas Water™ so successful. During the planning of the conference, I found myself trying to remember a certain quirk about the San Antonio Convention Center. It kept nagging at me because I knew I had found a solution back in 2018. One morning, I realized I had the old records on my computer and went back to my archived hard drive. It took a while to review my notes but then I discovered the solution. It was in that moment that I understood how the last two plus years had really affected me. While I never
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| 34 | POST CONFERENCE 2022 TEXASh2o
www.tawwa.org
| executive director report |
had COVID, I hadn’t used my conference "mental muscles" for a while. It took longer than it should have to pull up a certain solution. I realized how the shift from—and I hate to use the term—my "normal," had impacted my thinking. It took a few minutes, but it was then I understood that "Everything Old Was New Again." Don’t forget that ACE22 will be in San Antonio in June. You can register at https://www.awwa.org/ace/Attend/ Registration See you there!
Apply for a TAWWA Scholarship! The application process is now open for TAWWA's annual scholarships: The Texas Section AWWA Scholarship, the Plummer/ TAWWA Environmental Scholarship and the One AWWA Operator Scholarship. The deadline for all is Friday, July 8, 2022 and the application process is all online. Please note that there are separate applications for each scholarship. The qualifications for each one are different and applicants will need to fill out each form and submit materials separately. New submission process! You'll create your own login in for the new scholarship system so you'll be able to save your work in progress. For more info and to apply:
www.tawwa.org/page/scholarships
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TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 35 |
| el paso water |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 | el paso water families to the exhibit to learn about the importance of water in our region," said Anai Padilla, El Paso Water’s Conservation and TecH2O Manager. "Interactive booths, games, and our beloved mascot Willie the Waterdrop were big hits and engaged the younger kids in learning about water." The Water/Ways traveling exhibit is part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street
program, an effort to provide access to the Smithsonian in cities across the country. The exhibit examines water as an environmental necessity and important cultural element. Staff from UTEP’s Centennial Museum approached El Paso Water months ago about collaborating to highlight local information about regional water sources that could supplement the touring exhibit. "We could not pass up the opportunity," said Padilla. "We’re always working to strengthen our relationships with local partners and stakeholders." While the Water/Ways exhibit depicts the impact water has on our environment, climate, and landscape, EPWater and TecH2O provided content about our water sources, water usage and various visuals to help visitors understand the local connection to water. Informational displays included the urban water cycle, desalination, how groundwater is retrieved, and a rolling river demonstration, which features a traveling trailer used to depict river flow, stormwater systems and erosion control. "We want to engage our younger generation to learn about our unique community and
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Participants learning about local wetlands wildlife.
| 36 | POST CONFERENCE 2022 TEXASh2o
www.tawwa.org
| elsection paso water | letter from the texas chair| |
show them what EPWater is doing to secure our water resources," said Padilla. "We also want visitors to have some fun while learning." Diverse water resources For Scott Reinert, Water Resources Manager, an event like this is one of the best ways to inform the public what EPWater is doing to ensure our city has water for the future. "Making education fun and entertaining also makes it obtainable," said Reinert. EPWater takes great pride in its diverse portfolio of water resources to deliver sustainable water services. For decades, EPWater has implemented new and innovative ways to provide water to this desert community, and customers have embraced a conservation culture that is an important part of that strategy. "As our children learn and understand the value of water, they become ambassadors of water conservation," said Reinert. Participants had fun completing various activities, such as collecting beads that each represent the water molecules as they move through the Urban Water Cycle and learning about what is safe to flush down the drain, among other activities. "This was our first big in-person educational program since the pandemic," said Padilla. "Our staff, volunteers, and visitors all showed their excitement to be engaged in hands-on learning activities, where kids can experience the wow factor."
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Want to see your ad here? Advertise in TEXASh2o! Call Tracy at 512-251-8101 today! Participants learn about what is safe to flush with beanbag toss.
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TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 37 |
Special Thanks to our Texas WaterTM 2022 Sponsors!
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Special Thanks to our Texas WaterTM 2022 Sponsors!
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| new members |
TAWWA Welcomes New Members Joining March 1–April 30, 2022 Nicodemus Abowd Austin, TX
Gaby Bolanos Georgetown, TX
Chris Carroll Denton, TX
William Cox Wylie, TX
Jay Everett Marble Falls, TX
William Hirschi Celina, TX
Zee Al Houston, TX
Raul Borromeo Houston, TX
Joe Castillo Boerne, TX
Jose Delgado McAllen, TX
Ethan Farmer Houston, TX
Ryan Hopkins DeSoto, TX
Craig Alexander Arlington, TX
Kim Bostik Richardson, TX
Emily Chacon Houston, TX
Boyd Dueboay Nacogdoches, TX
James Faucett Gonzales, TX
Sandra Isaacson Austin, TX
Gabriel Anzaldua Alice, TX
Gabriel Bowden Anna, TX
Jerry Chapman Texarkana, TX
Albert Duffield Lufkin, TX
Ernesto Flores Harlingen, TX
Harry Isensee Katy, TX
Aquana Houston, TX
Shannon Breaux Texas City, TX
Chelford City Houston, TX
Michelle Dutt Austin, TX
Corando Gallegos Corpus Christi, TX
Valery Jean-Bart Denton, TX
Steve Askew Houston, TX
Bryan Brooks Waco, TX
Progga Chirontoni San Antonio, TX
Edward Gonzalez McAllen, TX
Barb Johnson Round Rock, TX
Bobby Barker Houston, TX
Edward Brown Beaumont, TX
Ciara Clark Houston, TX
El Chaparral Mobile Home Park Texarkana, TX
Ryan Hahn Frisco, TX
Raymond Johnson Conroe, TX
Martin Bartlett El Paso, TX
Juan Bujanos Brownsville, TX
Ken Hall Colleyville, TX
Calvin Jones Fort Worth, TX
Michael Beach Boerne, TX
Aaron Burkell Odessa, TX
Angelica Consuegra De La Ossa Pearland, TX
Bubba Harkrider Bee Cave, TX
Phil Kiser Portland, TX
Josh Bogardus Austin, TX
Mandra Caplinger McKinney, TX
Susan Herman Richardson, TX
Wiliam Kuehne Houston, TX
Jesse Ellis Houston, TX Ryan Enos Mansfield, TX
Chad Cosper San Antonio, TX
Roberto Erazo San Antonio, TX
Stuart Cowell Austin, TX
April Escamilla Fort Worth, TX
| 40 | POST CONFERENCE 2022 TEXASh2o
www.tawwa.org
| texas | new water members 2022 |
TAWWA Welcomes New Members Joining March 1–April 30, 2022 Stephen Lane Lavon, TX
Raymond McGuire Wylie, TX
Kayla Petersen Austin, TX
Adam Rodriguez Frisco, TX
Blake Smith Celina, TX
Floramie Welch San Antonio, TX
Terry Lee Houston, TX
Jayson Melcher Wylie, TX
Jimmy Pizana Grand Prairie, TX
Jesse Rodriguez Frisco, TX
Nicholas Solis Boerne, TX
Ryan Wellman Fort Worth, TX
Lianette Leon Baytown, TX
Julia Mfitundinda Dallas, TX
Alence Poudel Sugar Land, TX
Ruben Rodriguez San Antonio, TX
Aubrey Spear Lubbock, TX
Danny Wheeler Wylie, TX
Bryan Looney Post, TX
Ann Mohr Round Rock, TX
Jim Pruitt Bedford, TX
Thomas Rohlack Austin, TX
Frank Stephens Houston, TX
John Wilkinson Lake Jackson, TX
Ana Lopez Houston, TX
Josh Moreno Seguin, TX
Ricardo Quezada Plano, TX
Ivalu Rose Kerrville, TX
Endi Sztamenits Fort Worth, TX
Christopher Williams Katy, TX
Juan Macias Baytown, TX
National Wholesale Supply, Inc Dallas, TX
Diego Ramirez Euless, TX
Jeremy Ryel Schertz, TX
Amir Tabesh McKinney, TX
Heather Wilson-Ellis Temple, TX
Luis Rebolledo Boerne, TX
Joe Saenz Alice, TX
Raymond Thompson Electra, TX
Seulki Yeo Fort Worth, TX
Guadalupe Resendez McAllen, TX
Hugo Salinas Houston, TX
Philip Topek Houston, TX
Mary Zambrano Manor, TX
Kennedy Reyes Bryan, TX
Luis Santos Espinoza San Antonio, TX
Parvathi Unnithan Plano, TX
Charlie Zhang Pflugerville, TX
Kristian Reyna Mission, TX
Kaitlyn Saucedo Round Rock, TX
Jason Valdez Webster, TX
Corey Reynolds Dallas, TX
Gregory Shaw Austin, TX
Melanie Vazquez Waxahachie, TX
Bryant Magee Houston, TX Koketso Makhafola Round Rock, TX Jeff Mayfield Wylie, TX Michael McClosky Houston, TX Monty McGuffin San Antonio, TX
www.tawwa.org
Bob Neal Pantego, TX Lance Nelson McAllen, TX Marvin Oconnor Ennis, TX Anthony Patin San Marcos, TX Siddhartha Paul Houston, TX
TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 41 |
| letter from the texas section chair |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 | letter from the texas section chair exhilarating trying to balance your extremely limited time between visiting vendor booths on the exhibit floor, watching the highly entertaining competitions, earning PDHs from technical presentations and just catching up with old friends. By the time the week was over, I felt like I had run a marathon and needed some time to recuperate! Now on to planning Texas WaterTM 2023 in Houston! The last time we were in Houston was 2019, the year before COVID, and Houston set records for attendance. And, while Houston has not been a normal historical stop on the Texas Water Train, we hope to raise the bar even higher from 2019 and make all our Texas colleagues feel welcome and excited about spending a few days in the Bayou City! I am proud to announce that Venus Price has graciously accepted our invitation to serve as the chair of the host committee for TAWWA, and we already have several key Houston Water volunteers ready to take key leadership positions for
| 42 | POST CONFERENCE 2022 TEXASh2o
the conference, including Jason Salas, Brian Mason, Ken Brown, Eric Garza, Yong Wang, Jin Ye and Leilany Vazquez. Literally, the day I returned from San Antonio, I had several people reach out inquiring how they could participate for next year’s conference! This was incredible, and I cannot wait to do it again!
Advertise in TEXASh2o! Call Tracy at 512-251-8101 today!
www.tawwa.org
| | calendar calendar |
What’s Happening Across Texas DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
JUNE 12-15
AWWA ACE 2022
JUNE 16
NCT Chapter June Meeting
JULY 8
TAWWA Scholarship Deadlines
JULY 13
TAWWA Utility Leadership Training
8:30 am-3:30 pm
AUG 26
14th Annual WFP Hill Country Classic
8 am
11:15 am
LOCATION
INFORMATION
Henry B. González Convention Center, San Antonio
https://www. awwa.org/ace/
Texas Star Conference Center/ Virtual Microsoft Teams
www.tawwa.org
Online
www.tawwa.org
Arlington Water Utilities Department South Service Center
www.tawwa.org
Canyon Springs Golf Club San Antonio
www.tawwa.org
Want to share your event with the Texas water community? Contact Mike Howe, 512-238-9292, or mikehowe@tawwa.org. Check the Section’s website, www.tawwa.org, for the latest information on Section activities.
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TEXASh2o POST CONFERENCE 2022 | 43 |
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