Texas H2O June 2012

TEXAS H20

Post Conference 2012

The Official Newsletter of the Texas Section AWWA ď‚„ THE Water Professionals

Fiesta in San Antonio

TEXASH2O

Letter from the Texas Section Chair

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A

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By Brent Locke

Texas Section American Water Works Association P.O. Box 80150 Austin, Texas 78708 www.tawwa.org BRENT LOCKE, CHAIR 254-562-5992 CHRISTIANNE CASTLEBERRY, CHAIR-ELECT 512-751-9272 ALISSA LOCKETT, VICE-CHAIR 210-233-3401 DAVE SCHOLLER, IMM. PAST CHAIR 281-558-8700

MIKE HOWE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ SECRETARY-TREASURER 512-238-9292 FAX: 512-238-0496 EMAIL: mikehowe@tawwa.org This publication is distributed 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 PO Box 676 Pflugerville, TX 78691 512-251-8101 FAX: 512-251-8152 email: texwater@texas.net The publication name, TexasH2O: © 1996-2012 Texas Section - Amercian Water Works Association, Inc. © 2012 Texas Section - American Water Works Association, Inc.

Celebrate leadership

fter the 2011 edition of Texas Water in Fort Worth, I was allbut-positive that we couldn’t have a better conference. There were so many people, so many things to do, so much fun; it just couldn’t get any better.

The Texas Water 2012SM team in San Antonio, though, pushed our annual conference to a whole new level. From the record-setting golf tournament on Tuesday afternoon (April 10) to the amazing Texas Water version of Night in Old San Antonio to the last technical session at noon on Friday (April 13), the Texas Water community was welcomed, entertained and informed as it has never been before. Our Southeast Texas chapter has some zapatas grandes to fill for Texas Water 2013SM in Galveston, but they have a way of doing things in a big way around Houston.

We celebrate the leadership that made Texas Water 2012SM a success.

I hope that, during my term as Chair of the Section, we will celebrate leadership in many ways.

Our Section will continue to be a leader – and a supporter – for the smaller utility systems (or “growth systems,” as we call them) in Texas.

We’ll celebrate the operators that are the “leading edge” for many utilities – the first on the scene, reading the pulse of a system.

We hope to offer some scholarship support to give new Texas utility managers access to in-depth AWWA training. I’m a graduate of an AWWA Management Institute, and I know the value that broadbased information and networking opportunities bring to your table.

We want to get that knowledge to managers, especially those that are new to that role, so they can get seasoned quickly and increase their productivity.

I want to take a moment to focus on the leadership of one of our Section’s core constituencies – the Women of Texas Water. More and more, the success of our Section is carried forward by women who have made a place for themselves in an industry once regarded as a male bastion.

Texas’s own Katie McCain is legendary for breaking the glass ceiling to become the first woman president of AWWA, and she’s still contributing heavily to our Section and the Association. Kay Kutchins, the first female Chair of Texas Section (1987-88), has been one of my mentors and a mentor for dozens, if not hundreds, of women – and men. And my own deeper involvement with Texas AWWA can be traced to one of our former chairs, Glenda Dunn, who is still active as chair of the Section’s Water Utility Council and of the Workforce Committee. These are just a few of the many women who are leading the Section, the Association and the Industry.

And, of course, I have the honor to share officer duties this year with two highly talented people who happen to be women: Christianne Castleberry and Alyssa Lockett. We’ll be celebrating their leadership for years to come.

My personal "woman of water" is my wife, Luann. She continues to be my wife, the kids’ Mom, the grandkids’ Grammy, and the "wind in my sails" daily, for some 39 years.

Whether you are female or male, manager or operator, big utility or Growth System, there’s a place for you to get involved in AWWA and Texas Section and to celebrate the leadership skills you can develop here.

Richard Talley receives Fuller Award

Maverick Award goes to Adam Conner Adam Conner was named recipient of the Texas Section’s Maverick Award at Texas Water 2012SM. The award recognizes a Texas Section Young Professional who excels in volunteerism, community involvement, leadership and service in the water industry.

Conner, a Water Resources Planner for the San Antonio Water System, is the YP representative for the Texas Section’s South Texas Chapter and has scheduled many activities for the Texas Section Chair Dave Scholler and YPs in the San Antonio area.

Maverick Award winner Adam Conner.

He also is an active organizer of the TAWWA Water For People Annual Charity Golf Tournament in San Antonio. At Texas Water 2012, Conner was active in the Water For People Silent Auction along with serving as volunteer chairman.

Conner is also a coordinator for the South Texas Chapter’s Second Annual Summer Seminar.

TAWWA Scholarship deadline July 27 July 27 is the deadline for applying for a Texas Section Scholarship.

An applicant must either be a recent high school graduate or have a record of and plan to continue fulltime college attendance.

An applicant must either be a Texas AWWA member or immediate family member of a Texas AWWA member, except for those applying for consideration by the Desert Mountain Chapter (El Paso area).

For more information and an application form, go to www.tawwa.org.

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dures for Water ExaminaFormer Texas Section tion in 1997.

Chair Richard Talley was Talley has served on sevnamed this year’s recipieral Project Advisory Coment of the George Warren mittees for the Water Fuller Award, the highResearch Foundation. est honor the Section can He is a member of the bestow.

Association of MetropoliTalley received his award tan Water Agencies, where at Texas Water 2012SM in he served as Regulatory San Antonio.

Committee Liaison. He is a Talley is Regulatory/ former president and board Environmental Coordimember of the Texas Assonator for the Fort Worth ciation of Clean Water Water Department, having Talley Gets the News - Former Texas Section Fuller Award Agencies. A WEF member, risen through the ranks winners surround Richard Talley of Fort Worth (seated he was contributing author since joining the department right) to congratulate him for being this year’s winner at to Wastewater Biology: The in 1982. He also served as Texas Water 2012SM. Microlife (1990), and he is a Laboratory Manager and At the AWWA level, Talley member of the North Texas Water Quality Manager. serves on the influential Water Council of Governments’ Water Talley served as Vice-Chair Utility Council after participating Resources Council. and Chair-Elect of Texas AWWA in the Council’s Laboratory Issues Talley is a Certified Utilities and in 2010 became the Chair Working Group from 1997 to Operator Instructor and a of the Section. He is a member 2007. He has served on the Water Certified Hazardous Materials of the Section’s Water Utility Quality and Technology Division Technician.

Council and serves as chair of and the Water Quality Division.

He holds a bachelors and masthe TXWARN Steering CommitHe was a contributing author to ters degree in Microbiology from tee. He was chair of the Research the fourth edition of AWWA’s Texas Tech.

Committee and a member of the M-12 Manual, Simplified ProceWater Quality Division.

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Executive Director Report

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It's still dry!

By Mike Howe TAWWA Executive Director

I

f you draw a line roughly from Wichita Falls to the Hill Country, most of the areas east of this line have seen the worst of the most recent drought. But, west of this line, many of the reservoirs remain perilously low as we head into summer. For many of us, the drought may be abated for now, but conditions to the West and in parts of the Valley remain dry with limited relief in sight.

There is a great map at the Texas Tribune http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/ texas-reservoir-levels/ that is updated daily with this information. You can follow other in-depth water related stories at this link, http://www.texastribune.org/texas-environmental-news/ water-supply/.

Texas got an estimated 8.5 inches of rain from March through May, more than three times the amount from those months in 2011 when the state endured its driest year on record. Although parts of West Texas are still battling drought, and in some places, water supplies are still very low, weather

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officials say this spring has left most of the state in position for lower temperatures and improved rainfall chances compared to last summer.

This would mean more water for crops, fewer brown lawns and cracked soil, and less strain on a fragile power grid that could still see brownouts this summer.

The weather service predicts a 67 percent chance of near-normal to above-normal rainfall for June through August. It also predicts average temperatures for the next three months statewide to hover in the low 80s. Quite a contrast to last year’s scorching temperatures when Texas recorded the second hottest summer in U.S. history with an average of 86.7 degrees.

While this is all very good news, I am actually seeing a downside.

I am concerned that for all of the rain we have had in many parts of the state, and with cities beginning to relax their water restrictions, we will quickly forget, and then the public will quickly forget, how easy it is slip back into dry and possibly worsening conditions. Remember, we were slow to realize how dry it was getting until the severe drought was on us, CONTINUED PAGE 25  HOWE

We are proud to continue this partnership through incoming AWWA President, Charlie Anderson, as well as our strong Texas leadership

AWWA President-Elect: Charlie Anderson Deputy Trustee: Chris Varnon Water Quality & Technology Division Leader: Steven Lynk Water Conservation and Reuse Division Leader: Roger Schenk, Jr.

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CDM Smith has supported AWWA for more than 50 years in its mission to improve global water quality and supply

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San Antonio recognized with new Chapter of the Year award

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AWWA Treasure R. Lee Roberts presents the first-ever Chapter of the Year Award to representatives of the South Texas Chapter, Melissa Bryant of the San Antonio River Authority and Marisa Vergara of CP&Y.

The South Texas Chapter was named the firstever Chapter of the Year at Texas Water 2012SM. The chapter serves the greater San Antonio metropolitan area and is a joint chapter with the WEAT San Antonio Section.

The South Texas Chapter participates in various community service events throughout the year. The Chapter participated in San Antonio’s annual “Basura Bash,” which is the largest single-day waterway cleanup in Texas.

Through its members and annual golf tournament the Chapter has increased the local community’s awareness of the Water For People program. Over the past three years, the Chapter has raised $50,000 for the Texas AWWA contribution to Water For People.

The South Texas Chapter actively communicates with its members. The Chapter maintains a database of local members and potential members and holds monthly meetings which include guest speakers, discussion of upcoming state and local activities, and volunteer opportunities.

The Chapter maintains a website and publishes a monthly newsletter. The newsletter conveys technical studies and updates to its members on upcoming events.

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Anderson to serve as next president of AWWA

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Former Texas Section Chair Charlie Anderson of Arlington will be installed as president of the American Water Works Association at AWWA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Dallas June 13.

Anderson will become the second Texan to lead the organization in the 21st Century. Katie McCain took the reins in 2004 at ACE in Orlando, Fla. Anderson retired from the City of Arlington in 2005, after serving as assistant director and director of utilities for about 28 years and as deputy city manager from 2003 to 2005. Anderson currently works for CDM. Anderson joined AWWA in 1972. He was elected Section Chair in 2002 after serving as Chair-Elect, Vice-Chair and Management Division. After serving as Chair, he was elected to serve as the Texas Section’s director on the AWWA Board of Director.

He was elected AWWA Vice President in 2008 and served as chair of the ad hoc Affiliation Agreement Committee, which refined AWWA’s relationship with its sections.

Anderson is also a member of the Texas Water Utilities Association, Water Environment Federation, Water Environment Association of Texas, Texas Municipal Utilities Association, and American Chemical Society. He has served as an elder at Celebration Fellowship Church, chair of the city‘s United Way Campaign, and as a board member of the Arlington Federal Credit Union and the American Heart Association in Tarrant County.

A life member of AWWA, Anderson is a recipient of the George Warren Fuller Award. The Texas Water Utilities Association has honored him with the President’s Award, Meritorious Service Award, Life Member Award, and the Outstanding Public Service Award from the TWUA North Texas chapter.

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Texas Water 2012 Roundup

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New leaders for Texas Section after the membership meeting at Texas Water 2012SM are, from left, Dave Scholler, Brown & Gay Engineers Immediate Past Chair; Brent Locke, Bistone Municipal Water Supply District, Chair; Christianne Castleberry, Castleberry Engineering & Consulting, Chair-Elect; and Alissa Lockett, San Antonio Water System, Vice Chair.

Former Fort Worth Water Dept. Director Ronny Hyde receives the William T. “Doc” Ballard Award from AWWA Treasurer R. Lee Roberts at Texas Water 2012SM. The award recognizes Texas Section members who have distinguished themselves in our profession by using their personal influence to shape the course of the profession by assisting utilities and individuals in serving their communities. Hyde is a former Texas Section Chair and has continued his service to the Section by chairing the Audit Committee and the Resolutions Committee.

Texas Water attendees got a treat with a special Jr. Meter Madness Competition, featuring young contestants from water workforce development programs in three Texas schools. As with the adult competition, contestants race to assemble a 5/8-in. water meter.

Winners at the Texas Water 2012 Jr. Meter Madness were, from left, Robert Mena of Irving, third; Montel Johnson of Waco, first; Adam Noonkester of Arlington, second; and Aaron Manson of Arlington, fourth. Johnson posted a time of 21.38 seconds to win the event.

Top Op's Challenge organizers Roberto Amezquita (far left) and J.R. Reavis (second from right) congratulate the competition winners Ray Cason, Sandra Binkley, and Cindy Ford. Terry Smith (far right) represented Hach Company, which donated test kits for the winners.

During the Young Professional's reception, the University Forum winners were recognized. (From left) 2nd Place: David Rounce of UT Austin; 1st Place: Jie Ma of Rice University; 3rd Place: Charan Tanneru of the University of Houston; Dr. Bill Rixey of the University of Houston and facilitator of the University Forum.

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Texas Water competitions turn the corner

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If you looked closely, you could see that some Texas Section competitions were turning a corner at Texas Water 2012SM. In the Top Ops competition – which tests operator knowledge in a quiz-show format – the City of Midlothian’s team managed to overcome longtime powerhouse Fort Worth Water. The team 12 – comprised of Cindy Ford, Ray Cason and Sandra Binkley – won first place and the right to represent Texas Section in an all-expense paid trip to AWWA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE).

Unfortunately, this year that’s in Dallas, 25 miles away.

In the men’s Pipe Tapping competition, defending champion SAWS, a perennial power, was bested by another SAWS team, the upstart “The River City Rage,” which posted a time of 1:49.35, ahead of the

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champs’ 2:04.97. Fort Worth came in third with a time of 2:36.72.

SAWS also won the women’s competition, but that was pretty much a foregone conclusion, since both women’s teams were from SAWS. The Alamo City Pipe Tappers, defending champs, came in at 2:48.10, ahead of the SAWS Blue Bonnets, which formed last fall.

Only in the Meter Madness competition did an old reliable take first place. Johnny Rodriguez of SAWS was first, and SAWS placed second with first-time competitor Dennis Laskowski, an engineer with the utility. Jason Escobedo of New Braunfels was third.

Texas Water 2012SM participants from the Upper Trinity Regional Water District celebrate the district's victory in the annual BestTasting Drinking Water Contest. They are, from left, Jody Zabolio, James Rogers, Tim Brazile, Ben Hodges, Kurt Staller and Larry Patterson. Second place in the competition went to the City of Fort Worth, and third place was the Jonah Water Special Utility District.

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At Texas Water 2012SM in San Antonio, Texas Section honored 18 water professionals for longtime membership in AWWA and service to the industry.

GOLD WATER DROP AWARD: Two individuals, Robert Van Dyke of Fredericksburg and Henry Benjes of Austin, received their Gold Water Drop Awards, recognizing 50 years of membership.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARDS: Receiving Life Membership Awards, recognizing 30 years of AWWA membership by individuals 65 years old or older, were Dennis Allen of Plano, Edwin Ford of San Antonio, Ronny Hyde of Fort Worth, Jack Owen of Austin and Kenneth Vollbrecht of Spring.

SILVER WATER DROP AWARDS: AWWA recognizes members who have achieved 30 years of membership. Receiving recognition at Texas Water 2012SM were William Carroll of Dallas, Walter Chaing of Irving, Randy Goss of Austin, Brad Greer of Richardson, Mike Hemphill of Colorado City, Jill Jordan of Dallas, Ray Moreno of Fort Worth, Robert Pence of Fort Worth, Michael Pink of El Paso, Richard AWWA Treasurer R. Lee Roberts presents the Turkopp of Gold Water Drop Award to Robert Van Dyke Houston and of Fredericksburg. The award honors water John Wier of professionals who have attained 50 years of Arlington.

AWWA membership. (Photo by Malcolm Cowdin).

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Members honored with longevity awards

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Marisa Vergara honored with Water For People award Marisa Vergara was named winner of Water For People’s Kenneth J. Miller Founders’ Award at Texas Water 2012SM. The award was established in 2001 by the Board of Directors of Water For People to honor those individuals at the Section level committed to the mission of the organization.

Water For People helps those in developing countries improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable water drinking water resources, sanitation facilities and hygiene education programs by creating programs that last.

Vergara is a vice president with CP&Y, Inc., where she has worked since her graduation in 1996.

She holds a masters degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and has over Amid the Water For People Water For fifteen years of People activist Betty Jordan congratudesign and proj- lates Marisa Vergara, the 2012 winner of ect management the Kenneth J. Miller Founders’ Award, recognizing commitment to the charity’s experience in mission. water, wastewater and reuse projects.

She is the past president of the TAWWA South Texas Chapter of TAWWA and the 2006 recipient of TAWWA’s Young Professional Maverick Award.

She is also a member of WEF and WEAT and served as co-chair of the Texas Water 2012 Local Planning Committee.

Vergara has been committed to Water For People for several years, and three years ago, she cochaired the inaugural South Texas Chapter Water for People Golf Tournament.

Since then, she has been instrumental in growing the now-annual event into one of Texas Water for People’s highest grossing events, raising nearly $23,000 in 2011. These funds were then matched when donated to Water For People to a total of $46,000.

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Awards recognize conservation efforts Each year at the Texas Water conference, TAWWA recognizes those who have demonstrated excellence in water conservation and reuse practices. Winners from Texas Water 2012SM in San Antonio were:

16 Bob Derrington Water Reclamation Award/

Large Utility Direct Program: City of Fort Worth Water Department, Village Creek Reclaimed Water System (Eastern Segment) To help meet growing water demands, the City of Fort Worth completed an 11.5-mile reclaimed water pipeline and pump station from Fort Worth’s Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility to three wholesale customers, the cities of Arlington and Euless and DFW Airport. The system can pump 12 MGC, with the potential to expand to 18 MGD. Euless and Arlington will use the reclaimed water primarily for landscape irrigation and DFW Airport plans to use it for its cooling towers. Total reclaimed water consumption for April through December 2011 was 217.6 million gallons.

Small Utility Direct Program: City of Round Rock, Toilet Rebate Program The City of Round Rock’s Toilet Rebate Program was created to encourage customers to replace

their toilets with new water sense labeled ones. The program offers rebates of up to $100 per toilet for customers with homes built prior to 1996. It began in the summer of 2010 and was offered again in the winters of 2011 and 2012. To date, 553 toilets have been replaced through the rebate program, with the total rebated amount of $46,000. The program is funded by revenue created from the Tier II water rates. The toilet rebate program will continue to be offered through 2013.

Large Utility Indirect Program: El Paso Water Utilities, Landscape Education & Turf Rebate Program: An Old Strategy That Continues Yielding Results As part of its 50-year water resource management plan, El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU) began a landscape education and turf rebate program. The Utility trained a group of “water smart” volunteers to conduct landscape audits at parks and school athletic fields, and has helped educate the public about conservation. In 1998, EPWU developed a “desert blooms” CD-ROM that featured more than 400 trees, shrubs, groundcovers, grasses and flowers that are adapted or native to the Chihuhauan Desert. EPWU’s turf rebate pilot program began in 2001 and offered turf rebates of $0.50 per square CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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Austin ∙ College Station Dallas ∙ Fort Worth Frisco ∙ Houston Irving ∙ San Antonio

Ron Collins receives John Lechner Award

JCM Industries President Ron Collins (left) receives the John Lechner Award of Excellence from AWWA Treasurer R. Lee Roberts at the Conference Luncheon at Texas Water 2012SM.

During his early years at JCM Industries, he served as the Chair of the Exhibitors’ Committee for both the Southwest Section and the Texas Section after it created its own Section. His contributions

in that forum helped shape the current successful annual Section conference exhibits plans.

He later served at the Association level on the AWWA Manufacturer’s/Associates Council and has been involved in a number of other AWWA committees that directly influence the AWWA standards set for manufacturers’ products.

Through countless product presentations to field technicians, municipal management and design/consulting engineers, Collins has emphasized the importance of understanding the working characteristics of piping systems. Combining that information with the correct selection and application of products for repair, connection and branching, he has provided a solid foundation for an uninterrupted flow of safe, clean water to the end user.

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Ron Collins, president and CEO of JCM Industries, received the John Lechner Award of Excellence at Texas Water 2012SM in San Antonio.

Texas Section gives the award to recognize the contributions of a member who is a service provider.

In presenting the award, Texas Section Chair Dave Scholler commented, “His leadership on both Section level and Association level committees has led AWWA to successful working relationships between utility staff and service providers.”

Collins is a lifetime member of the American Water Works Association, joining AWWA in 1970, and has been active in the Texas Section from the very beginning. He started his volunteer career on the Exhibitors’ Committee (currently known as the Manufacturer’s Advisory Committee) when Texas was part of the Southwest Section.

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Utility communication efforts honored through Watermark Awards

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Texas Section and WEAT honored members for their efforts to communicate with the public.

During ceremonies at Texas Water 2012SM, the winners of the annual Watermark Awards were:

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Category I: Communications programs: internal campaigns, external campaigns, crisis communications, community relations. Large Utility: City of Fort Worth Water Department, Take Back Meds Program. Non-utility: Tarrant Regional Water District & Dallas Water Utilities, Lawn Whisperer Campaign. Honorable Mention: El Paso Water Utilities, Keep Alert, Keep Clear Campaign. Austin Water Utilities, 2011 Water Conservation Advertising Campaign. Alan Plummer Associates Inc., Reclaimed Water Delivery System Public Awareness Program.

Category II: Periodicals: magazines or newsletters.

Non-utility: Trinity River Authority, Dealing With The Drought Newsletter Story Series. Honorable Mention: Guadalupe Blanco River Authority, River Run. Category III: Publications: annual reports, annual water quality reports, brochures, direct mail materials and other multi-page publications. Large Utility: San Antonio Water System, 2012 Safety Calendar. Small Utility: City of Waco Water Utility Services, 2010 Consumer Confidence Report. Non-utility: Trinity River Authority, 2010 Annual Report. Honorable Mention: Guadalupe Blanco River Authority, Clean Rivers Program 2011 Basin Highlights Report. City of Fort Worth Water Department, 2010 Water Quality Report.

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Category IV: Online communications: websites, Facebook, Twitter, online newsletters, etc. Large Utility: El Paso Water Utilities, Successfully Building and Implementing a Social Media Strategy. Non-utility: Tarrant Regional Water District & Dallas Water Utilities, Lawn Whisperer Campaign.

Category V: School curriculums. Non-utility: Trinity River Authority, Waters to the Sea: The Trinity River.

Category VII: Audio and visual: videos, DVDs, slide shows, Power Point presentations, etc. Large Utility: San Antonio Water System, 2011 End of Year Video. Small Utility: City of Waco Water Utility Services, Partnership Education Video. Non-utility: Trinity River Authority of Texas, Presentation Branding & Graphics Standards. Honorable Mention: El Paso Water Utilities, Carlos M. Ramirez TecH2O Water Resources Learning Center. City of McAllen Public Utility, Backflow Prevention Ordinance Video. Tarrant Regional Water District, Trout Fishing in the Trinity Video.

Category VIII: Miscellaneous: photography, logos, one-time advertisements, posters, illustrations, invitations. Large Utility: City of Fort Worth Water Department, Stage 1 Watering Schedule Magnet. Small Utility: City of Waco Water Utility Services, 2012 Lake Waco Wetlands Calendar. Non-utility: Tarrant Regional Water District, Water Conservation Display.

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TAWWA Thanks Our Generous Sponsors of Charlie Anderson's Presidential Inauguration Celebration at ACE 2012 in Dallas

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Brazos River Authority first recipient of Workforce Development Award

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• provide training and hands-on The Brazos River Authority was experience in the fields of water named the first-ever recipient of and wastewater treatment necesthe joint Texas AWWA-WEAT sary to become a State licensed Workforce Development Award at SM operator, Texas Water 2012 .

• develop an in-house pool of The Authority was recognized talent who can apply for full-time for its “Developing Operators from 20 Interns” program. The Brazos positions with the BRA, and • develop trained/certified personRiver Authority water/wastewater nel who can help fill vacancies at internship program fully funds the other utilities outside BRA. hiring, training, and certification The internship program has testing for five positions annually. provided opportunities to interact These five positions are located at with various organizations like facilities in Belton, Taylor, Round high schools, community colleges, Rock, Georgetown and Sugarland. local workforce offices, and state Interns typically work 15WEAT President David Briggs congratuagencies. BRA has helped educate 20 hours a week for about four lates Cathy Dominguez of the Brazos these organizations on the wamonths. Through hands-on suRiver Authority as she accepts the firstter industry and our needs. After pervised training at the treatment ever Workforce Development Award, facilities, as well as accredited given jointly by Texas AWWA and WEAT. meeting with the Texas Veterans Commission last year, this year’s classroom training, the interns get goal is to find veterans for these internships this experience and are readied for applicable license testing. The interns have the opportunity to become year.

The Awards Committee also recognized workforce licensed employees who can fill internal BRA vadevelopment programs of the City of Irving/Irving cancies, or they can apply for similar employment ISD, the City of Waco/A.J. Moore Academy of Waco elsewhere in the water industry.

ISD; the City of Arlington/Arlington ISD and Austin The purposes of the program are to: Water’s Govalle Occupational Development & Sup• introduce potential employees to the field of port Facility. water and wastewater treatment,

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Four water suppliers honored with Blue Legacy Award

TRAVIS COUNTY WCID No. 17: The Blue Legacy Award recognized WCID No. 17’s aggressive reuse program, the largest in the Lake Travis area. It is also the only WCID in the area to have an enforced irrigation ordinance and

an irrigation plan review program with a licensed irrigation inspector on staff.

NEW BRAUNFELS UTILITIES: Since 2009 NBU has engaged in an ambitious, multistage leak detection and valve maintenance program. The utility equipped and trained a special leak detection team. Since the program began, NBU has seen a 50 percent decrease in water loss, and average system water loss is 4.1 percent of pumped water, 0.8 percent better than AWWA’s top tier benchmark for large utilities.

CITY OF McKINNEY: The city’s Office of Environmental Stewardship supports a strong public outreach program, including water conservation training and use of traditional media, the Internet and social media.

An American Reinvestment

and Recovery Act (ARRA) grant developed a web-based water conservation program (http:// mckinneytexas.org/green).

This is combined with a water-use policy that embraces year-round watering restrictions, evapotranspiration (ET) controllers for new construction and rebates for ET retrofits.

SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEMS: SAWS, recognized as a leader in water conservation, approaches conservation through education and outreach, reasonable regulation and financial incentives. The utility uses a conservation rate structure to deter water waste. SAWS forms a special citizen group, the Rate Advisory Council, to solicit a variety of viewpoints, research rate issues and encourage buy-in on rates that conserve water.

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The Texas Water Conservation Advisory Council honored four recipients of its Blue Legacy Award during the Conference Luncheon at Texas Water 2012SM in San Antonio.

To recognize entities that have made strides in the area of water conservation, the WCAC created the Blue Legacy Awards. Recognition is given to water suppliers that have demonstrated outstanding and innovative commitment to the state’s mission of promoting responsible management of water resources, as well as conservation of Texas’ water resources.

Receiving awards this year were:

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UTSA Launches the Water Institute of Texas

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SAN ANTONIO — The University of Texas at San Antonio has launched the Water Institute of Texas to promote collaboration between nearly three dozen UTSA researchers who are studying water related issues. Scholars in the Institute will provide data, information, and technology and policy solu22 tions to decision makers and companies developing short- and long-term water sustainability strategies.

The scarcity of water is one of the most significant challenges facing humanity today. Although water resources are immense, less than one percent of the world’s water is available for human consumption.

Today, nearly 600,000 people around the world face a water shortage. In 2025, nearly three billion people will face a water shortage.

“Typically, we think of water shortages as problems that affect only third-world countries,” said Mauli Agrawal, dean of the UTSA College of

Engineering. “However, water scarcity is a major issue for south Texas, where the land is arid and the population continues to grow. Locally, farmers, city residents, businesses, energy producers, the oil and gas industry and natural species all vie for water, leading to a unique spectrum of technological, social and political issues.”

Researchers in UTSA’s new water institute will focus on five key areas: • Managing the current water supply • Developing innovative water sources • Enhancing water quality • Carrying out community outreach and education • Studying demographics/economics of water

UTSA master’s and doctoral students, particularly those in civil and environmental engineering, geology, environmental sciences, public policy, education, architecture and business, will conduct research in the Water Institute. Special efforts will be made The Roberts Filter Group to include undergraduate students in WIT’s research, training, com® munity education and outreach activities. WIT’s scholars will also partner with water utilities such as the San Antonio Water System, the San Antonio River Authority and the Edwards Aquifer Authority as well as businesses, educational institutions, social agencies and community groups.

UTSA anticipates that researchers will study water management, aquifer storage and recovery, dethe enhanced innovations salination processes and plant imthat only the premiere provements, bacteriological source water treatment company, tracking, wastewater treatment, water policy and other related topThe Roberts Filter Group, ics. can bring to YOU. A.T. Papagiannakis, chair of the UTSA Department of Civil and We manufacture the most Environmental Engineering, will dependable water treatment serve as the Institute’s interim products in the industry. director while UTSA conducts a national search for a permanent Please contact our local representative in your area: director. Alan Dutton, chair of the WWaterTech Inc. WWaterTech Inc. WWaterTech Inc. UTSA Department of Geology, will 3901 Airport Frwy, Suite 305 867 FM 1966 3104 Washington Street Bedford, TX 76021 Maxwell, TX 78656 Waller, TX 77484 serve as the Institute’s assistant 817-358-0551 512-364-8282 936-372-5272 director. www.wwatertec.com www.wwatertec.com www.wwatertec.com

DISCOVER

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9:00 am – 4:00 pm

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TEXAS WATER REUSE CONFERENCE - JULY 20, 2012 TEXAS WATEREUSE ASSOCIATION, WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS, and TEXAS AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION invite you to attend the 2nd Annual Water Reuse Conference in Texas — co-sponsored by our three associations.

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TECHNICAL PROGRAM The Program will provide attendees current updates on reclaimed water topics including UTILITY OPERATIONS, FOLLOW THE MONEY, WATER REUSE PLANNING, and WATER QUALITY ISSUES. Participants will enjoy networking with industry professionals interested in extending our water resources into the future. Lunch will be included and the schedule has been developed to offer maximum instruction time in a one-day conference.

CONFERENCE LOCATION: HILTON DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH

817.870.2100 • www.hilton.com Mention the Water Environment Association of Texas for the discounted room rate of $129 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: BRIAN GOOD, PRESIDENT OF WATEREUSE ASSOCIATION

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT FORM Name Attending Network Reception?

As Denver Water’s Deputy Manager of Organizational Improvement, Brian Good provides strategic leadership in developing and implementing initiatives that enhance Denver Water’s standing in the community and as an industry leader.

o Yes o No

Agency or Company Address City

State

Phone

Fax

Zip

Email (confirmation will be emailed) License Number*

NETWORKING RECEPTION THURSDAY, JULY 19 Join your colleagues in the industry for a networking reception Thursday, July 19, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Hilton Downtown Fort Worth. Light hors d’oeuvres and one drink ticket will be available to Texas Water Reuse Conference attendees.

$85/PERSON ($100 AFTER 7/12/12) NON-REFUNDABLE

o AMEX o Discover o VISA o MasterCard o Check** o Money Order** Credit Card # Expiration Date Card Holder Signature *Please provide license number for Wastewater Operator credit **Make check/money order payable to: Water Environment Association of Texas, Tax ID-74-1969689

RETURN FORM AND PAYMENT TO: 2012 Water Reuse Conference, c/o Water Environment Association of Texas1825 • Fortview Road, Suite 102, Austin, TX 78704-7654 Phone: 512.693.0060 • julie@weat.org • Fax: 512.693.0062 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TO VOLUNTEER CONTACT: FRANK CRUMB 817-392-8246 frank.crumb@fortworthgov.org

GREG MESZAROS 512-972-0108 Greg.Meszaros@austintexas.gov

Register online at www.weat.org

DON VANDERTULIP 210-825-3200 VandertulipWD@cdmsmith.com

Howe

from Page 4

TEXAS WATER 2012

SM

Wow! What a great conference we had in San Antonio. The Local Host Committee chaired by Marisa Vergara and Megan Brown did an amazing job and I think their hard work was reflected in how well everything went with such stunning attendance numbers. We set another record attendance, along with the largest number of exhibitors ever. We recently held our post-conference meeting and the planning for Texas Water 2013SM in Galveston is already starting.

I think we are all aware that companies and utilities are reluctant or unable to send staff to distant and expensive conferences, and while many of these events outside of local areas or across the country are struggling, we see just the opposite with Texas WaterSM. Being the Largest Regional Water Conference in the U.S.TM is more and more meaningful each year.

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and it will be slow to fully recover. Deep soil moisture in many parts of Texas is still low and we may see dry conditions in West Texas for some time. At what point do we lose all of the great momentum in educating the public about conservation?

Just asking.

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Conservation

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from Page 16

foot of established grass that was removed and replaced with environmentally-sensitive, water-saving landscape materials. The turf rebate program ended in 2007, and since its start in 2001, more than 11 million square feet of grass was removed from more than 3,000 sites. Through these efforts, the 2010 goal of 140 gpcd was met and water savings from turf rebate and landscape education programs is 894 million gallons per year.

Small Utility Indirect Program: City of Round Rock, Central Texas Water Efficiency Network The Central Texas Water Efficiency Network (CTWEN) was created in April 2011, with its first meeting held in May 2011. Its purpose is to openly and actively share information and promote water efficiency education, legislation, programs, technologies, and all other integral components of water conservation in order to regionally have an impact on water supplies and use. It’s a voluntary group that is focused on information sharing and collaboration, and has funded and printed yard signs promoting wise outdoor water use that are available in most of the towns involved in the CTWEN. As the group continues to grow, its goal is to continue to collaborate and educate its own customers, as well as the central Texas region, to become water stewards.

Want to share your event with the Texas Water Community?

Contact Mike Howe, 512-238-9292; fax 512-238-0496.

Check the Section’s website — www.tawwa.org — for the latest information on Section activities.

DATE

ACTIVITY

TIME

LOCATION

June 21

South Texas Chapter 11:30 am Monthly Meeting

June 21

Brazos Valley Conservation Program 9 am-3 pm Hilton Waco The Business Case for Water Conservation

June 28

Southeast Texas Chapter Meeting 11:30 am TXWARN

HESS Club 5430 Westheimer

www.setawwa.org

Aug. 10

South Texas Seminar 9 am-4 pm Emerging Issues in the Water Industry

SAWS Tower II, 1st Floor 2800 US Hwy. 281 North

Johathan Vorheis jvorheis@ch2m.com

SAWS Tower II, 1st Floor

INFORMATION Jana Cezeaux czeaauxjs@cdmsmith.com Texas Water Foundation www.texaswater.org

TAWWA Scholarship deadline July 27. See www.tawwa.org for an application.

Water Engineering Services Providing comprehensive services for more than 65 years

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Texas Section Calendar

27

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