QUA NEWS
Happenings Around the Water Team
Opening Remarks
Happy Fall and welcome to our revised newsletter, CHAqua News! You will find this newsletter to be briefer and perhaps easier to read than past versions. Our goal is to publish it more frequently, bimonthly, with updates on happenings around our continually growing Water team.
Our industry continues to see record investment by municipalities and other governmental units to upgrade aging water facilities and to address evolving water quality regulations. Additionally, in some areas, we are seeing expansion of water infrastructure due to new development and population growth.
I ask each of you to keep in mind two things while we have our heads down focused on deliverables:
• We impact public health and the environment in every project we deliver for our Water customers…be proud of what we do!
Our business is about people. Our internal staff leverages technical expertise on behalf of our clients, who serve their customers with high-quality water services.
Please dig deep into your contact lists and help us recruit more people internally to make a difference with our clients.
Thanks to Abby Endsley and Jill Hayth for producing this revised newsletter. Let us know of any suggestion for future editions.
- Tim George
Business Line Director | Indianapolis, IN
CHA Shoutout
In April, one of my best friends passed away, leaving behind his wife and two young sons. After Hurricane Helene hit the South hard, I reached out to check on his wife. Her reply was heartbreaking. Their area had been badly affected, and they’d been without power for nearly a week, with another week anticipated. She and the boys were collecting water from their pool and cooking on a propane burner. Dozens of large trees were down on her property, including one near the kids’ play area, and their gravel driveway had washed away. Still, she said they were “fine and blessed,” and that this experience was “teaching her boys about gratefulness.”
Moved by her resilience, I reached out to three coworkers to see if they’d be willing to help. With only 12-24 hours to plan, we all came together, traveling from different parts of the region to her home. One coworker even brought his wife, so we ended up with more hands than anticipated! We drove through tornado-ravaged areas and past downed power lines to reach them. This team showed up in a big way, providing help when it was needed most. When we finished cutting trees and shoveling gravel, we spent some time playing soccer with her sons—and that small piece of normalcy meant the world to their hurting family. I can’t thank these team members enough for their incredible effort.
Thank you, Billy Caughman, for your hard work, country know-how, and for fixing the boys’ zipline after clearing the tree. Thank you, Matt Kishimoto, for bringing your trailer, which made debris removal so much more efficient, and to Ariel Kishimoto for making the trip, helping with the heavy lifting, and showing kindness to the boys.
Thank you, Matt LaFlamme, for taking charge of rebuilding the washed-out driveway and tirelessly shoveling gravel for hours.
This team’s dedication is deeply appreciated.
- Philip Shields
Project Team Leader | Stanley, NC
Chief Engineer’s Message
Our Water Resources Business Line Leadership Team recently attended the WEFTEC Conference in New Orleans, which is the premier water/wastewater event in the country. It provides an opportunity to feel the pulse of the industry, understand technology trends, and stay up-to-date on major concerns in wastewater utilities. Here is a list of the top 5 key trends:
1. PFAS in Wastewater - With regulatory standards evolving, utilities are investing more in research, monitoring, and pilot testing to stay ahead of potential regulations. Some technologies are geared towards concentrating PFAS-laden wastewater to reduce the volume for treatment and then employ removal/destruction of PFAS. Potential technologies involve foam fractionation, supercritical water oxidation, thermal destruction, UV technology, and others.
2. Energy Efficiency and Resource Recovery - Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are increasingly being designed to be energy-efficient or energy-positive. Technologies like anaerobic digestion and combined heat and power (CHP) systems allow plants to generate energy from biosolids. The push for sustainability is also driving innovation in the use of biosolids for biogas production and energy recovery. Many utilities are adopting technologies to convert organic waste into renewable energy.
3. Digitalization and Smart Infrastructure - The adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, real-time monitoring, and automation is helping utilities optimize operations, improve efficiency, and reduce operational costs. These systems offer predictive maintenance, better process control, and advanced data analytics. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning models are being utilized in generative design and sewer system monitoring/condition assessment work.
4. Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience - With increasing incidents of extreme weather due to climate change, utilities are focused on building resilience into their systems, particularly by improving stormwater management and flood protection. Utilities are exploring green infrastructure solutions, such as bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable pavements. Coastal utilities, especially in places like Florida, are facing challenges from sea-level rise, which can cause saltwater intrusion and overload wastewater treatment systems during storm surges.
5. Funding and Financial Pressures - Many utilities are facing aging infrastructure and a significant funding gap for upgrades and expansions. Programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) provide potential sources of funding, but utilities must prioritize their investments strategically. Also, utilities must balance the need for modernization and stricter regulations with the affordability of water and wastewater services, particularly for disadvantaged communities.
These trends highlight the intersection of regulatory, environmental, and technological challenges that are shaping the future of wastewater management in the U.S. Utilities are adapting by adopting innovative technologies, pursuing energy efficiency, and developing resilient systems to meet evolving demands.
- Aziz Ahmed
Chief Engineer | Richmond, VA
Performance Metrics - Year to Date Through September 2024
New Hires - Q2 & Q3
Please welcome:
• Chandra Mysore VP & National OneWater Lead Atlanta, GA
• John O’Day Field Crew Assistant II Charlotte, NC
• Toby Humphries Asset Management Consultant Greenville, SC
• James Sanders Principal Engineer VI Winter Springs, FL
• Kelsey Scales Assistant Project Manager Tampa, FL
• Owen Burgess Engineer I Columbus, OH
• Hunter Kaminski Engineer I Coral Springs, FL
• Joan Giner Engineer I Tampa, FL
• Christopher Young Engineering Designer III Coral Springs, FL
• Cindy Glaser Inspector II Greenville, SC
• Derick Whetsell Field Crew Assistant I Charlotte, NC
• Paul Batman Sr. Project Manager I, Project Team Leader Wilmington, VA
• Carl Erickson Principal Engineer VI WFH
• Doroteo Garcia Engineer III Blacksburg, VA
• Rishabh Rawal Project Engineer III Coral Springs, FL
• Shima Ghoochani Engineer I Tampa, FL
• Chloe Shaw Scientist I Blacksburg, VA
• Md Mahbubul (Mahbub) Alam Engineer I Richmond, VA
ACROSS:
1. THE PROCESS BY WHICH WATER VAPOR TURNS INTO LIQUID WATER (12 LETTERS)
2. A LARGE BODY OF SALTWATER (5 LETTERS)
3. THE CYCLE THAT DESCRIBES THE MOVEMENT OF WATER ON, ABOVE, AND BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH (9 LETTERS)
4. THE SOLID STATE OF WATER (3 LETTERS)
5. A NATURAL UNDERGROUND RESERVOIR OF WATER (7 LETTERS)
DOWN:
1. THE PROCESS BY WHICH PLANTS RELEASE WATER VAPOR INTO THE AIR (13 LETTERS)
2. THE GAS STATE OF WATER (5 LETTERS)
3. THE PROCESS BY WHICH WATER CHANGES FROM LIQUID TO GAS (11 LETTERS)
Summer Highlights
My wife Dana and I made a trip to Asheville back in August. Catawba Falls, brewery tours, catching up with former colleagues and the blue ridge in the background! So amazing/sad how the countryside changed since our visit.
- Craig Murray
Family Fun Weekend in St. Augustine, FL
- Kelcia Mazana
Girl’s Weekend hiking in Hocking Hills State Park, OH. This pic was taken at the beginning of a 13.1 mile hike.
- Jill Hayth
The Ceriana Family went up to 12,602feet (above sea level) to Aiguille du Midi (Chamonix-Mont Blanc).
- Stefano Ceriana
Cliffs of Moher in Ireland!!!
- Leann Wishah
At St. Sava Temple, center of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in Belgrade, Serbia in June!
- Tim George
Me and my grandson, I enjoy spending time with the family at Fripp Island South Carolina! - Toby Humphries
