FWEA Committee Corner: WR3

Welcome to the FWEA Committee Corner! The Member Relations Committee of the Florida Water Environment Association hosts this article to celebrate the success of recent association chapter activities and inform members of upcoming events. To have information included from your chapter send details to Megan Nelson at megan.nelson@ocfl.net.

Megan Nelson

WR3 Committee Spotlight: “One Water” Seminar

Nita Maik

The Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) Water Resources, Reuse, and Resiliency (WR3) Committee grew out of the “One Water” concept when the FWEA Water Reuse Committee and Integrated Water Resources Committee merged. The current committee is dedicated to providing technical education and professional development programs for association members through seminars, workshops,

and access to technical experts in the field of water reuse, integrated water resources, water supply, water conservation, and resiliency. The committee meets regularly by teleconference to discuss technical and regulatory issues and events happening in the community.

Committee Membership

The members of the committee are: Chair: Nita Naik, Arcadis Vice Chair: Kevin Carter, Broward County Past Chair/Director at Large: Lynn Spivey, City of Plant City Seminar Subcommittee Chair: Ryan Messer, HDR Secretary: Lillie Thomas, Geosyntec, and

Samantha Nehme, Kimley-Horn and

Associates Treasurer: Mike Knowles, Arcadis, and Samantha Nehme Communications: Elizabeth Thomas Awards: Shanin Speas-Frost, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Committee Seminar

On Jan. 9, 2020, the committee conducted its annual seminar in Tampa at the fabulous Tampa Bay History Center. The “One Water” seminar aimed to educate the audience on current technical and regulatory issues associated with potable and nonpotable reuse and spread awareness on regional resiliency planning.

The seminar opened with highlights on several Florida projects: S Ocala Wetland Park for Stormwater and

Reclaimed Water Recharge by Rachel

Slocumb and Scott Hersey S JEA’s Purified Water Project updates by

Tom Bartol S Hillsborough County’s Potable Reuse

Advancements by Luke Mulford

These projects represented the recent advancements made across Florida and a glimpse into the near future for potable reuse and integrated stormwater.

Next, there was a terrific roundup of speakers for the regional resiliency panel: S CJ Reynolds, Tampa Bay Regional

Planning Council S Kelli Levy, Pinellas County S Bart Weis, Hillsborough County

They provided updates on the Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Coalition. Kevin Carter, with Broward County, discussed the various feats that the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact and the Resilient Utility Coalition have achieved throughout the past few years. This panel truly represented what the WR3 intends to achieve: a focus on all of the three Rs.

The committee also invited Melissa Meeker with Gwinnett County in Georgia

to discuss the seminar’s out-of-state project, which highlighted the county’s water tower. The tower is an innovation hub for applied research, technology innovation, workforce training, and community engagement. It takes an integrated approach to these programming areas, with the intent of fostering a culture of innovation among water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities throughout the Southeast. This is truly a “One Water” model for us to collaborate with in the future.

And lastly, but by no means least, there was an open discussion with Potable Reuse Commission (PRC) representatives on the power of public outreach, including: S Lynn Spivey, with City of Plant City, provided updates as the chair of the PRC. S Laura Donaldson, with Manson Bolves S

Donaldson Varn PA, provided regulatory updates. Garrett Wallace, with The Nature Conservancy, highlighted how to foster relationships with various stakeholders.

The panel was rounded out with input from Melissa Meeker and wonderful insights from Kevin Carter as the moderator.

Such information is valuable to utilities, consultants, and the regulatory community as the need for a sustainable freshwater supply is an important water management strategy in Florida.

Nita Naik, P.E., ENV SP, is a project engineer with Arcadis in Tampa.