October 2007

Under the new governance model for BCWWA the Board provides policy governance for the organization, based in part on advice from the Leadership Council. The CEO and staff manage the operations within the policies determined by the Board. This sounds very complicated, but actually it’s not. In the past our Board was very involved with the day to day operations of BCWWA from planning seminars to hiring staff, and everything in between. Under the new governance process, things are different. The process makes it possible for the Board to set direction, monitor and assess outcomes and ‘govern’ while the day to day, business operations are handled by the CEO.

On Sunday, the 28th of October we held a strategic planning workshop with the Board and a number of representatives from the Leadership Council to review and refine the proposed Ends Policies (the policies that provide the basis for what we are intending to do). After a long and productive day we have an extensive set of ends along with critical success factors and some detailed ways to measure our successes (what we need to know to determine if a goal was achieved). The next step will be budgets, and committees are already working on these.

Sunday’s session was arranged by President Elect Mike Nolan and ably facilitated by consultants from Osprey Strategic Management. A big thanks to the Board and LC members who gave up a Sunday to work on this project.

What we found was that all of this background work helps put us in good shape to move ahead and serve our members with sharing of skills, knowledge and experience in the Water and Wastewater industries.

October 24th, 2007

BCWWA’s Annual Conference is a prime opportunity to learn, to network and to have a good time. Whether you are interested in any, or all, of these things now is the time to start thinking about it because it will come on us more quickly than we expect. It always does.

The 2008 Annual Conference will be held in Whistler April 26th thru the 30th. The Conference’s opening ceremonies will take place on Sunday, the 27th , but golf will be held a day earlier on Saturday, April 26th. Once again we will have Top Ops and Operator Pump Teardown competitions, a Water for People silent auction and plenty of opportunities to meet, greet and learn from colleagues in the water and wastewater industry. Plus we have 4 Technical Transfer sessions scheduled for Wednesday the 30th! There will be a few changes this year – including an additional half day of technical sessions to increase your access to information and CEUs. And, some repeats are in the works – last year’s casino night was so popular that we have decided to do it again this year – only better, so come out to see it.  And the organization’s contribution to Water for People was also well received so we’re going to do it again.

Trade Show registration is underway and accommodations are already being booked. The upcoming Watermark will have a great deal of information about the conference. Look for that the first week of December. In the meantime start making your plans. See you there!

October 17th, 2007

Water and wastewater issues are not limited to our region, our province or our country. Likewise, the concern over the implications of wastewater treatment on greenhouse gas production are not limited to BCWWA members. The Water Environment Federation’s 2007 conference, WEFTEC 07, is taking place this week in San Diego and the issues being discussed are not unique to that area either. On Monday I attended sessions about Energy Recovery in Urban Wastewater Treatment on a Global Scale, Greenhouse Gas Inventories and Wastewater Treatment Plants and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: Policy and Regulatory Implications for Water and Wastewater Management. Clearly these are matters of worldwide concern. In addition to demonstrating that the challenges we face in BC are not limited to BC, it becomes apparent that our membership in and involvement with WEF helps to keep us current about advances being made around the world. As a member association (MA) of WEF, BCWWA participates in a great deal of discussion about recommended next steps in addressing the challenges that we are all facing with regard to wastewater treatment.

In recognition of some of the great work done locally with wastewater issues WEF awarded Pradeep Kharé, of Environment Canada and a Past President of BCWWA, with a WEF Emerson Distinguished Service Medal. We can see that in addition to people in BC learning from WEF we are also able to share our learnings with them. Another of our Past Presidents, Rick Corbett, is a member of the WEF House of Delegates. We also have a WEF representative in Chris Johnston. And staff and volunteers are involved with many WEF activities, which help to keep us current on wastewater issues that could affect our members. With so much to do, none of us wants to duplicate efforts.

October 10th, 2007

Water use and reuse, reduction and conservation, infrastructure and system maintenance. These are terms that people in the water and wastewater industry have dealt with for a long time. We are pretty familiar with impacts of decisions on our water supplies – positive and negative. But until fairly recently we were speaking only to our colleagues because these issues were not too interesting to people outside the industry. Some things are changing.

As climate change becomes top of mind both for the public in general and the decision-makers in particular groups like BCWWA are called upon to pass along our thoughts, our insights, our recommendations. As a member of BCWWA you are in a position to share your expertise on a variety of topics. Our committee structure (there are 17!) means that your specific area of concern is likely already being addressed. And if it is not – there is always room for another committee.

Programs to reduce water use, like the ones in some Lower Mainland municipalities that provide rebates for reduced water flow toilets and showers, are important. But they are not enough. Further attention needs to be paid to water use in all circumstances. Some of the work that BCWWA is doing recognizes this challenge. Our efforts will help to reduce the demand on our water systems even further – safely, effectively and positively. If you are part of the solutions being pursued, good for you. If you aren’t yet, we’re waiting for you.

October 3rd, 2007

On Saturday, the 29th of September, I was pleased to represent BCWWA at Al Gore’s presentation in Victoria. Mr. Gore is known as the man who did not become the president of the United States. But more importantly he is now renowned as the man who has made environmentalism a recognized, and respected, approach to life on this planet. He was engaging in his film ‘The Inconvenient Truth’, in person his message was truly captivating. Climate change is an issue that faces the world. When Mr. Gore told us that “The planet has a fever. We have a planetary emergency and we have to act.” there was no question as to the urgency of the needed action.

The BC provincial government has committed, as part of its five great goals for a golden decade, to “Lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none.” The government is clearly onside with Mr. Gore’s message. As he spoke to an audience ranging from business people to politicians and students Mr. Gore’s focus was not only on what every individual could and should do, but on what as a group we can do to address the challenges that face us all. BCWWA has historically dealt with the needs of water and wastewater management – with the expectation that this infinite resource could certainly use our attention. Now we are all more aware that the resource is not so infinite and the could has become a definite should, even a must.

BCWWA is looking at issues as diverse as emerging contaminants in our ‘treated’ wastewater and the need to conserve our depleted water stocks. We are very much onside with both the government’s goals and Mr. Gore’s exhortations – making a difference by caring about what we do and sharing what we know so that others can know and do as well.

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