Iowa Water
Environment
Association
Past, Present, and Future
of IAWEA
March, 2013
A Little History of IAWEA…
• One of the first state associations.
• The first Operators’ training in the nation –
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November 2-3, 1915.
A second Operators’ short course –
December 9-10, 1920.
Annual training conferences every year since
except during World War II due to travel
restrictions.
Official Founding Dates of State
and National Associations:
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New Jersey – 1916
Missouri – 1925
Ohio – 1926
California – 1927
Iowa – 1927
Arizona – 1928
Texas – 1928
Federation of Sewage
Works Associations
(WEF) – 1928
Charter Members of the
Federation of Sewage Works
Associations (WEF)
• Arizona
• California
• Central States
• Iowa
• Maryland
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
Iowa Water
Environment
Association
Present Endeavors
Training
• First specialized operator training in 1915.
• IAWEA Annual Conference
• AWWA/IAWEA Operator Short Courses
• Regional meetings – six regions in the
state hold annual or biannual training in
each region.
• Biosolids Conference
• Collection System Conference
• Maintenance Conference
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
• IAWEA has sponsored awards at Iowa
high school science fairs since 1991.
• 1991 – High School - $50;
Junior High - $25
• 2013 – High School - $500;
Junior High - $100
• Sponsorship to national SJWP competition
since 2004.
Iowa Children’s Water Festival
• 2,000 5th graders attend a free one-day event
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designed to educate them on Iowa’s water
resources.
Topics include aquifers, surface waters, point
source and non-point source pollution,
watersheds, wetlands, etc.
Exposure to careers and volunteer opportunities
through adult role models.
IAWEA provides financial support and volunteer
workers and makes presentations.
Iowa Children’s Water Festival
• IAWEA/AWWA-Iowa Section Water for People
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committees educate students about the need for
clean drinking water and sanitation in
developing countries.
IAWEA’s presentation of “Cleanwater Heroes”
where students are assigned roles as
constituents in the flow to a wastewater
treatment plant.
Constituents (students) are removed from the
flow as they enter the appropriate treatment
structure.
Iowa Children’s Water Festival
Iowa Children’s Water Festival
Iowa Children’s Water Festival
Operator Certification
• Voluntary certification – 1952
• Mandatory certification – 1965
• Joint Operator Certification Committee – 1991 –
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AWWA – Iowa Section, IAWEA, Iowa Rural
Water Assoc., Iowa Assoc. of Municipal Utilities,
Iowa State University, Kirkwood Community
College – Advisory committee to state regulatory
agency.
Voluntary Collection System Certification by
IAWEA since 1995.
Laboratory Certification
• Ad Hoc Wastewater Laboratory
Certification Committee – 1983
• Voluntary Wastewater Laboratory
Certification by IAWEA – 1987
• Mandatory IDNR Wastewater Laboratory
Certification – 1997 – modeled after
IAWEA voluntary program.
• Laboratory Practices Committee
Spouses’ Auxiliary
• Official association founded in 1957.
• First such auxiliary in WEF.
• Annual program and election of officers
coinciding with IAWEA annual conference.
Iowa Science Teachers’ Conference
• Educate the educators about IAWEA.
• Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition.
• Distribute copies of the WEF Water
Sourcebook.
• This curriculum has been placed in over
100 education agencies in the state.
• Discuss career opportunities in the water
quality field.
IAWEA Biosolids Conference
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Ad Hoc Biosolids Committee - 1991
First annual Biosolids Conference - 1992
EPA 503 regulations effective 2/19/93.
Iowa Chapter 67 regulations effective 9/21/94
based on vital input from IAWEA members.
Biosolids educational video - 1996
Land Application Field Guide – 2000, 2011
IAWEA Collection System
Conference
• Voluntary Certification through IAWEA and
ABC since 1995.
• Annual Collection System Conference –
1997
• Training and Exam Opportunities – 2 x
year – Collection System Conference and
as a separate track at IAWEA Annual
Conference.
IAWEA Reporter
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Quarterly newsletter
Message from the President
Committee Reports
Plant Upgrades
Member News
Regional News
Membership Information
IDNR News
Water for People
Safety Corner
Certification Practice Questions
Government Affairs Committee
• Technical Advisory Committee to state
regulators.
• Keep the general membership informed of
pending regulations.
• Draft position papers on regulatory issues.
• Funded research that was instrumental in
drafting Chloride/Sulfate/TSS rule for
IDNR – now serving as national model
Awards
In addition to WEF Awards such as Bedell, Hatfield, and
Burke, IAWEA presents the following awards to a select
few of its members:
• Harris F. Seidel Education Award - This award was
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established in honor of Mr. Seidel, a 60-year member
and former President of WEF. The award is presented to
recognize individuals who have given exemplary service
in the broad area of water pollution control and the
environmental sciences through education, training and
motivation.
Operator Advancement Awards – Operators and their
employers are recognized for excellence in treatment
and overall community awareness, motivation and
successful achievement in water pollution control and
the environment – awarded annually since 1958.
Awards, cont.
• Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award - The award is
presented to recognize individuals for outstanding
performance, professionalism and contributions to the
water quality analysis profession. This honor also
acknowledges exceptional efforts in wastewater and
environmental aquatic analyses and service that have
been beneficial to the nominee’s facility.
• Golden Manhole Award – recognition for collection
system operators who have provided meritorious service
above and beyond the call of duty.
• “Wrencher” Award – presented to individuals who have
gone "beyond exceptional duties" in the maintenance of
water pollution control plant equipment.
Water for People
• A golf tournament, motorcycle fun ride,
and strong-arm tactics (pass the hat) at
the annual conference results in
thousands of dollars raised for Water for
People.
• Each year IAWEA members travel to work
on water (drinking and sanitation) projects
for the community of Xicotepec, Mexico.
Young Professionals
• Iowa State University Water Quality Club – a
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student organization at ISU interested in the
engineering and science of meeting our water
needs while protecting the environment.
Supported by IAWEA through the sponsorship of
WEF student memberships and a yearly stipend.
Additional financial support from IAWEA for
engineering students to present a project at the
WEFTEC Design Competition.
IAWEA Young Professionals Club – January,
2008.
Operator Recruitment
• Ad Hoc committee comprised of AWWA – Iowa Section,
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IAWEA, Iowa Rural Water Assoc., Iowa Assoc. of
Municipal Utilities, Des Moines Area Community College
designed curriculum for training water and wastewater
operators. Now offered as either a certificate program
or AA degree.
Will be offered by every community college in Iowa.
Annual fundraiser held to finance scholarships for
students enrolled in the program.
Proclamation by Iowa’s Governor declaring last week of
July as Water and Wastewater Workers of Iowa Week.
What Challenges Lie Ahead for
IAWEA?
• Membership Retention and Recruitment
• Regulatory Changes
• Succession Planning - Employers and
IAWEA
• Develop a Professional Image of Our
Occupation
• Encourage Involvement in IAWEA by
Front-line Employees
Iowa Water
Environment
Association
Questions?
March, 2013