The NIOA Newsletter - April 2023 Edition

We need your help - we are looking for locations to fill out our year and want to make sure the topics we train on are relevant. If your facility is willing to host 25-35 wastewater professionals for a couple hours, please contact one of us here. We are not just interested in municipal wastewater plants - industrial facilities, fish hatcheries, composting facilities - we are interested in learning!

There will not be any training offered in April. We are working on plans for May. Stay tuned!

IWEA Training Opportunities

• Wastewater Challenge - May 16 @ 8:00 am-5:00 pm. The Wastewater Challenge is a day of hands-on events designed to test and stretch your how-to knowledge of wastewater. It takes a team to rise to the challenges created by the Laboratory, Operations & Maintenance, Residuals & Resource Recovery, Collection Systems, Pretreatment, and Safety committees. Competitive Teams rely on their wits, experience, and diverse members for the high score that will take them to WEFTEC to represent Indiana. See what it’s all about! Don't have a team? That's ok! We can help place you on a team. You can complete your registration here. 

• Essential. Impactful. Water Professional - The 2023 Annual Conference will be held on August 23rd - 25th at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. IWEA strives to be the premier water association by providing relevant educational and networking opportunities to each of our members. This year’s Annual Conference theme dives into the importance of our industry’s heroes, YOU! Our water professionals are dedicated to providing high-quality clean water that saves lives every day. Where would we be without clean drinking water? What would you do without clean water for your shower? Help IWEA raise awareness of our industry’s impact on the environment and health by providing the essential education that is necessary to continue improving our water quality and industry. Submit your abstract by April 13th.

• Leadership Development Institue - IWEA is proud to open registration to our third class of Leadership Development Institute students. Get from where you are to where you want to be in your leadership skills. Leadership Development Institute curriculum is specifically designed for water and wastewater professionals looking to take their careers to the next level. Students will get the opportunity to attend the first day of our annual conference on August 23rd for free. Learn more about the curriculum and apply today! Application deadline is April 15, sessions begin in September. 

• IWEA Operations & Maintenance Award of Excellence - The nomination must be submitted by an IWEA member. The award will be presented to a municipal public, semi-public, or private Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) with zero violations of its NPDES Permit during the previous calendar year. The award is divided into 4 categories based on WRRF Class size (1, 2, 3, 4). Materials to be submitted: 1) Description stating/certifying the WRRF had zero violations of its NPDES Permit for the calendar year of 2022; 2) Copies of MROs for the entire calendar year; 3) Copy of NPDES Permit; 4) The deadline to submit is March 31st. This Award is intended to recognize those WRRFs which exhibit excellence in operations and maintenance by incurring zero violations of its NPDES Permit, reflecting exemplary performance by its operations and maintenance staff. By basing the award on each WRRF’s individual NPDES Permit and Class category, it provides a more even playing field for receiving the award. Violations will not necessarily eliminate a nominee. The committee would be interested in cause and the procedures taken to remedy the violation. Nominations will be accepted no later than March 31st - you can complete the nomination application here.