By Wendy Wert, LABS President

On January 21, 2012, the Los Angeles Basin Section (LABS) of California Water Environment Association (CWEA) hosted the 2011 annual LABS awards from the Queen Elizabeth room aboard the Queen Mary.  The event was a celebration of the contributions to the field of Environmental Engineering from the Past, Present, and Future.

The celebration began with an energized 1920’s themed social gathering of CWEA leaders, members, and award winners.  LABS Outreach Coordinator Erika DeHollan provided a photo montage highlighting sponsors whose dedicated support during this economic recovery cycle has allowed LABS to provide training that enhances the education and effectiveness of California’s wastewater professionals.

In keeping with the historical theme, CWEA LABS Directors Basil Hewitt and Wendy Wert welcomed attendees with an interactive narrative on historical contributions from the era before sanitation through the 1920’s.  Not only water professionals believe the advent of basic wastewater collection and treatment in the twentieth century resulted in direct benefits to public health in the United States and other developed countries.  For example, in 2007, thousands of readers of the prestigious British Medical Journal picked sanitation as “the most important medical advance since 1840.”  A reoccurring theme was that the most significant advances are always the result of collaborations involving engineers from multiple disciplines, scientists from multiple fields, academics from multiple global regions, and practitioners from multiple areas of expertise.

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Please join us for a roaring 1920s themed awards banquet aboard the Queen Mary on Saturday Jan 21st, where we will honor our industry’s best and have a lot of fun too!

When:
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Drinks: 6 p.m.
Dinner: 7 p.m.

Where:
Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth Dining Room
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach

Pay at the door cash/check: $50 CWEA members or $60 non-members
Parking $12

RSVP by Jan 13

See flyer for more information

(ALEXANDRIA, Va.) — The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) recognized the City of Los Angeles with its Award for Excellence in Innovation on Tuesday afternoon for the Bureau of Sanitation’s Terminal Island Renewable Energy (TIRE) project. TIRE has offered numerous environmental solutions and a successful diversified biosolids management program while potentially saving millions of dollars annually since the facility began operating in 2008.

This new WERF award recognizes organizations that have made improvements to wastewater and stormwater collection, storage or treatment operations, facilities, or processes by applying WERF research. The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works is one of two organizations to receive the award in its inaugural year.

The TIRE project is the nation’s first full-scale demonstration project of an innovative technology to convert biosolids into clean energy by deep-well placement and geothermal biodegradation. “The Bureau of Sanitation is honored to have been selected by the Water Environment Research Foundation for this award. The Terminal Island Renewable Energy project improves air quality and reduces greenhouse gases by using wastewater treatment byproducts as a renewable resource in an innovative and environmentally safe manner,” said Bureau of Sanitation Director Enrique C. Zaldivar.

Placing biosolids in deep subsurface formations using state-of-the art technology further protects groundwater as opposed to land application. TIRE also reduces truck traffic and associated exhaust emissions, pollutants, odors, and dust by 520,000 miles per year. There is a reduction in land application of biosolids in an exposed environment of 54,750 tons per year. Also, there is elimination from the atmosphere of 84 tons of NOX and 13 tons of carbon monoxide (CO) per year. Currently, WERF is working with the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation and others to identify other parts of the country where this work can be replicated.

A team of WERF volunteers, who themselves are some of the most recognized individuals in the water quality industry, selected the award recipients from a field of many well-qualified organizations. “We encourage those applicants who did not receive this year’s award to re-apply next year, emphasizing the progress they have made in their implementation efforts,” states Selection Committee Chair and WERF Board Member Joseph Zuback of Global Water Advisors, Inc.

Additional information on this award can be found at www.werf.org or www.lacity.org.

2011 LABS AWARDS NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN!

● All nominations must be received or postmarked by November 16, 2011 ●

Each year LABS, CWEA and WEF present awards to deserving professionals in the water pollution control field. These prestigious awards acknowledge personal achievement and dedication to the profession. Now is the time for you to nominate those deserving individuals with whom you work or associate.

There are so many deserving wastewater professionals – who will you nominate?

1) Download LABS / Hala Titus cover letter. Award submissions must be mailed to:

Black & Veatch Corporation
Attn: Hala Titus
800 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 600

Los Angeles, California 90017

2) Visit www.cwea.org/mlr_member_awards_forms to choose and download your award submission forms.

NOMINEES MAY SELF NOMINATE.
NOMINEES MUST BE MEMBERS OF LABS TO WIN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
For more information contact: Hala Titus.

 

CWEA is proud to announce that Justin Choe of Rancho Palos Verdes High School is the state winner of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.  He received $250 and a trip with his teacher to attend the National Competition in Chicago in June.  His winning paper “The efficacy of harnessing and induced magnetic field for the purpose of recycling and reusing Ag-Fe nanoparticles in the wastewater treatment process,” will run in the August Wastewater Professional.

Bill Garrett retires today from the Industrial Waste section of the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. In honor of Bill’s achievements in the wastewater industry the Board of Directors for both LABS and CWEA’s P3S Committee unanimously approved the following resolution…

PRETREATMENT, POLLUTION PREVENTION  & STORMWATER (P3S) COMMITTEE
and LOS ANGELES BASIN SECTION

Resolution No. 3 • July 7, 2011

Commending William C. Garrett III

WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett has committed his professional life to protecting the water environment, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett has been an active member of the California Water Environment Association and the Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Storm Water Committee (formerly the Industrial & Hazardous Waste Committee) for 31 years, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett has been a member of the Water Environment Federation throughout his career, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett has served as Local Arrangements Chair, Session Chair, Moderator, Speaker, and all-around “go to guy” at numerous P3S and CWEA annual conferences and Chair of the 1990 Industrial & Hazardous Waste Conference, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett was inducted into the Order of the Silver Cover in 1991 for long-term, dedicated, high effort-level service to the Industrial & Hazardous Waste Committee, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett was recognized in 1990 by the Los Angeles Basin Section as Industrial & Hazardous Waste Control Person of the Year, and was inducted into the elite Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S) in 1994, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett has been a longtime active and committee member of the Los Angeles Basin Section (LABS) of CWEA, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett has mentored past, current, and future leaders working in both the wastewater industry and the California Water Environment Association, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett “wrote the book” on source control inspection guidelines and techniques, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett was a leader and dedicated contributor to the CWEA Technical Certification Program since its inception, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett has actively supported involvement of his staff in California Water Environment Association activities as Supervising Industrial Waste Inspector at the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:  That the California Water Environment Association commends William C. Garrett III, for his years of dedicated service to the wastewater industry on this occasion of his retirement from the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:  The California Water Environment Association wishes Mr. Garrett every success in his future endeavors.

UNANIMOUSLY PASSED AND ADOPTED this 29th day of June 2011.

John Boyd
Chair, P3S Committee

Wendy Wert
President, LABS of CWEA

Link to photos

LOS ANGELES, CA— What do Heal the Bay Founder Dorothy Green, Southern California Public Radio, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Carpet Manufacturer Bentley Prince Street, Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz and Temple City Councilman Carl Blum all have in common? The answer: they’ve all worked to end Southern California’s dependence on imported sources of water.

On July 14, to celebrate its 15th Anniversary, the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council will present awards to those who have worked to ensure a sustainable future for the Los Angeles region, home to almost one-third of all Californians. The Watershed Council will also make a major announcement at the event, marking a positive strategic move forward for the organization. Policy makers, environmentalist and citizens concerned with sustainability won’t want to miss this fun event that will feature great food, special guests, music, unique auction items and actors portraying pioneers of California’s water past. LA City Councilman Ed Reyes has confirmed his attendance and several other local elected officials are tentatively scheduled to attend.

About the Honorees:

Southern California Public Radio/89.3 KPCC is being honored for its consistent and comprehensive coverage of local environmental issues by journalists such as Molly Peterson,  Patt Morrison, Ilsa Setziol, and Larry Mantle. In addition to consistent high quality reporting on stormwater management and other water issues, the station’s commitment to becoming the “greenest radio station in the nation” has taken an important first step in the building of its new LEED certified studio and office headquarters in Pasadena.

Zev Yaroslavsky is in his fourth term on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Since first being elected in 1994, Zev has been a leader in environmental issues. His major priorities and accomplishments include leading efforts to conserve public lands and save open space especially in the Santa Monica Mountains, ban the use of plastic bags in grocery stores, and implementing the County’s Low Impact Development ordinance to capture stormwater. The Supervisor championed the Sun Valley Watershed Project, which has been a boon to local environmental efforts while also helping residents solve very serious flooding issues. Zev authored Proposition A, which provided funding to preserve open space lands and triggered the development of urban parks throughout Los Angeles County and coauthored the North Area Plan in 2000, which reined in development in the Santa Monica Mountains. Thanks to his efforts, he was able to save significant mountain ridgelines and notable parcels of land, such as Ahmanson Ranch, King Gillette Ranch and others.

Bentley Prince Street is committed to sustainable commerce and innovations to integrate style and function with environmental practices through its Mission Zero goal of eliminating any negative impact it has on the environment by the year 2020. For 30 years the company has manufactured and marketed award-winning broadloom and carpet tile products for commercial interiors across the globe. With the industry’s most comprehensive vertical carpet manufacturing facility, the company maintains third-party certification to the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System and the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System. Statistics back up the company’s commitment to sustainability – over the past 15 years water use per unit has been reduced by 52 percent, waste sent to landfills has been reduced by 97 percent, absolute greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 48 percent, and energy use per unit has been reduced by 40%. Today, renewable sources provide 100 percent of electrical energy requirements.

Mary Ann Lutz was elected as Mayor of the City of Monrovia in 2009 and re-elected in 2011 having served on the City Council since 2003. Prior to elected office, Mary Ann led a successful campaign to have the City of Monrovia purchase and create a wilderness preserve in the foothills.  In her current role, Mary Ann has been a champion of water independence and was appointed the Vice Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2003. She is the Founding Chair and current Vice Chair of the Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resources Committee for the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, Chair of the Water Resources Working Group for SGVCOG, and a member of the Los Angeles County Integrated Waste Management Task Force.  

Carl Blum was an early board member of the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council, and served as Vice- President from 2000-2002. Over his 36-year career working for the Los Angeles County Flood Control District and Department of Public Works, Carl led a shift in thinking toward a broader watershed management perspective including the creation in 2000 of the Watershed Management Division at the Department of Public Works. Notable accomplishments include the development of the Los Angeles River Master Plan and the formation of a steering committee for the development of a master plan on the San Gabriel River. Carl was influential in the formation of the Mountains and Rivers Conservancy, a state agency, and the formation of the Sun Valley Watershed Project. Since retiring from the District, Carl has remained active in leadership positions with the American Society of Civil Engineers. In 2010, Carl was appointed to the Temple City Council and was elected for a four year term in 2011.

About the Watershed Council

The Watershed Council supports a healthy watershed for the region by serving as a robust center for the generation of objective research and analysis.  The Council has established a platform for meaningful collaboration between governmental organizations, academic institutions, businesses and other nonprofit organizations with a vested interest in preserving the watershed.

Founded in 1996 by leading environmental activist Dorothy Green and others, the Watershed Council produces continuing research programs that examine water usage and quality as well as create and enhance preservation and conservation tactics. The trustworthy expertise and analysis that comes from the Watershed Council’s ongoing programs connects a diverse set of groups with overlapping missions in an effort to drive polices that will continually improve watershed quality.

Tickets are only $50 and can be purchased by visiting the Watershed Council’s website at www.lasgrwc.org

Tickets are tax-deducible to the amount allowed under the law.

The California Water Environment Association (CWEA) announced the winners of its 2010 awards program at its Annual Conference in Ontario on April 15. Congratulations to these agencies and individuals leading the way in the water environment field!

Established in 1929, CWEA’s awards program has grown to acknowledge outstanding achievement in more than 20 categories honoring exceptional California water environment professionals, collection systems, and treatment plants. Categories include Plant of the Year, Collection System of the Year, Public Education Program of the Year as well as awards of individual professionals in various vocations. The program seeks to recognize outstanding achievements within the water environment field, improve the professional status of all personnel working in the field, and stimulate public awareness of the importance of wastewater treatment to public health and the water environment.

Nominations that advance through CWEA’s 17 local sections’ awards programs are eligible to compete statewide. Congratulations to the more than 150 nominees in the 2010 awards program for their diligent work to keep California’s water clean and workforce strong. Application materials for the 2011 awards cycle will be posted on www.cwea.org/awards in July.

CWEA officers are available to make a presentation to CWEA award recipients at agency board or City Council meetings. Please contact Lola Dvorak, Communication and Membership Manager, at ldvorak@cwea.org or (510) 382-7800 x 114.

CWEA 2010 Awards Winners

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The Clean Water America Alliance is proud to announce the 2011 U.S. Water Prize winners. Each winner has been recognized for their watershed-based models and programs that advance our country toward greater water sustainability.  “These five water champions reflect the diversity of America and set a shining example for innovating, integrating, and collaborating from coast to coast to sustain America’s most precious liquid asset,” explained Alliance President Ben Grumbles. U.S. Water Prize winners by alphabetical order are:

• The City of Los Angeles
• Milwaukee Water Council
• National Great Rivers Research & Education Center
• New York City Department of Environmental Protection
• Pacific Institute.

The City of Los Angeles, particularly the Bureau of Sanitation, and New York City Department of Environmental Protection are planning, integrating, and incorporating innovative green infrastructure approaches and increasing resource recovery through water reuse and other cutting edge technologies. Both cities are maximizing their resources through community partnerships and involvement.

“These five water champions reflect the diversity of America and set a shining example for innovating, integrating, and collaborating from coast to coast to sustain America’s most precious liquid asset,” explained Alliance President Ben Grumbles.

The Milwaukee Water Council (Wis.) is establishing public-private collaborations that advance water technology and promote economic development.  As a result, the Milwaukee area is becoming known as a “World Water Hub.”  A state-of-the-art facility, the National Great Rivers Research & Education Center (Alton, Ill.) is mobilizing volunteer communities around the confluence of two rivers and creating a national and international center for science, education and public outreach.  The Pacific Institute is consistently in the vanguard of water issues from water use efficiency to climate change, informing political debate and elevating public awareness.

U.S. Water Prize winners will be honored in a special ceremony on May 9, 2011, at 5:30 p.m., in the Hotel Monaco of Washington, D.C.  National water and environmental leaders will attend the celebration. Each recipient will receive a handcrafted ceramic art work commissioned from internationally acclaimed potter Miranda Thomas.

The Clean Water America Alliance created and administers the U.S. Water Prize to recognize achievement and inspire action for water sustainability.  Black & Veatch, CDM, CH2M Hill, Pirnie/ARCADIS, Veolia, and Brown and Caldwell are proud sponsors of the inaugural 2011 award.  For more information, visit www.CWAA.us.

Formed in 2008, the Clean Water America Alliance is a nonprofit 501c3 educational organization whose goal is to unite people and policies for water sustainability.  A broad cross-section of interests is coming together through the Alliance to advance holistic, watershed-based approaches to water quality and quantity challenges.

Photos by Kent McIntosh, LACSD.

Click here to view more photos of our wonderful members and guests!

On January 8, 2011, the Los Angeles Basin Section (LABS) of California Water Environment Association (CWEA) hosted the 2011 annual LABS awards from the Royal Salon of the Queen Mary. The celebration began with an energized social gathering of CWEA leaders, members, and award winners.

LABS 2009 President, Hala Titus welcomed attendees to the ceremony. Speaker Titus thanked the organizations present for their continuing commitment to CWEA and commended them for their support of training opportunities for their staff.

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Eight cities from across the country will receive the National League of Cities’ (NLC) 2010 Awards for Municipal Excellence for creating outstanding programs which improve the quality of life in America’s communities.  These awards recognize city programs that demonstrate community determination and individual commitment at the local level.

Partnering with GeoEnvironment Technologies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Los Angeles created the Terminal Island Renewable Energy project (TIRE). TIRE is the nation’s first project aimed at producing green energy from a renewable biosolids –organic materials remaining after treatment of domestic sewage at a wastewater treatment facility.  Not only is the project innovative in the way it utilizes wastewater treatment byproducts as a renewable resource, but it also improves air quality, protects water quality and reduces greenhouse gases.

See full text article

The 2011 LABS Awards Banquet – the Best of the Best in Operations, Maintenance, Safety, Research, Engineering, Collection Systems, P3S, Public Outreach and more!

When:
Saturday, January 8th
6:00pm

Where:
Queen Mary, Board Room
710  fwy south, exit 1A to Piers F-J/Queen Mary. Hotel/restaurant parking. Elevators to 4th floor, shore side, aft.
Caution: freeway construction in the area, please follow Queen Mary signs carefully!

Your hosts:
Pat McDaniel, LABS President, BioCope
Hala Titus LABS Past-President, Black & Veatch

Menu:
1. Grilled Chicken
2. Prime Rib
3. Vegetable En Croute
Cash bar
Dessert and coffee
With meal choice by 12/30:
wwert@lacsd.org
Email preferred, or call Wendy Wert at (562) 908.4288 ext. 2128

Cost:
Please pay at the door cash or check, sorry no credit cards:
$50 ea. CWEA Members
$60 ea. Non-members
$12 parking

See flyer for more information

Thanks to Coombs-Hopkins for kindly sponsoring this years Awards Banquet. Learn more at www.coombshopkins.com

Deadline for 2010 nominations has passed.

Each year LABS, CWEA and WEF present awards to deserving professionals in the water pollution control field. These prestigious awards acknowledge personal achievement and dedication to the profession. Now is the time for you to nominate those deserving individuals with whom you work or associate.

1) Download LABS / Hala Titus cover letter. Award submissions must be mailed to:

Black & Veatch Corporation
800 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 600
Los Angeles, California 90017
Attn: Hala Titus

2) Visit www.cwea.org/awards to download the submission form

●All nominations must be received or postmarked by November 12, 2010 ●

NOMINEES MUST BE MEMBERS OF LABS TO WIN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
For more information contact: Hala Titus.

1st Place – Gimmicks & Gadgets – The Nocardia Foam Catcher
Larry Lemire, Charles Harris, Marcos Alvarez & Phil Ackman, LACSD

1st Place, Ops Challenge
LA Wrecking Crew

Public Education Person of the Year
Michael Simpson, City of Los Angeles

Research Achievement
County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, Combining UV & Chlorination for Disinfection of Wastewater Effluents & Recycled Water

Safety, Large Plant
County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

Sludge Trudge
Wendy Wert, LACSD, 1st Place Individual Category

Read the full story on the CWEA E-Bulletin blog >

(click next to browse through award winners)

By Wendy Wert
LABS Director

On January 23, 2010, the Los Angeles Basin Section (LABS) of California Water Environment Association (CWEA) hosted the 2009 annual LABS awards from the Royal Salon of the Queen Mary. The celebration began with an energized social gathering of CWEA leaders, members, and award winners.

The featured speaker, CWEA Past President Dave Greenwood highlighted specific steps CWEA has taken in 2009 and those planned for 2010 to reach the organizational training objectives in light of current economic conditions. Greenwood reported that CWEA has remained strong during this economic cycle. Although conference attendance was slightly lower than expected, the organization remains energized and plans to roll out stellar training opportunities in 2010. He urged the organizations present to continue to partner with CWEA to support training opportunities for their staff and emphasized the value of workforce engagement.

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HOLD THE DATE!
Saturday evening awards banquet at the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

RSVP with Hala Titus (titush@bv.com) by January 16th, 2010

Click here for more information!

District honored with AMWA’s Platinum Award for Utility Excellence

“This award is a testament to the commitment and dedication of our Board of Directors and member public agencies in providing the leadership to help Metropolitan deal head-on with the ever-changing issues utilities confront today,” said MWD General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger.

“It also demonstrates the value of our excellent workforce in providing a safe and reliable water supply to 19 million Southern Californians despite a changing climate, struggling water supply and ecosystems and a growing population,” Kightlinger said.

Read more here.