Annual Conference Recap
What an exciting return to in-person events! CASA’s Annual Conference held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront was a resounding success. Together with some of the clean water sector’s best and brightest, we focused on the future and prepared for new challenges, staying true to our conference theme “Building a Resilient Future”. Thank you to all the speakers, moderators and panelists who joined us to share their knowledge and experiences with CASA members.
For those who were unable to attend, check out our website to view the informative presentations and handouts shared by our speakers and panelists.
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CASA 2021 Award of Excellence
Congratulations to the recipients of CASA’s 2021 Awards of Excellence! CASA is proud to recognize the hard work your agencies do to provide an invaluable service to California communities.
Excellence in Innovation and Resiliency
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Small Agency: Las Virgenes – Triunfo Joint Powers Authority
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Large Agency: City of San José - Environmental Services Department
Public Outreach and Education
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Small Agency: Leucadia Wastewater District and Rising Tide Partners
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Large Agency: City of Roseville, Environmental Utilities
Organizational Excellence
- Orange County Sanitation District
Outstanding Capital Project
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Small Agency: Sewerage Agency of Southern Marin
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Large Agency: Oro Loma Sanitary District, Castro Valley Sanitary District and Kennedy-Jenks Consultants
To see the full list of award applicants and a description of their projects check out the Awards Brochure. Interested in submitting your project? Mark your calendar! We will begin accepting applications for the 2022 Awards of Excellence in March: CASA Awards Program.
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CASA Acknowledges 2021 Education Foundation Scholarship Recipients
The CASA Education Foundation was formed to enhance the future of California’s clean water community by attracting new professionals into the clean water sector through scholarships. Students pursuing higher education in engineering, environmental science, public administration, or other related fields, who show an interest in serving the clean water community are eligible to apply. The CASA Education Foundation presented $5,000 scholarships to three worthy students in 2021. Learn more about the scholarship recipients and view their thank you videos below.
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Registration Deadline Upcoming: CASA Mentoring Program
Ready to take that next step in your wastewater career? Not sure where to start? CASA is here to support you! The CASA Mentoring Program is an 11-month comprehensive program, kicking off in October and concluding in August 2022, that serves to connect clean water professionals from across the state of California. CASA will match 12 mentor/mentee pairs based on their professional goals, preferences, and experience. There are limited spots available so act fast!
*Registration Closes THIS FRIDAY, August 27*
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CASA’s Professional Development LISTSERV Officially Launched
Did you receive the new CASA member exclusive benefit in your inbox last week? We have officially launched a specialized LISTSERV to keep members informed of webinars, workshops, trainings, events, and general opportunities for professional development. This LISTSERV will be populated bimonthly with upcoming engagement opportunities in all facets of the clean water sector including biosolids, communications, finance, human resources, regulatory, and more! Do you know a shining star in your agency that might benefit from continued growth and professional development opportunities? Be sure to share this resource with them! To get signed up for the newest CASA LISTSERV, please email Cheryl MacKelvie with your name, preferred email, and affiliated agency or association.
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We Are Moving!
The CASA office is excited to announce that we are moving! We will officially be in our new home on September 1, 2021. Don’t fret, we aren’t going far, just a couple blocks down the street (and closer to the Capitol building!). We hope you can come visit us in the near future at our new location: 925 L Street, Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95814.
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The Newest Disease Detection Tool for COVID and Beyond
Wastewater Based Epidemiology continues to show effectiveness in early detection of disease including the COVID-19 virus in communities. “As vaccination rates increase and we get the variants, it’s still going to be important because clinical testing is decreasing… we really want to make this part of the infrastructure.” CASA’s Director of Renewable Resource Programs, Greg Kester shared in this article.
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PPIC Commentary: To Restore California’s Ecosystems, We Must Adopt Smarter Permitting
California’s ecosystems are vital to the state’s economy and wellbeing, yet they’re in dire health. Large-scale restoration is needed, and implementing smarter permitting can help.
Read more from the Public Policy Institute of California here.
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Women Blaze Path to Top of California’s Water World
SJV Water reports that in California’s water world, women are blazing a path to the top. "Women have been moving into those fields more and more," said Ellen Hanak, director of the PPIC Water Policy Center. "In the 20 years that I’ve been working on California water, you do see a shift over time, with the sector kind of mirroring the evolution of what’s happening in professions as they’re diversified more generally." Read the full article here.
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Webinars, Workshops & Events |
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2021 BRIC and FMA Webinar Series
Join the 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Programs’ Webinar Series—running from July 28 through Oct. 13, 2021. The webinar series will bring FEMA subject-matter experts and partners together to provide technical information, best practices, tools and resources regarding these grant programs. There will also be a review of the fiscal year 2021 Notices of Funding Opportunities for BRIC and FMA. Learn about these programs and how to apply for them: View Dates, Times and How to Participate.
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WELL UnTapped
The Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) recently announced the return of WELL UnTapped Fellowship, a selective program that creates an opportunity for local elected officials to engage with water issues through a comprehensive exploration of history, governance, public policy, geography, and economics and their relationship to human rights and climate change. UnTapped session content includes lectures given by water professionals and skill-based exercises that help participants ask better public policy questions and strengthen public speaking and relational skills.
WELL UnTapped 2022 includes a mix of in-person and virtual sessions. You can click here to access the application and schedule for 2022. The application is due August 27, 2021.
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ACT EXPO
CASA is proud to participate as an endorsing organization partner of the 2021 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, ACT Expo is North America’s largest advanced transportation technology and clean fleet event. Bringing together more than 4,000 stakeholders across the industry for an expansive showcase of the technologies, fuels, policies, and organizations to drive innovation and sustainability on our roadways. The 2021 event will be held August 30 through September 2 at the Long Beach Convention Center. More information is available on the website.
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EPA Webinar on Developing and Maintaining Workforce and Equity Partnerships
The Office of Water at EPA invites you to register for their next Water Workforce Webinar on September 15th from 9:00am – 10:30am PT. This is part of an ongoing series of webinars to provide information across the water sector on ways utilities and others are addressing the challenges of building and maintaining a sustainable water workforce for the future. The September webinar will focus on building partnerships for effective state-wide workforce programs and efforts to attract talented individuals from disadvantaged communities into water utility jobs. To register, please follow this registration link. PDHs will be available for those who attend the webinar.
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Northwest Biosolids Virtual Event: Biofest
This year the focus is on Strengthening your System- one thing that has become clear after a year like no other. The virtual event will be held online the mornings of Sept 15-16 and 20-21. Topics include: Soil health, PFAS- the contaminant that won’t quit, nutrient dynamics, carbon sequestration, and wastewater based epidemiology. Be sure to register today!
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CASA-CWEA Biosolids and Renewable Energy Seminars
We are pleased to announce the return of the ever popular Biosolids and Renewable Energy Seminars, co-hosted by CASA and CWEA. Under the hopeful assumptions that the worst of the pandemic is in our rearview mirror, travel restrictions are not in place and venues are open, these seminars will be held, with thanks to our hosts, on October 13th at the San Francisco Regional Water Board office in Oakland and October 14th at the City of Los Angeles Hyperion Wastewater treatment plant. The agenda will be identical at each location. Registration and the agenda can be found here, we hope to see you there!
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CAAWEF Leadership Summit and Fundraiser
Save the date for the California African American Water Education Foundation’s (CAAWEF), Second Annual Leadership Summit and Fundraiser on Friday, November 19, in Long Beach, CA.
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CASA represents more than 125 local public agencies engaged in the collection, treatment and recycling of Wastewater and biosolids to protect public health and the environment. Our mission is to provide trusted information and advocacy on behalf of California clean water agencies, and to be a leader in sustainability and utilization of renewable resources. |
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