For Immediate Release

February 26, 2004

Contact: Lori Burkhammer
1(703) 684-2400

WEF NAMES NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION

(Alexandria, VA) - The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has named Alvaro J. DeCarvalho as the new Managing Director of External Relations and Public Education.

"WEF understands that public education and outreach is essential for the continued growth of our mission to preserve and enhance the global water environment, said WEF Executive Director Bill Bertera. "Al's professionalism, knowledge, and strategic approach will take the Federation's public education activities to a higher level and increase our visibility as a leading educational organization and resource for the water quality community."

DeCarvalho previously held the position of Director of Environmental Safety at The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) in Washington, D.C. There he identified, initiated, and managed a broad range of strategic programs and partnerships addressing domestic and international science and policy issues. In recent years, Al was an internationally recognized leader in global industry support to United Nations initiatives on chemical management. In addition, he established an international dialogue among cleaning product chemicals industry associations to ensure that industry research was strategically coordinated and cross-leveraged globally. Al is the author or co-author of numerous peer-reviewed scientific papers and presentations related to the performance of consumer product chemicals in wastewater treatment systems and risk assessment in aquatic environments. SDA (www.cleaning101.com) is the home of the U.S. cleaning products industry, representing manufacturers of household, industrial and institutional cleaning products, their ingredients, finished packaging, and oleochemical producers.

DeCarvalho attended Wairarapa College in Masterton, New Zealand; earned an A.Sc. in Liberal Arts from Massasoit Community College (Brockton, MA) and a B.Sc. in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY). His professional affiliations include memberships with the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society for Testing and Materials, American Water Works Association, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and the Water Environment Federation.

Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water quality professionals from 79 Member Associations in over 30 countries.