Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) maintains diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as core principles of our organization’s mission. Our members, Board of Trustees (BOT), volunteer leaders, and staff together and individually share responsibility to uphold these principles.
WEF Commits to Valuing Unique Identities
We are committed to creating an organization that acknowledges and celebrates our unique differences including education, career background, age, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability status, accent, socioeconomic status, cultural heritage and religion, parental status, marital status, veteran, personality type, political perspective, and all other characteristics of DE&I.
DEI Resources How We Began DEI News DEI at WEFTEC
In October 2024, the WEF Board of Trustees approved an updated DEI Policy. This new version improves our definitions of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion while also providing distinct roles and expectations to support DEI within WEF Governance and Administrative Bodies (including the Community Leadership Council and WEF Leadership Staff).
WEF InFlow
This program aims to enhance diversity and inclusion in the water workforce.
More about WEF InFlow Program
More DEI Resources
WEF has created a series of downloads to help frame the DEI conversation and provide additional context and insights into different aspects of DEI.
Download the Entire Compendium
DEI Definitions
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not mutually exclusive and the success of one is dependent on the other two. Therefore, these three are intentionally connected. We believe that starting with shared and clear definitions for these topics will enable us to better understand each other and make progress toward our goals.
Diversity
Diversity encompasses the varying experiences, strengths, skills, perspectives, personal characteristics, cultures, and backgrounds represented by and within the WEF community.
Equity
A commitment to equity means an environment where everyone has the opportunity and access to realize their full potential, and no-one is disadvantaged because of their group identity or other socially determined circumstance.
How We Began
In August 2019, WEF initiated its DEI work through the formation of the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. This task force provided over 50 recommendations for improving diversity in the water sector and stressed the importance of internal reflection.
In 2020, WEF took further steps by establishing a DEI Board of Trustees Subcommittee, a House of Delegates DE&I Work Group, and a Staff Working Group on Racial Equity. In 2021, these groups were made permanent committees, solidifying the organization's long-term commitment to DEI.
In 2020, WEF also reviewed and reaffirmed its Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy to ensure an inclusive environment.
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Staying Focused on Our Mission During Times of Change
As a global institution, WEF stays closely connected with our members, markets, customers, stakeholders, and governments, especially during periods of transition, ...
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EXPLORE ALL PRACTICE AREAS
WEF is a source of high-quality technical resources featuring the latest research, news, and education. WEF's members and other credible resources have created and compiled this information into the Practice Area groupings listed in the dropdown menu.
Test your knowledge of wastewater and laboratory with a 10-question, multiple-choice quiz. Quizzes incorporate math, safety, and various other topics to help you test, maintain, and advance your wastewater knowledge.
