Over the past few months, the coronavirus pandemic has underscored water professionals’ role as protectors of public health, and we’ve seen their extraordinary skill and knowledge in action.This unprecedented moment is an urgent reminder of how much the health and safety of communities around the world rely on the expertise of water professionals.I want to particularly highlight operators, whose work is often out of sight for most, but never out of mind for WEF.

With the water sector deeply involved in the response to the coronavirus pandemic, WEF administered a second in a series of quick, informal polls concerning the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the sector. The focus of this poll was to gain some general insights into the effects on the supply chain.

Water professionals on the front lines in the water and wastewater sector, especially those in maintenance and facility operations, may not have the option of working from home during shutdowns like those caused by the coronavirus outbreak. In addition, each member has technically specialized knowledge unique to their community systems.

With the water sector protecting public health throughout the coronavirus pandemic, WEF administered a quick, informal poll to gain some insights into how this situation is affecting the water workforce. The results below were collected between March 23 and 28.

By Rasha Maal-Bared, Senior Microbiologist at EPCOR and Chair of WEF’s Waterborne Infectious Disease Outbreak Control Subcommittee (WIDOC)

This World Water Day, WEF’s research community has its eyes turned to public health issues and the treatment of unconventional contaminants. As data testing and analytics become more sophisticated, researchers are better able to detect contaminants in water that could have an adverse effect on public health. Fortunately, advances in treatment methodologies can also keep pace.

The Water Environment Federation is always focused on the health and safety of our members, whether at our events, in the water workplace, or here in the WEF office.

In 2019, we volunteered to be co-chairs of the steering committee for the National Stormwater Symposium and we are excited about the location (Leslie’s hometown of Cincinnati) and the prospect of meeting in an area where stormwater management is moving into the 21st century!

For too long the national discussion about infrastructure has sounded just like that classic movie with Steve Martin and John Candy – Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

Both of us frequently attend the WEF Residual and Biosolids Conference, and we’ve always found the attendees and atmosphere foster discussion, sharing, and collaboration among this dedicated group of enthusiastic professionals, and we’re sure this year’s conference will continue the tradition.