https://www.epa.gov/septic Check out the excellent advice available here!

National Water Quality Month

National Water Quality Month is dedicated to making the most of the relatively small amount of fresh water we have, because having clean water is vital to our individual health, our collective agricultural needs, and the needs of our environment.

Just try to imagine what life would be like without easy access to clean water. There would be no fountains to quench your thirst when you’re out on a hot day. No more pools, and no more lakes and rivers clean enough for recreational activities. No more hour long showers. No more drinking water straight from the tap, or even filtering it through your Brita. No more running water in your house, period. In short, our lives would be totally different, and not for the better.

We have been thinking a lot recently about loss. About Lahaina and British Columbia, about Ukraine and those pummeled by typhoons.

The water and wastewater professions are a generous and open hearted bunch of people – we see problems and we want to fix them.

We have previously posted of ways to contribute to Lahaina recovery but how does the human soul get past the not knowing, the endless speculation and bogus rumors that seem to flare as quickly as the fires themselves?

There will be no funerals for some of the victims. Take a breath and give the animosity a break – please. Blame is inevitable but for now channel the anger in to doing something for those who have lost everything.

It seems to us that taking a moment to think about words and how they can be a salve or a sting is the essence of walking a mile in another’s shoes?

And that the internet will keep replaying what you said years from now.

We were reminded of that just last week when a new business owner reached out to ask if we could say something nice about his efforts to bring a new professional attitude to a company he has just taken over.

Here is a young man trying to rebuild a living and still plagued by vile comments made, on social media of course, about the previous owner. And some of these still available comments are from 4, 6, 7 years ago?

Recovery is needed – starting with a recovery of basic human kindness – as shown by the outpouring of help for Lahaina.

The most effective immediate contribution is monetary donations to established community-focused organizations with a strong track record of efficiently distributing funds where they will have the greatest influence. These include:

1. Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Maui Stong Fund
2. Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement’s Kākoʻo Maui Fund 
3. Maui United Way’s Maui Fire Disaster Fund 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/photography/interactive/2023/deadly-hawaii-wildfires/

Contribute to High-Impact Organizations

The most effective immediate contribution is monetary donations to established community-focused organizations with a strong track record of efficiently distributing funds where they will have the greatest influence. These include:

1. Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Maui Stong Fund
2. Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement’s Kākoʻo Maui Fund 
3. Maui United Way’s Maui Fire Disaster Fund 

Please give generously!

On Monday, July 24, 2023, from 1:00 – 2:30 pm (eastern time), the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) is hosting a webinar as part of their series on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). The webinar will feature presentations from Virginia, Colorado, and Pennsylvania that will discuss HABs coordination across state programs. For more information and to register, click here.

NGWA publishes guidance on tracking pollution via groundwater

https://www.ngwa.org/detail/news/2023/06/06/ngwa-publishes-guidance-on-tracking-pollution-via-groundwater

Assessing the Microbial Risks and Impacts from Stormwater Capture and Use to Establish Appropriate Best Management Practices

https://www.waterrf.org/research/projects/assessing-microbial-risks-and-impacts-stormwater-capture-and-use-establish

And ……

• HB 4479 of 2023
  Environmental protection: sewage; onsite wastewater treatment systems; regulate, and provide for assessments and evaluations. Amends sec. 12752 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.12752) & adds pt. 128. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4480’23
  Last Action: 5/2/2023 bill electronically reproduced 05/02/2023
• HB 4480 of 2023
  Environmental protection: sewage; onsite wastewater treatment systems; regulate and provide for assessments and evaluations. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 – 333.25211) by adding secs. 12815, 12817 & 12829. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4479’23
  Last Action: 5/2/2023 bill electronically reproduced 05/02/2023
• SB 0299 of 2023
  Environmental protection: sewage; onsite wastewater treatment systems; regulate, and provide for assessments and evaluations. Amends sec. 12752 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.12752) & adds pt. 128. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0300’23
  Last Action: 4/27/2023 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
• SB 0300 of 2023
  Environmental protection: sewage; onsite wastewater treatment systems; regulate and provide for assessments and evaluations. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 – 333.25211) by adding secs. 12815, 12817 & 12829. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0299’23
  Last Action: 4/27/2023 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

There are several ways to sit down and chat with us or hear about what WasteWater Education does.

1. Check out the Monday February 20th Education Track featuring:

• Check out our WWETT 2023 Landing Page
• Schedule a time to talk to us about your training or education development needs