You'll Flip for Texas Water 2015Tm

| February/March 2015 |

® TEXThe Official Newsletter of the Texas Section S AWWA | Everyh2o Drop, Every Day, Everywhere ©

Join some finny friends for the Conference Night Out at the Texas State Aquarium April 16

You'll Flip for Texas Water 2015tm

April 14-17, Corpus Christi CybersecurityTWDB News | LCRA's | Chapter Drought Roundup | Water | Calendar Use Decline | and | more! and more! Gemini keeps you safe from compliance violations. Gemini Group guarantees your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) will always be in compliance. Since 1998, we’ve produced more than 60 million CCRs for water systems in Texas and across the country, every one of them 100% compliant. Before your next report is due, contact us. We guarantee that Printed reports & electronic your CCR will be fully compliant, delivery options available every time.

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Where Did the Time Go? It's the 20th Texas Water! Gemini keeps you safe from compliance violations. he 20th Texas Water, the Largest Regional Water 1995-1996 Conference in the U.S.tm, hits the beach in Corpus Gemini Group guarantees your Texas Sec- TChristi April 14-17. Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) tion Chair Like most 20-year-olds, it’ll be a little bit loud and will always be in compliance. Since Ronny sprawling, but who can blame it? Its previous birthdays Hyde of have ushered in a lot of “firsts” that have been impor- 1998, we’ve produced more than Fort Worth tant for Texas AWWA specifically and for the Texas 60 million CCRs for water systems in welcomes water community generally. Texas and across the country, registrants For example, Texas Water 1997 in Arlington saw the to the first beginnings of the TAWWA Young Professionals Com- every one of them 100% compliant. Texas Water mittee that has provided much of the “oomph” that Before your next report is due, conference pushed TAWWA into new areas. contact us. We guarantee that Printed reports & electronic in Austin That recognition of 35-and-under professionals led your CCR will be fully compliant, delivery options available to the creation of the Maverick Award in 2003, and its every time. CONTINUED PAGE 27 | Texas Water 2015

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www.tawwa.org TEXASh2o FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 | 3 |

TGG056_ThSourceAd_Texas.indd 1 11/5/14 11:13 AM | letter from the texas section chair |

Hitting the Beach

BY ALISSA LOCKETT Texas Section texas section chair American Water Works Association P.O. Box 80150 Austin, Texas 78708 www.tawwa.org

Alissa Lockett, Chair pring is finally here, which means it is closing 210-233-3401 in on time for us to come together in Corpus Christi at Texas Water 2015tm from April 14 Jennifer Elms, Chair-Elect S 713-784-4500 to 17. The Local Host Committee, led by Alexa Fulbright and Richard Eason from the City of Daniel Nix, Vice-Chair 940-691-1153 Corpus Christi, has planned many great opportu- nities for networking, professional development, Christianne Castleberry, Imm. Past Chair and giving back to the community. 512-751-9272 ALISSA

th TM LOCKETT Mike Howe In its 20 year, Texas Water 2015 is on course to 210-233-3401 Executive Director/Secretary-Treasurer set records and be a huge success. [email protected] 512-238-9292 Fax: 512-238-0496 [email protected] Networking. I will be celebrating my last year as a “young” professional this year, so I will definitely be attending the Young This publication is distributed bi-monthly to the more than 3,500 members and Professionals & Student Reception on Wednesday. The budding Mentor- friends of the Texas Section – American ing Program will be in full swing, and as always, there will not be anybody Water Works Association. checking ID’s so the young and young-at-heart are all welcome. Another great networking opportunity is the Women of Texas Water Contributing writers can contact the editor: Lunch on Thursday, where Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez will be Cliff Avery our honored guest speaker. We are sure to have better sandwiches this GCP Association Services year, and the great company that the amazing women (and a few brave PO Box 676 men) in this industry provide cannot be beat! Be sure to visit the Exhibit Pflugerville, TX 78691 Hall, too, as that is the networking hub of the entire conference with more 512-251-8101 Fax: 512-251-8152 than 450 exhibitors that will have the widget or service that is exactly what [email protected] you need. The publication name, TexasH2O: © 1996-2015 Texas Section – American Water Works We are lucky that the water industry is full of Association, Inc. Professional Development. some really smart people that are eager to share their expertise with all © 2015 Texas Section – American Water Works Association, Inc. of us to make the world a better place. This year the Program Committee, co-chaired by TAWWA Vice Chair Daniel Nix of Wichita Falls and WEAT's FOLLOW TAWWA ON Meera Victor of Carollo Engineers, has assembled a rich technical program FACEBOOK AND TWITTER! of about 165 presentations covering the major topics of interest within our profession that will bring your knowledge to the next level. Recognizing the importance of operator training, there will be a dedicated Operator track @txawwa Texas AWWA CONTINUED PAGE 21 | letter from the texas section chair

| 4 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org

| executive director report |

Making It Up as We Went Along BY MIKE HOWE tawwa executive director

A heads up. This is not a “war story” as in a collection of ics. But, each conference recollections about the past. Even though it nearly starts also had topics that were with "once upon a time", the following is a true story and universal to all water profes- real names are used. sionals. The time had come to join forces for all the right n late 1995, when I was working for the Austin Water reasons, reduce expenses utility, the Director, Randy Goss, called me into his for exhibitors and attendees, Ioffice. I was the utility Community Relations Officer and see if collectively, the and he needed help with a project. After many years of two associations could build MIKE HOWE Texas AWWA and the Water Environment Association a better conference. 512-238-9292 of Texas each hosting individual conferences, both as- So, in 1996, the first Texas [email protected] sociations had decided to bow to the requests of their Water conference began at exhibitors and combine forces to host one conference. the Austin Convention Center. It was a rousing suc- The exhibitors’ request came after realizing that for cess. But, it wasn’t easy to create. Co-chaired by Austin many of the years before 1995, both conferences were utility staff Jane Burazer and Raj Bhattarai, my staff in held in the spring, both conferences had the same the utility Public Information Office were charged with exhibitors, and both conferences were seeing the same the logistical implementation of the conference. We attendees. The exhibitors realized they were spending also were to develop the conference brochure. Our twice the money in a short period of time to market to first challenge was to decide whose name would go the same attendees. first on the cover. After many meetings with a series of At the same time, the two associations realized their decisions on how the conference would proceed, no members were in essence attending the same confer- decision was made about who was first on the bro- ence in about a six-week period. The only differences chure. Finally, with a print deadline looming, I made an were some of the topics at each. At one, primarily “executive decision” to go alphabetically. TAWWA first, water topics. At the other, primarily wastewater top- CONTINUED PAGE 30 | executive director report

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| 6 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org From Source to Tap Managing supply, treatment, and distribution can present a steady stream of complex challenges. Since 1951, Hazen and Sawyer has been helping water providers protect public health and the environment.

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| drought |

Are We in the New 'Drought of Record'? LCRA Says It's Never Seen a Drier Period

Feb. 24 he Lower Colorado River Authority unleashed discus- drought map sion about the possibility of a new “the drought of from U.S. record” with its announcement that preliminary 2014 Drought T data shows the Highland Lakes is now the most severe Monitor drought the region has experienced since construction of the lakes began in the 1930s. As a direct result of the prolonged record-dry conditions and record-low inflows from the streams and tributaries feeding the Highland Lakes, the “firm yield,” or inventory of water LCRA can provide reliably every year, has been decreased by about 100,000 acre-feet, to 500,000 acre-feet per year. (An acre-foot of water is 325,851 gallons.) Further reductions in firm yield are possible as the drought continues.

CONTINUED PAGE 19 | LCRA

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Put Cybersecurity on Front Burner or Get Burned

BY ASHLEY MATHEWS & RICK McCREARY University of Texas at Arlington

nyone involved with public works systems agement, but it also highlights the real threats to our inherently understands our community of nation’s security. In fact the risk is so real and perva- Aprofessionals should act to protect infrastruc- sive to the control systems that water infrastructure ture and the computer systems that run it. Yet, the depends upon, the Department of Homeland Security cyberthreats to these systems are often neglected. (DHS) established the Industrial Control Systems Cyber Managing cyber risk is often pushed to the infamous Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT, https://ics- “back burner” because it’s perceived to be costly, un- cert.us-cert.gov/ ) to monitor and help respond to necessary, the responsibility of information technology incidents. ICS-CERT reported that there were over 200 (IT) professionals, or just too difficult to understand. cyber attacks to industrial controls systems in first half Unfortunately, recent media stories shine a spotlight of 2013. Note that this data reflects just the ones that on how dangerous ignoring cyber risk can be. Will you were reported to DHS! One has to wonder how many be the person held responsible for not being proactive hundreds of others went unreported. about your facility’s exposure to a cyber attack? Additionally, it would be a mistake to think cyber The Sony Pictures Entertainment saga illustrates attacks are a problem for large corporations, banks, that cyber attacks are a nightmare for corporate man- retailers and the federal government. The Repository CONTINUED PAGE 22 | cybersecurity

| 10 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org We have a healthy respect for sustainability. It’s our business.

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Improved Plumbing Standards Credited for Lowest Water Use Since Early 70s

A dramatic drop in the level of national water use is since 1994, so five percent from 2005 to 2010 seems traceable to factors such as improved plumbing stan- right. This is the ‘new normal’ of ‘declining demand’ dards, Texas water conservation experts say. that we have been talking about,” she said. In November, the U.S. Geological Survey released Another factor in the middle of the 2005-2010 time its once-every-five years analysis of water withdrawals, period may be the recession that hit in 2008. focusing on 2010. The annual withdrawal of 355 billion “Declines in industrial withdrawals can be attributed gallons of water per day was not only a 13 percent to factors such as greater efficiencies in industrial pro- decrease from 2005, it was the lowest level in almost cesses, more emphasis on water reuse and recycling, 45 years. and the 2008 recession, resulting in lower industrial According to the USGS, withdrawals for public water production in major water-using industries,” a USGS supply use declined 5 percent between 2005 and 2010, news release said. despite a 4-percent increase in population during the Dickinson noted that the USGS analysis “documents same period. It was the first decline since the USGS water WITHDRAWALS, not water CONSUMPTION. It started analyzing water use in 1950. counts withdrawals that are returned back to the envi- Carole Baker, longtime chair of TAWWA’s Conserva- ronment, like cooling water. Usually in water conservation and Reuse Division and now executive director of tion, we measure reductions in consumptive use. USGS the Texas Water Foundation, said that improved stan- is trying to figure out a way to add looking at consump- dards for plumbing devices such as washing machines tive use, but it requires a lot more data and they so far and toilets made their impact on water usage. have not been able to figure it out." In 2006, during AWWA's Annual Conference and Ex- In the analysis of water usage, Texas was second hibition in San Antonio, the Environmental Protection among the water using states. Water used in ther- Agency unveiled its WaterSense program to help con- moelectric power accounted for 45 percent of Texas sumers identify products that used water efficiently. withdrawals, and irrigation accounted for 28 percent. Mary Ann Dickinson, executive director of the Chica- Along with Texas, three other states – California, go-based Alliance for Water Efficiency and a TWF Board Florida and Idaho – accounted for almost a quarter of member, said plumbing code changes help explain the the U.S. usage. decreased water withdrawals. “Those code changes Irrigation accounted for 81 percent of water with- have meant about a one percent per year reduction drawals in Idaho, the 39th most populous state.

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| 12 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org | water use by state |

This USGS chart shows water withdrawals by state from west to east. Note that Idaho, the 39th most populous state, ranked 3rd in withdrawals because of irrigation.

www.tawwa.org TEXASh2o FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 | 13 | h2 h2 | water awareness |

Public Still Has Trouble IDing Water Source

A new statewide poll commissioned by the Texas poll shows the percentage of people who know where Water Foundation shows only 28 percent of Texans say their water comes from when they turn on the tap they “definitely know” the natural source of their drink- hasn’t budged. ing water -- the exact same percent as ten years ago. “You’d think that a decade of drought would get peo- A TWF press release called the statistic is “troubling ple to pay attention to where their water comes from,” – especially after a period of record drought -- because said TWF Executive Director Carole Baker. “Maybe we research shows a direct correlation between knowing shouldn’t be surprised that three-quarters of Texans where your water comes from and your willingness to don’t know where their water comes from since the conserve.” State of Texas has not invested in conservation educa- In 2004, the Texas Water Development Board com- tion. However in North Texas, they’ve proven how in- missioned a statewide quantitative study to measure creased knowledge can dramatically curb consumption consumer awareness levels, attitudes and behaviors despite tremendous population growth and lingering related to water. A major finding was that only 28 per- drought.” cent of Texans said they “definitely know” the natural Following the 2004 poll, the state adopted a conser- source of their drinking water, and research showed vation campaign brand “Water IQ: Know Your Water” a strong connection between knowledge of water – tying knowledge of natural water sources to helpful sources and willingness to conserve. TWF’s new 2014 conservation tips. CONTINUED PAGE 18 | Water IQ

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| 16 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org | scholarships |

www.tawwa.org TEXASh2o FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 | 17 | | water awareness |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 | water IQ

While no state dollars have been used to fund a comprehensive Water IQ campaign in Texas, the North Texas Municipal Water District has funded a regional Water IQ campaign every summer since 2006, at an annual budget of $1 million to $2 million. Despite a population increase of 49 percent in the region since 2000, NTMWD has been able to curb projected peak day consumption by 200 million to 400 million gallons every summer since 2006. “North Texas represents a bubble of knowledge and the potential for increased education in a fast-growing state,” said Baker. “It’s our hope that the Texas Legisla- ture will look again at funding statewide conservation education this session. Our state can’t afford to contin- Blowers Blower Packages ue this patchwork approach to educating people about something as critical to our quality of life and economy Overhauls Digester Aeration as water.” Filter Backwash In 2014, TWDB awarded a grant to TWF to conduct a 10-year follow-up to the baseline study. Both the 2004 866-424-7622 www.airmac.com and 2014 surveys were conducted by Baselice & Associ- ates, with the most recent poll conducted among 1,103 adult Texans October 5-20, 2014, and a margin of error of 3 percent. The 2014 survey shows that only 23 percent of Texans said they’ve seen, read or heard anything about what the state plans to do to meet future water needs. “That’s really disappointing, especially since just over a year ago voters approved Proposition 6 to transfer $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to finance projects in the state water plan,” said Baker. “When it comes to water, we have short attention spans and could use all the education we can get.”

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| 18 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org | drought |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 | LCRA

In a Feb. 18 presentation to the LCRA board, staff amount of water available for sale in the future, but reported preliminary data shows the Highland Lakes does not impact existing contracts, such as those held are now in a new “critical period” marking the driest by the City of Austin and other firm customers. conditions on record, eclipsing the 1947-57 drought It’s important to note the firm yield is unrelated to that until now was the worst on record for this region. trigger levels in the 2010 Water Management Plan. The “We’re in a historic drought like we’ve never seen in state-approved plan, which determines how water is our lifetimes,’’ said Phil Wilson, LCRA general manager. allocated in a drought, sets out three triggers that must “Based on our preliminary analysis of 2014 data, we be met before the LCRA Board issues a Drought Worse are now in a new critical period. As a result, our reli- Than Drought of Record (DWDR) declaration. Those able inventory has been reduced by 100,000 acre-feet triggers are: a year, to 500,000 acre-feet per year. Even in these • 24 months since lakes Travis and Buchanan conditions, however, lakes Travis and Buchanan re- were full. main significantly above their all-time lows,” • Prolonged low inflows worse than inflows dur- The most water used by firm customers in a single ing the 1947-57 drought. year was about 250,000 acre-feet in 2011, far below • Combined storage in lakes Travis and Buchan- the estimated 500,000 acre-feet per year firm yield. an at less than 600,000 acre-feet. Lakes Travis and Buchanan are the primary water supply reservoirs for many cities in Central Texas. On After a DWDR declaration, LCRA would cut off High- Feb. 18, the lakes stood at about 717,000 acre-feet, or land Lakes water for remaining interruptible customers 36 percent of capacity, – almost 100,000 acre-feet high- and would impose mandatory across-the-board water er than the all-time low combined storage of 621,221 use cutbacks of 20 percent for firm customers. Current acre-feet, or 32 percent or capacity, seen in 1952. estimates show the earliest combined storage could hit The revised estimate of the firm yield changes the 600,000 acre-feet is the May-June timeframe.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 | letter from the texas section chair

on Friday morning and a Chemical Safety Training Work- Water is also a time for us to give back to our own water shop on Wednesday afternoon that covers chlorine and community through the Dodson’s Drive Fun Run bright ammonia safety. Don’t forget to take credit for the many and early Wednesday morning, which raises funds to CEUs and PDHs that you earn! support TAWWA/WEAT Young Professionals activities around Texas. Show your support to the hard working Giving Back to the Community. This year’s environ- operations personnel within our water industry at the mental event commemorates Curtis Smalley’s support competitions in the Exhibit Hall. I’ll be there helping out of the original idea to give back to the local community the Alamo City Tappers (the SAWS Women’s Pipe Tap- by doing a community service project before the confer- ping Team), so drop by and say hi. ence. At the Conference Night-Out at the Texas State Aquarium on Thursday night, I will pass the gavel to The 2015 Curtis Smalley Environmental Event on Jennifer Elms so that she can lead this association into Tuesday morning will help raise awareness of poten- a bright future. I look forward to seeing my water tial harm to the Corpus Christi Bay by contaminants in professional friends (present and future) at the event as stormwater runoff. Participants in the event will walk we celebrate water with some fish friends. along Shoreline Blvd. placing tiles on stormwater inlets with messages reminding the public that stormwater drains directly into the inlets and out into the bay. Texas

www.tawwa.org TEXASh2o FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 | 21 | | cybersecurity |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 | cybersecurity of Industrial Security Incidents, an industry-wide orga- technical staff, who implement and maintain the indus- nization devoted to tracking cyber crime, reports a 60 trial control systems, and recognize education needed percent increase in cyber attacks on public water utility for the person or team responsible for the organiza- systems in recent years. tion’s risk management. To that end, the University of World events have proven cybersecurity is very im- Texas at Arlington offers a Cyber Risk Management Cer- portant, and organizations are taking steps to improve, tificate Program composed of four nontechnical courses but still one wonders “have we done everything we (www.uta.edu/ded). Designed for non-technical staff, reasonably should have?” Indeed, this is the challenging this program provides professionals with sufficient question and here are several suggestions to help settle knowledge and skills to improve upon their organiza- one’s mind: tion’s risk exposure. Each course explains cyber risks, * Use Existing Resources & Prioritize Efforts: As and what to do about them. mentioned in the July/August issue of TexasH20, look at * Bang the Drum Loudly: Perhaps a few key people www.awwa.org/cybersecurity and download the free in the organization acknowledge the importance of man- “Process Control System Security Guidance for the Wa- aging cyber risks, but that is very different from devoting ter Sector” document. Evaluate how many of the Priority staff time, pledging funding and removing obstacles to 1 and 2 Controls can honestly be checked off. Better to risk reduction. Use the previously mentioned resources challenge if a control is truly implemented, rather than to provide concrete examples of real world cyber attacks a hacker discover the weakness and exploit it. Also, use which have negatively impacted organizations (system the checklists to help decide where to apply limited failure, equipment damage, PR embarrassment, costly resources and staff to improve. At a minimum, effort recovery, loss of public trust). Although not specific to should be expended to meet all of the Priority 1 and 2 water systems, a 2013 report provided a cautionary controls in the AWWA document. example of how vulnerable industrial control systems * Review Industry Threats: A plethora of informa- can be. It told of two researchers who demonstrated the tion pertaining to industrial controls for water systems ease with which a SCADA system on an oil well could be exists on the ICS-CERT website mentioned above. hijacked by hackers. By sending commands and fake Included are more details on the nature of the threats data to the “secure system”, they proved how easily (bad actors or events) and specific vulnerabilities (weak- a pipe rupture or tank overflow could be triggered by nesses in systems). those intent on disrupting a service, making a political * Train Appropriate Staff: Ensure organization em- statement, revenging a grievance, or simply testing their ployees have training applicable to their actual respon- skills. sibilities. This means thinking beyond training for the * Cover the Basics: Ensure that the organization is CONTINUED NEXT PAGE | cybersecurity

kimley-horn.com

| 22 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org | cybersecurity |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 | cybersecurity

doing all of the easy things to protect your system. Simple actions, such as ensuring all default passwords have been changed, go a long way towards reducing risk exposure. Other examples of basic steps include: • Check for unauthorized wireless networks; • Limit the number of staff with privileged system accounts; • Promptly terminate accounts of departed employees; and • Escort visitors in sensitive areas. As a result of today’s connected world and the ability to remotely access systems, improving the cybersecurity of public utility systems is becoming imperative. Good resources exist and basic precautions should be implemented. It’s time to act by moving cyber risk management from the “back burner”.

Ashley Mathews is deputy director of UT Arlington's Public Works Institute. Rick McCreary is chief information officer for UT Arlington's Division of Enterprise Development.

Ofﬁ ces in Austin, College Station, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio [email protected]

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www.tawwa.org TEXASh2o FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 | 23| | education |

One Water; Many Stories

Don't miss TAWWA's and WEAT's inaugural joint FEATURES tm ● Pre-Engineered Systems from program at Texas Water 2015 highlighting water 250 to 100,000 Gallons Tanks-Precast, FRP, Steel, & Poly ●FEATURES outreach initiatives. This important event is scheduled ● Filtration & Purification ● Potable, Fixture Flushing, 1:15-3:15 p.m. Thursday, April 16 in the Selena Rotunda Irrigation, & Fire Protection ● US Texas Manufactured of Corpus Christi’s American Bank Center. ● Remote Maintenance Alarm Join us in a collaborative, storytelling environment PARK as we learn about the tools and resources used by El www.park-usa.com Paso Water Utilities, the City of Wichita Falls and the San Jacinto River Authority before, during, and after their highly visible and politically charged water projects. Then hear how a utility can easily implement a program tailored to its own unique situation. Chapter 1 - Wichita Falls: How the Citizens went from No Way to OK! Chapter 2 - El Paso Water Utilities: Drink Up! The Public Perception of Toilet to Tap & Getting Public Acceptance. Chapter 3 – SJRA: If You Don’t Tell Your Story, Someone Else Will…A Hard-Hitting Approach to Communicate the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

| 24| FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org | finance |

Requests for SWIFT Funding Deluge TWDB

exas Water Development Board staff is evaluat- impacts on total financial assistance that the TWDB ing applications for water project funding from can make available in the initial round, according to a Tthe news State Water Implementation Fund for TWDB news release. Texas (SWIFT), after receiving funding requests totaling Over the next few months, the agency will conduct almost seven times what it’s estimated to disburse. a comprehensive scoring process of all applications. TWDB received 48 applications for more than $5.5 Projects will be scored against the prioritization criteria billion at the deadline in early February. The agency re- developed through public input in 2014. ceived applications from all parts of the state, including The project prioritization list will be released later a mix of urban and rural projects. this spring, and TWDB anticipates funding SWIFT loans The TWDB had estimated it would be providing ap- by the fall. proximately $800 million in SWIFT financial assistance Projects not selected for the first round of funding in this round and will be reviewing the applications to may be eligible to apply for the subsequent round of evaluate the specific funding structures requested and funding or other TWDB financial programs.

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TW15 Tentative Conference Schedule

| 26 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org | Texas Water 2015 |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3| Texas Water 2015 first recipient, Shay Roalson, became the first YP on first Women of Texas Water luncheon in the foyer of the continent to move up the ranks to Section Chair in the Moody Gardens Convention Center. After Texas’s 2007. own Katie McCain broke the Glass Ceiling to serve as Over the years, the back-office processes in support the first woman president of AWWA at the internation- of the conference have grown. Prior to 2005, to build al level, attendance far exceeded projections, and the the technical program of the conference, copies of event became a must for future conferences. each abstract were reproduced and mailed to as many In 2006, Texas AWWA staged its first-ever (or maybe as 60 people across the state for review. it was “thirst-ever”) Best Tasting Drinking Water contest In 2005, an online system was developed by a in Austin, and the event has become a staple in the respondent to a craigslist ad, allowing abstracts to be years since. submitted and reviewed online. This year, more than In 2013, again in Galveston, Texas Water launched 500 abstracts were received for just more than 125 an environmental-themed event designed to “give- slots on the Texas Water technical program. back” to the community by organizing volunteers to In 2005, Texas Water in Galveston played host to the participate in a clean-up in Galveston Bay.

PITTSBURG Help Teach Kids TANK & TOWER MAINTENANCE CO., INC. www.rjn.com About Water • Flow Monitoring SAVE! • Water Distribution System Design We have a crew in TAWWA’s K-12 Education Com- mittee is looking for volunteers to • Hydraulic Modeling YOUR AREA! provide Texas teachers assistance • Construction Inspection Inspections Repair New & Used Tanks Wet In Service Cleaning Relocation Elevated with water-related topics in their • Construction Administration Dry Paint Erectors Underground ROV Insulation Dismantles Ground Storage classrooms. • Wastewater Master Planning (Robotic) API Mixing System To volunteer, contact Amy • Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey ROV inspections can be viewed on Middleton at 210-302-3201 or • Collection System Rehab Design TV console during inspection & DVD [email protected]. provided. All inspections include The K-12 Education committee • New Sewer Improvements bound reports, recommendations and participated in November at the • Lift Station Design cost estimates. Conference for the Advancement of Dallas • Irving • Garland • Fort Worth Hugh McGee Austin • San Antonio • Round Rock 270-826-9000 Ext. 330 Science Teaching (CAST) in conjunc- tion with WEAT and EPA. Civil Engineering Consultants www.watertank.com

527740_Pittsburg.indd 1 4/15/11 9:40:35 PM

www.tawwa.org TEXASh2o FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 | 27 | TAWWA Welcomes New Members Joining Oct. 15 - Feb. 28

Yolanda Aaron Jason Dane Hulisher Hornsby III Emily Martin Pratistha Pradhan Pamela Thomas Humble, TX Paducah, TX Houston, TX Houston, TX Houston, TX Houston, TX Boby Aboesono Anthony Daniels Ethan Howley Ernest Martin JR Mackrena Ramos Rick Torrez Houston, TX Missouri City, TX Austin, TX Houston, TX Houston, TX Lubbock, TX Matt Acker Leslie Dharmawardene Diane Hunt Sandra Martin Trish Rayner Gutierrez Lamont Traylor Spring, TX Friendswood, TX Houston, TX Tomball, TX Denver, CO Irving, TX Zafar Ahmed Celina Dozier Karen Ivey Pete Martinez Patrick Rightmyer Satish Tripathi The Woodlands, TX Austin, TX Ingleside, TX San Marcos, TX Kingwood, TX Houston, TX Scott Albert Scott Dyer Heena Jadav Jason Matthews Cesar Rios Kevin Trujillo Texarkana, TX Grapevine, TX Houston, TX Arlington, TX Kingwood, TX Cleveland, TX Michael Ashley Mike Elliott Subhash Jain Michael McBee Allana Robertson Cynthia Tucker Grapevine, TX Quinlan, TX Katy, TX Dallas, TX College Station, TX Irving, TX Cheyanne Atchley Mike Ellis Jerry Jansen Benjamin McCray Roberto Rodriguez Stephen Uttrodt Austin, TX Amarillo, TX Tyler, TX Houston, TX El Paso, TX Houston, TX Sheldon Avant Russell Engrav Justin Johnson John McElya Valeria Rodriguez Javier Valdez Houston, TX Houston, TX Arlington, TX Stafford, TX Sugar Land, TX Edinburg, TX Bernard Bahaya Dionne Epps Kristi Johnston William McPherson Sandra Rosini Clemente Velez San Antonio, TX Houston, TX Dallas, TX Liberty Hill, TX Montgomery, TX Houston, TX Nina Barlow Benjamin Esparza Brandy Jones Joshua Milks Angela Rubottom Tim Vu Houston, TX Garland, TX Midlothian, TX San Antonio, TX Austin, TX Houston, TX Roy Bell Rick Evans Etahn Jones Francisco Miranda Eddie Rutledge Duke Wade Rule, TX Longview, TX Midlothian, TX Houston, TX Aledo, TX Willis, TX Bruk Berhanu Jacob Everett Narendra Joshi Dana Mitchell Sagerton WSC Mark Waggoner Austin, TX The Woodlands, TX Houston, TX Irving, TX Rule, TX Lubbock, TX Michael Bevilacqua George Farah Michael Kelly Chanceler Moehring Mario Sais James Waihenya Austin, TX Fort Worth, TX Houston, TX Atascosa, TX Brownsville, TX Houston, TX Greg Blackburn Harold Ferguson Michael Kennedy Kenneth Moore Sylvia Salazar Stacy Walters West Lake Hills, TX Wickett, TX Houston, TX Hurst, TX Grand Prairie, TX Fort Worth, TX John Borowski Waldy Fernandez-Lopez Paul Kilpatrick Tom Moore Sylvia Salazar Prentiss Watkins The Woodlands, TX Corpus Christi, TX McGregor, TX Irving, TX Forest Hill, TX Houston, TX Joan Bowers Antonio Florez Khanh Kim Sylvia Mourtakos Vincent Saroni Dontrell Watson Houston, TX Benavides, TX Cypress, TX Pasadena, TX Dallas, TX Houston, TX Collin Brown Joseph Frankie III Jonathan Kleinman Elizabeth Muir Jim Sheffler Mark Wehmeyer Dallas, TX Houston, TX Austin, TX Houston, TX Lorena, TX Houston, TX Jeanine Bryant Crawford Gallien Wes Kucera Robert Myers Richard Sifuentes Debra White Houston, TX Missouri City, TX Garland, TX Gatesville, TX San Antonio, TX Houston, TX Michael Budge Andre Garces Brett Larson Jerel Myles Priya Singh Bianca Williams Dallas, TX Dallas, TX San Antonio, TX Houston, TX Houston, TX Austin, TX Sean Burke Adrian Garcia Cameron Lawrence Edward Nagorski Patty Sipe Gloria Williams Austin, TX Fair Oaks Ranch, TX Dallas, TX Houston, TX Plano, TX Crosby, TX Ryan Byrd Abigail Gardner Eduardo Leal Lilian Nguyen Hale Sloan Jason Williams Houston, TX Fort Worth, TX Richardson, TX Houston, TX Killeen, TX The Woodlands, TX Ross Cansino Jason Gardner Chris Leathers Jacob Niemeier Louis Soule Laura Wilson George West, TX Houston, TX Dallas, TX Dallas, TX Houston, TX Midland, TX Amy Carlton Nick Garefalos Paul Lee Old Marbach School Specialty Maintenance Orlando Wilson JR Canyon Lake, TX Dayton, TX Grapevine, TX WSC Products Houston, TX George West, TX Houston, TX John Carman James Gay Levi WSC RaWilliam Winston Fort Worth, TX Houston, TX Lorena, TX Clifford Otun Michael Spencer Houston, TX Dallas, TX Folsom, CA Kristen Carranco Brad Geary Xinxin Li Matthew Woodard Houston, TX Azle, TX Houston, TX Harold Palmer Rosser Standifer Pflugerville, TX Corpus Christi, TX Dallas, TX Vanessa Chapa Todd Girdley Franklin Lilly Marques Woodley Houston, TX Dallas, TX Round Rock, TX Joanne Papajohn Frances Sullivan- Houston, TX Houston, TX Gonzalez Robin Chmiel Bill Goodell Sin-Hong Lin Austin, TX Oran Woods Houston, TX Huffman, TX College Station, TX Lakeisha Pawlik Humble, TX The Woodlands, TX Rodney Syer City of Aledo Mark Goodman SR Mark Loethen Dallas, TX Kelly Wyatt Aledo, TX Houston, TX Houston, TX Jeffrey Pearson Van Vleck, TX Euless, TX Desta Takie City of Wickett Bryan Grimes Julie Lovell Houston, TX Zhihua Xu Wickett, TX Ballinger, TX Ben Franklin, TX S. Peck Houston, TX Baytown, TX Texas Operations & Gary Cocke Adriana Guel Charles Loy Professional Services Jorge Yanez Plano, TX Pasadena, TX Austin, TX David Pedersen Houston, TX Pasadena, TX Houston, TX John Coffee Debra Guerrero Junying Lu Shubha Thakur Lynn Younts Cisco, TX Houston, TX Houston, TX Annaeka Perkins Houston, TX Dayton, TX Humble, TX William Cole JR Ruel Hampton II Alloan Lytle Michel Thelus Pedro Zertuche Beaumont, TX Manvel, TX Houston, TX Cynthia Pfluger Houston, TX Houston, TX The Woodlands, TX Reginald Coleman Tracy Harvey Rajesh Malla Janet Thomas Tianshu Zhang Humble, TX Port Aransas, TX Cypress, TX Mariel Polter Cleburne, TX Houston, TX Austin, TX Barron Cooper Douglas Haude Isai Manzano Joe Thomas Houston, TX Spring, TX Arlington, TX Shane Porter Cleburne, TX Conroe, TX Joshua Cruz Joe Hillsman Amanda Marshall Houston, TX Houston, TX Houston, TX

| 28 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org | letter from the texas section chair | CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

TEXAS WATER REUSE CONFERENCE July 17, 2015 Lubbock, Texas

ABSTRACTS DUE ON MARCH 20, 2015

WATER REUSE ABSTRACT SUBJECT AREAS WateReuse Texas, Water Environment Association of Texas, and UTILITY OPERATIONS Texas American Water Works Association invite you to submit an abstract for the 4th Annual Texas Water Reuse Conference — co-sponsored by our three CCC Customer conversion challenges associations. CDS Conveyance, distribution, and storage system design and operation – including cross- INSTRUCTIONS: To be considered for a technical presentation, submit an abstract connection control by MARCH 20, 2015. Abstracts must be one page or less and include the title, author(s), and up to three subject areas selected from the box at right. Abstracts OPR Operations/maintenance and operator issues should be submitted to [email protected]. RCD Reuse customer development

SESSION PROPOSALS: Individual speakers and organizations may submit RUD Reuse utility development proposals for complete sessions (1.0 to 1.5-hour) duration. Session participants will FOLLOW THE MONEY be required to submit manuscripts and PowerPoint les in accordance with the RFO same schedule as individual speakers. Funding options for water reuse facilities WRR Water reuse rate structures IMPORTANT DATES WATER REUSE PLANNING AND SUCCESS MARCH 20, 2015 Abstracts due IND Industrial reuse: Facility: and Fracking APRIL 17, 2015 Authors noti ed IRD International reuse case studies JULY 7, 2015 PowerPoint- Presentation due MEM Membranes, MBR and Satellite plants JULY 10, 2015 Author Registration Deadline PLN Planning for water reuse JULY 17, 2015 TEXAS WATER REUSE CONFERENCE RGR Regulatory, institutional, and legal issues SUT Sustainability through reuse “NO PODIUM” POLICY: By submitting an abstract, a potential presenter agrees URB Urban reuse – golf courses, parks, landscape, to (1) prepare and submit a Power Point by JULY 7, 2014 for publication in the residential conference proceedings; (manuscript up to 20 pages optional), (2) to prepare and WATER QUALITY ISSUES deliver an oral presentation at the Conference; and (3) register for the conference by JULY 10, 2014. Individuals who fail to submit presentation slides as scheduled DSQ Maintaining reclaimed water distribution will be replaced in the conference program with an alternate presenter. See list quality of important deadlines above. GWI Ground water issues and concepts – including aquifer storage and recovery IPR Indirect Potable Reuse LOCATION: The 2015 Texas Water Reuse Conference will be held at the Overton PRE Potable reuse Conferere nce Center, 2322 Mac Davis Lane at Avenue X, Lubbock, TX . The TTR Treatment technologies conference is scheduled for 9 am to 4 pm, July 17, 2015. Make your reservations for $139 at 806.776.7012. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Vandertulip Jason Christensen Jenna Covington Chair, Technical Program Committee Chair, TAWWA Reuse Section Chair, WEAT Water Reuse Committee 210.402.1572 Phone: 512. 912.5109 Phone: 972.359.8751 don.Vandertulip@arcadis-uscom [email protected] [email protected] www.tawwa.org TEXASh2o FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 | 29 | | executive director report |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 | executive director report

WEAT second, and then alternate every year. I briefly about the honoree with more details in our Awards thought that decision might cause some angst with the Booklet. planning committee, but no comments were made, A few years ago it was Foster Crowell from the City and we moved on. We learned a lot about what was of Corpus Christi who declared with no uncertainty important that first year. that the utility was more than willing to help as long Since then, I provided guidance to the 1997 confer- as the utility staff was not responsible for managing ence in Arlington, and shortly after that conference, registration. We agreed and brought in our current became the first Executive Director for Texas AWWA. registration support team, GCP Association Services, Since then, I have helped plan every conference over LLC. These are the folks – Cliff, Clay, Lisa, Liz and Tracy the past 20 years. It has been an amazing process as – whom you see every year behind the registration we first took baby steps to grow the conference both in counter. They manage our registration and provide attendees and exhibitors and then, as we realized how excellent support for the conference. popular and successful the conference was becoming, There are any number of great success stories (and, we grew the conference more aggressively to meet the frankly, some that were not so great) but what was just needs of everyone. You may not know that we have a an idea that made sense has grown into the Largest waiting list of more than 100 exhibitors who would like Regional Water Conference in the U.S. © (It really is to become part of the conference. We add them slowly copyrighted, just as the name, Texas Water™ is trade- to the mix as we build attendance, because we work marked – seriously – we have fought the legal battles to very hard to keep the balance of attendees to exhibi- protect our name). tors correct to maintain the quality of the conference. And, we still create this conference with just two Over time, we have had to make many adjustments. staff members – myself and Julie, my WEAT coun- For example, each organization always had “their” way terpart – the folks from GCP and from Freeman, the of doing things or traditions that were hard to change. decorating company, and most importantly, an amaz- For example, luncheon speakers were the norm before ing group of volunteers in each city where we host the we joined forces. But, with two organizations trying conference. If you want to point to the success of the to also recognize volunteers for their service during conference, it is these volunteers who get together and the awards portion of the lunch, as well as a keynote just make it happen. Watching them succeed is the speaker, it became impossible to do it all. So, we best part of what I do. dropped the speaker and divided the awards up into And, 20 years later, the conference is more popular two different ceremonies. We soon realized the second and more successful each year and we have become ceremony was not working well and that was when we the envy of every one of our counterparts across the created the Awards Breakfast with the video presenta- country. It is a partnership that works far beyond what tion of sometimes nearly 50-awards in an entertain- anyone ever expected. I hope to see you all in Corpus ing, fast-paced way that provides the core information Christi to help us celebrate!

engineers surveyors landscape architects

www.tnpinc.com

Fort Worth 817.336.5773 Dallas 214.461.9867 Denton 940.383.4177 Sherman 903.870.1089

| 30 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 TEXASh2o www.tawwa.org | calendar |

What’s Happening Across Texas

DATE ACTIVITY TIME LOCATION INFORMATION

MARCH 20 South Texas Chapter Noon San Antonio Gun Club Lance Rothe Sporting Clays Tournament 928 Contour Dr. [email protected]

MARCH 26 Texas Water Day at the Capitol Texas State Capitol www.tawwa.org

APRIL 14-17 Texas Water 2015 American Bank Center www.tawwa.org Corpus Christi

MAY 15 Texas Water Conservation Series www.tawwa.org Free webcast series

AUGUST 15 Texas Water Conservation Series www.tawwa.org Free webcast series

Want to share your event with the Texas water community? Contact Mike Howe, 512-238-9292 or [email protected].

Check the Section’s website, www.tawwa.org, for the latest information on Section activities.

www.tawwa.org TEXASh2o FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 | 31 | TEXASh2o PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL c/o GCP Association Services, LLC U.S. POSTAGE PAID PO Box 676 | Pflugerville, TX 78691 AUSTIN, TEXAS 512-251-8101 | (f) 512-251-812 PERMIT NO. 1 [email protected] | www.tawwa.org

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