Clean Water Groups Shaping Future Utilities
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) have jointly released a document that defines the ever changing environmental, economic, and social roles that clean water utilities are playing in their communities.
According to Water Resources Utility of the Future ... Blueprint for Action, this new “Utility of the Future" (UOTF) will transform the way traditional wastewater utilities view themselves and manage their operations, exploring how traditional publicly owned treatment works have mastered their core wastewater treatment function and are now redefining themselves as resource recovery agencies and vital community enterprises.
"This Blueprint will help us realize a sustainable future that minimizes waste, maximizes resources, protects the ratepayer, improves the community, and embraces innovation in an unprecedented manner," said Ken Kirk, Executive Director, NACWA. "It also will help ensure that UOTF issues are front and center as the 113th Congress and incoming Administration develop their environmental priorities."
The three organizations will continue to work collaboratively on shared objectives. In addition, it is hoped that the entire clean water community will adopt the objectives outlined in the Blueprint and participate in moving toward its goals as well.
"Today’s utilities are reclaiming and reusing water, extracting and finding commercial uses for nutrients and other products, becoming more efficient energy users and renewable energy producers, and using green infrastructure to manage stormwater and to improve the quality of life," said Jeff Eger, Executive Director, WEF. "They are essential to thriving, sustainable communities."