Results

Purpose of the research and key message and knowledge transfer In summary, the key message from this work is two-fold: Close collaboration with industry enabled the design of a scientifically rigorous and highly focused experimental program in live sewers. The latter provided conclusive answers within four months and identified a way forward leading to technology implementation and identification of researchable gaps needed to make the technology more widely usable. The specific knowledge that this paper will transfer is that reliable humidity sensors to measure relative humidity >98% in gravity sewers can be achieved. This is a tool that will help the water industry to improve the management of its concrete gravity sewers and other infrastructure that is in contact with high concentrations of gaseous H2S in humid air. No commercially available technology can do this. In this work, the authors have demonstrated experimentally, building upon advanced design work, that optical fibre sensor systems represent an innovative, versatile and affordable technology that can be brought to bear very effectively on key monitoring problems in the water industry's infrastructure. Through the work reported and results demonstrated in this paper, the research has very successfully created a synergy of the skills of an academic group and a major water utility to identify, tackle and solve key problems in sewers -- problems that impact directly on consumers and are seen world-wide in the industry. In doing so, in an effective way like this, the paper demonstrates the benefits to be gained from a close collaboration between the two groups. Above all new knowledge has been transferred -- in both directions -- and through that new and more effective approaches to problem solving developed. Specifically, the project is based on new technology for humidity measurement -- this is an essential parameter that needs to be monitored to minimize corrosion of concrete gravity sewers. No humidity sensors that last longer than ~1 week in the aggressive gaseous atmosphere of gravity sewers and can reliably measure humidity above 98% relative humidity are available. Thus supporting better predictive maintenance, in situ monitoring of a sewer and an anaerobic digester is undertaken using innovative optical fiber-based sensor systems: these being chosen because of their inherent safety in the potentially methane rich environment, their ability to be protected against biofouling, their light weight, low power consumption (or battery powered), 4G compatible and ease of use over the long lengths (up to kilometers) needed for some applications. The multi-parameter sensors systems designed and evaluated are also well suited to use with the high levels of hydrogen sulfide, coupled with high humidity seen in sewers and biogas rich environments -- environments where conventional electronic-based sensor systems regularly fail due to acid attack. Benefits of Presentation and why this presentation should be selected and will provide a benefit to our industry Sydney Water's current management strategy relies on reducing gas phase H2S by the addition of chemicals (ferrous chloride, magnesium hydroxide and calcium nitrate) to the waste water. This strategy, implemented in a number of waste-water systems in Sydney, is costly (about $4M p.a.) and its effectiveness in reducing corrosion is unknown, due to an inability to directly measure concrete corrosion and deterioration of rehabilitation materials. No matter how effective this program is in slowing the corrosion rate, there will always be concrete corrosion and a method for prediction and detection of imminent pipe failure is needed because of the enormous costs of such failures. In particular, it is necessary to determine how much of the ubiquitous H2S and H2O can be left in the air in order to reduce corrosion rates to less than what Sydney Water defines as a sustainable 0.5 mm/year. Gravity sewers are buried infrastructures that undergo chemical deterioration because of microbiological induced corrosion (MIC). Microbiologically induced oxidation (MIC) of gaseous H2S into sulfuric acid results in concrete sewer corrosion. MIC costs billions of dollars annually to the water industry and has been identified as a main cause of global sewer deterioration. Sydney Water spends about A$60-80M annually repairing and protecting concrete gravity sewers and has a regular sewer inspection program. Currently, sewer condition is determined by man entry which is inconvenient and hazardous, has major safety issues and is expensive and so there is a need to minimize man entry by reducing damage from MIC, which can be reduced by controlling moisture in the gravity sewers to values approximately below 85% RH. No conventional humidity sensors that can last longer than one week exist under these aggressive conditions. Tackling this, this work describes the first and successful attempt to use optical fiber-based photonics sensors to monitor humidity in the range >98%RH in the overhead space in gravity sewers. This information is fundamental to develop reliable models that can predict the end-of-service life (EOSL) of concrete sewers. With the ageing of an asset, there is a point in its life, termed the End of Service Life (EOSL) and by doing so, it will be possible to save hundreds of millions of dollars that would have to be spent if collapses occur or premature repairs carried out to prevent a potential collapse. The approach developed together thus supports Sydney Water's corrosion management strategy, which has been created as an outcome of over $3M in research projects striving to better understand the processes that lead to the formation of H2S dissolved in the waste-water. Status of Completion The work done together by the authors has enabled the project to reach a high level of completion and results of the use of the systems in sewers and biodigesters have been reported in the major international media. Thus to date, three trials of tailor-made fiber optic-based sensor systems to monitor humidity in the range >98% RH in sewer air that contains high gaseous H2S concentrations of up to around 400 ppnv have been successfully completed. Based on this Sydney Water is implementing the photonic sensors technology in small catchments. For extensive implementation, Sydney Water is supporting extra research to develop 'low cost' interrogators that would make the technology more cost effective, well suited to long term, in-the-field research. Conclusion and take-away message The key 'take-away' message is that this is a significant innovation in optical fiber and photonic sensors that they can now be used in these 'dirty' environments. This has also allowed in-situ long-term monitoring under conditions where current technology fails. The major outcomes of the series of experiments carried out over the last five years is clear; fiber optic sensors systems can operate effectively, in the long term, in remote locations under battery power, saving of millions of dollars.

Improving soil health is based on the premise that soils have the ability to optimally function within natural or managed (agro)ecosystems to sustain plant productivity and to create an environment conducive to system resiliency. Global evidence suggests that biosolids land application can positively alter some function(s) within the context of soil health, yet to date no one has effectively tackled this concept within the context of biosolids land application. We utilized a 22-year biosolids dryland wheat-fallow research location jointly operated between South Platte Renew (Englewood, Colorado) and the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO) to answer the question 'Can biosolids really improve soil quality/soil health aspects?' Soil samples (20 cm depth — plow layer) were obtained from plots (four replicates, randomized complete block design) receiving either biosolids (0, 2.2, 4.5, 6.7, 9.0, 11.2 Mg/ha) or N fertilizer (0, 22, 45, 67, 90, 112 kg/ha) every other year over 22 years. We utilized the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) to identify changes in soil texture, organic C content, clay percentage, wet aggregate stability, microbial biomass C, potentially mineralizable N, pH, EC, extractable P and K, bulk density, and beta-glucosidase activity. Within SMAF, data are scored as unitless values, from 0 to 1, based on pre-determined functions associated with either 1) more is better, 2) less is better, or 3) somewhere in the middle is better. The above indicators were then pooled into categories associated with changes in soil physical, chemical, nutrient, biological, or overall soil health indices. Results showed that soil organic C, potentially mineralizable N, and extractable P were greater in biosolids treated plots as compared to N fertilizer plots. Increasing biosolids application rate increased soil organic C, and other trends existed favoring biosolids over N fertilizer applications. However, when indicators were pooled into respectively soil health indices, increasing biosolids application positively influenced soil chemical, biological, and overall soil health. Biosolids applications improved biological soil health as compared to N fertilizer applications, suggesting that the combination of increasing soil organic matter, microbial biomass C, potentially mineralizable N, and the ability of microorganisms to degrade readily available cellulosic material, was enhanced with biosolids land application. Within this dryland wheat-fallow agroecosystem, biosolids can indeed be utilized to improve soil health, potentially leading to improved resiliency and sustainability.

One of the new requirements of the MS4 permits consists of a stormwater retrofit plan. This presentation will summarize the plan developed for the City of Minneapolis. We will also showcase one of the retrofit projects that was constructed, explaining how we took a different approach to incorporate environmental equity into the project through a jobs training learning lab without increasing the budget. The city has four flood surge ponds that are being evaluated for retrofit to provide water quality treatment. These ponds activate only when extreme weather events cause conveyance pipes to back up. This type of existing pond retrofit can be very cost effective and in some cases, may be one of the few options available in an already developed urban area. The first pond to undergo retrofit for water quality treatment was the Holland Basin, an existing flood surge pond that covers an entire city block. The basin is adjacent to a public high school and the neighborhood used the pond as a park space, adding to the complexity and outreach needs. The adjacency to a public high school in an over-burdened community presented an opportunity to use the project as a learning lab by employing youth to help with outreach, training material development, and restoration of the disturbed area using native plants. The project was successfully completed in the summer of 2021, and the learning lab contract continues for the warranty period to provide establishment maintenance. The learning lab paid 92 youth and installed more than 4,000 native plants for a project that provides water quality treatment for 20 acres. This presentation will explain the retrofit project and the approach to incorporate racial equity into an infrastructure project.

Green infrastructure and source control technologies are increasingly accepted as a best practice for reducing stormwater impacts on water quality and aquatic habitat in urban areas. However, impacts continue to grow in many watersheds within the United States even as progress is being made on other sources of water pollution (NRC, 2009). Stormwater management practices have been improved at the site level, but they are not being implemented on a large enough scale to offset water quality degradation caused by urban and suburban land use trends (WEF Stormwater Institute, 2015). Philadelphia is one city implementing green infrastructure on a large scale as a key component of its approach to manage urban stormwater and combined sewer overflows. The Philadelphia Water Department will complete its tenth year of program implementation in 2021. This paper will cover the status of the program, provide statistics on the types and locations of green infrastructure that have been implemented, and summarize performance monitoring data collected from systems operating in the field. PWD submitted its Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan Update in 2009, as required by its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. In 2011, a modified version of that plan was approved for implementation through a Consent Order and Agreement (COA) with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The COA specifies combined sewer overflow reductions, pollutant load reductions, and implementation of green stormwater infrastructure targets intended to improve water quality in local watersheds and the Delaware tidal estuary. As the program approaches the ten-year milestone, it has implemented stormwater management features managing surface runoff generated by approximately 1,100 acres of impervious urban surfaces (Figure 1). Stormwater management features have been implemented through a variety of programs and on a variety of land uses (Figure 2). These include projects on private property initiated by code requirements governing redevelopment. Projects have been implemented on public property, including streets, sidewalks, and public facilities. Finally, projects have been implemented through incentives for private property. Post-construction monitoring data from selected sites indicate that systems are generally meeting or exceeding design performance expectations (Figure 3).

INTRODUCTION The City of Tulsa, OK engaged Tetra Tech and WCS Engineering to evaluate, optimize and prioritize sanitary sewer overflow remedial alternatives for the Northslope collection system. The Northslope sanitary sewer collection system and treatment facility provide service to the northern portion of Tulsa. This current system has over 950 miles of pipe, 18 lift stations, 4 storage facilities, and an 85 MGD treatment facility. OBJECTIVE This presentation will provide municipalities with an example framework to prioritize capital investments using a best in practice approach to apply intelligent algorithm optimization. The case study maximizes return on investment with respect to scheduling capital improvements to reduce the frequency and severity of sanitary sewer overflows as early as possible. There are many factors to consider when prioritizing collection system capital improvement projects. Selecting the implementation sequence that maximizes overflow volume reduction is one factor to consider; however, there may be value delivered to a greater number of customers if an investment is made that reduces several overflows in close proximity to houses rather than reducing a large, centralized overflow away from direct customer exposure. In this case study, these factors are considered when prioritizing capital projects to maximize return on investment. SIGNIFICANCE This presentation will provide the following benefits to the audience and industry: - Demonstrate how formal optimization software can be applied to prioritize large and complex capital programs including conveyance projects, storage facilities, inflow and infiltration remediation, and treatment plant upgrades. - Illustrate how approximately 82% of SSOs can be eliminated within the first 27% of capital expenditure in the case study example. - Provide a framework for other cities to optimize and prioritize SSO remedial measure plans. METHODOLOGY Optimization The Tulsa Optimization evaluated conveyance, storage, I/I remediation, and treatment alternatives to abate SSOs for different levels of service. To enable an exhaustive and objective evaluation of all feasible improvement alternatives, the optimization analysis was undertaken using Optimizer (product of Optimatics). The raw output from Optimizer was linked to customized post-processing tools to automatically generate ArcGIS maps and detailed solution summaries. Optimization runs were completed for a wide range of scenarios to demonstrate key trends and differences between strategies for different levels of service and with different combinations of alternatives. Additionally, a broad range of sensitivity analyses were completed to provide confidence in the recommended strategy. The variety of scenarios optimized provides valuable insights into potential treatment and collection system improvement strategies to mitigate system capacity deficiencies. The results from each scenario help to identify key trends and illustrate solution components that are consistent in each scenario and other solution components that are sensitive to key assumptions. The City can thereby make a more informed decision in determining a preferred solution based on the robust set of scenarios, anticipated costs and levels of service presented. Prioritization The objective of the prioritization was to determine the sequence of project implementation that would maximize return on investment with respect to scheduling capital improvements to reduce the frequency and severity of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) as early as possible. Multi-objective optimization analysis was applied using Optimizer WCS to evaluate thousands of implementation schedule alternatives to determine the Pareto front of capital projects that maximize return on investment. Return on investment was quantified based on reduction in the number and volume of modelled overflows. The following weightings were included in the prioritization: - Modelled overflows that were correlated with observed SSOs were defined as 'confirmed' and were weighted by a factor of five in the prioritization relative to unconfirmed modelled overflows. If an SSO was reported on more than one occasion, then any modelled overflows corelated to that location were weighted by a factor of ten. This had the effect of the prioritization targeting investment into projects that address confirmed SSOs earlier in the program than unconfirmed modelled overflows. - A non-worsening penalty was applied to avoid the prioritization shifting overflow issues downstream. Any instance where the overflow/freeboard violation becomes worse than the current value a weighting factor of ten was applied. This had the effect of the prioritization ensuring either the downstream system has sufficient capacity prior to an upstream conveyance improvement being implemented, or that conveyance upgrades were balanced with rehabilitation projects to avoid impacting the downstream system. RESULTS Optimization Optimization runs were completed for multiple scenarios to determine the cost savings as each improvement type was implemented. Sensitivity analysis was performed on certain scenarios to assess the impact of new storage facilities and potential investment by the City into a private I/I program. Improved utilization of existing storage facilities requires significant increases to the influent lift stations. Expensive lift station upgrades can be avoided by including new below-grade storage facilities that have gravity inflow and pumped dewatering to avoid large influent lift station sizes. The cost savings that may be achieved by including strategically located new storage facilities is on the order of $175 M (16%). I/I reduction presents a significant opportunity to reduce the overall cost of the master plan by eliminating or reducing the size of projects that are otherwise required. The cost savings associated with the selected public sector I/I rehabilitation program are on the order of $454 M (29%). Prioritization The prioritization results show the sequence of CIP project implementation based on highest return on investment with respect to modeled hydraulic performance. There may be other considerations outside the scope of the cost/hydraulic-based prioritization that influence the sequence of implementation; thus, the results from this analysis are intended to be used as a guide only. Consideration of road surfacing programs, combining relief sewer projects that are in proximity of each other, and allowing for detailed planning and design are factors that should be considered when refining the schedule of improvements. The prioritization results show projects that achieve a relatively high return on investment in Priority 1, 2, and 3 with an 82% improvement in weighted SSO reduction within the first 27% of the total capital expenditure. A 95% improvement in weighted SSO reduction is achieved within 43% of the total capital expenditure by Priority 4 projects. CONCLUSIONS The Tulsa optimization and subsequent prioritization analysis delivered the following outcomes for the City: - Supports the City's Planning efforts to identify the immediate CIP for the next five years due to budgetary constraints. - Minimizes capital and life-cycle costs required to achieve SSO compliance. - Prioritizes the investment schedule to maximize the reduction in overflows at each stage of capital investment. - Enables the City to tackle manageable pieces of the overall solution. - Provides a framework and strategy to assess improvement efforts on a continuous basis.

In today's dynamic job market, organizations face challenges in retaining top talent and maintaining a strong workforce. Stay interviews offer a valuable tool for addressing these challenges by engaging and understanding the needs of existing employees. Stay interviews are an emerging mechanism adopted by organizations to improve employee retention. Unlike exit interviews that focus on gathering feedback from departing employees, stay interviews aim to engage and retain existing employees by addressing their concerns, needs, and professional development. This presentation provides an overview of stay interviews as a proactive retention strategy, outlining their purpose, benefits, and best practices. SPR will share their methodology for executing a stay interview project, providing insights into their data collection and analysis processes. They will also showcase their PowerBI dashboard, demonstrating how it visualizes differences between employee populations, including DEI subsets. This in-depth analysis enables leadership to address specific concerns within different groups, make necessary enhancements, and generate ideas for future offerings. Gallup research reports that only about 25% of organizations are currently conducting stay interviews, which can reduce organizational turnover by up to 20%. Overall, stay interviews serve as a valuable tool for enhancing employee engagement, satisfaction, and long-term commitment, contributing to overall organizational success.

This presentation will showcase the different strategies MS4 municipalities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, are taking to implement stormwater projects to achieve required pollutant reductions as cost-effectively as possible. Some of the methods include securing grant funding, using municipal public works staff to implement projects, establishing Municipal Authorities and enacting stormwater fees, working with private landowners, and partnering with the agriculture community. In September, 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) required Municipal MS4 Permittees to prepare and submit pollutant reduction plans (PRPs) for locally impaired waters and for the Chesapeake Bay. Municipalities are required to demonstrate pollutant reductions, measured in pounds per year as follows: 10% sediment; 5% phosphorus, and 3% nitrogen. These reductions must be achieved within 5-years of the PRP approval, which ranges from June 2023 through August 2024. PADEP selected sediment as the primary target for pollutant reductions and indicated that if municipalities achieved required sediment reductions then the phosphorus and nitrogen loads were assumed to be met. In Lancaster County, municipalities planned to implement the following projects: 17.13 acres of urban riparian buffer (24 projects) 59,105 linear feet of stream restoration (63 projects) 37 bioswales/bioswale retrofits 60 detention basin retrofits 10 raingardens When implemented, these projects will achieve 5,211 tons/year sediment reduction (10,423,460 lbs) at an expected cost of more than $50 million (based on $5.00 per lb of sediment reduction). While several municipalities worked together to implement joint projects within the same watershed, the majority are working individually on projects within their own jurisdiction — which places a heavy financial hardship on the community. For many, the expected costs to fund stormwater projects to comply with the PRP exceeds $500,000. This presentation will summarize the strategies that five municipalities, West Hempfield, Paradise, Rapho, Ephrata, and Manor Townships, are taking to achieve required pollutant reductions as cost-effectively as possible. Participants will learn the benefits and challenges of each strategy through case-studies and project analysis.

Background The Des Moines Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) is made up of 17 metro-area municipalities, counties, and sewer districts in Central Iowa. They work together to protect public health and to enhance the environment by recycling wastewater and being the preferred treatment facilities for hauled liquid wastes. The Des Moines WRA has grown to be the largest wastewater treatment organization in Iowa and that has historically led to one major problem finding enough qualified employees to operate and maintain the treatment facility that serves half a million residents. In 2008, the Des Moines Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) became one of the first municipalities in Iowa to take advantage of a Department of Labor (DOL) apprenticeship program by Iowa Association Municipalities (IAMU). The apprenticeship program was started because the WRA was struggling to find certified operators to hire. The job required that operators have an Iowa Grade 2 Wastewater Certification, and when a qualified candidate realized that they would be working overnights or evenings, they typically turned down the offer. With an apprenticeship, there are defined milestones that must be achieved in a timely manner, which allowed WRA managers to hire under-qualified candidates that would be required to complete the apprenticeship. Program Details The apprenticeship program is three years long in duration, it requires each apprentice to complete six thousand hours of on-the-job training and pass seven community college treatment and maintenance classes (with a C grade or better). Additionally, they must achieve their Iowa Grade 1 Wastewater Certification within the first year of employment, Class A CDL within two years and their Iowa Grade 2 Wastewater Certification by the third year. New hires that have pervious experience in the wastewater treatment field can receive previous experience credit for up to fifty percent of the on-the-job training hours. New employees that have already completed the any of the seven required classes will receive credit for them. With the acceptance of previous experience credit and classes previously taken, more experienced employees can be fast tracked while less experienced are allowed ample time to learn the ins and outs of working in the wastewater industry. When starting the apprenticeship program, WRA management created the position of Wastewater Training Specialist, in part to assist in the in the training of new Wastewater Operator Specialist employees. The first two apprenticeships classes (2009 & 2011) were held in conjunction with IAMU. The required classes were held at the facility with apprentices completing correspondence classes at Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids, IA). After the 2011 apprenticeship class, the WRA brought the administration of the program internal and started to send apprentices to classes at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). DMACC just recently (2012) started to offer water and wastewater treatment classes in a traditional community college fashion with online, in-person or blended classes. According to Craig Hennager and Lori Card of DMACC, 'Apprenticeship students at times were 50% of the enrollment in the overall program. They kept the academic program viable as we grew and developed additional curriculum, establishing ourselves in Iowa as Water and Wastewater training leaders. Together we are making a difference.' Apprenticeship Success Since the inception of the apprenticeship program, there have been a total of thirty-seven apprentices. Of that total number, 30 have completed the program, with 23 still employed at the WRA. An additional five are currently in the program which leaves only two out of 37 that started and did not complete the program. As the program has continued, the WRA has discovered that the learning did not end at completion of the Apprenticeship Program. Out of the 30 to complete the apprenticeship, 19 have eventually achieved Iowa Wastewater Certifications 3 or 4 which is above and beyond the scope of the program. WRA's leadership in workforce development has helped staff advance their training and certification, DMACC to establish their Water Environmental Technology 2-year AA degree, and the local partner organizations like the Des Moines Water Works have followed suit to create an apprenticeship program for their water treatment operators. This program has been vital to the important job of providing qualified staff for the largest wastewater treatment facility in Iowa that is crucial to serves approximately 500,000 residents in Central Iowa.

ASTM Committee E64 on Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) has published a series of new standards relating to specifications and performance protocols for manufactured water quality treatment devices (MTDs) including hydrodynamic separators (HDSs), media filters, and trash & debris capture technologies. These consensus-based ASTM standards have been developed to objectively measure the performance of these technologies to provide improved assurance on the efficacy of tested and verified technologies. This presentation will discuss the ASTM standards process and how it produces consistent quality procedures and products for the benefit of all stakeholders. An overview of these standards will be provided to gain insight into their rationale and essential elements. This presentation will also explore the potential benefits of using these standards as part of an SCM regulatory program; and what implementation of these standards within an authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) could look like. The prospect of a national validation process for ASTM standards via the Stormwater Testing and Evaluation of Products and Practices (STEPP) initiative will also be discussed. The overall intent of the ASTM standards process is to provide a high level of confidence to AHJs that the MTDs will provide long term and consistent treatment to meet water quality goals. Two E64 Subcommittees have been established to develop standards for both laboratory and field testing as E64.01 and E64.02, respectively. To date, laboratory standards include general specifications, standards applicable to HDSs, standards for media filtration, and a standard for trash & debris capture. General specifications address standard terminology for SCMs, silica-based test sediment and weighting factors for TSS removal on an annual basis. HDS standards and working items apply to TSS performance testing methods and data analysis, hydraulic characteristics and head loss, as well as scour testing to support online installations. Filtration standards and working items consider hydraulic characteristics, test sediment, performance testing and scour testing. The trash & debris capture standard is unique to laboratory protocols since it applies to manmade and natural materials >5 mm (5,000 microns) in two directions and uses a 'cafeteria style' approach for six testing elements. A standard for microplastics testing is also in progress. The first field-testing working standard addresses the use of autosamplers for the collection of paired influent and effluent flow-weighted composite samples. The development of new laboratory and field specifications and protocols is an ongoing effort with updates to existing standards occurring as the stormwater industry continues to advance MTD technologies and testing methodologies.

We invite water utility managers and professionals to join us at the upcoming Utility Management Conference for a presentation that promises to impact the future of the water industry. In 2022-23, a monumental job analysis survey was conducted, involving over 15,000 dedicated industry personnel across water, wastewater, wastewater collection, and water distribution domains. This unprecedented participation underscores the collective commitment to advancing our industry and is the foundation for certification standards in North America and globally. The outcomes of these extensive job analysis surveys, coupled with rigorous psychometric analysis, will serve as the cornerstone for developing the water industry's only standardized certification exams. This pivotal development will transform operator training, industry resource materials, and the content of certification exams. Behind this groundbreaking initiative are more than five dozen dedicated volunteers, who have invested hundreds, if not thousands, of hours in meticulously analyzing survey findings and identifying emerging trends. Our presentation will unveil the draft Need-to-Know Criteria documents derived from these findings, providing an exclusive preview of the future certification landscape. But that's not all. We encourage active audience participation and critique during the presentation. Your invaluable insights will assist the Certification Commission for Environmental Professionals in shaping relevant, robust, and legally defensible certification exams. Remember, water environment operators are the bedrock of our public health systems, and these surveys form the foundation for determining the criteria for operator competence. The Utility Management Conference offers a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to the Commission's final reports before they are released to the public and adopted by state and provincial jurisdictions. Be part of this transformative journey, and help us secure a safer, more efficient, and sustainable future for the water industry. Together, we can ensure that our operators are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to protect public health and preserve our precious water resources. Join us in shaping the future of water operator certification.

Conceptualized in 2006 and completed in early 2021, the Lick Run Greenway in Cincinnati, OH, is a unique example of how a community and a wastewater utility can work together on a creative, green solution for sewer overflows. On the surface, the Lick Run Greenway looks like a park with a stream running through it, but this stormwater management/combined sewer overflows (CSO) reduction project eliminates 800 million gallons of CSOs annually into the Mill Creek, which in 1997 was named the most endangered urban waterway in America. In 2006, the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSD) began working on a Wet Weather Program with a focused solution for the Mill Creek. The original project was a purely gray concept: a CSO storage tunnel. MSD proposed a green alternative that would not only meet the same CSO reduction goals at a reduced cost but also help revitalize a disadvantaged community. MSD deliberately selected and brought the project to South Fairmount, a low-income, transient neighborhood that was once a thriving community. The basis of the project was could we fix an environmental problem while also reinvigorating a neighborhood. From the beginning, the project sought to not only to inform local residents, but to engage them in the decision-making process, including historic/cultural mitigation and a series of community design workshops that led to a Master Plan. During construction, MSD continued to engage through public meetings, tours, neighborhood briefings, social media, website, media coverage, and monthly drone flyover videos showing construction progress. MSD additionally developed a series of educational signs on the cultural history of South Fairmount and ecological benefits of the project. The signage was also converted into a virtual experience for visitors through the Lick Run Heritage Trail website. As the project neared completion, MSD turned its attention to how to make the park welcoming, clean, and safe for visitors and a resource for outdoor and environmental education. In early 2021, MSD rolled out the Lick Run Greenway Ambassador program, which includes an Adopt-A-Spot program, hiring local youths through a partnership with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) and Groundwork Ohio River Valley to welcome visitors and help beautify the Greenway, and designing an anti-litter campaign. MSD also began working closely with the South Fairmount Community Council and Cincinnati Recreation Commission to help bring programming to the Greenway. In early summer 2021, MSD hired a college co-op to create and host weekly interactive, pop-up environmental education events geared toward children. The intern also created partnerships with the Queen City Pollinator Project and Cincinnati Red Bike. During the summer of 2021, MSD hosted a number of programs for the community at large, including an inaugural 5K run/walk, a Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra concert, a community-wide cleanup, and a Pumpkin Fest. Planning for 2022 is already underway, with the intent of bringing more programming and more environmental education to the South Fairmount community. The South Fairmount community has embraced the Lick Run Greenway, and MSD has embraced the challenge of helping revitalize this neighborhood.

The intern program at South Platte Renew was formalized in 2019 to highlight the work of professional engineers in the water/wastewater field. Over the last four years, the program has evolved into a comprehensive experience for junior to senior level university and college engineering students to showcase the diverse engineering and problem-solving opportunities available within a professional setting. Experiences range from construction inspection, design and planning, budgeting, technical and process optimization, lab work, and piloting treatment technologies. In providing several resources and contacts, students can explore different facets of the wastewater field and experience the unique offerings from a public entity. Along with classic engineering technical skills, interns are shown the political drivers and challenges that must be considered when working as a government agency. Students are also given the opportunity to grow their professional networks, complete vital trainings, and build resumes with applicable experience. The main goal of the SPR Intern Program is to engage young engineers in the diverse work of wastewater in hopes to inspire them to join the workforce in the public sector. This presentation highlights the efforts and methods by SPR to build and maintain an intern program and how others can benefit from a university-to-organization pipeline. The framework and planning documents can be customized for the 3-month internship based on the organization's needs and focuses for that year.