News

Securing Our Future: Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Funding Opportunities

Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 10:00 AM-11:00 AM (CDT)

FOCUS ON ENERGY® and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP) are partnering to highlight financial opportunities for energy-efficient processes and upgrades at municipal operations. Throughout this webinar, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the various funding mechanisms available for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Learn how to apply for these funds successfully and discover the future direction of funding in this critical sector.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpc-qhrjssHdUFIkC7uKstXI_QO8HD5s8n

WWOA lost one of its most tenured members recently.  Ralph (Rusty) Schroedel passed away on May 28, 2023.  Rusty was a 30-year member of WWOA, who frequently gave talks at annual conferences.  In addition, Rusty was a routine exhibitor as part of AECOM, and was a member of the WWOA Technical Committee for over 15 years.  Rusty will be sorely missed.

Excerpts from his official obituary are presented below.

Rusty was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in April of 1952 and passed away after a brief and courageous battle with cancer on May 28, 2023 at the age of 71. After graduating from Dominican High School, he graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree. He went on to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where he received a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering in 1976.

Rusty moved to Sheboygan in 1975, where he started working for the original Donohue & Associates, currently AECOM, and began his career in wastewater treatment engineering. He was very proud that his work helped protect the environment and public health.

Rusty was recognized nationally for his engineering expertise and has been actively involved in many professional organizations. He is Past-President of the Wisconsin Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Past-President of the Central States Water Environment Association. He is a life member of ASCE, the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and the Wisconsin Wastewater Operators Association. He also achieved the highest recognition of Fellow from WEF in 2016. He has given over 100 technical presentations at conferences and seminars.

3/15/2022

By Rick Mealy

Many labs dread an audit and are relieved when the auditor leaves.  Audits should not end that way, and there are things you can do to minimize what ultimately appears on your audit report.   I will never forget a two-day audit I once performed at a small commercial lab in Michigan that was seeking Wisconsin certification.  On the morning of the second day, I noticed a trash receptacle overflowing with crushed beer cans.  I asked about it and was told that staff were so devastated by my findings the first day that they just sat in the main area after I left and drowned their sorrows.  That bothered me, so I asked if we could talk about that.  It turned out that they were actually agreed with my findings but were disappointed in themselves.  With a little work, the lab eventually received certification, but that scene and my impact on the lab staff was indelibly stamped on my memory.

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12/20/2021:

Submitted by: Lake Michigan

Drowning in Project Costs- Consider Funding

Coliform testing for WWOA