Issue 2 2023

One Water Technical Conference & Expo
08/21/2023-08/24/2023

​Attendee Registration

Golf Registration
Registration closes 8/9/23\

SEOWEA Social
09/07/2023

September Webinar 2023
09/13/2023

SEOWEA 2023 Industrial Pretreatment Workshop
09/15/2023

Watershed Workshop
10/10/2023

Southwest Collection Systems Hands On Workshop
10/12/2023

Northeast Collection Systems Hands On Workshop
10/19/2023

Northwest Collection Systems Hands On Workshop
10/25/2023

Southeast Collection Systems Hands On Workshop
11/02/2023

An E-Newsletter Announcement will allow you to share an announcement with the membership including new services and equipment, staffing changes, or upcoming events. The possibilities are infinite!

More Information

OWEA
info@ohiowea.org
614.488.5800
Twitter: @Ohio_wea
LinkedIn: OWEA

1505 Bethel Rd.
Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43220

W-9

Did you miss the deadline for One Water pre-registration? Don’t worry! We have you covered. We listened to your feedback and redesigned the late/onsite registration process to make it faster – and we need your help for it to be successful!

If you or a co-worker haven’t registered for One Water yet, make sure you go online and register versus waiting until you are at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This will make the process faster and reduce your waiting time.

You can register HERE.

The OEPA has appointed Mark Johnson as Chief of the Division of Surface Water.

Johnson joined Ohio EPA in 2012 and has worked in the Division of Surface Water, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, and Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization. Johnson has years of experience in oversight of staff, environmental regulations, environmental enforcement, environmental remediation, Brownfield redevelopment, and ecological restoration.

Prior to his appointment as Chief, Division of Surface Water, Johnson served as the Assistant Director since August 2022 and prior to that he served as the Deputy Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs for Ohio EPA. As deputy director for business and regulatory affairs, Johnson was the primary contact for regulated entities to help coordinate permitting activities within the Agency, particularly for complex projects requiring multiple permits.

Johnson graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Conservation Biology.

Be part of one of the largest gatherings of water professionals in the Midwest – One Water! While regular registration is closed, you can still register online!

Check out everything One Water will have this year:

• Keynote Breakfast Speaker Donnell Duncan

• Three evening networking events

• More than 75 technical sessions, including ethics

• Operations Challenge featuring ten teams

• Regulatory Update from OEPA

• Much, much more.

You can find out more about registration, the full agenda, and technical program HERE.

Plan now to attend our Watershed Workshop, slated for October 10 in Dublin, Ohio. This workshop brings professionals from all realms of the industry that work with watersheds, green infrastructure, TMDLs,  flooding and more. More information, registration and the agenda will be available soon.

The Ohio EPA is interested in your thoughts on modernizing the title of “Wastewater Treatment Professional Operator” to a name that reflects the new expectations operators may face with water reuse and/or with the hope of recruiting a new generation to the workforce. This title change could be included with Ohio EPA’s changes to the operator certification rules that will be out for public comment later this summer.  

OEPA wants your input on potential options for changes to the title “Wastewater Treatment Professional Operator” (as identified in OAC 3745-7-05).

Any change suggested by the industry would be phased in and would not require immediate changes to position descriptions or job titles.  Those could be updated as they are reviewed by your organization. Ohio EPA could include language in OAC 3745-7 to reinforce any title transition identified by your feedback. Please take 5 minutes to fill out this survey and make sure YOUR voice is heard.

One Water could not be possible without the support of our sponsors. These companies support you and your industry, so please support them! If you see one of their employees at One Water – give them a big thank you. Your acknowledgment matters.

Our collections committee and section leadership are busy finalizing the details for our upcoming Hands On Workshops and now is the time to mark your calendar. These workshops bring some great collections education close to home, so that as many members as possible can participate!

• October 12, 2023 - Southwest

• October 19, 2023 - Northeast

• October 25, 2023 - Northwest

• November 2, 2023 – Southeast

 
More information and registration will be available soon.

Our annual photo contest is BACK and we need photos of your facility! Submit photos and a 100 word description to Megan Borror by September 15^th to be considered for the 2024 calendar. We can't wait to see your submissions!

This year the One Water conference will feature something new – Connections Corner. Connections Corner will be a designated area in the Expo Hall that will feature plenty of space to network and relax, with comfortable furniture. In addition, it will also have some exciting programming:
 

The schedule will also be available onsite in your program and app. Make sure your One Water plans include stopping by Connections Corner!

Join the Ohio EPA on August 22 at 10 am for a webinar about tips and tools for using the eDMR and STREAMS services in the eBusiness center. In addition to covering the basics for using these services, they will also cover who can report and submit applications, ways to simplify data entry, accessing and completing eDMR’s, and where and when to report non-compliance. In addition, they will touch on permitting structure and where to find additional resources and guides on Ohio EPA’s website. For more information and to register go HERE.

The following is a proposed change to the OWEA Rules and Regulations to include an Emerging Leader as an Executive Committee Member with full Executive Committee rights and responsibilities. This position would have a two year term and be renewable once. The nominating chair would seek nominations for the Emerging Leader position and it would be voted on by the Executive Committee. Please see the exact proposed changes below:

6. Management

6.2 The Executive Committee shall consist of: 1) the following Officers: President, President Elect, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer; 2) Section Delegates; 3) the most recent living immediate Past President of the Association, and 4) an Emerging Leader, and 5) a certain number of designated WEF Delegates who shall serve as members of the WEF House of Delegates. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of a majority of its respective members. A quorum is necessary to perform official business of the Association.

6.6 Terms of Office

6.6.1 The elected terms of office of the President, President-Elect, Vice President, and Past President shall be for approximately one year. The term of office of Secretary-Treasurer shall be for approximately one year and may serve consecutive terms. The terms of office of each Section Delegate shall be approximately two, two-year terms. All terms of office shall start at the conclusion of the annual business meeting at which they were elected and continue until their successor qualifies.

6.6.2 The term of service for a WEF Delegate is a three year term, with start and end dates as defined by WEF.

6.6.3 The term of the Emerging Leader shall be for two years and they may serve one consecutive term. Term of office shall start at the conclusion of the annual business meeting after which they were elected and continue until their successor qualifies.

6.6.4 The terms of office of each Section Delegate shall be approximately two, two-year terms. Term of office shall start at the conclusion of the annual business meeting after which they were elected and continue until their successor qualifies.
 

6.9 The duties of other Executive Committee members shall be as follows:

6.9.1. The Section Delegates shall serve on the applicable Section Executive Committee, shall communicate Association business and interests to the Sections, and also inform the Executive Committee of pertinent issues of the Sections.

6.9.2 The Past President shall provide general resource information of past Association activities.

6.9.3 The Executive Committee shall appoint the WEF Delegates who shall represent the interest of the Association to WEF.

6.9.4 The Emerging Leader shall represent the interest of the membership to the Executive Committee.

This proposed change will be voted on at the OWEA Annual Business Meeting which will be on Wednesday, August 23 at the One Water Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Please direct any questions concerning this change to Executive Director, Dawn Larsen.

Current Rules & Regulations