Spring is in the air and we know what that means for water: conference season is in full swing. Around here that looks like trade show booth development, securing articles and editorial meetings, launching new websites and, of course, strategic planning to ensure our clients’ conference dollars are well spent. In addition to a heavy level of production and planning, this time of year also offers our growing team the opportunity to meet our clients, prospective clients, friends and water experts in person.
When you add three new people in three months, there’s bound to be a lot of learning and growing, so I was delighted to have Rio join me in DC to attend WWEMA’s 50th Washington Forum. If you aren’t already familiar with WWEMA, I urge you to learn more. The Water & Wastewater Manufacturers Association, established in 1908, seeks to be “the voice of water and wastewater technology providers, promoting the advancement of technology solutions for clean water that ensures a future sustainable environment and to improve its members’ economic viability.” Each year, WWEMA’s event coincides with DC WaterWeek and the AWWA Fly In, when water professionals, pundits, lobbyists, activists and educators gather in DC to meet the legislators who are writing the bills that impact water.
The event that WWEMA hosted included two days of informative speakers, rousing panels, plenty of Q&A and a chance to mingle with people who are as obsessed with water as we are! Between the EPA dropping the long-awaited MCLs for PFAS that week, plus the ongoing struggle for manufacturers to make sense of the Build America, Buy America Act (adorably called BABA), it was a terrific week for Rio and I to be surrounded by influencers and leaders in water. Bonus: I attended my first meeting of the newly formed Communications subcommittee!
And in the spirit of continuous learning, team building and Earth Day celebrations, Sarah, Tori and I spent time in downtown Philadelphia, checking off a bucket-list item at the Fairmount Water Works. Sure, we understand how water works after all these years. Still, it was so much fun to immerse ourselves in listening, learning, playing and talking about all things permaculture with our wonderful guide, Vivian!
A belated happy Earth Day, friends. I’m honored to continue to have a home here in this water space after nearly 30 years. I’ll be honoring and celebrating this week by continuing to try to replace my lawn with native plants, hanging a bluebird house, and figuring out how to set up my rain barrel properly.
Peace,
