Scholarships Available For Utility Staff To Visit Other Utilities With Innovations Of Interest

The Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF), Water Environment Federation (WEF), and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) have partnered to form a new scholarship opportunity for utilities. The Scholarship Exchange Experience for Innovation & Technology (SEE IT) is a unique opportunity for utility personnel to travel to peer facilities with innovations of interest to get an up-close understanding of their applications and learn how they could be translated to other facilities.

Recently, Jim Pletl of Virginia’s Hampton Roads Sanitation District praised LIFT SEE IT as a benefit by saying, “Innovation can be communicated in a number of conventional, virtual formats, but the LIFT SEE IT program will provide opportunities for stakeholders to experience, in person and real time, specific innovative approaches and technologies in the wastewater treatment sector. They can interact directly with colleagues from peer facilities to gain complete and thorough understanding that is required to advance innovation and the state of wastewater treatment knowledge.”

Utility representatives interested in traveling to a peer facility are encouraged to submit an application. If selected, the sponsoring organizations (WE&RF, WEF, and NACWA) will provide travel support for personnel to visit the utility that is implementing the technology or innovation of interest. Candidates may apply to visit innovations that include new technologies and processes, but also novel approaches to service, operations, and finance. Scholarship recipients will be required to record and share their experiences with peer utilities and others. The LIFT SEE IT Application is available on www.werf.org. Applications are due December 1, 2016.

About The National Association of Clean Water Agencies

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies is the leading advocate for responsible national policies that advance clean water. NACWA represents the collective interests of America's clean water utilities nationwide – and their clear commitment to America’s waters. For over 40 years, NACWA has been the clean water community’s voice in Congress, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies, as well as in the media and in the courts. For more information, visit www.nacwa.org.

About The Water Environment Federation

The Water Environment Federation is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 33,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. As a global water sector leader, our mission is to connect water professionals; enrich the expertise of water professionals; increase the awareness of the impact and value of water; and provide a platform for water sector innovation. For more information, visit www.wef.org.

About The Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF)

The Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF) is a 501c3 charitable corporation seeking to identify, support, and disseminate research that enhances the quality and reliability of water for natural systems and communities with an integrated approach to resource recovery and reuse; while facilitating interaction among practitioners, educators, researchers, decision makers, and the public.