Article: A Battle Cry For The Nutrient Warriors

By Amit Pramanik, Senior Program Director, Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), and Stacy Passaro, Technical Outreach Coordinator for WERF's Nutrient Research Challenge

In July 2009, a group of more than 70 leading nutrient removal experts gathered at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, DC. The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) brought the group together for a workshop to assess the status of our battle to keep excessive nutrient levels from claiming the health of our natural water resources. Workshop participants came from almost every facet of our campaign to protect waterways from nutrient loads found in domestic wastewater, including public works directors, researchers, regulators, nonprofit organization leaders, and consultants.

This gathering of "nutrient warriors" couldn't have come at a better time. Landmark nutrient management activities are already underway.