Dudek’s Post

SMC's Jonathan Ridolfi, Associate, and Justin Seigel, Director, attended the Environmental Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Operation & Maintenance of Stormwater Systems (OMSW) Conference earlier this month - a gathering highlighting advances in O&M of stormwater infrastructure, including maintenance design and approaches, training programs, municipal program management and implementation, life cycle cost analysis, lessons from the field, etc. They had a very positive experience at the event, taking away the following insight, "As various municipalities, jurisdictions, and agencies across the country embark on their journeys towards cleaner stormwater, learning how to properly maintain their facilities becomes a major hurdle that must be accounted for. Developing innovative ways to obtain funding and create 'Green Collar Jobs' becomes a key discussion point, with many looking to the P3 of the Clean Water Partnership in Prince George's County as a model to learn from. With a unique ability to provide extensive contractor training on how to properly maintain various stormwater facilities as well as provide valuable opportunities for both County Located Small Businesses and Local Resident work hours, the program has become a model for success across the Country. "Furthermore, as funding becomes a greater need for proper O&M, implementing a stormwater utility tax, often referred to as a 'rain tax', is quickly being brought to the forefront. By following a 'teach & treat' model to engage the community, accounting for community desires and needs before implementing a stormwater utility tax, appears to be a potential path forward to remedy the O&M funding issue while reducing confrontation & resistance from the community. By following the 'teach & treat' model, the goal becomes to demonstrate that Green Infrastructure can be more than just a utility to clean stormwater runoff, but rather a positive asset to local communities for years to come." - Jon Ridolfi "Technology, specifically AI, can play a major role in maintaining BMPs. Stormwater infrastructure continues to expand, and we'll need to figure out how to best allocate limited resources to maximize the benefit of existing and future stormwater control measures. Ideally, inspections and maintenance firms can leverage AI to predict both routine and non-maintenance needs and allocate resources effectively." - Justin Seigel Click on the following link to learn more about future events hosted by the EWRI: https://lnkd.in/daAp2FaT

👩🏼💻WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE REVISED EUROPEAN WASTEWATER TREATMENT DIRECTIVE? 🧑🏽💻 The European Parliament approved the revised European Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive on April 10th. For professionals in environmental and water treatment sectors, it is crucial to understand the upcoming changes and their implications. Join our webinar to navigate the challenges of implementing this intricate legislation and discover how DHI is already assisting Nordic customers in adapting to these changes. By attending the webinar, you will: 💧 Gain insights into how the directive will affect your utility, municipality, or watershed. 💧 Learn about other additional important legal texts essential for implementing the Directive. 💧 Meet the DHI team, who will share case studies from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, showcasing initiatives aligned with the new Directive's requirements. 💧 Have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have with experts on the text. Don't miss out on this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve! Register for our webinar today by following the link below: https://lnkd.in/dkkFZPXN

Navigating the groundwater quality provisions of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) presents significant challenges. Achieving compliance will require time and consistent application of SGMA regulations in the Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs). Attached is an insightful presentation detailing the challenges faced by the Santa Clarita Valley Water District. This presentation was delivered at a joint meeting of ACWA's SGMA Implementation and Groundwater Quality Subcommittees. If you are an ACWA member and interested in attending these committee meetings, please contact Soren Nelson Association of California Water Agencies, Trevor Joseph, Rick Viergutz, Jennifer Nyman, Lisa Porta, P.E., California Department of Water Resources, Ali Musa Elhassan

Today, I am at WSP in the UK , Birmingham office, as we host CIWEM (The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) 's discussion on Water Resources Planning chaired by Chris Fawcett The Environment Agency kick-started the first panel discussion. Session 1: Overview of Water Resources planning We discussed: Challenges such as national coordination, technical alignment, adaptive planning, and reducing duplication The role of regional groups as hubs for multi-sector planning and catchment governance A way forward with more focus on environmental destinations, stability in technical approaches, and a potential national coordination office to drive alignment. Key questions raised by the audience: Should WRMPs change its name to reflect a broader, more integrated approach? Can urban planning move towards a more water-positive focus? Highlights: Local plans are crucial to shaping our growth—engagement with LPAs must increase. Collaboration is key for upcoming regional plans. The proposed government reform of water statutory plans is vital. Smart metering must be made accessible to all, with lessons learned from early adopters. Ultimately, without water, there is no economy. The future of water resource management depends on effective coordination, multi sector planning, and strong governance. #WaterResources #WaterPlanning #Sustainability #CIWEM #SmartMetering #CatchmentPlanning

Explore the pivotal role of data in enhancing public services amidst ageing infrastructure, crafted by Mathias Riechel, an environmental engineer with a PhD in civil engineering, who is currently working for Fichtner Water & Transportation GmbH - one of our silver sponsors for the 2024 #iwaLET Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies. Currently at Fichtner, he employs #Data-Driven approaches to rehabilitate water distribution networks and other infrastructure assets. Dive into how data can revolutionise #Infrastructure management and ensure resilient #PublicServices. Read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/ddzZiDy2

Incredible day. Incredible people. Incredible insights. The British Water Annual Conference 2024. Thank you Lila Thompson MIEx (Grad) for being a wonderful chair for the day. Of the sessions: How do we drive environmental improvement? - The Water Companies View 🌱 Jo Harrison highlights Victorian architecture requires significant re-engineering and collaboration with local authorities is crucial. 🌱 Monisha Gower MAPM MIET advocates a nature first, systems thinking, and partnership approach due to the substantial impact of the AMP8 investment where a roadmap aligned with initiatives to meet carbon reduction targets is essential 🌱 Monisha Gower MAPM MIET also notes capital maintenance is under budget, requiring a shift in assessment in how we assess asset health and maintenance where decisions are not made in the here and now, at the expense of future generations. The UK water sector faces numerous challenges, but focusing on these areas and adopting best practices can pave the way for a sustainable future. John Hensman, Jessica Kahl, Ed Turner, Libby Doswell #ghd #britishwater #futurewater #innovation #engineering #oneteam

💬The EU “water acquis” already sets rules in many areas, but we see a huge gap in the implementation of key legislation and the need for stronger and more forward-looking policies to avoid disruptions in the future. 💬That is why, in our Call for a #EUBlueDeal, we are asking the European Commission and Member States to make water a top priority for the next legislative period. -said Domenico Campogrande, Director General of FIEC EU , who discusses the impact of #water on the construction industry. Learn about FIEC's Call for a #EUBlueDeal and their focus on innovation and collaboration to achieve a water-smart Europe. Read his interview: https://lnkd.in/eCHuUZqF #WaterManagement #EconomicImpact #IndustryInsights #InterviewSeries #WaterSector #SustainableWater #EnvironmentalImpact #WaterInnovation #LeadershipInterview #FIEC #WaterResources #WaterEconomy #SectorLeadership #WaterInEconomy #WaterImportance

California's SGMA: Celebrating 10 Years of Water Progress 🎊 🎉 One decade ago (to the day 9/16!), California enacted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in response to growing concerns about groundwater depletion. The law aimed to address the state's water crisis by empowering local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) to develop and implement groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs). While SGMA has made progress in certain areas, challenges persist. Some GSAs have faced difficulties in developing GSPs, while others have encountered regulatory hurdles. Legal disputes have arisen over the interpretation and implementation of the law. Despite these obstacles, SGMA has demonstrated positive outcomes in some regions leading to reduced groundwater pumping and improved aquifer health. Moreover, the law has raised public awareness about the importance of groundwater conservation. As SGMA enters its second decade, it is essential to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. You can read more about the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) here: https://water.ca.gov/sgma What's your experience with SGMA? Leave a comment to let us know what you think about it!

ESA’s Technology Services Practice doing some great things. Check out the innovative and critical Groundwater Accounting Platform online at the link reposted below or in action at the SGMA Implementation Summit & Workshop next week. #SGMA #groundwater

Next week at the CIWEM (The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) #UDGConference2024, I will be presenting a paper titled 'Raindrops to Resilience' co-authored with Arran Cooper Davis and Abbi Hall. We will share our research and emphasise the importance of taking a strategic approach to rainwater management for urban resilience. Our paper outlines four critical steps to create resilient rainwater management solutions that align with regulatory and environmental goals: 📊 Defining clear objectives and metrics to ensure measurable results, 🔍 Modelling interventions to optimise hydraulic performance, 🤝 Targeted engagement for sustained impact, and 📈  Monitoring assets to evaluate performance These pillars are embedded in our approach at OurRainwater, where we combine data-driven insights with tailored strategies and active householder and community engagement to deliver long-term, impactful solutions. By focusing on the right interventions, targeted engagement, and continuous monitoring, we are helping water companies turn regulatory challenges into sustainable outcomes. If you are attending, I would love to connect and explore how we can make rainwater management more resilient, one raindrop at a time! You can register here - https://lnkd.in/e64En5U7 #RainwaterManagement, #SustainableSolutions, #UrbanDrainage, #ClimateResilience, #CIWEM, #Innovation, #WaterManagement