A changing climate, rise in smart technologies and evolving compliance challenges are impacting each of us in our mission to be stewards and champions of our most precious resource: water. The inaugural AQUALIS Sustainable Water Compliance Summit will provide a forum for discussing these issues and learning from experts and peers. Join Erin Zaske to kick off this exciting inaugural event with insights into how the water, wastewater and stormwater industries are undergoing unprecedented transformation.

The EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management delivers solutions for clean water, from multiple angles including regulatory, financing, innovation, and technical assistance. This session will cover recent successes and upcoming priorities for wastewater and stormwater management, including continued implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) funding.

Green infrastructure as a practice is gaining momentum and becoming an increasingly mainstream solution for stormwater management, as a part of resilient, livable communities. Jennifer will discuss the current state of green infrastructure in the US and Canada and compare trends and drivers and share lessons learned from different jurisdictions. She will also discuss the economics of green infrastructure, considering how we assign value to green infrastructure assets, and how we quantify this value.

Upon completion of this course, attendees should be able to:

• Understand what green infrastructure (GI) is, including different terms that are used in different jurisdictions (e.g., LID, BMPs, BGI, etc.), and the broad range of co-benefits and services that green infrastructure can provide
• Identify the various drivers for GI, how these drivers differ regionally, and how these influence the way that is implemented.
• Explain different elements of the economics of GI, including various approaches to valuation

This session will look at PFAS/PFOA, known as “Forever Chemicals” including new and proposed regulation from US EPA and the Pacific Region, including California, Washington, and Oregon, regarding these chemicals of concern in different types of media, including potential contributions to drinking water, such as ground water and stormwater.

With the significant increase of highly relevant studies, combined with heightened public awareness, which have led to a plethora of new laws and regulations, the time is now to begin preparation for the next phase of PFA regulations. We will look at emerging regulations and what the future may hold for the stakeholders involved.

What started with shallow soil impacts, then moved to potential groundwater and wastewater impacts, now emerges with what is next on the horizon: stormwater.

We will walk through some of EPA’s current and proposed regulations, the Pacific states’ current regulations and orders and then examine potential liability for property owners, managers, consultants and dischargers.

The objective of this track is to increase awareness and examine what to expect next on the horizon for PFAs in stormwater.

Upon completion of this course, attendees should be able to:

• Understand PFAs and potential considerations for Sites with potential affected stormwater exposure and discharge
• Discuss emerging PFAs legislation regarding water quality
• Explain future potential PFAs liability in regards to stormwater and water quality

With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, funding has become a hot topic in every sector of the water industry, and stormwater is no exception. Historically, the stormwater sector has been underfunded. In this panel discussion, hear from various professionals – from both the private and public sector – on how they received funding for their projects, challenges they overcame and more. They’ll share their perspectives and advice that will help you navigate the path to securing funding for your projects.

Upon completion of this course, attendees should be able to:

• Identify how to receive funding
• Understand both private and public sector funding availability 
• Gain advice on overcoming funding hurdles

Green infrastructure – just like grey – requires regular inspections and maintenance. But once the project is built, who takes on this job to assure proper function and the community benefits are realized? This presentation explores two GI maintenance approaches – contractor provided maintenance and owner provided maintenance. We will examine the opportunities and challenges, as well as the pros and cons of each method. We will look at two examples – the King County Waste Treatment Division Barton Roadside Raingardens and the King County Rainwise program – to see how each approach differs, yet helps manage stormwater as a resource and asset.

Upon completion of this course, attendees should be able to:

• Manage expectations in long term GI Maintenance
• Develop a successful contracted maintenance program
• Develop a successful owner or volunteer maintenance program
• Use checklists and reporting systems to track GI maintenance

The impacts of PFAS on public health and the environment continue to be researched, while at the same time state and federal authorities are taking action to regulate these chemicals.  Many drinking water utilities are being forced to shut down traditional sources of supply and fast-track new treatment projects and/or convert to more expensive sources of water. What lies ahead for sampling & testing our water supplies and treating our drinking water?

Some topics covered in this session will be:

• Sampling & Testing
• Treatability Analysis
• Available Treatment Technologies
• Process Selection
• Project Implementation

Upon completion of this course, attendees should be able to:

• Understand the broad spectrum of PFAS compounds, and of those that are regulated in drinking water
• List the most common approaches to removing PFAS from drinking water
• Recognize that every facility and every water quality matrix has its own unique considerations when determining how and where to implement PFAS treatment

Darin Olien is co-host of the Emmy™ Award Winning, #1 Netflix docu-series, Down to Earth with Zac Efron.

Spending nearly 20 years exploring the planet discovering new and underutilized exotic foods and medicinal plants as a Superfood hunter Darin developed, Shakeology – grossing over $4 Billion in sales since 2008 for Beachbody. He also created a plant-based Ultimate Reset 21-day detoxification program for the company.

From his years of experience within the health space, he wrote his New York Times best-selling book, “SuperLife: The five fixes that will keep you healthy, fit and eternally awesome”.

As host of the widely popular podcast The Darin Olien Show, Darin curiously explores people, solutions, and health as well as life’s Fatal Conveniences™ – a segment of the show uncovering modern-day flaws and challenges that may be undermining our health and our environment.

Darin the founder of Barukas™, the most nutrient-dense nut in the world coming  from the Savannah “Cerrado” of Brazil. Through sustainable business practices, the company is committed to supporting this important biome by planting 20 million Baruzeita trees while getting out the most delicious nut on the planet.