FWEA Focus—Ronald R. Cavalieri

President, FWEA

I noted in my first column here that we serve a noble cause. The rich quality of life that we enjoy in Florida and across the United States is dependent on ensuring that sufficient, clean water is available for all reasonable and beneficial uses within our community, while protecting natural systems and the environment. Reliable access to clean, safe water is essential to our way of life. As water professionals we are proud to serve this noble cause.

Our vision at FWEA is: “A Clean and Sustainable Water Environment for Florida’s Future Generations.”

Although our vision may never be fully achieved, we always strive to attain it. The association is dedicated to this vision through its mission, strategic goals, and core principles.

It has been an honor for me to serve as president of FWEA this past year and I’m proud to say that this is a great organization we serve. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the board of directors, and the chapters and committees, to serve our members. I appreciate the relationships that we have built together to achieve our goals and objectives.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-2021 FWEA updated its strategic plan. The plan identified four strategic goals: S Member Engagement

Southwest Chapter sporting clay event. S Public Awareness and Outreach S Partnerships and Sound Science-Based Public

Policy S Workforce and Professional Development

In FY 2021-2022 FWEA was successful in achieving these goals. Through its chapters and committees FWEA completed over 45 separate events throughout Florida.

A significant achievement this year was an update of the FWEA website. A website committee was formed to update and refresh existing information, add content, and provide recommendations for further enhancement and maintenance. I want to give a special thank you to Mike Sweeney and the entire website committee for a job well done.

The events completed by our local chapters were amazing. They included golf tournaments, sporting clays, beach cleanups, webinars, the Southwest Florida Water and Wastewater Exposition, oyster reef building, and a first-time ax throwing event. In total there were over 35 local events.

What better way to attract, engage, and grow new members through these events?

South Chapter joint holiday party with FWEA, Florida Engineering Society (FES), and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) members. Ax throwing event at the West Coast Chapter Member Appreciation Night.

Our committees were also very active, completing both virtual and in-person professional development events. After a year of virtual meetings and seminars it was great to see people face to face again. Some of the events were: S The Collection Systems Committee conducted several webinars during the year and a septic-to-sewer seminar in November last year. S The Wastewater Process Committee conducted “The Future is Now” seminar at St.

Petersburg College on Nov. 2, 2021, and it was tremendously successful, with more than 100 attendees. S The Water Resources, Reuse, and Resiliency (WR3) Committee held its annual seminar on February 3 at the City of Plant City’s Sadye

Gibbs Martin Community Center and had more than 50 attendees. S The Air Quality Committee conducted its annual seminar on February 17, with more than 60 attendees. The committee also recently launched “The Odor Oracle,” a quarterly newsletter for FWEA members.

Each of these events achieved our goal of delivering high-quality and relevant seminar content to provide value to FWEA members.

The FWEA Utility Council (UC) continues to serve an important role in achieving our goal of promoting sound science-based public policy. The UC mission is to assist its members in achieving sound public health and environmental goals for the millions of users it serves in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The UC works for the reduction and elimination of water pollution in Florida and supports the adoption and implementation of effective wastewater legislation, regulations, and policy, primarily at the state and federal level.

Having participated in FDEP Day on January 7 and the joint legislative weekly virtual meetings while the Florida Legislature was in session, I have seen first-hand the important contribution the UC makes to our organization; for example, the influence that the UC is having on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) potable reuse rulemaking process, which is ongoing.

The FWEA members are excited about the upcoming Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC), being held April 24-27 in Daytona Beach. After two years of cancelations, we are looking forward to seeing one another in person. All indications are that this year’s FWRC will be highly successful. The exhibit hall is nearly sold out and conference sponsorships and attendee registrations are strong.

We especially look forward to the annual meeting and awards luncheon, where we recognize excellence in the industry. The FWEA believes that individuals and groups should be recognized for meritorious achievements for their accomplishments during the previous year.

What better way to showcase what a great organization we serve?

The FWEA truly serves a noble cause and is a great organization. Serving as your president has been a highlight of my career. I want to give a special thank you to FWEA and its members, and the board of directors, for working together this past year to achieve excellence in all our endeavors. I appreciate your service and support. I also want to thank my wife for her encouragement and support. She has been a blessing to me.

Most of all, I want to thank God for the ability and talents that He has given me to have served in this position. S

Air Quality Seminar speakers and committee members. Water Resources, Reuse, and Resiliency (WR3) Committee seminar audience.

Wastewater Process Seminar speakers.