President's Message

The Season of Progress

Greetings WWOA Members,

Have I ever mentioned how much I love being a grandparent? If I haven’t, let me say it now, it’s a pretty incredible job with outstanding pay in the form of hugs, laughter, and unforgettable memories. While the parents of our four grandchildren are tasked with enforcing the rules, bedtimes, and making sure vegetables are eaten, my wife and I get to enjoy all the giggles, the spoiling, and the magic that comes with watching childhood unfold. It truly is a blessing to watch your family grow and to see your heritage continue through the next generation. I feel incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing family.

Spring weather here in Wisconsin seemed to arrive a little late this year, but I was thankful that Memorial Day brought favorable weather conditions that allowed many of us to get outside and enjoy the weekend. I hope everyone had an opportunity to spend some time outdoors with family and friends while also taking a moment to honor and remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great country.

Spring also means one thing for many of us in the wastewater world—biosolids hauling season. It’s that time of year when treatment facilities across the state are coordinating hauling schedules with landowners while keeping one eye on the weather forecast and the other on planting schedules. If you’ve been involved in biosolids management, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Timing is everything, and as we all know, Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate.

Many facilities are fortunate enough to get storage sheds emptied before planting gets underway, while others are left waiting for first crop hay to come off before surface application can begin. Regardless of the challenges, operators across Wisconsin continue to do an outstanding job managing biosolids responsibly, safely, and in compliance with WDNR requirements. I want to recognize everyone involved in these programs—from operations staff and truck drivers to landowners and managers—for the hard work, planning, and coordination it takes to make these programs successful year after year. Your efforts are essential to keeping operations moving forward and ensuring we continue to be responsible stewards of our environment.

As we move into summer, many facilities are shifting into another busy season filled with projects, maintenance work, construction schedules, permit compliance, and everything else that comes with keeping treatment plants and collection systems operating efficiently. It’s a demanding profession, and it rarely slows down. I continue to be proud of the work our members do every day behind the scenes to protect public health, preserve Wisconsin’s waterways, and serve their communities.

The WWOA Board of Directors also remains busy planning for the upcoming 60th Annual WWOA Conference in Green Bay. It is exciting to be part of such a milestone year for our association. Reaching 60 years is a testament to the dedication, leadership, and commitment of the wastewater professionals who came before us and those continuing the work today. We’re looking forward to celebrating that legacy together while also focusing on the future of our industry.

By the time you receive this issue of The Clarifier, registration for the Annual WWOA Conference will be open. Please remember to register early and make your hotel reservations well in advance. With this being our 60th Annual Conference, we’re anticipating another great turnout, and we look forward to seeing members from across the state come together to learn, connect, and celebrate this important milestone for WWOA.  Also, please nominate that deserving individual/operator for one of the prestigious WWOA awards.  Recognition for a job well done should never go unnoticed so start here with your nominations.  Award nomination forms and conference registration can be found on the WWOA website. 

Thank you for everything you do for your communities, your utilities, and our profession. I hope you all have a safe, productive, and enjoyable start to summer. I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming WWOA events and later this year in Green Bay.

Respectfully,

Ben Brooks
President
Wisconsin Wastewater Operators Association