For additional information, click link to view our news article: Brave Blue World
Watch the documentary on NETFLIX, then join the Pacific
Institute, CWEA and our panel of experts to discuss California’s water future.
The new documentary film Brave Blue World examines how new
technologies and innovations can create a more sustainable water future. It is
important to convey a sense of hope and spirit of optimism for water. The film
includes interviews with a variety of water experts, as well as high-profile
advocates Matt Damon and Jaden Smith. By showing a path to a sustainable water
future, Brave Blue World will inspire us to improve our stewardship of
California’s most precious resource - water.
PANEL WILL TAKE A DEEPER DIVE
The Pacific Institute and CWEA have assembled a panel of
experts to take a closer look at what we can do in California and beyond.
Wastewater systems are facing an era of unprecedented and
growing uncertainty due to climate change – from rising seas to increasingly
severe flooding and droughts. Because of their location and large, complex
treatment systems, these facilities are vulnerable as our climate changes.
Wastewater holds tremendous promise for advancing water
resilience. Water reuse, for example, can make communities more resilient to
climate change and other stressors by diversifying water supplies and providing
greater flexibility to the water system.
Likewise, municipal wastewater contains five to 10 times more
energy than is required to treat it, highlighting opportunities for recovering
energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
There is nothing to waste in wastewater. Learn more by
watching Brave Blue World on Netflix and joining our fun, virtual discussion on
March 29th.
SPEAKER BIOS
Facilitator: Heather Cooley, Pacific Institute - Heather is
the Director of Research for Pacific Institute, overseeing research on an array
of water issues, such as sustainable water use and management, connections
between water and energy, and the impacts of climate change on water resources.
She serves on the Urban Stakeholder Committee and the California Urban Water
Conservation Council’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Michelle Hummel, University of Texas, Arlington - Dr.
Michelle Hummel is an Assistant Professor of Water Resources in the Department
of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. She specializes
in the development of numerical models to simulate flood hazards driven by
extreme events and long-term sea-level rise. Michelle is a graduate of Case
Western Reserve University and received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental
Engineering from UC Berkeley.
Eileen White - Eileen M. White is currently the Director of
Wastewater for the East Bay Municipal Utility District in Oakland, which
supplies water to approximately 1.4 million people and wastewater services to
about 670,000 people. Eileen has more than 20 years of engineering experience
in the wastewater, water, and power industries. As the Director of Wastewater,
she is responsible for leading the Wastewater Department which includes
planning, organizing, and leading the engineering, operations, and maintenance
of the wastewater system to ensure efficient operations that meet all
regulations.
Brynne Weeks, Carollo Engineers - Brynne Weeks is an environmental engineer at Carollo Engineers where she specializes in potable and non-potable water reuse projects. Her work seeks to enhance California’s water resources through the development of local, sustainable water supplies. She has experience in planning, permitting, and pilot testing of water reuse systems for Morro Bay, Ventura, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Jennifer West, Executive Director, WateReuse California - Jennifer West is Managing Director of WateReuse California, which is the leading organization in California promoting the safe, practical and beneficial use of recycled water. Since becoming Managing Director, Jennifer has spearheaded numerous successful regulatory and legislative initiatives to promote reuse in California. Some of these efforts include the passage of AB 574 (Quirk), requiring the development of Raw Water Augmentation regulations, the passage of AB 1180 in 2019 requiring the update of non-potable recycled water regulations and most recently, the development of the California WateReuse Action Plan. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the Director for Water for the California Municipal Utilities Association and before that worked for 15 years as a contract legislative advocate.
Christopher Hyun, State Water Resources Control Board - Dr. Christopher Hyun is a Senior Environmental Scientist at the State Water Resources Control Board, where he serves as staff lead on supporting and implementing climate-related directives across the Board’s divisions and offices. Chris has a Ph.D. in Energy and Resources and Development Engineering from UC Berkeley.