FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 24, 2007
For more information contact:
Zachary Dorsey, (703) 548-0880, zdorsey@WateReuse.org
New WateReuse Association State Section Formed in Florida
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Florida became the fifth state to host a section of the WateReuse Association on January 4 when the new group officially commenced operation. The Board of Directors approved the formation of the Florida section during its December 14 meeting. The section is known as WateReuse Florida.
“We are excited about the creation of WateReuse Florida—an organization that will strengthen Florida’s water reuse community and reinforce efforts to encourage and promote water reuse in the Sunshine State,” said David York, Water Reuse Coordinator for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and President of WateReuse Florida.
The new section’s primary objectives are to encourage and promote reuse in Florida and to promote the mission of the Association. The group began making plans immediately during a kickoff meeting that was held January 18 in Orlando, FL. The new section will also host the 22nd Annual WateReuse Symposium to be held September 9–12 at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina in Tampa, FL.
In addition to York, other section officers include Carlyn Kowalsky of the South Florida Water Management District, President Elect; Todd Tanberg of Pinellas County Utilities, Secretary/Treasurer; and Jo Ann Jackson of PBS&J who will represent the section on the national Board of Directors.
The other members of the Board of Trustees are Anthony Andrade of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Ted McKim of Reedy Creek Improvement District, Mark McNeal of ASRus, LLC, John Powers of CH2M HILL, and Rafael A. Terrero of Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department.
Water reuse is an integral part of water resources management, wastewater management, and ecosystem management in Florida. In fact, the legislature has established the goal of encouraging and promoting reuse as a formal state objective. WateReuse Florida intends to strengthen efforts to advance water reuse in Florida.
WateReuse sections complement the national organization with their ability to focus on unique legislative, regulatory, and funding issues in a given state. The other WateReuse Association state sections are in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas.
More information about WateReuse Florida is available here.
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The WateReuse Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the beneficial and efficient use of water resources through education, sound science, and technology using reclamation, recycling, reuse and desalination for the benefit of our members, the public, and the environment. The Association's membership consists of water agencies, public agencies, consulting firms, and local, state, and federal government agencies. WateReuse is involved in national advocacy, public education and outreach, and water reuse research.