Meet the Commissioners
The National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems is comprised of 30 representatives from municipalities, public health agencies, water utilities, and national organizations who are leading the industry in onsite non-potable water systems.
Paula Kehoe (Chair)
Director of Water Resources, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Paula Kehoe is the Director of Water Resources for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). She is responsible for diversifying San Francisco’s local water supply portfolio through the development and implementation of conservation, groundwater, and recycled water programs. Paula spearheaded the landmark legislation allowing for the collection, treatment, and use of alternate water sources in buildings and districts within San Francisco. Previously, she worked as the Assistant to the General Manager of the SFPUC and supported the utility’s $4.8 billion capital improvement program designed to rebuild and repair the third largest water delivery system in California. As Public Education Director for the SFPUC’s Water Pollution Prevention Program, Paula received six state and national awards. Paula holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a Master of Science from the University of San Francisco.
Anita Anderson
Principal Engineer, Minnesota Department of Health
Anita Anderson has 20 years of experience as a water supply engineer with the Minnesota Department of Health. Her primary area of expertise is surface water treatment, specializing in small systems. Currently she is working on special projects to implement water reuse in Minnesota in a safe and sustainable way and to predict the vulnerability of groundwater drinking water sources to microbial pathogens. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Minnesota and is a registered professional engineer in Minnesota.
Julienne Bautista
Environmental Engineer, District of Colombia Department of Energy & Environment
Julienne Bautista is an environmental engineer for the District of Columbia’s Watershed Protection Division. She is the project manager leading the updates to the 2013 Stormwater Guidebook where rainwater harvesting is an instrumental best management practice to meet the District’s retention obligations and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permit requirements. She received a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University and a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning from The University of Texas in Austin, giving her the technical and community-based skills to pursue her passion for water. Specifically, her primary interests lie in the promotion and development of sustainable water systems for urban communities.
Brian Bernados
Senior Engineer and Technical Specialist, California State Water Resources Control Board
Brian Bernados has served on the California State Water Board (formerly Department of Public Health) for over 23 years. As a Technical Specialist, Brian has expertise in alternative technology, advanced technology, RO/AOP, UV disinfection (potable, recycled & reuse), recycled water, groundwater recharge, surface water augmentation, direct reuse, seawater desalination, and water treatment additives/components. In this role, he also works on recycled water, water reuse via groundwater recharge, surface water augmentation, direct potable reuse feasibility, and alternative technology acceptance. He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with emphasis on water, environmental, and public health from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a registered Professional Engineering with the State of California.
Scott Berry
Director of Policy and Government Affairs, U.S. Water Alliance
Scott Berry is the Director of Policy and Government Affairs at the US Water Alliance, a national nonprofit organization advancing policies and programs that build a sustainable water future for all. He leads the Alliance’s engagement on policy issues. Previously, he was Director of the Utility Infrastructure Division, Environment, and Trade at the Associated General Contractors of America. There, he spent nine years as their head lobbyist on water infrastructure and water policy issues, and was the member services lead for water, sewer, power, telecommunications, and underground construction. He has served in the leadership of the Water Infrastructure Network, the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Coalition, the Common Ground Alliance, and the Waters Advocacy Coalition. He has a BA in political science and geography from the University of Mary Washington.
Carrie Bohan
Facilities Program Manager, Division of Water, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Carrie Bohan is the Facilities Programs Manager for the Alaska Department of Conservation, where she is responsible for oversight of the state’s Operator Certification and Capacity Development, Remote Maintenance Worker (circuit rider), State Revolving Fund, and Village Safe Water programs. Since 2001, Carrie’s career has focused primarily on provision of safe drinking water. In her current position, she is responsible for administering more than $100 million per year in grants and loans to water and wastewater utilities for infrastructure improvements. A significant portion of these resources are dedicated to improving sanitation in rural Alaskan communities that face significant barriers including geography, climate, economics and capacity. Carrie is excited to inherit the responsibility of maintaining momentum on the Alaska Water and Sewer Challenge’s efforts to develop a water reuse system for rural Alaskan homes that still rely on hauled water and honey buckets for waste disposal. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Ecology and Conservation from the University of Idaho.
Michael Broussard
Environmental Health Inspector, New Mexico Environment Department
Michael Broussard is the Environmental Health Bureau Liquid Waste Program Manager for New Mexico. He has worked in the NMED Environmental Health Bureau for 14 years. Michael served as the president and board member of the New Mexico Environmental Health Association for 3 years. He currently serves on the SORA (State Onsite Regulator’s Association) board as the treasurer, and he is a member of the NOWRA affiliate POWRANM (Professional Onsite Wastewater Reuse Association of New Mexico). He is also a technical committee member of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officers (IAPMO) and the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). Michael graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont Texas with a BS in Chemistry and minor in Biochemistry. He served in the US Army for 10 years in the Nuclear-Biological and Chemical Officer and Quartermaster Corp’s. Michael has worked for 25 years in the private sector quality assurance departments for General-Mills, Georgia Pacific, Exxon-Mobil, Cardinal Health and Johnson and Johnson as well as being a small business owner in the metal finishing industry and currently for an indoor air quality company for 16 years. Michael provides technical assistance and training for the state’s environmental health professionals, homeowners, realtors, and installers.
Rabia Chaudhry
National Water Reuse Expert, US Environmental Protection Agency – Office of Water
Rabia Chaudhry is the National Water Reuse Expert at the US EPA, where she provides technical leadership for the Water Reuse Team within the Office of Water. She is a licensed Professional Engineer with over a decade of experience in a range of domestic and international urban water infrastructure and policy issues. Her previous research work contributed to in-situ evidence for viral log removals in membrane-based advanced treatment technologies and quantitative microbial risk assessment for direct potable reuse. Before joining the EPA, she served as the Associate Director at the Millennium Challenge Corporation supporting design and implementation of multi-million dollar programs in water and energy infrastructure in lower income countries. Rabia received her bachelors in environmental engineering from MIT, and masters and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley.
Alan Cohn
Managing Director of Integrated Water Management, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Alan Cohn is Managing Director of Integrated Water Management at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, where he leads initiatives to prepare water systems for climate change and population growth. His team develops programs, partnerships, and financial incentives to conserve and recycle drinking water and protect communities and infrastructure from flooding. These initiatives include a Water Demand Management Program, Water Conservation and Reuse Grant Program, and a Cloudburst Program and partnership with the City of Copenhagen focused on flood mitigation for extreme rain events. He served as a senior policy advisor for water, wastewater, and solid waste on the Mayor’s Special Initiative for Rebuilding following Superstorm Sandy, managed development of the NYC Wastewater Resiliency Plan, and is currently working to implement the New York City Stormwater Resiliency Plan and initiatives to mitigate future flooding following Tropical Storm Ida. Alan represents New York City on the Water Utility Climate Alliance, a group of 12 large utilities which provide leadership and collaboration on climate change issues affecting the country’s water agencies.
Anthony Creech
Environmental Technical Programs Manager, Virginia Department of Health
Mr. Anthony W. Creech, P.G. has over 30 years’ experience in regulatory program oversight, environmental health management, and risk management. In his role as Environmental Technical Programs Manager for the VDH Office of Environmental Health Services, Division of Water and Wastewater Services, Mr. Creech leads efforts for training of Environmental Health Specialists in Virginia’s onsite sewage and private well programs; leads stakeholder workgroups responsible for regulatory development (e.g., Private Well Regulations update, Rainwater Harvesting Regulations); participates in the Virginia legislative processes; and partakes in a wide variety of waste, wastewater, and drinking water initiatives. Prior to VDH, he worked for several decades as a geologic and environmental consultant. Over his career, Mr. Creech has provided general environmental consultation and project management in solid, hazardous, and medical waste; environmental due diligence, petroleum storage and management; groundwater/surface water management and conservation; and groundwater withdrawal permitting. Mr. Creech has a B.S., in Geology from the College of William and Mary.
Erika Crespo
Assistant Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Erika Crespo is the Assistant Deputy Director of the Water Quality Division at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. She has been with TCEQ since 2014, and her work experience includes writing industrial wastewater permits and serving as the TCEQ Pretreatment Team Leader. Erika has a Bachelors’ degree in Biology / Forensic Science and a Master’s degree in Environmental and Earth Sciences, both from the University of Texas at Arlington. Erika is a devoted sister, a proud godmother, and the frazzled parent of a border-collie/pit-bull dog named Barkly.
Stephen Deem
Regional Engineer, Washington State Department of Health
Steve Deem is a professional engineer representing the Washington State Department of Health drinking water program. Deem is also a consultant for Water 1st International, a non-profit water and sanitation development organization. His more than 25 years of experience in water and sanitation issues encompasses a myriad of settings–from the Kurdish refugee camps in Northern Iraq to post-war rehabilitation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and from simple pipe networks in the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh, to research efforts on ultraviolet disinfection with the Water Research Foundation. He received his Master of Science degree in environmental engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle and his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Marquette University.
Ron Doughten
Water Quality Permit Program Manager, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Ron Doughten has over 17 years of regulatory experience with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. He currently manages Oregon’s Water Quality Permit Program, which includes National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, stormwater management, water reuse, land treatment, and underground injection control. He previously coordinated implementation of Oregon’s water reuse program that encouraged the beneficial use of graywater, recycled water, and industrial wastewater. In 2009, he developed implementation policies for recycled water; in 2011 he led the adoption of Oregon administrative rules for graywater reuse which was followed in 2012 by development of Oregon’s graywater permitting program.
Jon Eaton
Superintendent of Utilities, City of Eagan, Minnesota
Jon Eaton is the Superintendent of Utilities for the City of Eagan, the ninth largest city in Minnesota. He manages the water, sanitary, and storm systems, and cellular leasing. Prior to Eagan, he was the Water Quality Supervisor for the City of Bloomington, Minnesota and managed water production and treatment, wholesale water purchases, distribution water quality, and the William Lloyd / Tri-City Analytical Laboratory. He has been a member of AWWA for over 20 years, is currently one of six vice-presidents. He was honored with AWWA’s George Warren Fuller Award in 2008 and the Minnesota Section’s Leonard N. Thompson Award for Distinguished Service in 2013. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus.
Mamdouh El-Aarag
Environmental Engineer, Wastewater Management Section, Washington State Department of Health
Mamdouh El-Aarag is a registered professional Civil Engineer in the State of Washington. He has worked as an Environmental/Reclaimed Water Engineer in the Wastewater Management program with the Washington State Department of Health in Spokane since 2002. Prior to working for the Department of Health he worked as a consulting engineer for 14 years specializing in site utilities, municipal sewer and water distribution design, and land use. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Gonzaga University.
Jay Garland
Division Director, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency
Dr. Jay L. Garland joined the EPA in 2011 as a Division Director within the Office of Research and Development. His work is committed to the development of sustainable systems using sound ecological principles and innovative technology. He received a Ph.D. in Environment Science from the University of Virginia and spent over 20 years working on NASA’s efforts to develop closed, bioregenerative life support systems for extended human spaceflight. NASA recognized him for creative technology innovation on 4 separate occasions. He has authored over 100 scientific papers on a range of topics, including methods for microbial community analysis, factors affecting survival of human associated pathogens, and various biological approaches for recycling wastes.
Brian D. Good
Chief Administrative Officer, Denver Water
Brian D. Good serves as Chief Administrative Officer for Denver Water. In this role, Brian leads a diverse team whose primary focus is to provide excellent internal service to the organization. Areas of focus include safety, security, emergency management, environmental compliance, sustainability, purchasing, contract control records and printing, and recreation at Denver Water facilities. His previous roles at Denver Water include Director of Operations and Maintenance, Deputy Manager of Organizational Improvement, Water Recycling Plant Supervisor, and Assistant Supervisor of the Marston Water Treatment Plant. Prior to joining Denver Water, Brian managed source of supply, water treatment, and distribution operations for the Champaign, IL Division of Illinois American Water Corporation. Since 2012, he has also been a lecturer on water utility management for the University of Colorado, for which he co-authored a companion textbook titled The Effective Water Professional.
Kim Gupta
Director of Operations, Portland Water Bureau
Kimberly Gupta is the Director of Operations for the Portland Water Bureau. She is responsible for operating and maintaining the surface and groundwater systems, specifically the infrastructure related to water supply, treatment, transmission, and distribution facilities; ensuring compliance with drinking water regulations; operating an accredited drinking water laboratory; and managing the Bureau’s Security and Technology Groups. Prior roles at the Bureau include Water Supply and Treatment Manager, where she managed the supply and treatment operations for the Bull Run system and oversaw the Bureau’s cross connection program and hydraulic modeling groups; and Senior Engineer, where she implemented and oversaw projects related to nitrification, DBP formation, and corrosion control. Prior to joining the Water Bureau, she was an engineer at the East Bay Municipal Utility District for over 8 years. Kim has a master’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is a registered professional civil engineer in both Oregon and California. She is a certified water distribution and treatment operator in Oregon, holding D4 and T3 certifications, and serves as the Bureau’s Direct Responsible Charge.
Chris Hilton
Business Resilience and Risk Advisor, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU)
Chris Hilton (she/her) is the Business Resilience and Risk Advisor at Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). Chris brings over twenty years of experience working on environmental policy and conservation issues in the Puget Sound region. Prior to joining SPU, Chris was the Urban Partnerships Director at The Nature Conservancy’s Puget Sound program where she and her team worked to advance nature-based solutions – such as green stormwater infrastructure, urban tree canopy protection and enhancement, and floodplain reconnection – to improve water quality, create community co-benefits, and enhance climate resilience in the region. She has also worked on agency partnerships, public funding advocacy, strategic planning, and land conservation strategy and implementation.
Lily Huang
Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, New York City Department of Health
As an Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, she leads a diverse team of engineers, scientists, radiation control scientists, medical physical physicists, researchers, water ecologists, and public health sanitarians in the areas of radiation-producing equipment and radioactive material in health care and academic institutions, drinking water, wastewater and recreational water quality, and building system safety and environmental controls. Specifically, she oversees public health protection and regulatory program for building infrastructure systems to the city’s most critical and world’s largest mega water infrastructure projects including New York City Cat and Del UV plant, Croton Water Treatment Plant, New York City Green Building Water Reuse Treatment System and a wide range of building infrastructure projects. She is also a New York State Licensed Professional Engineer with nearly 30 years of experience in engineering, environmental sciences, regulatory enforcement, public policy and research programs. Prior to joining the Department of Health, She served in various capacities in private industry as an engineering consultant with a diverse portfolio of subject matter expertise in the field of engineering construction and management.
Bret Icenogle
Engineering Section Manager, Water Quality Control Division, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Bret Icenogle is the Engineer Section Manager for the Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Prior to joining the State of Colorado, he worked as a water and wastewater engineering consultant and project manager. He holds active professional engineering licenses in California and Colorado and earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware.
Michael Jahne
Environmental Engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development
Michael Jahne is an Environmental Engineer with the U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, where he specializes in quantitative microbial risk assessment and fit-for-purpose water reuse. His current research interests include decentralized water reuse applications, antimicrobial resistance in built and natural environments, and SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in community wastewaters. A major focus of his work is the development of risk-based treatment guidance for onsite non-potable water systems. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from Clarkson University’s Institute for a Sustainable Environment in Potsdam, NY.
Katherine Jashinski
Supervising Engineer, Onsite Water Reuse Program, Austin Water Utility
Katherine has worked for Austin Water Utility for over nine years as both a regulator and a planner of decentralized reuse systems. She has designed & installed a number of residential rainwater, graywater, & condensate reuse systems around Texas. In her current role at the utility she is working on the implementation of building-scale and district-scale reuse projects as part of Austin’s overall plan to diversify its water supply portfolio. She is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas and she received her Master of Science degree in environmental and water resources engineering and her Bachelor of Science degree in geosystems engineering and hydrogeology from the University of Texas at Austin.
Andrew Jones
LOSS and Reclaimed Water Programs Supervisor, Office of Environmental Health and Safety, Washington State Department of Health
Andrew is an Environmental Engineer with 5+ years of experience regulating onsite sewage systems, a BS from Gonzaga and MS from University of Washington. He is currently the LOSS and Reclaimed Water Program’s supervisor, and is working on regulations to expand onsite sewage treatment options and raise the bar for operations and maintenance. Andrew and his team are responsible for regulating over 700 large onsite sewage systems across Washington, giving him a unique perspective on the challenges and needs of implementing onsite water reuse for everyday users.
Tiffani Kavalec
Policy Director, Ohio EPA
Tiffani currently serves as Policy Director at Ohio EPA for all divisions and offices statewide. Prior to that, she served as the Chief of the Division of Surface Water from 2015-2023 which ensures the compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. Surface Water issues permits to regulate wastewater treatment plants, factories, and storm water to reduce the impact of pollutants, develops comprehensive watershed plans aimed at improving polluted streams, and sample streams, lakes, and wetlands, including chemistry, fish, and aquatic insects, to determine the health of Ohio’s surface waters.
Tiffani started with Ohio EPA in 1995 and spent most of her time in the Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization (DERR) overseeing the Superfund, Enforcement, Federal Facilities, Natural Resource Damages, and Voluntary Action Programs. Tiffani graduated from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Public Policy. She also has several master’s credits from the University of Findlay’s Environmental Management Program.
John Kmiec
Deputy Director, Tucson Water
John Kmiec is the Deputy Director of Tucson Water. Prior to re-joining Tucson Water in 2019, John was the Director of Water and Wastewater for the Town of Marana (2012-2019). From 1999-2012, John was a member of the Tucson Water team assisting in advancing programs such as Central Arizona Project (CAP) recharge and recovery, effluent recharge and recovery, potable and reclaimed water distribution, and backflow prevention programs.
John is currently the Vice President of the Southern Arizona Water Users Association, and previously served as president from 2015-2017. He holds an appointed position on Governor Ducey’s Water Augmentation Council where he is also the Recycled Water Committee Chair for that Council. John represented the City of Tucson on Governor Brewer’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Water Sustainability in 2010 and he is the Chemical Committee Chairman for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s Advisory Panel on Emerging Contaminants. He is also the co-chair of the Steering Committee on Arizona Potable Reuse (SCAPR). John has been on the board of trustees of Watereuse AZ, the state chapter of the Watereuse Association, since 2005, serving as the section president from 2009-2011 and is the current president (2017-2019). John has a B.S. in geological sciences from Michigan State University, a Master of Public Administration from Troy University, and is a Certified Public Manager (Arizona State University).
Karthik Kumarasamy
Principal Engineer, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Karthik Kumarasamy is a Principal Engineer at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. He is the technical lead for Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) rulemaking in AZ and the Chair of the technical advisory group for DPR Rulemaking in AZ. In addition, he is also the technical lead for the on-site wastewater program Rulemaking. He has a doctorate in Environmental Engineering and is a registered engineer in AZ.
Samuel Leu
Sustainability Analyst, City of Sacramento Department of Utilities
Samuel Leu is the Sustainability Analyst at the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities. Samuel has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Penn State University, an M.S. in Sustainable Practice from Lipscomb University, and a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Sustainability & Innovation from Harvard University. He has seven years’ experience ranging from engineering, project management, supply chain data management, sustainability and green building projects in both private and government sectors. Prior to working at the City of Sacramento, he was employed as a Sustainability Coordinator for the State of Oregon Department of Justice. Samuel is also a LEED Accredited Professional and WELL Accredited Professional. He has worked on sustainability initiatives, including water conservation, recycling practices, and updating sustainability policies.
Mina Mohammadi
Epidemiologist, Cryptosporidiosis Surveillance Program and Nonpotable Water Program, Environmental Health Branch, Population Health Division, San Francisco Department of Public Health
Mina Mohammadi is an Epidemiologist at the San Francisco Department of Public Health and is the Coordinator for the Cryptosporidiosis Surveillance Project for the Bay Area. In addition, she assists with oversight of alternate water systems permitted under San Francisco’s regulatory Nonpotable Program and collaborates with the San Francisco Public Utilities Water Quality Division on issues related to water and health.
Sharon Nappier
National Program Leader for Water Reuse, Office of Water, EPA
Sharon Nappier is the National Program Leader for Water Reuse with the U.S. EPA. She specializes in environmental health microbiology and quantitative microbial risk assessment. Major projects at the EPA include chairing the 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria team; leading efforts to develop coliphage-based Recreational Water Quality Criteria; and assessing the microbial risks associated with water reuse. Sharon holds a BS degree in Biology and Environmental Science from The George Washington University; a MSPH degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Environmental Sciences and Engineering; and a PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Environmental Health Engineering.
Tressa Nicholas
Wastewater Analyst, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s State Water Quality Division Wastewater Program
Tressa Nicholas serves as the Wastewater Analyst for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s State Water Quality Division Wastewater Program. In her role, she provides technical support in wastewater and water reuse, serves as the State Biosolids Coordinator and organizes many trainings for wastewater professionals. Tressa has a Master’s of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. She has over 15 years of experience working with recycled water and wastewater projects. She promotes water reuse and has been coordinating the Idaho Water Reuse Conference since 2008. She also participated in forming the first multi-state regional chapter of the WateReuse Association, the WateReuse Pacific Northwest Section that was chartered in December 2012. She has served on the board of the WateReuse Pacific Northwest Section and is an active member. In 2015, at the 30th annual WateReuse Symposium, she received the David Requa Presidents award for her outstanding leadership and initiative as a champion for WateReuse.
Taylor Nokhoudian
Water Resources Analyst, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Taylor Nokhoudian manages the Onsite Water Reuse Program, which allows buildings in San Francisco to collect, treat, and reuse water onsite for non-potable applications. She focuses on policy development and providing technical assistance for developing onsite water reuse projects. In addition, Taylor works on special projects to further diversify San Francisco’s water supply portfolio. Taylor has her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley in Environmental Studies, and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.
Doug Obana
Sr. Environmental Health Inspector, San Francisco Department of Public Health
Douglas Obana is a Senior Environmental Health Inspector with the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health Branch. He has been with the Department since 2010 and has overseen the permitting of onsite nonpotable water treatment projects off and on since 2015. He graduated with a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of California at Riverside and obtained a Masters Degree in Public Health from The University of Montana.
Fatima Ochante
Program Coordinator, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water
Fatima manages the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s (ADEC) Water and Sewer Challenge, a research and development effort to find decentralized, innovative, cost-effective water and sewer solutions. ‘The Alaska Challenge’ was launched in 2013 primarily as a design-thinking competition to develop an in-home reuse system for non-potable purposes. The program’s goal is to significantly reduce capital and operating costs of running water in remote homes across rural Alaska. Previously at ADEC, she was in charge of evaluating utility business plans, coordinating the panel review of preliminary engineering reports for water projects, and organizing an international (water-themed) conference in conjunction with the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Other organizations she has worked for include the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in language translation and cross-cultural communication from Universidad Ricardo Palma, she worked as a conference interpreter and certified licensed translator. Her master’s degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks focused on environmental policy and the provision of water service in Alaska Native villages.
Martin Page
Research Program Manager, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
Martin Page has served as a researcher and program manager within the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center since 2010. He has provided technical leadership on technology development programs focused on gray water recycling; direct potable reuse technology integration; validation methods for water reuse systems; and new materials and methods for water treatment. Martin has received several awards for his research efforts, including two Army Achievement Medals, the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, and ERDC CERL’s Researcher of the Year (2016). Martin is an active member of the Interagency Water Treatment Working Group (WaTr) and the National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality. Martin received his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 2009.
Lizanne Pharand
Engineer, Toronto Water Division, City of Toronto
Lizanne Pharand is an Engineer in the City of Toronto’s Toronto Water Division. Her primary responsibilities include providing process support to water and wastewater treatment plant staff. She is also currently involved in an internal workgroup which is looking at developing an Onsite Water Systems program for Toronto Water. Prior to joining the City, Lizanne worked for a number of years in the municipal consulting industry assisting in design of water and wastewater infrastructure projects. She received a Master’s of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering and Sciences from McMaster University.
Bill Platten
Environmental Engineer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Bill Platten is an Environmental Engineer in US EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, where he helps drinking water systems monitor for and respond to drinking water contamination. His current focus is on response, decontamination, and recovery for contamination in both drinking water distribution systems and premise plumbing. He also has research experience in premise plumbing hydraulic/water quality modeling, municipal/industrial wastewater treatment, and water reuse. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.
Sina Pruder
Engineering Program Manager, Hawaii State Department of Public Health, Wastewater Branch
For the past 23 years, Sina Pruder has worked for the Hawaii State Department of Health, Environmental Management Division, Wastewater Branch where she currently holds the position of the Engineering Program Manager, overseeing projects like the Water Reuse Program. She has been an advocate for the use of recycled water, provided that public health and water resources are not compromised. She is also a firm believer that water is a valuable resource that must be used as efficiently as possible. Sina has worked for the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for four years, in the fields of Nuclear and Environmental Engineering. She is currently registered as a licensed Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering for the State of Hawaii. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii.
Chris Radziminski
Building Policy Engineer, Office of the Chief Building Official, City of Vancouver (Canada)
Non-potable water systems, cooling towers and other building mechanical systems have been addressed by Chris and his colleagues through legislation aimed to improve public health protection and to achieve sustainability goals (vancouver.ca/operating-permit). He is a registered Professional Biologist, a registered Professional Engineer and a certified Small Water System Operator. His background includes a B.Sc. in Microbiology, an M.A.Sc. in Civil Engineering with research on Cryptosporidium parvum and chlorine dioxide, and a Certificate in Power Equipment Mechanics. Chris is part of the BC Centre for Disease Control working group updating provincial public health guidelines for Legionella outbreak management and the IAPMO working group for “Best Practices for the Safe Shutdown and Startup of Building Water Systems,” and is also a member of Vancouver’s Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team CAN-TF1. In the winter he also works as a backcountry snowshoe guide, and has volunteered for over a decade with the Ryan’s Well Foundation.
Nancy Rice
Research Scientist, Minnesota Department of Health
Nancy Rice works on health risk assessment at the Minnesota Department of Health. For the past several years, she has been using techniques learned at the Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Instructional Institute (QMRA III) to assess potential human health risks related to microbes in water reuse systems and in groundwater. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota.
Yvette Rincon
Chief of Staff, Department of Utilities, City of Sacramento
Yvette Rincon is the Chief of Staff for the Department of Utilities in Sacramento, CA. She has a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Policy and has 15 years of city government experience. She started her career in legislative affairs and later moved on to lead citywide sustainability planning and implementation efforts for 7 years, focusing on building efficiency. In her current role, she oversees the sustainability program, strategic planning, media and communications, and security and emergency preparedness for the Utilities Department. The Department is currently studying the feasibility of an onsite water reuse program for new commercial buildings.
Robert Stefani
Conservation Program Specialist, Austin Water Utility
Robert is a Conservation Program Specialist employed at Austin Water. He has worked on numerous disparate projects, including auxiliary water and intergovernmental issues, over the last eight years as a member of Austin Water’s Conservation Division Research and Special Projects team. Robert received a Bachelor of Science in Geography, specializing in Resource and Environmental Studies, from Texas State University.
Jacqueline Taylor (Retired)
Director, Bureau of Environmental Protection, County of Los Angeles Public Health
Jacqueline E. Taylor, MPA is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and has over 30 years of experience in the field of Environmental Health. She has managed and directed environmental health programs in one of the largest, most diverse, and progressive environmental health departments in the nation. Her extensive and multifaceted work experience has involved policy development and regulatory oversight in the disciplines of food and housing protection, water and wastewater resource management, recreational water and beach monitoring, cross connections and water pollution control, land use planning, solid waste management, radiation management, lead poisoning prevention, staff development, and program planning. Currently, she is the Director of the Bureau of Environmental Protection in the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health. In addition to her professional career, Ms. Taylor has had hands-on volunteer experience in the field working to better the lives of those affected by environmental and natural disasters.
Barry Usagawa
Program Administrator, Water Resources Division, Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Barry Usagawa is the Program Administrator for the Water Resources Division of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. Barry has lead the development of Oahu’s 8 regional Watershed Management Plans for resource protection and water use and development. Barry is a member of the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Freshwater Council which developed the State Freshwater Blueprint for water conservation, reuse and recharge targets to ensure 100 mgd of resilient water by 2030.
Sunny Wang
Water Resources Manager, Santa Monica, CA
Mr. Sunny Wang is currently the Water Resources Manager at the City of Santa Monica, where he leads the City’s water and wastewater utility. Sunny holds a B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Riverside. He has over 20 years of experience in design and implementation of conventional and advanced water treatment technologies over a wide range of applications including desalination and potable reuse. He is currently leading the City’s efforts to diversify its water supply portfolio through implementing innovative projects for potable reuse and desalination, including the first MBR system permitted for potable reuse in California and the first municipal Flow Reversal RO system in the United States.
June Weintraub
Manager of Water, Noise and Medical Cannabis Regulatory Programs, San Francisco Department of Public Health
Dr. June Weintraub is Manager of Water, Noise and Medical Cannabis Regulatory Programs for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. She has developed a strong program of research, education and collaboration with San Francisco’s water utility to address diverse issues including water security, quality, assessment, monitoring, allocation, reuse, conservation and sustainability. She was a principal collaborator in the development and implementation of San Francisco’s regulatory program for onsite alternate water source systems for the safe use of alternate water sources for non-potable purposes. She has served on several advisory committees including the U.S. EPA’s National Drinking Water Advisory Council, and is currently appointed to the U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board Drinking Water Committee. She received her Doctoral degree in Epidemiology with minors in Environmental Health and Biostatistics from Harvard School of Public Health; her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in civil engineering are both from Tufts University. She is also a Registered Environmental Health Specialist.
Emily Wong
Senior Review Engineer, Water Quality Control Division, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Emily Wong is a Senior Review Engineer for the Water Quality Control Division at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In her role, she performs design reviews and provides assistance to water and wastewater systems as they comply with Colorado’s regulations. One area of focus for Emily is Colorado’s reclaim water regulations, where she has worked with localized systems implementing reclaim water reuse for indoor toilet flushing, and is the project lead for development of implementation policy and guidance for Colorado reuse program. Emily is a licensed professional engineer in Colorado and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado.
Emily Zegers
Senior Engineer in Toronto Water’s Process, Innovation and Energy Group
Emily Zegers is a Senior Engineer in Toronto Water’s Process, Innovation and Energy Group with a wastewater treatment process focus and 19 years of water industry experience. Emily’s responsibilities at Toronto include optimization initiatives, process-driven facility capital planning, and building and fostering relationships with research organizations. She also leads projects that require cross-departmental collaboration, such as development of an onsite water systems program for Toronto, and implementation of Toronto Water’s new data management platform. She holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University.
Harry Zhang
Research Program Manager on Integrated Water and Stormwater, Water Research Foundation
Dr. Harry Zhang is the Research Program Manager on Integrated Water and Stormwater at The Water Research Foundation (WRF) where he directs the research portfolios on Sustainable Integrated Water Management (SIWM) and Stormwater, which includes topics on decentralized and onsite systems as well. In addition, Harry is WRF’s topic lead for climate change, which covers climate adaptation, mitigation, and risk assessment. Furthermore, Harry is the subject editor on water sustainability for Journal of Water Supply and was the subject editor on water sustainability for Journal of Water Science & Technology by International Water Association. Harry has extensive publications including books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed journal papers. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Water Resources) with minor research field in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia and is a registered professional engineer.
Former Commissioners
Scott Abbott
Manager, Bureau of Environmental Protection, County of Los Angeles Public Health
Scott Abbott has worked for the Environmental Health Division of the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health for 23 years. He is currently the Manager of the Environmental Protection Branch where he is responsible for overseeing the Cross Connection and Water Pollution Control Program, the Drinking Water Program, and the Land Use Program. He helped write the County’s Guidelines for Alternate Water Sources and the Local Area Management Program for regulation of onsite wastewater treatment systems. He is a graduate from San Diego State University where he earned a BS in Environmental Health and from California State University of Long Beach where he obtained his Master’s degree in Public Administration. Scott is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist with the State of California.
Hardeep Anand
Deputy Director, Capital Improvements, Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department
Hardeep Anand has dedicated his engineering career to the advancement of public policy and actions to benefit the environment and the community. Mr. Anand has over 22 years of professional engineering experience along with a combination of program management and leadership experience in the public and private sectors. As Deputy Director for the Miami Dade Water & Sewer Department (MDWASD), he oversees the implementation of the $13.5 billion Capital Improvement Program for the utility and the execution of large-scale engineering projects, program and construction management, regulatory compliance, integrated master planning, quality assurance, performance auditing and water reclamation. He previously served as a Division Director in a regulatory capacity at the Miami‐Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management, as Public Works Director with the City of Fort Lauderdale, and as an engineering consultant over a variety of utility, stormwater, environmental, solid waste and information technology projects. Mr. Anand is a registered professional engineer in the State of Florida and holds a Bachelors in Civil Engineering, Masters in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Management of Information Systems. He serves as a board member of the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation and is also the founder of the Resilient Utility Coalition.
Roshini Das
Sustainability Manager, Department of Utilities, City of Sacramento
Roshini Das is the Sustainability Program Manager for the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities. In this role, she oversees the long-range planning and development of policies, initiatives, projects and programs that promote sustainability, water conservation, energy efficiency, environmental justice, resiliency and adaption to climate change of Utilities facilities and operations.
Roshini has an MBA degree from UC Berkeley and Bachelor’s in Architecture degree from College of Engineering, Trivandrum, India. She is also a LEED accredited professional in new construction and operations and maintenance as well as a Certified Energy Manager.
Mark Jaeger
InterAgency Project Coordination, Seattle Public Utilities
Mark Jaeger has worked for Seattle Public Utilities since its inception in 1997 in a variety of positions up to Executive Management. He has a broad background in a variety of utility functions including Finance, Operations and Planning. Current work includes interagency coordination with both public and private groups and agencies to improve project coordination across the City. This work includes collaborating with project proponents looking to incorporate decentralized strategies into their projects. He has worked on projects like the Bullitt Foundation’s “Living Building”, the new Amazon Campus in downtown Seattle, and the proposed Seattle Arena in the Stadium District. Mark has also worked with the Seattle 2030 District and Seattle’s Capitol Hill Neighborhood Eco-District to bring regulators, developers and utilities together to identify appropriate strategies that leverage and integrate off the grid systems with SPU’s existing large systems resulting in a more robust and resilient system.
David Lipsky
Senior Policy Advisor, New York City Department of Environmental Protection
Dr. David Lipsky has been working as a manager for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection since 1996 and has over 40 years of experience as an environmental professional. For the past several years, he has been a Senior Policy Advisor to the Bureau of Sustainability and helps provide expertise and guidance on policy and planning projects including those on stormwater management, demand management and water reuse, water conservation and water resource protection. His prior experience as a Division Chief for the Bureau of Water Supply has provided him with a broad background managing a variety of water utility operational, compliance, laboratory, science and research functions pertaining to both watershed/water supply management as well as distribution system concerns. Dr. Lipsky has extensive experience in risk assessment and in environmental investigations having started his career ias a research scientist for the NJDEP, and with substantive experience working for public and private sector clients in Superfund, RCRA, and hazardous waste multi-media site investigations. Dr. Lipsky received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from SUNY-Stony Brook in 1978. He is certified as a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) and Board Certified Environmental Scientist (BCES).
Josina Morita
Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Josina Wing Morita is Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. She is the first Asian American elected to a countywide board in Cook County, the second largest county in the country. Josina holds a B.A. in Sociology and International Race Relations from Pitzer College and a Masters in Urban Planning and Public Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She currently serves on the boards of the Woods Fund of Chicago and the Asian American Action Fund of Greater Chicago. She sits on the State of Illinois’ Racial Profiling and Data Oversight Board, Asian American Employment Plan Council and Cook County’s Asian American Advisory Council. As the principal of JM Consulting, she provides structural racism training and racial equity support to nonprofit organizations across the country. In 2007, she was named one of the top 35 leaders under 35 fighting racism and poverty in Chicago by the Community Renewal Society.
Roshini has an MBA degree from UC Berkeley and Bachelor’s in Architecture degree from College of Engineering, Trivandrum, India. She is also a LEED accredited professional in new construction and operations and maintenance as well as a Certified Energy Manager.
Genevieve Salmonson
Compliance Assistance Ombudsman, Hawaii State Department of Public Health
The late Genevieve Salmonson was the Department of Health Environmental Compliance Ombudsman. The office is involved in activities such as giving presentations to business and trade organizations, conducting workshops for target industries, responding to request for information or clarification, and working with businesses to remedy minor violations involving environmental issues. Other services include conducting voluntary site assessments of a business’ compliance with applicable environmental regulation and assisting businesses that have exhausted readily-available dispute resolution mechanisms within the Department of Health.
Neal Shapiro
Senior Sustainability Analyst and Watershed Management Program Coordinator, City of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability & the Environment
Neal Shapiro is the Senior Sustainability Analyst and Watershed Management Coordinator for the City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability & the Environment, and an Envision™ Sustainability Professional, Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality (CPSWQ) and a Certified Stormwater Manager (CSM) and Inspector. He is a Member of the Water Efficiency & Sanitation Standard Technical Committee of the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), on the Editorial Board of Watershed Science Bulletin, and a former Director and Secretary on the Board of Directors for the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association. He oversees watershed management programs, all geared to reduce water pollution and use our precious, limited water resources in a sustainable manner (with a focus on rainwater/stormwater harvesting and use/reuse in association with post-construction structural Low Impact Development BMPs). He has been with the city since March 1999. Neal worked previously with The Jacques Cousteau Society, researching global water issues for films, books, policies, and expeditions. Neal attended the University of Delaware, receiving a Master’s in Marine Policy, and the University of California at Santa Barbara, receiving a Bachelor’s in Aquatic Biology.
Wing K. Tam
Assistant Director of Watershed Programs, LA Sanitation, City of Los Angeles
Wing Tam is the Assistant Director of Watershed Programs for LA Sanitation for the City of Los Angeles. In this role, he is responsible for stormwater management and watershed protection programs, facilities, advance planning, and water quality compliance. Wing directs the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program that includes Rainwater Harvesting, Green Streets, and Clean Water Bond. A leader in the development of green infrastructure, urban runoff and stormwater management for over 25 years, Wing has led first integrated, multi-purpose green solutions designed to improve water quality, water supply, flooding, habitat, and open space creating healthier and sustainable communities and his work has been recognized by USEPA, NACWA, WEF, CEWA, APWA, and other organizations. A Registered Professional Engineer, Wing holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering with emphasis in Water Resources & Environmental Engineering.
Chris Wanner
Director of Operations, Portland Water Bureau
Chris Wanner is the Director of Operations for the Portland Water Bureau. He is responsible for the management of operations and maintenance of surface and groundwater supplies, including treatment, transmission, storage, distribution, pump stations and tanks, system analysis, security and the SCADA system. Since 1984, he has held various Bureau positions. He is the designated Direct Responsible Charge for the bureau with the State of Oregon and holds certifications for both Water Distribution (WD4) and Water Treatment (WT4). Chris currently serves on the State’s Drinking Water Advisory Committee and is Vice-Chair of ORWARN and a member of AWWA, IWA and WEF. He has worked on many facets of asset management including participating in Water Services Association of Australia benchmarking and Leading Edge of Strategic AM efforts.
