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Fall 2021
CONNECTICUT • MAINE • MASSACHUSETTS • NEW HAMPSHIRE • NEW YORK • RHODE ISLAND • VERMONT
Tracing the
Pandemic
Through Our
Wastewater
Also:
Combating our Aging
Wastewater Workforce
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
C
“ oronavirus surveillance” is one in a
string of buzzy topics drawing much-
Chair: Mark Klotz
needed attention to the importance
Vice Chair: Peter LaFlamme • Treasurer: Harry Stewart of the wastewater industry. Earlier this year,
Connecticut: Energy and Environmental Protection Wastewater and Onsite Systems Division
Commissioner Katie Dykes, acting Public Health
Commissioner Deidre Gifford, Jennifer Perry, Lori Mathieu,
Director Christina Stringer partnered with two
Michael Bisi, Denis Cuevas, Jane Stahl Tufts graduate students to help them study
Maine: acting Environmental Protection Commissioner the fascinating field of wastewater-based
Melanie Loyzim, Health and Human Services Commissioner
Jeanne Lambrew, Michael Abbott, Brian Kavanah, epidemiology (WBE) and its potential to help
Brian Tarbuck, Stacy Thompson, David Van Slyke public health officials track coronavirus infections. This issue
Massachusetts: Environmental Protection Commissioner of “Interstate Waters” features their work and NEIWPCC’s
Martin Suuberg, acting Public Health Commissioner
Margaret R. Cooke, Kathleen Baskin, Jan Sullivan, involvement in discussions around WBE (page 6).
Paul Hogan, John Sullivan, Adam Yanulis
New Hampshire: Environmental Services Commissioner On page 10, Program Manager Patty Chesebrough explores
Robert R. Scott, Rene Pelletier, Thomas Ballestero,
Frederick McNeill, Nelson Thibault, Robert Varney the wastewater staffing crisis, another important conversation
New York: Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil that the industry has been circling around for the last 30 years
Seggos, Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, or more. As the need for operators and other environmental
Mark Klotz, Richard Lyons, Roger Sokol
professionals grows more urgent, NEIWPCC intends to be a
Rhode Island: acting Environmental Management Director
Terrance Gray, Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, leader in attracting a more diverse and inclusive clean water
Sue Kiernan, Janine Burke-Wells, Russell Chateauneuf, workforce.
Amy Parmenter
Vermont: Environmental Conservation Commissioner
Peter Walke, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, Lori Cragin, One way we’re trying to do that is by highlighting our staff and
Peter LaFlamme, Dennis Lutz partners who clearly love what they do. On page 12, we profile
Executive Director: Susan J. Sullivan Dan Miller, habitat restoration coordinator with the Hudson River
NEIWPCC is a regional commission that helps the states of Estuary Program, who celebrated his 20th year with NEIWPCC
the Northeast preserve and advance water quality. We engage
and convene water quality professionals and other interested in 2020. We hope that by showing the incredible work of people
parties from New England and New York to collaborate on like Dan, young professionals can learn why water resource
water, wastewater, and environmental science challenges
across shared regions, ecosystems, and areas of expertise. protection is such an important and rewarding career.
This issue of “Interstate Waters” also highlights our virtual
Nonpoint Source Conference (page 13), and an aquatic insect
Volume 5, Number 2 • Fall 2021
volunteer monitoring program in Maine (page 16). I think there’s
Editor: Amy Magin
Contributing Editors: Kale Connerty, Beth MacBlane, something for every environmental professional or clean water
Michelle St. John enthusiast in here.
Contributors: Patricia L. Chesebrough,
James Plummer, Christina Stringer
Graphic Design: Newcomb Studios As we move into the end of the 2021 fiscal year and start
preparing for 2022, when we’ll be celebrating not only the
“Interstate Waters” is published by NEIWPCC.
It is funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental 50th anniversary of the modern Clean Water Act, but also
Protection Agency and distributed free of
charge to subscribers. To subscribe, email NEIWPCC’s 75th anniversary, I look forward to reflecting with
communications@neiwpcc.org. Type “Subscribe” in the you on all we’ve accomplished for the region and all we hope to
subject field and provide your full mailing address. In the
body of your email, indicate whether you also wish to see in the future.
receive our monthly e-newsletter, “Streamlined.”
The opinions and information stated in “Interstate Waters” are
those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions
of NEIWPCC. Articles in “Interstate Waters” may be copied and
distributed, except as noted. Please credit NEIWPCC.
NEIWPCC Susan J. Sullivan
650 Suffolk Street, Suite 410, Lowell, ma 01854 neiwpcc Executive Director
Tel: 978-323-7929
www.neiwpcc.org
Volume 5, Number 2
CONTENTS
2 Highlights from NEIWPCC and our Partners
6 Tracing the Pandemic Through our Wastewater
10 Combating our Aging Wastewater Workforce
12 Daniel Miller: Restoring Hudson River Estuary Habitats
13 Beavers, TACos, and Lightning Talks
14 Making Waves
16 Parting Shot
18 Events
Volume 5, Number 2 • Interstate Waters 1
HIGHLIGHTS FROM NEIWPCC AND OUR PARTNERS
Connections SRF funds for soil health, with a national overview of both
obstacles and opportunities, such as addressing nutrients
from agriculture; and two collaborative efforts to acquire
Virtual Northeast Aquatic Biologists land to protect water resources from East and West Coast
Conference Reaches a Wider Audience communities. To learn more, and view presentations from
previous engagement sessions, go to: neiwpcc.org/our-
NEIWPCC’s annual Northeast Aquatic Biologists (NAB)
programs/srf_workshop/.
Conference, held virtually for the first time, drew more
attendees than ever before, with a quarter tuning in from
other parts of the country, and even internationally. Held over
the course of four Protection
half-days in March,
NAB registrants Analyzing the Economic Benefits of a
could choose from
45 live and recorded
Clean New York-New Jersey Harbor
presentations on Estuary
topics such as NEIWPCC contracted leading experts in environmental
biomonitoring, economics to conduct an analysis of the economic benefits
chloride, of having clean water in the New York-New Jersey Harbor
cyanobacteria, lake Estuary. The study, funded by the EPA and managed by
monitoring, and NEIWPCC, will be the first of its kind in the region and could
restoration. serve as a steppingstone for further work by policymakers and
Featured speakers included Tim Martin, a long-term researchers.
monitoring data analyst with the Minnesota Department of In recent years, the New York-New Jersey Harbor and
Natural Resources, who presented on water quality trends in the Estuary Program and other area partners have focused on
state’s sentinel lakes, including increasing surface temperatures improving recreational access to the estuary’s waterways,
in these water bodies; Martyn Kelly, a leading ecologist in the including boating, fishing, swimming, and other activities.
United Kingdom, who compared biomonitoring practices The environmental economic analysis will allow stakeholders
and standards in the U.S. and the U.K.; and Nicole Dahrouge, and decision-makers to document and communicate the
a graduate researcher at the University of Connecticut, who true economic value of those benefits, making the case for
analyzed the effects of chloride contamination on vernal pool- improving water quality, prioritizing investment, and bringing
dwelling wood frog tadpoles. the advantages of healthy watersheds to underserved
communities.
State Revolving
Fund Series
Explores
Nonpoint Source
Pollution
NEIWPCC’s 2021 State
Revolving Fund (SRF)
virtual series launched
with three sessions
this spring. The events
provided opportunities for
learning and discussion
on current practices for
utilizing the SRF program
for nonpoint source
pollution (NPS) projects.
Presentations focused on
how Washington State
uses both SRF and Section
319 NPS management
program funding through
a combined program; NPS
and SRF professionals
discussed the use of
2 Interstate Waters • Fall 2021
Sharing a Vision for a Healthier solutions in “The Flood Resilience Handbook for Public Access
Sites Along the Hudson River.” The handbook, produced by
Narragansett Bay Region WSP engineering, with funding from NEIWPCC in partnership
The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP) is developing with NYSDEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program, provides
a new 10-year plan for the region, which will provide specific guidelines in planning for resilience and reducing damage,
actions surrounding water, wildlife and habitat, quality of life, costs, and other consequences associated with flooding and
and the partnership’s ability to be a force for change. As part of the effects of climate change.
the planning process, NBEP is seeking input from residents who
live, work, or play in the region to share their feedback with its
“Vision 2032” survey, found at www.vision2032.org. The survey $1.4 Million for
asks participants about their experiences with nature resources
in their communities, how they are impacted, and what changes
Lake Champlain
they would like to see. Basin Projects
Improvements to water
quality and ecosystem
Handbook Offers Strategies for health in the Lake
Hudson River Flood Resilience Champlain watershed
are getting a boost in
In the state of New York, more than 100 the upcoming year. The
public access sites, including parks, preserves, Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) anticipates awarding
boat launches, and fishing piers along the more than $1.4 million in grants for clean water projects to be
shores of the tidal Hudson provide outstanding implemented in 2022. NEIWPCC was awarded the funds on
recreational, scenic, and economic value behalf of the LCBP through the EPA and Great Lakes Fishery
to the Hudson Valley. However, climate Commission. Grants will be awarded for implementation and
models project the estuary’s water levels may planning of clean water projects, habitat and native species
rise several feet by the end of this century, conservation, and aquatic invasive species spread prevention
threatening the condition and viability of many of these and management. Projects located in the New York, Québec,
shoreline facilities. and Vermont portions of the Lake Champlain basin are
To assist owners and managers to adapt to existing and eligible for consideration. Grant guidelines, applications, and
predicted flooding, the New York State Department of submission requirements are available at lcbp.org/grants.
Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) offers strategies and
Education
Interactive Map Explores Rhode Island
Salt Ponds
The landscape along Rhode Island’s south coast is carved up
by salt ponds, each one a unique environment. A new, online
resource tells the story of these ponds and the organization
that protects them. The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
partnered with the Salt Pond Coalition to create an ArcGIS
Volume 5, Number 2 • Interstate Waters 3
HIGHLIGHTS FROM NEIWPCC AND OUR PARTNERS
StoryMap — an on way while collecting information about migrating fish and
interactive, environmental conditions. The 14th season of the project
online medium wrapped up with a total of 77,350 glass eels caught, counted,
that integrates and released upstream. NYSDEC staff, scientists and program
detailed participants then celebrated with outdoor “Eelebrations” to
maps with discuss final data, thank volunteers, and share stories and
other visuals experiences.
and text to
communicate
science in an LUSTLine Explores
engaging way.
Users of this StoryMap can click on different locations along
the Rise of
Rhode Island’s south coast to learn about each pond. Formed Electric Vehicles
by glacial deposits thousands of years ago, the ponds are each The latest issue of
influenced by their unique interactions with salt and fresh water. “LUSTLine” explores the
The Salt Pond Coalition’s mission is to protect these water phasing out of gasoline
bodies, some of which have seen heavy species and habitat loss powered vehicles and the
over the last few decades and vary in their degree of pollution. rise of electric, and how
The ponds are valuable economic resources for the state and its this will affect the future of
densely populated coastline. Some are important to the oyster gas stations. Many of the
farming industry; many are popular recreational destinations. country’s underground
The StoryMap also describes the “Pond Watchers” program — storage tanks have aged beyond their life spans, creating a
encouraging community volunteers to help monitor fluctuating “ticking time bomb” for increasing the likelihood of systems
bacteria levels in many of these water bodies. leaking, leading to contamination. In other articles, readers
can explore the challenges and solutions associated with a
lack of data standards for the underground storage tank (UST)
Students and Volunteers Celebrate community, and delve into the compatibility of emerging fuels
Another Season of Eel Research and UST systems.
“LUSTLine” reports on news from federal and state programs
Donning tan waders and face masks, volunteers and to control leaking underground storage tanks. NEIWPCC
students from 13 schools ventured into the Hudson River maintains a full archive of past issues and an index organized by
and its tributaries to collect and count tiny American eels. topic at www.neiwpcc.org.
This migratory fish is born in the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic
Ocean and enters North American estuaries, including the
Hudson River, as see-through “glass eels” each spring. With
the guidance of New York State Department of Environmental
Assessing Lake Champlain’s Conditions
Conservation (NYSDEC) staff, the Hudson River Eel Project Through Ecosystems Indicators
participants checked specialized nets and traps at 12 locations The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) released
during the migration season to monitor the health of the an updated “State of the Lake and Ecosystems Indicators
population. Report,” assessing recent conditions, successes, and ongoing
The project engages students, teachers and community challenges. The
volunteers, who learn about their local ecosystem in a hands- report describes Lake
Champlain in terms
of the four goals of
LCBP’s strategic plan:
clean water, healthy
ecosystems, thriving
communities, and
an informed and
involved public.
An ecosystem
indicators scorecard
gives an at-a-glance
status and trend of the Lake’s
five major segments for indicators of clean water, healthy
ecosystems, and — new this year — climate impacts. A new
metric helps readers understand changes in how often the
lake freezes over and potential impacts of warming trends
on its ecosystem. In addition, the report shares maps and
4 Interstate Waters • Fall 2021
charts related to everything from beach closures resulting
from cyanobacteria blooms, mercury loads in fish, invasive
Engagement
species, to public access locations. It also provides tips detailing
everyday actions readers can take to support a healthy Lake NEIWPCC
Champlain basin. Responds to
EPA’s Proposed
PFAS Rule
Read NEIWPCC’s 2020 Annual Report
NEIWPCC joined
NEIWPCC’s annual report for fiscal year 2020 highlights with several other
the staff’s work throughout the Northeast to help preserve water associations in
and advance clean water, accomplished under the launch authorizing a letter responding to the EPA’s advanced notice
of a new strategic plan and the impacts of the coronavirus of proposed rulemaking, “Clean Water Act Effluent Limitations
pandemic. Available on NEIWPCC’s website, the report shows Guidelines and Standards: Organic Chemicals, Plastics and
how NEIWPCC continued to establish new collaboratives, Synthetic Fibers Point Source Category.” The letter outlines
support program considerations of state environmental programs for the EPA in
partners and state regard to the future rule and lists specific recommendations.
environmental In carrying out the programs of the Clean Water Act, Safe
programs, and Drinking Water Act, and other national and state environmental
represent member statutes, states must address national regulatory changes and
states’ interests on data collection efforts that can affect their ability to manage
important water surface water, drinking water, and cross-media pollutants.
quality issues to Development of the future rule will enable states to acquire
federal parties. PFAS data towards state- and site-specific PFAS standards and
It also illustrates regulations. PFAS standards would allow states, the EPA, and
how NEIWPCC their stakeholders to better control and prevent PFAS pollution,
served as with a holistic and integrated water management approach. This
facilitator and includes working across EPA programs and with other federal
coordinator agencies to ensure cconsideration of potential impacts to
to help partners human health, aquatic life, drinking water, and the environment
respond to challenges presented by the from PFAS throughout a chemical’s lifecycle — from
COVID-19 crisis and create new solutions. For example, less manufacturing through processing, distribution, and disposal.
than a year after establishing the goal to offer online continuing
education for wastewater and water professionals, it suddenly
became necessary to revolutionize the 50-year-old in-person For more information about these stories, go to the News
training programs, resulting in new virtual courses offering page on NEIWPCC’s website, at www.neiwpcc.org. You
crucial training for maintaining operator licenses. can also get our online news posts sent straight to your
inbox! Email communications@neiwpcc.org to subscribe
to our e-newsletter, “Streamlined.”
www.neiwpcc.org
Volume 5, Number 2 • Interstate Waters 5
Yolanda Brooks and
Bailey Gryskwicz
Tracing the Pandemic
Through Our Wastewater
Christina Wnek
By Elyssa Anneser coronavirus. Not only can wastewater or outcomes.
T
provide a snapshot of the virus’s current Wastewater surveillance is a relatively
“ he sewer is the conscience of the prevalence in a community, but it new field, but as the SARS-CoV-2 virus
city.” Phyllis Rand, of the Greater can also help predict future cases of spread around the world in early 2020,
Augusta Utility District, shared COVID-19. so did interest in tracking the virus in
this quote from Victor Hugo’s “Les Wastewater-based epidemiology wastewater. Individuals infected with
Misérables” during a recent training on (WBE) involves testing samples from SARS-CoV-2 shed the virus in their
wastewater-based epidemiology. Rand wastewater to detect specific substances feces throughout their illness, and viral
emphasized how pollutants, diseases, or viral fragments, and then using fragments remain detectable through
and other materials in our wastewater statistical modeling techniques to wastewater sampling and surveillance
are valuable data that tell stories about a measure and predict public health trends programs for a few days. The amount
community.
In the last two years, water flushed
down the drain has been providing New Field with a Promising Track Record
researchers and public health officials
important insights into the spread of the Wastewater-based epidemiology has only been used as a method to study
public health since the early 2000s.
In 2005, researchers implemented WBE as a method to quantify the use of
Elyssa Anneser and Emily Riseberg cocaine and other illicit drugs in several European communities. These studies
graduated with master’s degrees in public proved that WBE can be an effective surveillance tool to measure drug use in a
health from Tufts University in spring of defined population.
2021. They worked with Christina Stringer, In a study published in 2020, researchers mapped opioid use in a North
Ph.D., director of NEIWPCC’s Wastewater Carolina community by collecting wastewater samples from residential
and Onsite Systems Programs, on the manholes. They were able to use that data to recommend targeted policies and
biostatistics project shared here, for programs, like more robust drug takeback programs, outreach materials, and
their Applied Learning Experience at other resources at pharmacies in specific areas of the community.
Tufts. They’re both currently serving as During the 2009 swine flu pandemic, researchers used WBE to trace the use
NEIWPCC interns supporting a project of Tamiflu (oseltamivir), a flu anti-viral drug, in populations in the United Kingdom.
investigating regional biosolids generation. WBE has also been used for polio surveillance since the early 2000s, helping
Kale Connerty, NEIWPCC information to reduce the prevalence of the virus in Pakistan and other countries.
officer, also contributed to this article.
6 Interstate Waters • Fall 2021
of a virus an infected individual sheds
can be represented in the population’s
wastewater, for as long as the virus
What’s the Difference?
particles persist in the environment. SARS-CoV-2 versus COVID-19
However, the exact amount of the virus Often in the media and in daily conversation people use the terms SARS-
a person sheds in their fecal matter over CoV-2 and COVID-19 interchangeably. But technically, they do not mean the
the course of their infection is still an same thing.
unknown variable. Coronaviruses are a category of virus that cause a variety of upper-respiratory
Nevertheless, wastewater-based tract illnesses, varying in severity. According to the CDC, there are seven
epidemiology has been an important coronaviruses that can infect people, the first of which were identified in the
public-health surveillance tool to mid-1960s. SARS-CoV-2, the newest of the seven, is the abbreviation for severe
complement traditional clinical acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
surveillance for COVID-19. WBE can COVID-19 is the specific illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 and is very similar
provide a more accurate understanding to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a disease caused by another
of the number of coronavirus cases coronavirus: SARS-CoV. COVID-19 is symptomatically similar to SARS and, while
in a community. For instance, both generally considered less severe, appears to be more easily transmitted from
asymptomatic and symptomatic person to person.
individuals will be detected in wastewater
samples. Scientists can also use the viral What Are We Actually Sampling?
concentrations in the wastewater stream
and observed cases of the disease to Footprints on a beach, a snake’s shed skin, and a skeleton: These were
predict future cases. metaphors that Scott Firmin of the Portland Water District shared during one of
our recent wastewater operator trainings, to describe the portion of the SARS-
Comparing COVID-19 Cases to CoV-2 virus that is being measured in the wastewater.
Wastewater Data I personally like the skeleton metaphor best. When we excrete virus particles
Wastewater facilities around the world through our feces, they enter the harsher environment of the wastewater stream.
have been partnering with researchers While we were uncertain at the beginning of the pandemic whether viable
to embark on WBE studies. Utilities copies of SARS-CoV-2 could persist in wastewater and be transmitted to people,
in the Northeast have been eager to studies have shown that this is unlikely. Viruses cannot replicate outside their
participate in these efforts. In 2020, hosts, and virus particles gradually break apart and become “fragments.” The
the Massachusetts Water Resource “fragment” we are able to measure is the virus RNA, which contains the genome
Authority, which services Greater Boston, of SARS-CoV-2.
began partnering with BioBot Analytics, The Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee (JETCC) held a
a wastewater epidemiology company, virtual training at the end of June, where Rand, Firmin and I discussed the history
to analyze their influent samples for the of water and wastewater public health surveillance, how it works, how it can be
presence of SARS-CoV-2 fragments. used, utilities’ sampling regimes during the pandemic, ethical considerations,
Likewise, the Portland Water District and more. JETCC and NEIWPCC will hold this training again on November 17.
in Maine partnered with St. Joseph’s Check out our calendar online at bit.ly/NEIWPCCtraining for this and other
College to analyze their influent samples. opportunities to earn training contact hours.
The Greater New Haven Water Pollution — Christina Stringer
Control Authority in Connecticut
partnered with Yale University to analyze
samples of their wastewater residuals.
In the spring of 2021, Elyssa Anneser
and Emily Riseberg, two graduate
students in the public health program
at Tufts University, worked under the
guidance of NEIWPCC Wastewater RNA
and Onsite Systems Program Director
Christina Stringer, to investigate the
statistical relationship between SARS-
CoV-2 concentrations in wastewater
and COVID-19 reported cases. They
evaluated the data from Boston,
Portland, and New Haven using four
different types of statistical regressions
to model the rate of COVID-19 cases
in those communities. These models
— linear, generalized additive, Poisson,
and negative binomial — take into This illustration of the SARS-CoV-2 virus anatomy was adapted from an image
account covariates that can affect by Maya Peters Kostman for the Innovative Genomics Institute
the data, like temperature and flow (https://innovativegenomics.org/free-covid-19-illustrations/).
rate in the wastewater streams. Each
Volume 5, Number 2 • Interstate Waters 7
Evan Johnson of the Portland Water District collects composite Anneser and Riseberg created this infographic for the Portland wastewater samples for analysis. health department. model represents different potential New Haven and Boston, this was the first investment in WBE and environmental relationships between the variables. look at wastewater and incidence data in surveillance. Looking ahead, WBE can Anneser and Riseberg verified an Portland. Anneser and Riseberg met with be instrumental in spotting outbreaks association between the data sets and the Portland public health department to of COVID-19 early and allow for public determined which models best predicted help develop an infographic and posters health intervention to break the the COVID-19 case rate based on the that can be used to explain WBE’s uses course of transmission. WBE is also wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations and benefits to the community. expected to be used to investigate the and different covariates. They found that In addition, this was the first project effectiveness of vaccines in halting the the generalized additive and negative to compare different statistical analytical spread of COVID-19. In the future, WBE binomial models best represented the approaches between multiple locations approaches may strengthen the world’s actual data across all three locations. among New England communities. pandemic early warning system or even The graphs on page 9 show the actual Although more research and data are assist with surveillance for the annual flu. number of COVID-19 cases reported in needed, this work represents a promising Vaccination campaigns are in full swing each location and the number of cases first step towards providing predictive around the world but challenges, like new predicted by the generalized additive models of COVID-19 cases to public virus variants, remain. Wastewater-based regression. health officials for decision-making epidemiology has great potential to guide While Anneser and Riseberg’s project purposes. public health officials through the hopeful was a secondary analysis of the data from This past year has seen an immense end of the pandemic. The Deer Island wastewater treatment plant, the second largest sewage treatment facility in the United States, is operated by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. Anneser and Riseberg used SARS-CoV-2 wastewater data from the MWRA as part of their research. 8 Interstate Waters • Fall 2021
Massachusetts
More About the Data
Anneser and Riseberg’s graphs show the actual Actual
number of COVID-19 cases reported in Boston, Portland, GAM Predicted
and New Haven over time, and the number of cases the
generalized additive regression predicted based on the
SARS-CoV-2 wastewater data.
9
The treatment facilities in these areas serve
populations of varying size: from about 17,000 in
Gorham and Westbrook, Maine to 2 million people in
Cases/day per 10,000 people
Boston. Sampling also varied in each location. The Maine
and Massachusetts facilities collected one-liter, 24-hour
composite samples of influent. In the Massachusetts
system, these samples were collected three to seven 6
times per week. In Maine, they were collected weekly.
The Connecticut facility collected 40-milliliter primary
sludge samples daily.
This study uses Massachusetts data from Aug. 19,
2020, to Jan. 19, 2021; Maine data from Sept. 1, 2020,
to March 2, 2021; and Connecticut data from March 1, 3
2020, to June 1, 2020. The incidence of daily COVID-19
cases was calculated using public health and population
records in these communities. Both the COVID-19
incident cases and the SARS-CoV-2 concentrations,
measured in copies per milliliter, were log-transformed
(a widely used method to address skewed data).
0
September 2020 October November December January 2021
Connecticut Maine
12
Actual Actual
GAM Predicted GAM Predicted
20
9
Cases/day per 10,000 people
Cases/day per 10,000 people
15
6
10
3
5
0 0
April 01, 2020 April 15 May 01 May 15 June 01 October 2020 January 2021
Volume 5, Number 2 • Interstate Waters 9Combating Our Aging
Wastewater Workforce
by Patricia L. Chesebrough
Maine Active Certified Wastewater Operators by age, 2020
A
s the United States’ wastewater Over 70: 1%
workforce ages, the need for new 66-70: 7% Under 31: 5%
operators entering the industry
is becoming critical. In its document, 31-40: 15%
“America’s Water Sector Workforce
Initiative: A Call to Action,” the EPA
Office of Water highlights the issue: 61-65: 18%
“One of the major challenges
facing our nation is the critical and
unprecedented staff shortage in 41-50: 22%
the water workforce that operates 56-60: 19%
and maintains our essential
drinking water and wastewater
infrastructure. In the next five to 51-55: 2%
10 years, water sector workers will
be eligible to retire at levels that
will stress our ability to operate this for a career in wastewater, and fewer and statistics for licensees, it is apparent that
critical infrastructure. The clean and fewer of these mechanically inclined the workforce also lacks racial diversity.
safe water and the way of life we professionals are entering the field. Focusing recruitment efforts on minority
have come to enjoy in this country As indicated in the table below, populations could lead to increased
cannot be sustained without our women currently make up only 4.5% of hiring and building of diversity in the
water protection specialists. We active licensed wastewater operators in industry.
must address this pending shortage New England and New York (NEIWPCC’s One significant way to tackle these
with focused engagement at all compact states). Increasing the workforce development issues across
levels of government and our public percentage of women entering the the Northeast (and beyond) is by
and private water sector partners.” wastewater industry is a logical way to making wastewater a career of choice.
help address the wastewater workforce NEIWPCC’s seasoned wastewater staff
According to EPA estimates,
shortage as a whole. suggests this can be accomplished
approximately one-third of all operators
Although NEIWPCC has not through focusing on four essential efforts:
in the U.S. will be eligible for retirement
historically collected demographic
in the next 10 years. As just one example,
based on a 2020 review NEIWPCC
conducted of our license records (see Active Licensed Operators in the Northeast*
figure to right), 53% of all wastewater
operators in Maine were over the age State Total Licensed Operators Female Operators Percent
of 50, making them all eligible for
retirement in 10 years or less. There is Connecticut 823 30 3.6%
a significant need for new wastewater
operators to fill the positions being Maine 631 49 7.8%
vacated by these retirements. Massachusetts 3,612 192 5.3%
Further exacerbating the impending
workforce shortage is the fact that the New Hampshire 543 35 6.4%
wastewater industry is comprised almost New York 3,257 82 2.5%
entirely of men, many of whom ended
up in their jobs through non-traditional Rhode Island 495 20 4.0%
paths. It is rare to find operators who Vermont 446 35 7.8%
actively chose and trained in advance
Total 9,807 443 4.5%
Patricia L. Chesebrough is a program
manager in NEIWPCC’s Wastewater and *Data from state licensing records maintained by NEIWPCC and our member states.
Onsite Systems Division.
10 Interstate Waters • Fall 2021⏴ Outreach and Recruiting: Perhaps The Youth and
the most critical need for the the Environment
wastewater workforce is an outreach Program in Lowell,
and recruiting campaign to increase Massachusetts exposes
overall awareness of wastewater; and teens to the wastewater
showcase wastewater as a rewarding industry and other
career with good wages, benefits, environmental fields.
and growth opportunity. Outreach You can read about
and recruiting must also be targeted the program in the
toward appropriate demographic September 2020 issue
and socioeconomic populations that of “Interstate Waters.”
have the greatest potential to become
operators and will benefit the most
from a career in wastewater.
⏴ Education: Expand our existing
operator training programs to ensure relationships to provide the support Through active outreach and
they are accessible and affordable needed to ensure candidates recruiting, and providing a clear and
for everyone, as well as offered in a complete training, licensing, and manageable path to education, licensing,
wide variety of formats to meet the employment goals. experience, and long-term career
schedules and learning needs of opportunities, the industry can increase
everyone.
⏴ Opportunity: Through networking the number of operators entering
and partnerships with a variety of
wastewater. Targeting historically
⏴ Internship/Apprenticeship/ job-assistance organizations, help
under-represented populations, such
Mentorship Programs: Develop and connect interested candidates with
as minorities and women, can make
implement internship, apprenticeship, employment opportunities. These
a truly impactful difference for these
and/or mentorship programs at organizations can assist candidates
people and the wastewater workforce as
wastewater facilities throughout the with resume writing, job-search tools,
whole. This will ensure a sustainable and
Northeast to provide essential hands- and interview preparation, among
well-educated wastewater workforce
on experience to those new to the other skills.
well into the future, thereby perpetually
industry, as well as create networking
protecting our nation’s waters.
Addressing the Shortage of Wastewater Operators
A Q&A with Jeffrey A. Murawski, P.E., Fitchburg, MA DPW deputy commissioner of wastewater
Why is there a shortage of wastewater operators? additional one focused on environmental science. These
As more operators are leaving than are coming in, there programs help facilitate workforce readiness of high school
also seems to be a tougher supply/demand issue for higher graduates with intentions to pursue careers after graduation
licensure level operators. I think this is a multi-faceted instead of post-secondary college enrollments.
problem, with the heart of it being the at-large workforce We also welcome wastewater treatment plant tours from
doesn’t know about these jobs: what we do, the importance schools and youth group organizations. We have provided
of the jobs and the work, and the job security, through tours to Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School,
workforce demand and need for these jobs continuing into Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster, Minuteman
the foreseeable future. Regional Vocational Technical School, Oakmont Regional
High School, Leominster’s Center for Technical Education
What do you think needs to be done to retain existing Innovation school, X-Cel Conservation Corps, and Fitchburg
and encourage new operators? State University.
Jobs and job opportunities that are unknown to the
workforce require more effort and staffing creativity by Any final thoughts you have related to the wastewater
hiring managers. In my seven years of experience as a workforce and/or its development?
wastewater utility head for a Massachusetts municipality, We need continued networking engagement among
the hiring process for filling vacated positions has been wastewater utilities, professional organizations, licensure
through a passive approach, advertising job vacancies in authorities among regulators, and training organizations and
appropriate places and hoping that respondents will answer. schools, whose mission is to develop workforce candidates
We haven’t yet engaged with public middle or high for the needs of workforce demands.
schools’ guidance and career counselors or participated A key to success in filling vacancies will be openness to
in job fairs. However, Fitchburg has begun to see positive non-traditional recruiting strategies (non-traditional for our
outcomes from networking with trade school programs, industry, and for municipalities), to seek out workforce candi-
training organizations, and working with our local public dates. Also, a willingness to engage with the public for general
school system, which has an “Advanced Manufacturing educational outreach, and for targeted engagement with
Pathway” program, and is interested in developing an schools’ curricula related to wastewater STEM career areas.
Volume 5, Number 2 • Interstate Waters 11Daniel Miller: Restoring
Hudson River Estuary Habitats
by Amy Magin Many of these projects are on public
T
parklands, where visitors are constantly
wenty years ago, when Daniel interacting with the river.
Miller first joined NEIWPCC as “We recently finished a shoreline
an environmental analyst, he was stabilization and access project in
tasked with an ambitious endeavor: Stuyvesant, that I’m very proud of,” Miller
develop a plan for restoring Hudson River said. “A big priority for us was to include
estuary habitats — severely impacted by a large fishing platform — it’s a popular
industrial development, transportation striper spot — on a section of the river
systems, navigational improvements, and where there really isn’t that much access.
a host of local landscape issues — back At the same time, we were able to build a
into a healthy ecosystem. tidal pool with tidal vegetation, and put in
After working with multiple some shoreline features that were stable,
stakeholders over the course of many incorporating a lot of plant matter for
years to gather information and aquatic, terrestrial and bird life.”
recommendations, Miller produced a Miller’s dedication to the habitat
comprehensive guide in 2011 for restoring restoration came from his upbringing on
the river’s tidal wetlands and natural the Hudson. He began working on the
shorelines and facilitating fish passage up river when he was 18, returning to the
the Hudson’s tributaries. area to raise his family after receiving
The “Hudson River Estuary Program his master’s in biology from Florida
Habitat Restoration Plan,” published Atlantic University, and then working as
by the New York State Department of a marine biologist in Florida and Maine.
Environmental Conservation, identified He now has his 50-ton, U.S Coast Guard
several priority habitats vital to the but eventually they are able to come to a commercial captain’s license for inland
health and resiliency of the estuary and consensus. waters.
presented recommendations for action. “It can be a challenge when so many In his two decades at NEIWPCC,
The plan sets priorities for government interested parties are involved but it is Miller has seen many colleagues come
agencies, scientists, conservation also a blessing that allows us to make and go, as new people are hired to
and environmental organizations and progress on the Hudson,” Miller said. replace those who have retired. “I’ve
research institutions throughout the “There are many different ambitious and come to appreciate the mix of long-
region to plan, implement and evaluate energetic groups out there doing great term experienced people bringing their
habitat restoration projects. things for the river and the environment, wisdom to the table with this constant
Miller now collaborates with a variety and they make wonderful partners.” renewal of young, ambitious, creative
of partners — from local municipalities to In his work on shorelines, Miller minds,” he said. “I love it when we
federal agencies — to facilitate the plan’s also communicates extensively with bring in new people, because it injects
implementation, coordinating funding communities to understand how they some great energy and creativity into
sources with research and science interact with the river. This feedback is the process, which is a necessary part
capacities, and moving projects from then incorporated into shoreline designs of being an effective and dynamic
preliminary stages to design and then that allow for human uses such as water organization.”
eventually to construction. He tries to access and scenic views, while still Miller believes that it is essential
involve as many stakeholders as possible, creating healthy, resilient ecosystems. to inspire people to appreciate the
working closely with the decision-makers “Our primary goal is to maintain or environment. He enjoys any opportunity
while ensuring community input and improve the environment for the plants to join people for a walk in the woods, or a
support. He acknowledges that it can and animals of the Hudson River,” canoe trip on the Hudson, passing on his
be difficult sometimes to get so many Miller said. “But we also have a very big knowledge of the river he loves.
people to move in the same direction, component of human use that needs “The hardest thing for me to see is the
to be addressed. So, in working with a continued disconnect and erosion of our
community we need to be really creative relationship from the environment. At
Amy Magin is director of NEIWPCC’s about what they want to experience at best, it is seen as a novelty to a lot of kids.
Communications Division. Daniel Miller is the river, and with a few compromises we The more that I can get involved with
an environmental analyst with NEIWPCC are able to achieve a project that respects people outdoors, the better.”
and coordinator with the Hudson River the river while satisfying those needs.”
Estuary Program Habitat Restoration.
12 Interstate Waters • Fall 2021Beavers, TACos, and
Lightning Talks
Scenes From NEIWPCC’s Virtual Nonpoint Source Conference
By James Plummer
O
ld film footage of state officials
tagging wriggling beavers,
locking them into wooden crates,
strapping the crates to parachutes,
and dropping them out of planes into
the remote backwoods of Idaho isn’t
the usual type of content featured in
presentations at NEIWPCC’s Nonpoint
Source (NPS) Conference.
The footage was part of a 1950s era
conservation effort, unearthed by the
Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and
shared by Julie Busa of Fuss & O’Neill,
during this year’s virtual NPS Conference
in May. Busa, presenting on her own work
in Massachusetts stimulating beaver
activity to create habitat, increase flood
resilience, and manage nonpoint source
pollution, referenced the successful
beaver drop, which relocated the animals
away from residential development and
into the wilderness. are quite diverse. With guidance from a NPS work groups, as well as other
Originally scheduled for 2020 planning team, NEIWPCC staff strategize environmental practitioners. The group
at the Woodstock Inn in Vermont, how to best arrange content to meet the promotes the tracking and accounting
NEIWPCC had to postpone the 31st interests and needs of the region’s NPS of pollution management practices to
Annual Nonpoint Source Conference community. NEIWPCC has historically continually improve nonpoint source
due to the pandemic, holding it virtually held the event over two consecutive days management strategies on a watershed
instead in 2021. Since its inception, the in one of our member states. For the 2021 and regional scale. Many of these
conference has been an opportunity for virtual conference, the team decided to members attended the event, using
environmental officials and researchers spread the sessions out over three five- the web conferencing platform’s chat
in the Northeast to discuss NPS water hour days during two weeks in May. function to share insights and resources
pollution management strategies. For one session, three scientists — throughout.
The projects shared at the NPS Nick Nelson, Inter-Fluve; Kristen “It became clear that continuing
conference, like cultivated, strategic Andersen, University of Alberta; and to support and grow tracking and
beaver activity, are a reminder that Peter Slovinsky, Maine Geological Survey accounting systems will be a central
environmental conservation isn’t about — participated in lighting talks, describing part of NPS work in the coming
leaving nature untouched by humans. riverbank stabilization, lake shore years,” said TACo Co-Coordinator and
Humans have always had a hand in stabilization, and living shoreline projects. NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst Emma
shaping their environments. From there, the audience had the Gildesgame, “including for developing
Nonpoint source management issues opportunity to join one of three breakout and implementing NPS TMDLs and
sessions. This structure was important for alternative restoration plans.”
James Plummer is an environmental a virtual conference, facilitating deeper
analyst in NEIWPCC’s Wastewater and discussions between colleagues who had Lessons From a Virtual Format
Onsite Systems Division. He planned this been disconnected for almost two years. The ability to easily share links to other
year’s NPS conference with NEIWPCC The conference was also an resources during a presentation is one
Events and Operations Coordinator Vivian opportunity for NEIWPCC to evaluate of the advantages of virtual conferences
Frausto. Plummer coordinates NEIWPCC’s its new Tracking and Accounting and is a way for colleagues to further
NPS management programs and co-leads Collaborative (TACo), comprised of network and dive deeper into a subject.
NEIWPCC’s Tracking and Accounting members from NEIWPCC’s Total One of NEIWPCC’s most valuable
Collaborative. Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and continued on page 15
Volume 5, Number 2 • Interstate Waters 13MAKING WAVES
Katie DeGoosh-DiMarzio, NEIWPCC
environmental analyst at RI DEM, was
interviewed on Resiliency Radio to speak Congratulations
about invasive species spread prevention
and the new solar boat wash station on For more than 50 years, EPA New England has honored
Chapman Pond in Rhode Island. those who have made outstanding contributions
to protect the region’s environment. NEIWPCC
Maryann Dugan, NEIWPCC congratulates the 2021 recipients of EPA New England’s
environmental analyst, was elected to Environmental Merit Awards Program.
join the Board of Directors for the New
Hampshire Rivers Council for a three- Former NEIWPCC Commissioner Janet Coit was
year term. presented with the Ira Leighton “In Service to States”
Annual Award, for her leadership in addressing
Richard Friesner, NEIWPCC director regional environmental challenges. Coit, assistant
of Water Quality Programs, moderated administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
a session of the mid-year Association of Administration Fisheries, was the director of the Rhode
Clean Water Administrators meeting, Island Department of Environmental Management for Janet Coit
which discussed upcoming legislative more than 10 years.
priorities for the House and Senate for
the environment, water quality, and Environmental Lifetime Achievement Merit Awards:
infrastructure. Yvonne Bolton, Angelo Liberti III, Chuck Schwer,
retiring NEIWPCC retiring administrator retired division
Friesner also presented “Progress in commissioner, of the Surface Water director of waste
Water Quality…But Still More Work to and bureau chief, Protection Programs management and
Do” for the Climate Change Initiative, Bureau of Materials in the Rhode Island prevention with the
a research center at the University Management and Department of Vermont Department
of Massachusetts, Lowell. Friesner’s Compliance Assurance Environmental of Environmental
talk focused on the Clean Water Act’s for the Connecticut Management, and Conservation and
framework, water quality progress over Department of Energy long-time NEIWPCC long-time NEIWPCC
its 50-year history, and current events and Environmental partner. partner.
related to our country’s surface water Protection.
quality.
Megan Lung, NEIWPCC environmental
analyst with the Hudson River Estuary
Program, completed the Pattern for
Progress 2020-2021 fellowship on
Environmental Racism in the Hudson
Valley. She co-authored the group’s final
report, “Achieving Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion in the Hudson Valley.”
Lung was also presented with a
Recognition of Resilience and Distinctive Yvonne Bolton Angelo Liberti III Chuck Schwer
Service Award by the town of Esopus, N.Y.
for her service to the community during coordinator, co-authored a paper, Three NEIWPCC environmental analysts
2020, naming Lung as a “NYSDEC Friend “Pathway-Based Approaches for presented at the annual Northeast
of Esopus, Champion of Culverts and Assessing Biological Hazards of Complex Aquatic Biologists Conference: Megan
Knight of NEIWPCC.” Mixtures of Contaminants: A Case Study Lung, Hudson River Estuary Program, “A
in the Maumee River,” in the April 2021 Look Back at the Action Agenda: Barrier
Fred McNeill, P.E., chief engineer issue of “Environmental Toxicology and Removal from 2015-2025 in the Hudson
for the city of Manchester’s (N.H.) Chemistry.” River Estuary;” Charles Stoll, New York
Environmental Protection Division and State Department of Environmental
NEIWPCC commissioner, was recently John Sullivan, NEIWPCC commissioner Conservation, “Chloride Concentrations
named as the next NEWEA president. and chief engineer, Boston Water Across New York State Flowing Waters;”
and Sewer Commission, testified as and Matthew Vaughan, Lake Champlain
Dan Rearick, NEIWPCC environmental part of the U.S. Senate Environment Basin Program, “Lessons Learned
analyst and Hudson River Estuary and Public Works Committee hearing From Three Decades of Water Quality
Program - Hudson River Environmental on infrastructure cybersecurity Monitoring on Lake Champlain.”
Conditions Observing System vulnerabilities.
14 Interstate Waters • Fall 2021Welcome to Our New Commissioners
Lori Mathieu Rene Pelletier (acting) Thank you to our
Connecticut New Hampshire Retiring Commissioners
Mathieu is a public health branch chief Pelletier is the assistant director,
with the Connecticut Department Water Division, New Hampshire Yvonne Bolton
of Public Health’s Environmental Department of Environmental
Connecticut
Health and Drinking Water branch Services, providing program oversight
Chief of the Bureau of Materials,
and is also the president-elect to the related to subsurface systems,
Management and Compliance
Association of State Drinking Water alteration of terrain, drinking water and
Assurance with the Connecticut
Administrators. groundwater bureau, wetlands bureau,
Department of Energy and
dam bureau, wastewater engineering,
Environmental Protection; NEIWPCC
Jennifer Perry watershed management and the
commissioner since 2003.
Connecticut Winnipesaukee River basin program.
Perry is a licensed professional
Tom
engineer with the Connecticut Margret Cooke (acting)
Department of Energy and Massachusetts
O’Donovan
Environmental Protection, with Cooke is the acting commissioner of New Hampshire
extensive experience in wastewater the Massachusetts Department of More than 33
systems, ground water and surface Public Health (MA DPH), previously years of public
water permitting, dam safety and serving as deputy commissioner and service, including:
infrastructure management. general counsel. commissioned
officer in the U.S.
Jan Sullivan Army Corps of
Terrance Gray (acting)
Massachusetts Engineers, senior manager within the
Rhode Island
Sullivan is the acting director of the Department of Energy and project
Terrance Gray is the acting director
Bureau of Environmental Health at the director in the construction industry;
of the Rhode Island Department of
Massachusetts Department of Public NEIWPCC commissioner since 2019.
Environmental Management. Gray has
Health. She oversees program areas been the primary point person on the
that include toxicology, epidemiology, Rhode Island interagency team for the
indoor air quality, childhood lead Transportation and Climate Initiative
poisoning prevention, radiation and and has led several permitting and
food protection, and community enforcement program initiatives and
sanitation. reforms at the department.
Beavers, TACos, and The conference usually attracts Vermont for the 32nd Annual Nonpoint
Lightning Talks attendees who are almost exclusively Source Conference in April 2022.
continued from page 13 from the Northeast states. However, And those parachuting beavers? Not
the accessible nature of the virtual only did they survive their drop, they
roles is engaging and convening water format opened the door to increased flourished in their new environment,
quality professionals to collaborate on participation from locations far outside establishing new colonies and improving
environmental issues. Simulating the of the region, including Guam, Texas, the habitat for other animals, waterfowl,
same kind of networking experience South Carolina, Ohio, and Kentucky. And, fish and plants.
as an in-person event has been an registration increased from an average of
important hurdle for NEIWPCC to 100-140 participants to 160, with a greater
overcome during the pandemic. presence from EPA and tribal staff.
A benefit of virtual events: Attendees There are elements from the virtual
have better control over their conference that may inform the agenda
environment and their time. Feedback for next year. Conference organizers
from participants expressed approval of discovered that holding more panels,
how the NPS conference was spread out lightning talks, and breakout sessions
over the course of two weeks. Attendees keep attendees engaged, both virtually
did not have to sacrifice full workdays, and in-person. While this year was
or experience any potential conference certainly a success, staff are crossing
burnout at the end of several day-long their fingers that NEIWPCC can host the
sessions. NPS community at the Woodstock Inn in
Tim Newcomb
Volume 5, Number 2 • Interstate Waters 15PARTING SHOT
A Treasure Hunt for
Healthy Streams
by Kale Connerty with the DEP, presented on the program
F
last March at NEIWPCC’s virtual
or the last two summers, volunteers Northeast Aquatic Biologists Conference.
have gone prospecting in Maine’s Danielson was responsible for creating
streams for aquatic insects like the guidebook, macroinvertebrate
those shown here, as part of an effort to identification keys, and data forms
better understand water quality in the that volunteers use out in the field. He
state. enlisted the help of two AmeriCorps
The Maine Stream Explorers is a environmental stewards and his teenage
new community science program, run daughter, who used her photo-editing
through a collaboration between Maine skills to enhance the images shown
Audubon, the Maine Department of here. These photos were sourced from
Environmental Protection (DEP), the “The Atlas of Common Freshwater
Lakes Environmental Association, Macroinvertebrates of Eastern North
Portland Water District, and a growing list America,” an online community science
of other partners invested in protecting resource.
the state’s water resources. In 2020, The guidebook describes volunteers’
Maine Audubon recorded an online objective as “a treasure hunt for healthy
training for volunteers, to help them find streams in Maine.” The materials
and collect aquatic insects in their local walk volunteers through finding and
streams and to classify the bugs based on identifying these macroinvertebrates,
their tolerance to water pollution. and rate the bugs as sensitive,
Tom Danielson, an aquatic biologist moderately sensitive, or tolerant to water
pollution. At each stream, volunteers
tally up how many of each kind of bug
Kale Connerty is an information officer in they find in each of those sensitivity
NEIWPCC’s Communications Division. categories.
(Adobe stock photo)
16 Interstate Waters • Fall 2021You can also read
