Caren Glotfelty, Director for the Environment Program at The Heinz Endowments, will share her thoughts on wastewater infrastructure issues as the keynote speaker for the 3 Rivers Wet Weather Ninth Annual Sewer Conference, October 3-4 at the Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North in Cranberry Township.

Ms. Glotfelty previously served as the Maurice K. Goddard Chair in Forestry and Environmental Resource Conservation at Penn State University and as Deputy Secretary for Water Management in the Department of Environmental Protection.

Ms. Glotfelty will address more than 300 municipal officials, engineers, managers, public works directors and wastewater industry professionals from the perspective of a local foundation investing in environmental quality, economic prosperity and sustainable development for the region.

She will ask tough questions such as “How should the region set priorities to achieve the best outcomes with the investment of the fewest resources?” and “What are the opportunities to achieve multiple objectives through comprehensive watershed management and regionally based solutions?”

Untreated sewage and polluted stormwater flowing into the Pittsburgh region’s waterways during rainstorms is no longer an “out of sight, out of mind” problem. With the ALCOSAN consent decree released earlier this year and the 2004 municipal consent orders mandating that municipalities assess and repair their sewage infrastructure, the wet weather overflow issue is at the top of municipal agendas.

The two-day conference also will feature experts who will cover topics, such as expectations for water quality improvement in Allegheny County, municipal coordination with the ALCOSAN consent decree, developing a long-term wet weather control plan, regional flow monitoring, high-rate treatment in an urban environment and inflow/infiltration problems on private property.

More than 50 exhibitors will display and demonstrate technologies to help communities find new, cost-effective ways of assessing, restoring, operating and maintaining their sewer systems.

For more information or to register, click on the registration link on the 3 Rivers Wet Weather website or call at 412-237-3139.

9/28/2007