AMSA's 2004 Summer Conference

Leading the Way ... POTWs Take
Environmental Protection Beyond the Pipe
July 20 - 23, 2004, The Westin Tabor Center, Denver, Colorado

Dear Clean Water Colleague:
AMSA’s 2004 Summer Conference is just around the corner. I look forward to seeing you in Denver in July as the clean water community examines several evolving and emerging technical issues that may affect wastewater treatment practices.

Leading the Way
In recent years, wastewater treatment utilities have had to respond to increasing expectations with regard to improved water quality and environmental protection. Many utilities are now playing larger roles “beyond the pipe” as they assume non-traditional wastewater management responsibilities. AMSA’s 2004 Summer Conference will examine how these new and complex issues are affecting national policy and utility operations.

L. Hunter Lovins to Keynote Conference
Renowned author and ecosystem advocate L. Hunter Lovins has been invited to address the 2004 Summer Conference. Ms. Lovins has been at the cutting edge of environmental thinking for the past 30 years. She is the co-author of Natural Capitalism, a book that presents an approach to developing and implementing sustainability strategies for communities across the nation. Ms. Lovins’ address should spark many thought provoking discussions.

Taking Environmental Protection Beyond the Pipe
Panels will examine a broad range of issues facing the clean water community, including legal and regulatory trends that are shaping the designated use debates; the need for increased monitoring and the potential effects this additional data may have on utilities; the use of wetlands to control nutrient levels; the enormously important and increasingly complex dynamics of water quality and reuse issues; as well as the need to focus more attention on collection systems and their impacts on wet weather issues. The fact that the meeting takes place in Denver will provide an excellent opportunity for a case study on how arid conditions may further complicate these already difficult issues.

AMSA Committees to Discuss a Wide Range of Issues
Also make plans to attend AMSA’s special committee meetings, which are designed to keep attendees abreast of current and emerging legislative, legal, regulatory and management issues. I strongly encourage you to participate in these meetings, as these strategic discussions are key to AMSA’s policies and future activities.

Special Events Include Golf Tournament & Facility Tour
As in past years, two special events will be offered for attendees on the afternoon of July 22nd:

• The Denver Metro Wastewater Reclamation District is offering a tour of their Central Treatment Plant as well as the Denver Water Recycling Plant. The treatment plant has recently completed several significant upgrades and the Water Recycling Plant has just recently come on-line.

• The 2004 AMSA Open will be held at the new Fossil Trace Golf Club. Fossil Trace offers challenging play, beautiful scenery and features recently uncovered 26 million year old fossils.
   

Denver – The Mile High City
Denver is a lively city with a variety of attractions including: world class restaurants, shopping, and one of the nation’s greatest concentrations of Victorian buildings. Many points of interest are within easy walking distance of the Westin Tabor Center.

I look forward to seeing you July 20 - 23 in Denver, Colorado!

Sincerely,

William B. Schatz, AMSA President
General Counsel, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, OH