Download the Executive Summary

Earlier this year, WEF’s Stormwater Institute (SWI) conducted the National Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Needs Assessment Survey. The primary objectives of this survey were to identify the information and technical resource needs of MS4 permittees and to better understand MS4 stormwater program challenges. Additionally, some of the information collected from the survey will support WEF’s ongoing effort to establish stormwater as a sector in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Infrastructure Report Card^©.

The executive summary of the survey results was released at WEFTEC 2018 and is available for anyone to download.

One of the major findings was a clear need for information and resources related to funding and financing of stormwater programs and information on best management practice (BMP) effectiveness and life cycle costs. MS4 permittees also identified lack of program funding and availability of capital as a significant challenge. Nearly half of all survey respondents indicated that they need additional funding to meet their stormwater program goals.

The full report of the survey results will be completed by the end of 2018. SWI Subscribers will receive the full report at no-charge, and it will be available to non-subscribers for purchase.

For more information about WEF’s Stormwater Institute, visit https://wefstormwaterinstitute.org/.

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The National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP), established in 2016 by the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) and DC Water (Washington, D.C.), is the first nationally focused professional credential program to confirm that professionals have the skills and knowledge necessary to work on green stormwater infrastructure. So far, more than 350 people have earned certifications through the program.

Since its creation in 2016, the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) has bestowed credentials to more than 350 water professionals who have demonstrated the skills and knowledge needed to design, build, and maintain cutting-edge green stormwater infrastructure.

As the first-of-its-kind certification program expands, Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Member Associations (MAs) may now purchase training licenses that will extend NGICP’s reach. By actively supporting the program, MAs can prepare their members for work in a crucial and quickly growing segment of the water sector.

Become a training licensee

An increasing number of MAs have members who have received NGICP professional credentials. These newly certified professionals return home equipped with new knowledge and skills, and they are eager to pass on what they have learned to their colleagues.

James Moore, stormwater specialist for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP), is among 11 individuals in the state who earned NGICP certifications in June 2018. Moore will attend an NGICP “Train-the-Trainer” workshop in August, where he will learn how to teach the NGICP curriculum to those seeking to follow in his footsteps.

Purchasing an NGICP trainer license allows WEF Member Associations (MAs) and other organizations to designate up to five individuals as NGICP trainers. After completing a seminar, these trainers can prepare others for the NGICP certification exam using official curriculum materials. Eddie Gonzalez/WEF.

Moore says familiarity with green infrastructure will become increasingly important for Georgia stormwater professionals. Those in the state anticipate new state regulations that will require on-site reduction or capture of at least 25.4 mm (1 in.) of rain for all regulated municipal separate storm sewer systems by the end of 2020.

“GAWP members are keenly interested in getting up to speed on the installation and maintenance of the green infrastructure practices that will accompany the new standard. NGICP offers a … means to do this, along with a robust credentialing process,” Moore said. “We’re looking forward to adding NGICP to our toolbox of professional stormwater trainings.”

Professional organizations that purchase an NGICP training license can designate up to five individuals to serve as official NGICP trainers after completing a Train-the-Trainer workshop. Trainers gain access to NGICP materials and best-practice standards for educating hopeful practitioners. These pracitioners pay a fee to take the official NGICP exam.

“For those entities that are focusing on educating professionals already in the field, who can afford the ongoing costs of certification, a license is the best option,” said Adriana Caldarelli, NGICP director.

Become an NGICP partner

Becoming an NGICP partner enables MAs to absorb the costs associated with certification of many members during a 2-year period. Additionally, NGICP partners appear on marketing materials and gain a voice in the program’s Strategic Advisory Group, which guides the program’s development and expansion. Eddie Gonzalez/WEF.

MAs interested in helping a larger number of members pursue certifications also may become official NGICP partner organizations. After purchasing a 2-year partnership commitment, these MAs can provide a “one-stop-shop” for members to access state-of-the-art green infrastructure training materials, earn their certification, and participate in ongoing professional development opportunities, all without paying out of pocket.

Becoming a partner organization also allows the MA to designate new NGICP trainers, to appear prominently in NGICP press releases and marketing materials, and to participate in NGICP Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) activities. Maintaining a voice on the NGICP SAG allows organizations to help guide the program’s expansion as it works to organize an in-demand, skills-driven, sustainable workforce.

MAs that want to help certify several individuals but do not want to serve as full NGICP partners also may purchase certification packages that cover up to 40 people. This spares members from incurring exam application fees, re-test fees, and certification maintenance fees.

Partnership and group-certification packages are suitable for MAs that focus heavily on professional development. They also are valuable for MAs interested in using NGICP as part of larger workforce development programs, Caldarelli said.

Learn more about available options for MAs to get involved with NGICP on the program’s website. Send an email to Adriana Caldarelli at acaldarelli@wef.org for more details.

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Click to submit your nomination in the 2018 MS4 Awards! Entry Deadline: August 3, 2018

The National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards program, developed and introduced in 2015 by the Water Environment Federation through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was established to recognize high-performing regulated MS4s. Award winners meet and exceed regulatory requirements in innovative ways that are effective and cost-efficient.

Submissions will undergo an expert committee review and selection process. Each applicant will be designated a Bronze, Silver, or Gold community within the categories of both program management and innovation.

MS4 award benefits

High-performers in program management and innovation will be recognized in October 2018. The Phase I and Phase II communities with the overall highest score will be honored as the formal winners of the 2018 National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards at the Stormwater Congress Luncheon on Oct. 1 at WEFTEC 2018 in New Orleans, La.

For more information

To learn more, visit the MS4 Awards website or contact Rebecca Arvin Colon at RArvin-Colon@wef.org.

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The National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP), the first job-training initiative of its kind to certify workers have the necessary skills to build and maintain green infrastructure projects, announced its national roll-out in April 2018. Applicants from around the U.S. can now participate in the program.

The National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP), the first standardized job-training program in the U.S. for professionals working in green infrastructure construction, maintenance, and monitoring, is now open nationwide to partners, trainers, sponsors, and hopeful certificants.

NGICP, founded in 2016 by the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) and DC Water (Washington, D.C.), promotes a skilled green workforce, streamlines the process of connecting qualified talent to in-demand jobs, and supports community-based job creation in U.S. cities.

To coincide with NGICP’s national launch, Adriana Caldarelli joined WEF as the Director of NGICP. Caldarelli brings 17 years of experience at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to the position.

Meeting a growing interest in green infrastructure

In the past, NGICP training and examination sessions were available only in communities served by WEF, DC Water, and the 14 utilities and water-sector organizations that assisted with the program’s development. Utilities and organizations nationwide can now become NGICP partners to gain the resources to train and certify green infrastructure professionals in their home communities. Organizations interested in supporting the NGICP mission also can help sponsor the program.

Since 2016, more than 250 green infrastructure workers have received credentials through NGICP, many of whom now work permanently in their fields of study. To receive NGICP credentials, applicants must undergo a 35-hour training session and pass an exam. Eddie Gonzalez/Water Environment Federation

Already, more than 250 applicants have received credentials through NGICP. Many of these professionals now work permanently in their fields of study. As more individuals become certified, the program is attracting national attention. In March, The Washington Post commended the program for its efforts to reduce unemployment while improving local communities.

“The overwhelming interest in the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program has confirmed the need to train people to work in this growing segment of the water sector,” said WEF Executive Director Eileen O’Neill. “Through the program we have a tremendous opportunity to promote the implementation of green infrastructure projects and develop a skilled workforce for the betterment of our communities, economy, and environment.”

NGICP partners worked diligently to build the NGICP curriculum and 100-question examination to meet international best practice standards. The program verifies that credentialed green infrastructure workers have the necessary skills to ensure the performance and sustainability of low-impact stormwater infrastructure.

New director brings decades of stormwater experience

With the arrival of Adriana Caldarelli, who played critical roles in water quality regulation and stormwater management programs at NJDEP, NGICP gains a director well-versed in addressing complex environmental issues and engaging communities.

Before 2011, the City of Camden had been plagued by chronic flooding due to its undersized combined sewer system. That year, Caldarelli worked with others at NJDEP to broker partnerships with Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, Rutgers University Extension Station (New Brunswick, N.J.), and several local nonprofits, establishing the Camden Stormwater Management and Resource Training (SMART) Initiative.

Camden SMART mobilized community resources to build approximately 50 green infrastructure projects and plant more than 1500 trees around the city in the years since, capturing more than 234 million L (62 million gallons) of stormwater annually, Caldarelli said.

“There are neighborhoods in Camden that used to flood during even the smallest rain events, and the residents of those communities couldn’t get to work or school without having to walk through sewage,” she recalled. “Those same neighborhoods now have much less frequent street flooding thanks to the rain gardens and de-paving projects that we built.”

Through such projects as building a new waterfront park on a former industrial site on the shore of the Delaware River and distributing free rain barrels to Camden residents, Caldarelli has witnessed firsthand how green infrastructure can transform the environmental, economic, and social well-being of neighborhoods. To provide these benefits, green infrastructure requires specialized construction practices and regular maintenance.

“As great as green infrastructure is, it has to be properly installed and maintained,” Caldarelli said.

NGICP offers green infrastructure owners and planners a way to locate the right talent to ensure these installations operate as intended.

“As more and more communities choose to use green infrastructure because of its many benefits, this program will help [prospective NGICP students] stand out.”

With the national launch of NGICP, workers nationwide can receive credentials that certify they meet international best practice standards to build rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavement, and other green infrastructure projects. Alisha Goldstein/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

NGICP’s future

The NGICP team will now work to increase the burgeoning program’s name recognition throughout the U.S. by engaging a wider variety of water-sector organizations. As a former regulator, Caldarelli will lead the partnership’s efforts to integrate NGICP certifications into state and local environmental standards. The partnership also intends to work with workforce-development organizations that focus on chronically disenfranchised workers, such as veterans’ assistance and prisoner re-entry groups, Caldarelli said.

Learn more about the National Green Infrastructure Program on its website, and contact ngicp@wef.org for more information.

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The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) invited water sector professionals to submit photos for the contest, the second in a series following this summer’s Operator-in-Action photo contest. Stormwater Snapshot entries illustrated how skilled facility operators, engineers, and other field workers think outside-the-box to provide effective stormwater control.

Winners, chosen by online vote, were

• Matt Huffman, Beckley (W.Va.) Sanitary Board, in first place;
• Wendi Knutsen, City of Colorado Springs (Colo.) Public Works Department, in second place; and
• Katie Norris, City of Dayton (Ohio) Department of Water, in third place.

Browse a full gallery of all entries below.

WE&T holds photo contests with different themes every 3 months. Winners receive exclusive WE&T-themed prizes and their photos are featured in the “From the Field” section of the magazine.

Stay up-to-date with current contests by following WEF’s Facebook page. The next photo contest will be open for entries Dec. 1.

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Developed and introduced in 2015 by the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this year’s distinctions were awarded to the winners during the annual Stormwater Congress Luncheon at WEFTEC 2017 in Chicago.

The awards recognize performance in the categories of innovation and program management as well combined high scores in both categories. Applications for the National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards are reviewed by a broad subcommittee of water sector experts.

The awards also are separated into two classifications based on the population of the communities they serve. The classifications are

• Phase I, which encompassed medium or large cities with more than 100,000 customers and
• Phase II, which encompasses smaller storm sewer systems outside of heavily populated urban areas.

The winners of the 3rd annual National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards are as follows:

Overall Highest Scores

• Phase I – City of Austin, Texas, Watershed Protection Department
• Phase II – Capitol Region Watershed District, St. Paul, Minn.

Innovation

• Phase I – Boston Water and Sewer Commission
• Phase II – Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Program Management

• Phase I – City of Alpharetta, Ga.
• Phase II – City of Alexandria, Va.

This year’s recipients were awarded silver or gold certificates based on their level of performance in innovation or program management.

Gold recognition in Innovation
Phase I

• Boston Water and Sewer Commission
• City of Alpharetta, Ga.
• City of Corpus Christi, Texas
• City of Grand Rapids, Mich.
• City of Austin, Texas, Watershed Protection Department

Phase II

• Capitol Region Watershed District, St. Paul, Minn.
• City of Alexandria, Va.

Silver recognition in Innovation
Phase I

• City of Wichita, Kan.
• Columbus, Ohio, Division of Sewerage and Drainage
• Louisville, Ky., MSD
• City of Dayton, Ohio; Department of Water

Phase II

• City of Surprise, Ariz.
• Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Gold recognition in Program Management
Phase I

• Boston Water and Sewer Commission
• City of Alpharetta, Ga.
• City of Corpus Christi, Texas
• City of Grand Rapids, Mich.
• City of Austin, Texas, Watershed Protection Department

Phase II

• Capitol Region Watershed District, St. Paul, Minn.
• City of Alexandria, Va.

Silver recognition in Program Management
Phase I

• City of Dayton, Ohio; Department of Water
• City of Wichita, Kan.
• Columbus, Ohio, Division of Sewerage and Drainage
• Louisville, Ky., MSD

Phase II

• City of Surprise, Ariz.
• Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

 For more information about the MS4 recognition program, visit www.wef.org/MS4awards.

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The 2017 StormTV Project received 40 submissions and had 25 expert judges review the vidoes. The judges — primarily members of the WEF Stormwater Committee — scored each video on: message clarity, visual appeal, audio quality, technical accuracy, originality and vision, length, and distribution methods.

The judges awarded three prizes for the 2017 StormTV Project:

• Grand Prize Winner – Washington Environmental Council with their video Polluted Puddles: Arlo’s quest to clean up our mess

• Filmmaker Award – Independence Television, Independence Township, and the Clinton River Watershed Council with their video Water is Worth It, EP1: An Introduction

• Communicator Award – Independence Television, Independence Township, and the Clinton River Watershed Council with their video Water is Worth It, EP2: An Enviroscape Demonstration

The winners will be presented with their awards on Tuesday, Oct. 3, from 5:00 to 6:00pm in the Stormwater Pavilion at WEFTEC.

The top 10 highest rated videos for this year’s competition also will be shown in the Stormwater Pavilion Theater throughout WEFTEC. In addition to the three winners, the list of the top 10 videos includes:

• UpStream Art – City of Springfield OR
• Growing Sustainable Water Solutions Rain Gardens to the Rescue
• DCR Division of Water Supply Protection Dog Waste Public Service Announcement
• Groundswell NPS Pollution Video (5 minute edit)
• From Roads to Raingardens: Puget Sound
• From Roads to Raingardens
• Detroit: Becoming the Front-Runner in Green Stormwater Infrastructure

View the full StormTV 2017 Playlist

How To Make An Effective Stormwater Outreach Video

During its 6-year history, the intention of the StormTV project has evolved to highlight the work of stormwater professionals utilizing video presentations to communicate and educate. The project seeks to collect and share examples of best practices in action for stormwater management.

To that end, this year’s judges provided extensive comments on what worked well in the videos reviewed. These comments were compiled into the fact sheet, How To Make An Effective Stormwater Outreach Video.

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The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) last year partnered with DC Water (Washington, D.C.) and several water utilities across the U.S. to establish the program, which seeks to provide qualified talent for the growing number of in-demand jobs. Participants receive training on a green infrastructure construction, maintenance, and inspection curriculum conceived to meet international best practice standards. Then they sit for the certification exam. Certifications remain valid for 2 years.

The inaugural NGICP exam was held in December 2016, with a second exam in June 2017. The next class of NGICP trainees will undergo training this fall, and a third testing session will take place in November.

“The overwhelming interest in the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program has confirmed the need to train people to work in this growing segment of the water sector,” said WEF Executive Director Eileen O’Neill. “Through the program we have a tremendous opportunity to promote the implementation of green infrastructure projects and develop a skilled workforce for the betterment of our communities, economy, and environment.”

Meeting a growing demand for sustainable skills

Currently, access to the NGICP is available only to select communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. By early 2018, program administrators expect to roll out the program across the U.S., providing certificate-holders proof of their skills across state lines.

More and more partner organizations — utilities and municipalities involved with creating the NGICP curriculum and hosting training sessions or tests — have signed onto the program since its creation. The latest list includes

• Boston Water and Sewer Commission (Mass.);
• Capital Region Water (Pa.);
• City of Baltimore Department of Public Works (Md.);
• Fairfax County (Va.);
• Kansas City Water Services Department (Mo.);
• Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (Ky.);
• Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (Ohio);
• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (Ill.);
• Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (Wis.);
• Montgomery County (Md.);
• New Orleans Delegation (La.);
• New York City Department of Environmental Protection;
• Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (Pa.); and
• San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (Calif.)

Hopeful green infrastructure technicians get an up-close look at a green roof atop the University of the District of Columbia, one of many low-impact stormwater management tools they will learn to build, maintain, and inspect through the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program. DC Water.

Housed under the WEF Stormwater Institute, a knowledge-sharing group comprised of the country’s leading stormwater management experts, the NGICP supports community-based job creation in U.S. cities and will serve as the first green infrastructure-focused workforce development program with a national scope.

“We are preparing a workforce for the jobs we know are coming to support green infrastructure projects here in the District of Columbia and across the nation,” said George Hawkins, CEO and general manager of DC Water. “Armed with the training and skills this program provides, these certificants will blaze a trail that many more will follow.”

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Based on a new report

This webcast will summarize highlights from a new report, Economic Instruments to Support Investment in Green Stormwater Infrastructure, released in April by Storm and Stream Solutions LLC (Springfield, Va.) and Willamette Partnership (Portland, Ore.), in collaboration with the WEF Stormwater Institute. The development of the report included an interactive 2-day workshop with more than 40 professionals from the stormwater, water quality trading, and environmental markets sectors.

Webcast details

The webcast will explore a suite of policy tools, known as “economic instruments,” that deliberately work within the market. Speakers will focus on specific examples including incentives, rebate programs, trading, and mitigation programs, along with policy barriers and opportunities to widespread implementation of these approaches.

Speakers include

• Carrie Sanneman, clean water program manager, Willamette Partnership;
• Seth Brown, principal/founder, Storm and Stream Solutions LLC;
• Janet Clements, senior water resource economist, Corona Environmental Consulting LLC (Rockland, Mass.);
• Ken Susilo, senior principal water resources engineer, Geosyntec Consultants (Washington, D.C.); and
• Sandra K. Ralston (Moderator), principal, Consensus LLC (Annapolis, Md.).

Register now for the webcast.

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This event, exclusive to SWI members, featured policy briefings from congressional staff, federal agencies, and included an update on early thoughts related to the proposed executive “skinny budget”.  Approximately 30 participants comprised of SWI member organizations participated in the event.

• Hillary Gross, legislative director for U.S. Rep Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), and Mae Stevens, environment legislative assistant to U.S. Sen Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), provided updates regarding pending legislation and federal budget related issues.
• Deborah Nagle and Chris Kloss from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Water Permits Division, Office of Wastewater Management and Susan Jones with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration provided updates on agency stormwater programs and priorities.

In addition to interacting with speakers, SWI members also contributed to discussions focused on stormwater program challenges, funding and financing, and infrastructure needs. This input will be utilized to refine SWI priorities and to further develop stormwater policy initiatives for the benefit of the sector.

Find out more about SWI Membership.

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