Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming CASA Events
In the coming months, CASA will host several virtual and in-person events designed to engage members and non-members on issues important to the clean water community. Details and registration links are included in the articles that follow, but if you’d like to jump directly to events of interest, simply click the titles below. We hope to see you at one—or all—of our upcoming events!

 

Meet the CASA Board: Rob Thompson, Director
Rob Thompson is a thirty-year veteran of the wastewater industry and the General Manager of Orange County Sanitation District (OC San). He is also a lifelong learner. Rob has led multiple divisions at OC San, including plant automation, maintenance and power plant operations, asset management, and engineering planning. He has also led both the Engineering and Operations & Maintenance Departments. Prior to OC San, Rob worked in the petrochemical industry. Rob is a Professional Electrical and Civil Engineer and has a Master of Public Administration.

What inspired you to join the CASA board?
The opportunity to work with other water/wastewater leaders across the state to partner with state regulators to focus regional efforts to protect public health and the environment we a key inspiration. The exchange of knowledge and ideas with such an esteemed group is something you can’t pass up.

How do you stay motivated and engaged in your work with the board?
Innovation and creativity in improving how OC San delivers its services drives me. Producing 130 million gallons a day of potable water from wastewater, protecting rivers and beaches in Orange County, and finding new, useful outlets for 525 tons per day of biosolids are critical for the quality of life of my family, my friends and neighbors and the bigger communities we serve. We must work together to create lower cost, better environmental outcomes for the rate payers of OC San and California.

 

Save the Date: Webinar on SWRCB Wastewater Rates Questionnaire
Join us March 30 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM for a free 60-minute webinar hosted with the California State Water Resources Control Board on its updated wastewater rates questionnaire.

During the session, Jonathan Williams from the State Water Board will provide a brief walkthrough of the streamlined questionnaire and a live demonstration of the electronic submission process to help agencies prepare for reporting. The data collected will support key statewide efforts, including the State Water Board’s Wastewater Needs Assessment and water conservation studies under California Senate Bill 1157 led by the California Department of Water Resources. Register here.

 

Webinar: Introduction to Wastewater Surveillance and Public Health
Join CASA and the California Department of Public Health on April 2 at 1:00 p.m. for a free webinar introducing how wastewater surveillance works and why treatment facilities play a key role in protecting community health. This first webinar in a three-part series is designed specifically for treatment plant staff, operators, and supervisors. Experts from CASA and CDPH will provide an overview of how wastewater monitoring serves as an early warning system for outbreaks such as COVID-19, Norovirus, and Mpox. Participants will learn how their work supports community health, what participation involves, and how facilities can get involved in this growing public health effort. This webinar will be co-hosted with CWEA and we are happy to share that wastewater operators can obtain free contact hours by attending the event live.

CASA is proud to co-host a free webinar with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to highlight the vital role wastewater surveillance plays in protecting public health. Wastewater Surveillance: What It Is and Why It Matters will take place on April 2 at 1:00 p.m.

Future sessions will cover lab methods, sampling best practices, and insights from agencies successfully running surveillance programs. Join us to discover how wastewater surveillance helps protect communities throughout California. Register here.

 

Save the Date: CASA–CWEA Webinar on Hosting Student Water Career Field Days
CASA and CWEA are partnering on an upcoming webinar to help utilities connect with the next generation of water professionals. Save the date for April 29 for this upcoming session on hosting high school and community college career day events. Register here.

This upcoming CASA–CWEA webinar will provide public agencies with a practical roadmap for hosting immersive, hands-on field days that bring water careers to life. Featuring successful case studies from agencies in Roseville, Leucadia, San Elijo, and Olivenhain, the session will highlight strategies utilities of any size can use to build partnerships with local schools and design engaging demonstrations that inspire students to explore careers in the water sector.

Participants will learn how agencies can leverage existing outreach and community education programs to create strategic partnerships with high schools and community colleges. The webinar will also outline practical steps for designing interactive activities that give students a firsthand look at careers in public agencies and highlight the value, impact, and benefits of working in the water industry.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Adapt Existing Programs: Use current community outreach efforts and materials to support a successful field day event.
  • Build Local Connections: Identify effective ways to partner with high schools and community colleges and introduce students to clean water careers.
  • Host Hands-On Activities: Set up interactive, on-site demonstrations that show students what it’s like to work at a public agency.

Register here.

 

CASA Law Symposium
Please join us on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Marriott Marquis San Francisco, for the inaugural CASA Law Symposium, a one-day event featuring keynote speaker Rob Bilott, the pioneering environmental attorney whose work inspired Dark Waters. Hear firsthand insights on the evolving PFAS legal landscape and other critical issues shaping water and sanitation agencies. The symposium will also feature discussions on recent U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence around the Clean Water Act, an update from the SWRCB Office of Enforcement, presentations on A.I. and legal ethics for practitioners and public agencies, and a panel discussion on California Proposition 218 for local agency rate setting. CASA is pleased to offer MCLE credits for this event, and both water policy professionals and attorneys are welcome to attend!

The program will feature high-level insights from leadership at the State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. Attendees will hear throughout the day from other top national and California legal professionals with deep dives into contemporary issues facing water and sanitation agencies.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with industry leaders and gain the insights necessary to navigate the complex legal and permitting frameworks shaping California’s water future. CASA is pleased to offer attorneys MCLE credits for this event, and water policy professionals are welcome to attend! Register here.

 

Partnering For Impact in California Event
Collaboration is driving the future of water innovation. Join us on June 3, 2026, at The Cove in Irvine, CA for Partnering for Impact (PFI), a dynamic, one-day gathering of leaders from across the wastewater sector working together to advance technology, research, and real-world solutions. This year, the focus of the event will be the intersection of nutrient treatment, reverse osmosis concentrate management, and emissions at wastewater treatment facilities.

Partnering for Impact (PFI) is a one-day, highly focused, interactive meeting of thought-leaders, practitioners, academics, and regulators from throughout the wastewater industry. These industry leaders strive to advance technology and innovation through local and regional partnerships. The goal of the PFI event is to build stronger utility, academic, and regulator collaborations within the water sector and to find areas where we can create a positive impact, and identify specific issues where we can work together to promote national leadership in the water sector.

Partnering for Impact events began in 2016 in San Francisco, California with 45 delegates from 15 national professional water organizations including Bluetech Research, Imagine H2O, WEF, AWWA, IWA, WRA, WRF, U.S. Water Alliance, NWRI, CWEA, SFPUC, and the LuminUS Group.  The group met to explore the simple question “how can we accomplish more by working together?”.  Since the initial inspirational meeting, follow-up national Partnering for Impact (PFI) events occurred in Chicago, San Francisco, Reno, and Washington DC. In California, PFI is organized annually by CASA and sponsored by the firms and individuals who are active in CASA’s Engineering and Research Group.

This year, the focus of the event will be the intersection of nutrient treatment, reverse osmosis concentrate management, and emissions at wastewater treatment facilities. AS part of this event, we hope to discuss various research questions and priorities for future inquiry, as well as develop a shared understanding of how these issues connect and ways to address them for the future. Register here.

 

Registration Now Open for CASA’s Annual Conference
Registration is now open for CASA’s Annual Conference, taking place August 4–7 at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa. We’re excited to open registration a bit earlier this year and look forward to welcoming everyone back to Napa this summer. Please note that this year, we are encouraging all participants to register for the conference at the same time you make your hotel reservation! CASA will be checking hotel reservations against conference registrations on a regular basis and contacting those who have not yet registered. We appreciate your understanding as we try to accurately plan for a sufficient room block and make venue arrangements.

We’re looking forward to another great gathering of our members and partners. Additional program updates and the official conference theme will be announced soon, so stay tuned for more details. We hope to see you there!

 

2027 Winter Conference Date Change Announcement
We know it is a ways away, but CASA has updated the dates for our 2027 Winter Conference. The event will still take place at the beautiful Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, but the schedule has shifted to later in the month when we have traditionally held the event. The conference will now be held January 27–29, rather than the previously announced January 13–15. This adjustment brings the event back in line with our longstanding tradition of hosting the Winter Conference toward the end of January each year. Please update your calendars accordingly, and stay tuned for additional details later in the year about the program, registration, and accommodations.

 

Reflecting on CASA’s 2026 DC Policy Forum
Thank you to everyone who joined us for CASA’s 2026 Washington, D.C. Policy Forum, held February 23–24 at the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. in Washington. At an important moment in this presidential administration, attendees heard valuable perspectives from Congressional staff, journalists, and national water leaders on emerging federal policy issues and the road ahead as the country approaches the 2026 midterm elections. Participants also connected directly with policymakers through Congressional meetings and discussions with officials from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

We appreciate the members who traveled to Washington to engage, share their expertise, and help strengthen CASA’s federal advocacy. Your participation continues to elevate our collective voice on critical clean water priorities.

 

Recognizing the Best in the Sector
CASA members are doing remarkable work to advance innovation, protect public health, and strengthen California’s clean water future, and the CASA Awards of Excellence are an opportunity to recognize those achievements. We encourage agencies and associates to submit their projects for consideration and are also seeking volunteers to serve as award judges. Read more to learn how to apply or get involved before the April 27 deadline.

Every day, CASA member agencies and partners are advancing innovative solutions, protecting public health, and strengthening California’s clean water future. CASA’s Award of Excellence program celebrates these achievements by recognizing organizations that go above and beyond in service to their communities and the environment.

We encourage all member agencies and associates to showcase their work and apply. Submissions are open now, with applications due Monday, April 27, 2026. Award recipients will be recognized and celebrated during CASA’s Annual Conference this summer at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa.

In addition to submissions, we are also seeking volunteer judges to help review projects in each award category. Serving as a judge is a great opportunity to see the innovative work happening across the clean water sector. If you’re interested in participating, please reach out to Alyssa Downs to learn more.

Your work makes a difference, and the Award of Excellence program is an opportunity to highlight the leadership, creativity, and impact happening across the CASA community. For more information on award categories, criteria, and how to apply, please visit the Awards Program webpage.

 

Help Spread the Word: CASA Education Foundation Scholarships
The CASA Education Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for students pursuing careers in environmental and water-related fields. CASA members can help us reach the next generation of clean water professionals by sharing this opportunity with students, schools, and community partners. Read more to learn how to spread the word before the May 15 application deadline.

The CASA Education Foundation is committed to supporting the next generation of clean water professionals by awarding scholarships to students pursuing studies in environmental and water-related fields. By investing in students today, we’re helping ensure a strong future for California’s clean water sector.

We encourage CASA members to help us spread the word in your communities. Do you know a student who may be interested in a career in water or environmental protection? Consider sharing this opportunity with family members, local high schools, community colleges, universities, interns, and student workers who may be exploring their career paths.’

The Foundation is accepting scholarship applications through May 15, 2026, and we welcome your help in reaching as many interested students as possible. Members can download and share the scholarship flyer with local schools, career counselors, and internship programs.

For full details on eligibility, application requirements, and scholarship guidelines, please visit the scholarship webpage.

Together, we can help inspire and support the next generation of environmental leaders and clean water professionals.