About Us


The MWEA brings together a diverse group of individuals whose careers involve the water environment and who have similar objectives from a variety of backgrounds. MWEA provides a forum for all water environment topics. Through this forum a variety of objectives, strategies, and goals have been developed that will enhance the mission of the Association, expand the services provided to members, and result in the continued growth of the Association and its members.

THE MICHIGAN WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION (MWEA) established in 1925 is one of Michigan's oldest organizations. MWEA represents more than 1,700 water quality professionals statewide who are dedicated to preserving, restoring and enhancing Michigan's water resources. MWEA is a member association of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) an international organization with more than 100,000 members worldwide.


Message From the President


Wherever one travels in the United State or even the world; Michigan is primarily recognized for one of two things, the home of the American auto industry and the Great Lakes. Well Michigan is not just the home of the Great Lakes but to over 11,000 lakes and more than 36,000 miles of rivers and streams. These lakes and streams enliven every community in the state and enrich the lives of every person residing here.   As a member of the MWEA you are in a unique position of stewardship as a professional environmentalist. In this role we bring a balanced, scientifically based perspective to the natural resource needs of Michigan. We need to get that perspective heard. I believe that can best be accomplished through public education and political action. In this article, I will focus on combining these activities to obtain public education through political action.   
Political action is imperative for two reasons: it elects friends of Michigan’s natural resources and it helps to pass or defeat proposed legislation that affects the environment and our members.  We can be the voice of technical expertise informing and education legislators, assisting them to make informed decisions regarding environmental legislation.  
     
Political Action
A little girl once asked her father, “Daddy, do all fairy tales begin with, ‘Once Upon a Time?’”
He replied, “No, there is a whole series of Fairy Tales that begin with, ‘If elected I promise…’”

Political action is the act of participating in the governmental process. The political action of the MWEA membership is an important component of the legislative agenda. Without elected officials who are supportive of environmental issues, legislative victories will be much harder to obtain.

There are several ways that MWEA members can get involved in the political process through committee work or as individuals.    I willbriefly cover some activities we can easily undertake to become politically involved in our communities and state. Political action can make the difference in getting support for the environmental issues that are important to you. As a non-partisan and unaffiliated organization the members of MWEA can positively impact Michigan’s most valuable resource “clean water”.

Getting Involved in Politics
With the ever increasing cost of campaigns, politicians are relying more and more on volunteers, and less on paid staff to put together their campaigns.   Politicians are turning to civic organizations, issue-oriented groups, students, senior citizens and anyone else they can find to help them get elected and to serve as content experts on complex issues. Many groups, such as ours have responded and are assisting candidates, knowing that if "their" candidate wins, they will have someone in office who is well informed and supportive of their issues.  

What can you do?
  • If you're not registered to vote, register NOW!  Vote! Exercise your right to vote in every election, millage and proposal possible. When voting, consider the impact on Michigan’s natural resources. 
  • Contact your local Democratic or Republican party office and offer to help. 
  • Become active in a campaign, offer your time. You are in demand and will be considered an asset. You can bring skills the table that they need (sales, technical, managerial, secretarial, computer, driver, etc.)? Let them know about your talents this will make it easier for them to assign tasks. Once you become active you will get to get to know a candidate and can begin educating them on environmental issues. It is also a good way to find out if a candidate would support or oppose issues that concern you on both a personal and professional level. 
  • Why not consider a run for public office, such as the school board, city council, state representative or even Congress? I hear the pay and benefits are great and the hours short. No office is too small or too large to consider. The environment is a concern at every level of government. Once you get involved you will find yourself in direct contact with decision makers whether you are elected or not. 
  • Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper. These letters should be written on areas of environmental concern. They can be written to support a candidate who shares your concerns.  If your letter states you are a member of the MWEA and what the MWEA about, it will be given additional credibility. Make sure letters are clear and to the point.
  • For the MWEA to effectively continue its efforts in working with elected officials and promoting the issues and concerns of the organization, it is essential for all members to get politically active. This enables the association to better attract the attention of elected officials regarding environmental legislative issues. Remember, every individual contribution strengthens the voice of the MWEA.
Current Issues of Concern
 
CAFO Legislation – The State House is currently considering legislation to regulate the way Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) do business. This legislation will address surface application vs. subsurface application of bio-solids, setbacks from surface waters and wells, lined vs. unlined manure pit and even whether the MDEQ should have oversight authority or these operations should be subject to only voluntary environmental programs. House Bills under consideration are HB 4983 through 4992; they may be viewed or downloaded from: http://house.michigan.gov. under the drop down button Michigan Legislature. Current editorialized sources of information on this topic are polarized with the Michigan Farm Bureau promoting virtually no state oversight, and the Sierra Club is essentially calling for a ban on large live stock operations. For an overview on the land application of human bio-solids, speak to any municipal WWTP superintendent who has a land application program. 
Phosphorus Legislation – Municipal WWTP do an excellent job of removing phosphorus in the waste stream, utilizing both chemical and biological methods. The job gets more difficult all the time with ever tightening limits in our NPDES permits. Help may be on the way in the form of limits on the amount phosphorus allowed in household cleaning products.   Bills under consideration are Senate Bills 0362 and 0152 and House Bill 4570 You can get info on this at http://house.michigan.gov., under the drop down button Michigan Legislature
Whatever your opinion is on these and other environmental issues facing our state, your voice, the voice of reason, the voice of the environmental professional needs to be heard. Our grassroots relationship with community leaders, congressmen and senators can be our strength. I urge you to get to know your congressional representatives, both state and local and explain what the MWEA stands for and what you, we can do for them. Don’t forget “all politics are local”.