DIRECTOR Ed Nugent 317-501-0956 ednugent@utilitysupply.com
TRUSTEE – SMALL SYSTEMS NORTH Vacant
TRUSTEE – SMALL SYSTEMS SOUTH Vacant
TRUSTEE – NORTHEAST DISTRICT Randy Harvey 260-927-7969 rlharvey@ci.auburn.in.us
TRUSTEE – SOUTHEAST DISTRICT Erich Nugent 317-407-7616 erichnugent@utilitysupply.com
TRUSTEE – CENTRAL DISTRICT
Steve Moore 765-491-9378 smoore@lafayette.in.gov
TRUSTEE – NORTHWEST DISTRICT Cara Lance-Emerick 219-742-8680 caral@mesimpson.com
TRUSTEE – SOUTHWEST DISTRICT Justin Guetling 812-454-3915 jguetling@ewsu.com
Message from the Chair
It is a Great Honor to be Chair
Welcome to Summer! I hope everyone has some great plans to do something exciting in the next few months. I know my summer will be exciting, with all of the projects happening at work, including a rate case, and the events coming this summer for the Indiana Section, I will be quite busy. Then again, anymore, I do not know of too many people who are not busy.
Back in March, you, the membership of the Section, bestowed a great honor upon me by voting for me to be Chair of the Section for this coming year during the business meeting at the Annual Conference in Indianapolis. I do want to thank Neal McKee for his leadership as Chair for the last year. I do also have to thank the Michigan City Department of Water Works Board of Directors for allowing me to dedicate some of my time towards Section activities.
I look forward to continuing to work with Neal as Past Chair, as well as working with the rest of the Executive Board, Trustees, Committee Chairs, District Officers and Section Staff to meet the mission of the Section. That mission can be found at the bottom of our website, inawwa.org. I desire to ensure that the Section meets the needs of its members by fulfilling our mission.
As I was accepting this role of Chair, all I could think of was how many people have helped me get to this point in my career. I would not be where I am today if it were not for the great relationships I have had with so many other members of the Section over the years. I talk about this every year with my Operator School classes. In fact, I bookend the 12 weeks of class with a shameless commercial for membership and involvement.
Already, this year has been full of activities. Between the Annual Conference, the spring District meetings, hosting the Regional Meeting of Section Officials (RMSO), and the two Operator Symposiums and other workshops, not to mention ACE26, I am sure that Monique, Megan, Terry and MaryJane are ready for a break.
However, there is quite a line-up of activities yet to come, with great opportunities to participate, and maybe even get involved. Some of the lineup from the Section, Districts and Committees includes the Annual Golf Outing (July 29), Operator Boot Camp (August 5), Fall District Meetings (To Be Announced), Water Institute (December 1-3), and the 2027 Annual Conference (February 15-18, 2027). In addition to these programs offered by the Indiana Section, we are also helping to host the AWWA Water Infrastructure Conference in Indianapolis, August 31 through September 2, which will bring in water professionals from all over the world.
Regarding the Water Institute in December and the Annual Conference in February, you can submit abstracts for both. The deadline for the Water Institute is September 30, and the deadline for the 2027 Annual Conference is October 30. You can submit for one or both. The Annual Conference is a little earlier next year due to scheduling conflicts in Indianapolis and the venue.
Later this year, the Section leadership will work on updating our strategic plan. As we contemplate the direction we have gone and the direction we want to go as a Section, we need input from you, our members. Please let me know how we can improve your membership
Chris Johnsen, Chair Indiana Section Board of Trustees
experience, whether it is educational opportunities or operational help. Any comments sent to me at cjohnsen@mcwaterdept.com will be reviewed in our discussions later this year.
As I mentioned earlier, here is my shameless effort to get all of you involved. In addition to improving the experience with your thoughts, the best way to make a difference is to get involved. There are many ways to do that, whether it is joining one of our many committees or volunteering to be part of the leadership team. Getting involved all those years ago has made a big difference in my life and career. I am sure that can happen to anyone. Please enjoy your summer, and be safe!
Water
Ed Nugent, INAWWA Director
Enjoy Your Summer!
Ihope this article finds each of you doing well. It has been a very busy spring for myself, and I am betting it has been a bit crazy for you as well. It seems like the list of things to do never gets any smaller, and the demands for your time continue to multiply. I would love to tell you that it will get better, but I cannot in good faith say that. Managing your time and efforts has never been more important. Please be sure to find balance in your lives. It is easy to get caught up in whatever is pressing today, but family and work balance is more important than ever.
As far as the AWWA, the Association has been hyper-focused on ACE2026 in Washington DC in June. AWWA staff is continuing to chip away at their business plan. Monitoring and pursuing membership growth, completing the strategic goals set to challenge them and making the Annual Conference and exhibition hall a must-attend event.
On the topic of national membership, as of the end of March, membership stands at 49,698, slightly ahead of the planned number of 49,327. With membership revenue being slightly up as well.
At the Section level, I want to congratulate the incoming officers and especially welcome the incoming director, Cara Lance-Emerick, to the Executive Committee. I am confident she will do an outstanding job representing the Indiana Section at the national board meetings. Her passion for the Section and all things water will help guide the Board in the upcoming years.
I hope to see you all at some of the summer activities the Indiana Section has planned for you. Symposiums, Golf Outing, Boot Camp, or workshops, just to name a few –be sure to enjoy your summer and keep working on that life balance formula. Just blink, life flies by!
From Your Small Systems Trustee
Help us Find Our New Small Systems Trustees
Justin Shaffer, Small Systems Trustee
The Indiana Section is actively looking for someone to fill the vacant position of Small Systems Trustee North. We need more small systems to be involved with the Section. We need to hear your voice and the voices of small systems. If you are interested and would like to be a part of the Small Systems Committee and fill the role of the Small Systems Trustee North, please reach out to our Section staff, your district officers, or myself.
The territory for this position is from I-40, North to the state line. This role must be filled by a small system operator
or personnel from a small system, so shouldn’t that be you? There is a three-year term with an option to renew. If you want to be a part of providing educational and technical resources to Indiana Small Systems, get involved! If you have questions on the details or responsibilities of this opportunity, please reach out. If you need help with presenting the idea to your board, we can help you with that, too. We can help you achieve this opportunity to grow yourself and to help others do the same.
I can be reached by email at jshaffer@townofmonroe.in.gov
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
District Reports
Northwest District
Northeast District
Central District
Southwest District
Southeast District
Indiana Section District Officers
Our Five Indiana Districts Are Hard at Work in Service of the Mission
Northwest District
Trustee – Cara Lance-Emerick, M.E. Simpson Company
*Note: Cara transitioned to Director Elect, a non-voting role that will allow her to remain Trustee for NW until the election is held at
the Fall District Business Meeting. Thank you, Cara! President – Greg Burnett, Michigan City Dept. of Water Works Vice President – Bruce Long, Hammond Water Works Dept Secretary Treasurer – Jim Riegsecker, Midwest Meter Inc.
District Reports
Northeast District
Trustee – Randy Harvey, City of Auburn President – Mitchel Sattison, City of Angola
Vice President – Kellin Cripe, EJ Prescott
Secretary Treasurer – Cory Mendenhall, Peru Utilities
Central District
Trustee – Steve Moore, Lafayette Water
**Note: Steve stepped in to serve as Interim Central Trustee until the election is held at the Fall District Business Meeting.
Thank you, Steve!)
President – Ed Bukovac, Citizens Energy Group
Vice President – Carrie Lowe, Indiana American Water
Secretary – Jay Schnebley, Lafayette Water
District Reports
Southwest District
Trustee – Justin Guetling, Evansville Water & Sewer
President – Matthew Lindsay, Vincennes Utilities
Vice President – David Knott, Utility Pipe Sales Secretary Treasurer – Adam Feree, Gripp Inc.
Southeast District
Trustee – Erich Nugent, Utility Supply Company
President – Eric Laker, Town of Batesville
Vice President – Matthew Brown, Indiana American Water Secretary Treasurer – Abe Koehn, Napoleon Water
District Reports
Northwest District Spring Meeting Highlights
Cara Lance-Emerick, Northwest District Trustee
The NW District Spring Meeting was held on April 24 at the impressive Lost Marsh in Hammond, IN. This meeting was remarkable because the Hammond Water Works Department sponsored the event with the stipulation that proceeds go toward supporting water operator education in Indiana. The NW District will donate these funds on behalf of the Hammond Water Works Department to the Gambold Education Fund. Additionally, the Hammond Water Works Department was presented with a Century Award by members from DIPRA. Hammond is operating a water main well over 100 years old, therefore officially part of the Century Club. Congratulations!
Paul Hanson of DIPRA was presented with an award by the NW District for his years of service and dedication to the NW District and the water industry as a whole. Thank you, Paul!
Thanks to our sponsors M.E. Simpson Company, Midwest Meter, VS Engineering and Wessler Engineering, whose contributions helped towards our bucket raffle event.
The Northwest District Spring Meeting had four hours of content, including:
• Addressing Facility Space Constraints for Electrical Upgrades – Michael Kahn, CDM Smith
• Modernizing Legacy Filtration –Amrou Atassi, CDM Smith
• Features & Design for Ductile Iron Pipe –David Billings & Paul Hanson, DIPRA
• Combined Sewer Flow Options, Overview of WW Plant –Jeff Massey, Hammond Water Works Sanitary Department
• IDEM Updates – Sophia Andrews, IDEM
Thank you to all the speakers who participated in this event. We truly appreciate your time and expertise!
The NW District will be holding a Fall Meeting in September. The date and location are TBD.
Committee Reports
2026 Indiana Section Award Recipients Announced
John Crider and Jeff Cunningham, Awards Committee Co-Chairs
At the March Indiana Section Conference in Indianapolis, several individuals were recognized for their contributions to their communities, the Indiana Section and the Drinking Water Industry.
The Fuller Reception is where we meet to network with old and new friends and associates and to honor one member by presenting the George Warren Fuller Award. This award was originated by the Association in 1937 as the top recognition given for service to the industry and AWWA. This year’s awardee is Roger Riddle.
Roger started his career in retail before finding his way into the water industry over 40 years ago. His work as a service provider has made him a stalwart in the industry. He has held positions with sales and service companies and has been with JCM Industries for over 27 years. He has been and continues to be a mentor to his coworkers and his fellow volunteers. Whether it’s teaching the business or coaching how to efficiently herd the volunteer cats to get things done, his willingness to help others is unequalled. He has served the Indiana Section in many capacities. He has been a district officer and worked with many committees. He has been a member of the Section Golf Committee since its inception. He was instrumental in helping grow the event to the success it is today. He served on the Associate Member Committee of the Indiana Rural Water Association for many years.
Roger served on the MAC of Indiana for over 25 years and served as the group’s chair for several of those. During his tenure as MAC Chair, he led the group to institute many improvements to the Annual Conference Exhibit Hall, Sponsorship platforms and Attendee Receptions.
The Bonna Burns Excellence in Administration Award is given to
recognize an individual’s exceptional service to their Utility and community. Our Awardee is Emily Ewing, from the City of Greenfield Water Utility.
Emily has been with the Utility for six years and is a critical member of the administration team. She is the primary face and voice of information for ratepayers, internal customers, and the utility team. She prides herself on providing professional and effective customer service for all residents. Her ability to help customers diagnose water leaks, address billing concerns, and provide the best solutions for customer inquiries goes above and beyond what is required of her each day.
She serves as an advocate for the utility operators with the internal wellness team. This includes training to identify stresses and challenges with the mental health of our operators and the ability to provide the best possible resources to help keep our employees in the best possible mindset to approach their jobs safely each day. Emily also handles the work management system and directs work order tasks to personnel, which allows the Utility to be able to respond to customer needs very quickly.
She is a critical team member in the Utility’s lead and copper service line inventory process. Through an understanding of the needs and requirements of a nearly constantly evolving regulation, she took on the challenge as a working partner with the GIS and field personnel to update service line records, which, for a large portion of the City, were unknown. Thanks to her efforts in concert with the customer billing team, Greenfield was able to organize and submit their inventory ahead of schedule. To highlight her excellent
service to the community of Greenfield, she designed and directed the creation of the award-winning Parade of Lights entry last year.
Emily takes great pride in her work and exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding Customer Service Professional.
The Hoosier Water Award is the Indiana Section’s exclusive recognition of distinguished achievement to those who have gone above and beyond in service and support of the Section, the State and their communities in our Mission to provide safe water for the Citizens of the Great State of Indiana.
The Community Service Award is presented to individuals whose service to their community has risen above the already high calling of providing a safe and reliable water supply. Recipients are recognized by the Indiana Section for their dedication to making their community a better place.
This year, the Indiana Section was able to recognize one very deserving individual with both honors.
Ed Malone had a long and successful career in managing his utility’s safe water production.
He served as Director of Housing for the Lambda Chi Alpha Chapter at his alma mater, Rose Hulman, for many years and teaches religious education classes at his church, St. Susanna.
Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he worked on-site in New Orleans for 11 months to help restore wastewater services for that community.
Additionally, he has been a staunch supporter of his utility’s Warm Heart Warm Home Foundation, which assists residents in need with making utility payments to keep their services on.
Ed served as Director of Water Production for Citizens Energy Group and was responsible for the direct oversight
Committee Reports
After retirement, he continues to stay involved in the water industry by working part-time at IDEM.
and daily operations of the largest water system in the state. His team ensured that all water production activities were performed consistently with all rules and regulations established by the State and Federal programs. He has held State of Indiana WT 5 and WT 3 Certified Water Treatment Operator and DSL Certified Water Distribution Operator licenses.
His career includes more than 35 years of practical engineering and operating experience with CEG and its predecessors. His vast experience
helped him develop significant knowledge related to all aspects of Utility operation, from construction management to budgeting, regulatory compliance, labor relations, and helped Citizens achieve significant performance awards from the Partnership for Safe Water program.
After retirement, he continues to stay involved in the water industry by working part-time at IDEM.
In addition to his normal work responsibilities, He volunteered significant personal time to help others learn and
advance in the water industry. At Citizens, he taught in-house evening classes for the water treatment license candidates for many years and spent hundreds of hours on his own time helping fellow employees prepare for license exams. Additionally, he taught AWWA Operator school for several years on his own personal time and donated the payment from this to the Warm Heart Warm Home Foundation.
His volunteer efforts have helped more than 50 licensed operators throughout the state. As a true servant leader, he has always given back to the industry and community.
The Water Wheel Award is presented to individuals in recognition of dedicated service and contribution to the Section and the Industry. John Crist, Scott Dompke and Justin Schneider were this year’s honorees.
The Hoosier CREW (Creative Resourceful Energetic Workers) welcomed Ginger Davis for years of Section committee service.
The George Fassnacht District Achievement Award was presented to the Southeast District for the highest increase in attendance at District meetings from 2024 to 2025.
If you know of someone who is deserving of recognition or have any questions on our awards program, please email us at awards@inawwa.org https://www.inawwa.org/ awards-and-recognition https://www.awwa.org/ Membership-Volunteering/Awards.
Committee Reports
Representing Indiana at ACE26
Justin Shaffer, Competitions Committee Chair
AWWA’s ACE26 is in Washington DC this year (June 21-24), and the national Meter Challenge competition will be a tough battle for the many challengers who have won in their respective States.
Bill Jones of Edinburgh will be representing the Indiana Section in the Meter Challenge in D.C. Please, be sure to wish him luck!
Looking ahead to competitions for 2026-2027, we encourage you to get involved. They are a lot of fun and offer you the opportunity to meet others in our industry, not just our Section, but all other Sections too. Whether you win or not, it is all about making a memory, learning about other brands of meters, seeing how they are assembled and having a great time!
We are currently not sure what meter will be used for the coming year. Stay tuned for more information, and when you can start ordering those meters to begin practicing, we will be sure to let you know. Remember, meter competitions are held at the Fall District meetings, so once we have word that meters can be ordered, be sure to place your order immediately to allow for plenty of time to practice.
We are being told that Hydrant Hysteria is being negotiated, and hopefully, that competition will return for next year. Stay tuned for more information on that as well.
If you have questions or if you are interested in competing or being part of the competitions committee, please reach out. Without your interest in competing, there is no competition. We appreciate everyone who gets involved!
Look Out for Our Next Two Conferences
Dawn Keyler, MAC Committee Chair
Thank you to all the exhibitors at the 2026 Annual Conference in March for helping make it another successful event. We are now gearing up for our next two conferences: the Water Institute and the 2027 Annual Conference. Water Institute will be held December 1-3, 2026, at the French Lick Resort. The 2027 Annual Conference will be held a bit earlier next year, from February 15-18, in Indianapolis. Exhibitor registration for both conferences will open soon, and we encourage you to secure your spots early.
Committee Reports
Spring 2026 New, Reinstated, Renewing Member Update
Josh Dixon, Membership Committee Chair
The Indiana Section AWWA added, renewed, or reinstated 64 Individual members, 3 student members, 19 Op/ Admin members, and 3 Service Providers since the last publication.
Individual Members
Doug Payton – Citizens Energy Group
Sarah Wittig – Citizens Energy Group
Brent Nibarger – Grundfos Pumps Corporation
Laura Vidal – 120water
Tom Coleman – USIC
Nathan Schiller – Citizens Energy Group
Noah Roberts – Hobas Pipe USA
Dennis Verkamp
Cheri Reis – Indiana American Water
Clars Almeter – American Structurepoint, Inc.
Jennifer Wernert – Ramsey Water Company
Srinivas Vallabhaneni – AECOM
Abby Warner
Adam Glendening – Ramsey Water Company
Ethan Gutwein – HNTB
Eric Blanton – Fort Wayne Utilities
Justin Wang – American Structurepoint, Inc.
Alisha Cornwell – Indiana American Water
Kevin Basham – North Salem Water
Christopher Glenn – George E. Booth Co.
Bridget Murphy – Inframark
Teddy Deahl – Bowen
Ian Bowron – Bowen
Lauren McCleary – Aqualign Engineering, LLC.
Evan Fall – Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly
Vasant Akala – VPES
Mark Ortman – Ortman Drilling, Inc.
Jessica Klopfenstein
Brad Peacock – Stucker Fork Water Utility
Megan Obernesser
Zachary McKee – Usalco
Andrew Rhein – Munster Water Department
Adam Sams – Gasvoda and Associates
Jordan Hagedorn – Mishawaka Utilities
Elijah Hamilton – Mishawaka Utilities
Amanda Eberlein – HNTB Corporation
Brian Martin – Lawson-Fisher Associates P.C.
Trista Mathis – Ramsey Water Company
Josh Brown – Ramsey Water Company
Rob Hopper – Ramsey Water Company
Dayton Cannon – Ramsey Water Company
Jennifer Cain – Evansville Water and Sewer Utility
Dominic Rulli – South Bend Water Works
William Scourfield – US Pipe
Ryan Watts
Lauren Knutsen – Pyramid Design and Construction
Tiffaney Huges – Peerless Midwest, Inc.
Craig Miller – Powers Engineering
Sadzi Oliva – Aqua Indiana Essential Utilities
Alice Hai – HNTB
Jessica Hartman – Fishbeck
Lew Grasser – Ramsey Water Company
Kent Elliott – Banning Engineering
Christopher Hathaway – Fishbeck
Bobby Phillips – Ramsey Water Company
Nicholas Ormsby – Town of Ossian
Drew Laza
Jill Mixell – City of New Castle Water Department
Kim Reid – USIC
JD Bowyer – Integrity Water and Energy
Jacob Myers – Goldilock
Karie Holder – Town of Wolcott
Jason Mack – Town of Hope
Brandon Satterthwaite – Van Buren Municipal Utilities
Youth Water Science Grants Return for Another Year
Jamin Beisiegel, Philanthropy Committee Chair
The busy summer season is here, but please take a little time to consider how important it is to ensure that our youth have some understanding of how precious our water resources are!
The Youth Water Science Education Grant plans to continue its highly successful program this coming year. The Youth Water Science Education Grant provides funding for education regarding understanding, protecting, and conserving the supply and quality of our natural resources for drinking water purposes for any third through eighth-grade teacher or group of teachers within the State of Indiana. Typical areas of projects may include topics like:
• Promotes understanding, protecting, and conserving the supply and quality of water
• Hydrologic cycle
• Water quality impacts
• Treatment of drinking water
• Usage of drinking water
accepted anytime, but must be submitted before October 15. The winning applicants will be notified between November 15 and December 15.
We encourage all of you to contact your local grade schools and middle schools and request that they apply for this grant. We have awarded approximately $50,000 over the past few years, and I am sure you would like some of that money to go to your local schools.
Please contact the Section office if you have any suggestions or requests for application packets.
The Youth Water Science Guidelines and Application can be found here: https://www.inawwa.org/inawwa’s-youth-waterscience-education-grant
During the month of August, grant packets will be distributed to all superintendents in the State of Indiana for distribution to their third through eighth-grade teachers. Those applications can be
The Annual Conference will come back up quickly, so make your plans to attend. If you know of anyone who has not attended in the past, encourage them to apply for either the Besozzi or Gambold Education grant. This is a great opportunity to attend the conference without the burden of expenses for your community or utility! Application information can be found on the Indiana AWWA website.
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Committee Reports
ThinkSafety! This Summer
Tracy White, Safety Committee Chair
Water safety should never be overlooked. Whether swimming at a pool, lake, or beach, children should always be supervised by an adult.
Hello everyone, I hope you are all remembering to Think Safety! in everything you do. I want to thank Peerless Pump for sponsoring the INAWWA Safety Room at our Annual Conference this past March.
We played a lot of Plinko for Safety at the 116th Annual Conference. We answered a lot of safety questions and provided education for the contestants. Everyone learns, and everyone leaves the Safety Room with a prize! Don’t be afraid to stop in and play!
We had three grand prize winners: Don Wilson, Bobbie Williams and Daryl Naville. They all went home with some extra swag from Peerless Pump and the INAWWA Safety Committee.
Interested in joining a fun committee? Hit me up! We would love to have you join us for a fun time to help teach safety to AWWA members. The only requirement is to show up for a few hours of fun during the Annual Conference (Downtown Indy) and/or the Water Institute (French Lick) in December. Shoot me an email if you are interested at tracysuewhite@yahoo.com
Summer is a great time for vacations, outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends. However, warmer temperatures and increased sun exposure can also bring health and safety risks. By taking a few precautions, everyone can enjoy a safer summer season.
One of the most important summer safety habits is staying hydrated. Hot weather causes the body to lose fluids quickly through sweat, so drinking plenty of water throughout the day is essential. Avoid waiting until you
feel thirsty, especially during outdoor activities or exercise.
Water safety should never be overlooked. Whether swimming at a pool, lake, or beach, children should always be supervised by an adult. Wearing life jackets while boating and following posted safety rules can help prevent
accidents and drowning. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
By staying aware and practicing simple safety measures, people can enjoy all the fun that summer has to offer while protecting their health and well-being. Remember to Think Safety! in all you do.
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■ Amines
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■ Bio-additives
■ Bioaugmentation
■ Biocides
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■ Dispersants
■ Filter Media
■ Flocculants
■ FOG Reduction
■ Odor Control
■ Phosphonates
■ Phosphorus Removal
■ Solids Reduction … and more! contactus@brenntag.com www.brenntag.com
Committee Reports
FYI… Small Systems Newsletter
Justin Shaffer, Small Systems Committee Chair
The first digital edition of the FYI Small Systems publication has been sent out. A big thank you to the Small Systems Committee and anyone else who assisted with articles and design. It was not possible without you. The FYI… The Small Systems newsletter will start as a biannual publication, with Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter issues. If you have a topic of interest that would be a good fit for the FYI… Small Systems newsletter, please let one of the committee members or myself know, and we will get an article written, or you may submit an article yourself, if you so choose. We are always looking for new members, especially those who work for a small system.
Another big adventure we are embarking on is the update and return of the Utility Manual: A Guide for Board Members & Decision Makers. Some of you may remember this handbook from back in the Indiana Rural Water Association (IRWA) days. This small handbook was a great tool for those who run small systems and need a little guidance or a way to assist their board, new and old, in understanding what is required of us
Small System’s Operators and Superintendents, from managerial processes to regulatory compliance. We are very excited to get this update going, ready for print, and made available. Trying not to sound like a broken record, we are always challenging you to share with us your ideas and any concerns you may have. We want to know what your system’s needs are, so that we can better serve you, as well as the communities for whom you serve. Your feedback is extremely important to our mission as the Small Systems Committee in helping you overcome the many challenges you face every day. As we continue to build on and rebuild this committee, I encourage you to stand up and volunteer. Be that voice for your community. Stand up for everything you do to put clean, safe drinking water into the taps of the communities you serve. Continue sending us your questions, and we will do all we can to figure out how we can assist you in getting the information you are searching for. And remember, your issues are our issues. We want to know what we can do to help you through your challenges. We are all in this together.
Key Takeaways from the 2026 Joint Utility Management Seminar
Kurt Wanninger, Utility Management Committee Chair
In the first quarter of 2026, the Indiana AWWA Utility Management Committee held a Joint Utility Management Seminar (JUMS) with the Indiana Water Environment Association (IWEA) at Bowen Engineering’s Indianapolis office. This year’s JUM seminar was well attended and included a host of knowledgeable speakers who covered a variety of balanced topics, which included LCLRI next steps, a presentation on data-driven communication, employee professional development, asset management planning, maintenance, capital planning, and finance planning to aid utility managers in making well-informed decisions with their day-to-day operations and long-term planning.
On a side note, on my way to a recent AWWA District meeting to present on asset management, I was running
through the presentation in my head while driving when my vehicle turned over 300,000 miles. I thought, how appropriate, with proper maintenance and attention to my equipment over the years, I have been able to extend the life and service of this vehicle and avoid downtime. Now, the proper maintenance over the years has cost money, oil changes, tires, brakes, rotors, filters, etc., and it has cost far less than buying multiple vehicles over this time. When I arrived for my presentation, I quickly wove this into my presentation regarding the importance of developing AMP’s, following asset maintenance schedules and preparing for costs associated with maintenance and capital expenditures. We will see what the next 300,000 miles bring for my vehicle with proper maintenance.
Committee Reports
Summer Updates
Ryan Gansemer, Young Professionals Committee Chair
The Indiana Section AWWA Young Professionals (YP) Committee transitioned its leadership roles at the INAWWA Annual Conference in March. Dylan Buechler has now moved into the role of Past Chair after completing his term as Chair. Ryan Gansemer has stepped into the role of Chair, and the committee is pleased to welcome Cortlandt Kalkstein as Vice Chair. The YP Committee thanks Dylan for his time and service in the Chair role and appreciates his continued involvement. We’re excited to welcome Cortlandt to the leadership team and look forward to the year ahead.
The YP Committee hosted its annual Meet and Greet at Loughmiller’s Pub in downtown Indianapolis, following the March Monthly Committee Meeting. The event saw a strong turnout, including several new attendees, as young professionals connected with one another and with industry peers. We would like to thank our generous sponsors for making this event possible.
As part of our ongoing efforts to engage with colleges and universities, the YP Committee proudly sponsored a team from
Purdue University at the Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA) Student Design Competition, held on April 16 in Madison, Wisconsin. The team performed exceptionally well and won their category! This marks the third consecutive year that an Indiana team has delivered a strong showing at the competition, and we’re excited to support continued participation in the future. The Purdue team will be competing at WEFTEC this September in New Orleans.
The YP Committee looks forward to offering more volunteer and social opportunities and facility tours in the coming months. We remain committed to engaging Young Professionals through a variety of initiatives, including educational sessions, social events, facility tours, and networking opportunities. We encourage you to connect your company’s Young Professionals – those who are 35 years old or younger, or who have been in the industry for less than 10 years – with the committee by reaching out to indianaawwaiweayp@gmail.com to stay informed and get involved.
Through discussions, mentoring, community engagement, and peer collaboration, the Transformative Water Leadership Academy (TWLA) prepares mid-career utility professionals across departments to take the next step in their leadership journey.
•10-month program with a cohort of professionals across North America
•In-person workshops, virtual learning, and a real-world capstone project
•Explore future water challenges and build leadership skills and connections
118TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE RECAP
Thank you, Members, Volunteers, Exhibitors and Attendees for making our 118th Annual Conference a smashing success!
Each of you was part of an amazing happening where so many stakeholders in the service of our most precious resource met to exchange ideas, see the latest in services and technologies, and stay up to date with management and regulatory standards in our industry.
From all of us at the Indiana Section, American Water Works Association, thank you for your participation!
Join us for a walk down memory lane; see you next year!
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR 2026 WATER INSTITUTE & EQUIPMENT EXPO
DECEMBER 1-3, 2026
BEAUTIFUL FRENCH LICK & WEST BADEN
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR 119TH ANNUAL CONFERENCEIT’S EARLY NEXT YEAR TOO!
FEBRUARY 15-18, 2027
DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS
GENERAL
SPONSORS
Agency Updates
Upcoming Events & Activities
Please visit our website – www.inawwa.org – for details and registration information. Water and Wastewater Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are to be approved by IDEM. Well, Driller and Pump Installer hours are to be approved by IDNR, as applicable. Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for engineers are available, as applicable. Other events are being planned, so please check our website regularly, or call our office at 866-213-2796 for updates.
DATE EVENT
July 29, 2026 Annual Golf Outing Eagle Creek Golf Course Indianapolis
August 5, 2026 Operator Boot Camp Miami County Fairgrounds Peru
September 16, 2026 Northeast District Fall Meeting – Utility Supply Company Peru
October 1, 2026 Southeast District Fall Meeting – Greensburg
November 2-6, 2026 Intensive One Week Training; Operator Certification with Scott Ham; Indiana American Water Greenwood
December 1-3, 2026 Annual Water Institute & Equipment Expo French Lick
P.O. Box 127, Brownsburg, IN 46112 Office: 866-213-2796 (toll free) Fax: 866-215-5966 (toll free) www.inawwa.org Together, We are the Voice for Indiana Water
Please contact Monique Riggs at 317-372-9864/ Monique.Riggs@inawwa.org OR Megan Fleming 317-446-4237/megan.fleming@inawwa.org to host an event or suggest a topic for a workshop.
Advertiser Product & Service Center
NewsLeaks is made possible by the companies below who convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of INAWWA and its publication and encourage you to contact them when making your purchasing decisions. To make it easier to contact these companies, we have included the page number of their advertisement, their phone number, and, where applicable, their website. You can also go to the electronic version of NewsLeaks at www.inawwa.org and access direct links to any of these companies.
AMERICAN Ductile Iron Pipe
Bastin-Logan Water Services
Brenntag Mid-South
George E. Booth Co., Inc.
Integra Clear Co
Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd.
Kokosing Industrial, Inc.
M.E. Simpson Co., Inc.
855-677-2303 www.jjei.com
419-473-9611 www.jheng.com
800-255-1521 www.mesimpson.com National Water Services, LLC
Neptune Technology Group Inc.
812-723-2108 www.national-water.com
800-633-8754 www.neptunetg.com/home Ortman Drilling & Water Services
