The Earth has the same water today it had billions of years ago. Everything living on this planet shares that one water, which moves through a cycle of use and reuse in watersheds throughout the world. Luckily, given the complexities of managing water resources, all of us in this water-connected world also benefit from the knowledge that flows throughout the water sector.
In recent years, Clean Water Services (CWS) has increasingly been part of that global exchange — sharing what we’ve learned from our unique challenges and learning what works elsewhere to apply smarter solutions here for the most impactful and cost-effective use of ratepayer dollars. In-person connection and hands-on experiences drive CWS’ commitment to supporting travel by staff and the CWS Board of Directors for intensive education and networking opportunities. Below are key examples of CWS’ international leadership and learning.
Vientiane, Laos
Here in Washington County, most of our wastewater and stormwater must return to the Tualatin River, which is much smaller and slower than the Willamette and Columbia rivers. To protect the health of the people, fish, and other wildlife living in the extremely sensitive Tualatin River Watershed, CWS must operate under some of the most stringent water quality standards and innovative management techniques in the United States — and has become a model many utilities around the world look to as they navigate their own challenges.
CWS was one of just five U.S. public water treatment utilities selected by the U.S. State Department, in collaboration with the Water Environment Federation, to partner with water utilities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Smart Cities Network. This kicked off a five-year partnership between CWS and a utility in Vientiane, Laos, to explore opportunities for the Vientiane City Office for Management and Services (VCOMS) to address their lack of centralized sewer collection and treatment infrastructure, lack of funding, and lack of water quality and enforcement standards.
Expenses for CWS’ participation in this program were primarily covered by the federal government. Representatives from Vientiane visited Washington County and CWS Board members Chair Kathryn Harrington and Director Pam Treece joined CWS staff in visiting Laos as part of the partnership, which concluded in 2024. Both utilities maximized learning opportunities by scheduling some of their visits to coincide with major water conferences — Singapore International Water Week and WEFTEC, the Water Environment Federation’s technical exhibition and conference in New Orleans.
CWS employees collaborated with VCOMS on planning a demonstration project using a nature-based solution for a polluted water reservoir. Through this collaboration, CWS gained broader knowledge and understanding of how nature-based solutions can be scaled and applied in a different climate, and a deeper understanding of the global water resources system’s interconnectedness. The demonstration was designed to help evaluate low-cost and low-impact technologies that could be replicated throughout Vientiane and elsewhere.
Copenhagen and Toronto
In addition to sharing the lessons of our particularly challenging watershed, CWS must look to success stories elsewhere as we respond to a growing population, changing climate, shifting economy, aging infrastructure, and increasingly strict environmental regulations.
Denmark, Sweden, and Finland are leaders in climate adaptation, resource recovery, and utility innovation. The International Water Association’s (IWA) 2022 Water Congress in Copenhagen provided a unique opportunity for a U.S. delegation that included Harrington, Treece, and CWS staff to collaborate with the world’s leading water professionals and study climate adaptation strategies. CWS hosted and moderated sessions, presented as part of a forum on the role of utilities in creating city solutions for the future, and experienced how other utilities and countries are navigating swings between times of great water abundance and shortages. As our environment changes, sharing knowledge around best practices and infrastructure to adapt to climate change is essential.
Opportunities for learning and connection continued beyond the 2022 gathering, at IWA’s 2024 World Water Congress in Toronto, where CWS Board Directors Nafisa Fai, Jerry Willey, and Treece along with CWS staff were able to tour innovative facilities that recaptured and repurposed different forms of waste into energy. Advances in recovering resources from traditional waste products are critical to CWS’ mission.
An exchange of technical staff later in 2024 deepened this investigation via a Pacific Northwest-Denmark Wastewater Symbiosis Knowledge Exchange. Launched with a fall 2024 study tour, the exchange brought 26 representatives from Pacific Northwest wastewater utilities to Denmark to build on our region’s strong emphasis on resource recovery through immersion in Denmark’s pioneering “industrial symbiosis.” CWS staff were among the participants inspired by Denmark’s groundbreaking approach to using a sector’s wastes to economically benefit other businesses.
Learning for a Livable Community
As we adapt to a warming climate with more extreme swings between drought and flood and prepare for a potentially catastrophic Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, CWS must continue investing in the systems and people providing essential sewer and stormwater services. Whether we’re training frontline staff to operate safely and effectively, ensuring leaders have the knowledge needed to make informed and strategic decisions, or serving the public good by sharing what we’ve learned with other public agencies, every investment CWS makes is building toward long-term solutions that protect the health of our community and environment.
