2022 Annual Conference & Trade Show Held on June 23

On June 23, the Atlantic States Rural Water & Wastewater Association opened its 2022 Annual Conference & Trade Show at the New Life Church facility in Wallingford, Connecticut, after a three-year hiatus. The conference was full of enthusiasm and networking between operators, vendors, speakers and water and wastewater professionals. Speaking to a full room, President Marty Cormier welcomed everyone and introduced the new Board of Directors, which includes V.P. Peter Kasacek (Coventry Housing Trust), Shelby Jackson, Treasurer (Wallingford Water Department), Ted Donoghue, Secretary (Litchfield WPCA), and Robert Wittenzellner (Whitewater). Next, there were opening remarks by Lori Mathieu, Public Health Branch Chief at the Environmental Health & Drinking Water Branch of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) and Craig Motasky from the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP). Steve Harper, our master of ceremony and the Federal Programs Director for NRWA, also spoke.

Public Health Branch Chief Mathieu welcomed the attendees and encouraged all to attend the available water and wastewater sessions that included topics about funding sources for projects, regulations, pipe location and leak detection, trench safety and PFAS. She was excited about having a new Connecticut State Association, separate from the Rhode Island State Association, and looked forward to continued collaboration and new successes between the state agency and the revitalized association. She stressed that as there is much work and support needed for the over 200 private water systems in Connecticut, but she feels that we are more than up to the task.

In attendance were 23 exhibitors with a total of over 135 water and wastewater professionals that included speakers, exhibitors and most importantly, Connecticut water and wastewater operators who work daily to provide service to the residents of the Nutmeg State. We also had two Vac trucks parked outside on display at the front entrance for attendees to look at and ask questions to the exhibitors attending to them.

After a well-earned lunch for attendees, speakers and staff of pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans and freshly baked cookies, the annual meeting was held after lunch and “Connecticut Rural Water & Wastewater Association” was voted by our members, as the new name for the organization.

Next up was the annual, and quite competitive, drinking water tasting contest. This year, our judges were Bob Horn, Circuit Rider for ASRWWA, Bill Hester, Wastewater Superintendent for the Norfolk Sewer District and Patty Rimkoski from Synagro. There were three entries in the Disinfectant category and six entries in the Non-Disinfectant category. After a tie vote decided by the three judges, the winners declared were:  Joanne Hollis from Vernon Village won in the Non-Disinfectant category and Peter Kasacek from Coventry Housing Authority won in the Disinfectant category and was selected as overall winner. Kasacek will represent Connecticut in the national drinking water contest next spring at the NRWA Rally in Washington D.C.

There were generous raffle items, including a Yeti cooler, tool bags, gift baskets, gift cards and cash. All these great items we generously donated by Ford Meter Box, EastCom, Wright-Pierce, York Analytical, Statewide Aquastore and Ti-Sales.

We want to thank our talented and committed staff: Diane Johnson, Wastewater Technician; Bob Horn and Jigar Patel, Circuit Riders; Mike Hage, TAT; and Don Carver, Interim Executive Director; as well as NRWA, and the folks at the New Life Church for their collective efforts in helping to pull off our most successful conference in years.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2023!

Many thanks to all the vendors who participated, and our breakfast sponsors:
Outdoor Equipment