New Executive Director at NEW Water
NEW Water has announced a change in leadership: Nathan Qualls, P.E., will assume duties as Executive Director on Dec. 23, 2024. NEW Water’s current Executive Director, Thomas W. Sigmund, P.E., will retire in January 2025.
After a thorough search process, the NEW Water Commission has selected Qualls for the position.
Image: Nate Qualls, P.E.
Qualls currently serves as the organization’s Director of Technical Services, and began his career at NEW Water as a Staff Engineer in 2008. He has a wealth of experience in the wastewater sector, including industrial wastewater treatment prior to his work with NEW Water. Qualls has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Wisconsin.
The NEW Water Commission expressed deep gratitude for Sigmund’s leadership over the past 17 years.
Sigmund ushered in the Resource Recovery & Electrical Energy, or R2E2, Project,
which recovers heat and converts wastewater into electricity, thereby avoiding costs and reducing the facility’s carbon footprint. In response to impending regulations, Sigmund launched NEW Water’s watershed approach to water quality improvements, a more cost-effective permit compliance option, which also yields more environmental benefit.
Image: Tom Sigmund, P.E.
2024 STEAM Superheroes Camp
NEW Water’s STEAM Superheroes Camp celebrated its ninth fantastic year of partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay.
This year, the camp wasn’t just about learning – it was about battling the forces of villainy to protect and educate kids about our most valuable resource, water.
Nine kids completed their heroic training and earned their “Defenders of the Bay” certificates. This prestigious title isn’t just for show; it signifies their bravery and dedication in defending our waters from the clutches of nefarious forces. Through their training, these young heroes delved into the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) with a mission to protecting waterways.
Their training included hands-on activities like building sewer infrastructure, inspecting microorganisms through microscopes, and learning the crucial lesson of how to "Love Your Pipes."
Watch the recap video and read the full article here>>
NEW Water receives Wisconsin Coastal Management Grant
NEW Water will receive grant funding from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program to support educational outreach initiatives to increase awareness about Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced the grants for coastal communities to "support quality of life, foster economic development, protect and improve the Great Lakes resources, and create resiliency in Wisconsin’s coastal communities.” Learn more here >>
Fall field day
On September 5, NEW Water hosted a field day in Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman Creek (ACDC), with Lower Fox Demonstration Farms and watershed partners, to showcase new advancements in cover crop planting, drone seeding. Drone seeding is an innovative agricultural technique that employs drones to distribute seeds over fields. NEW Water is pursuing Adaptive Management as a cost-effective option to achieve permit compliance. Learn more about drone seeding event here >>
In the news:
WFRV showcases water quality monitoring
NEW Water was featured on WFRV's “Sustainably Speaking” segment, highlighting the two long-term water quality monitoring stations, which bring some data collection parameters to (near) real-time and post them online for the public to utilize. Read the article here >>
Celebrating our interns
NEW Water celebrated the outstanding contribution of our interns for their hard work, dedication, and fresh perspectives they bring to NEW Water. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, understanding is inspiring and we are so lucky to have all these interns to learn from! Join our Team >>
Purrr-tect your pipes
In the quest for convenience, many cat owners may be tempted by the allure of flushable cat litter. After all, it promises easy clean-up and a hassle-free disposal method, eliminating the need for trips to the trashcan. However, despite its attractive promise, flushing cat litter down the drain poses significant risks. Learn more >>
#LoveYourWatershed this fall
Picking up your leaves this fall is one simple thing you can do to help keep excess nutrients from entering area waters. Fall colors are fleeing, and it’s now time to rake those leaves and keep your nearby storm drain clear to help protect our waterways. Together we can protect One Water! Watch the video here>>
What's new at NEW Water
NEW Water held an update meeting on March 21, with topics including the latest Facility Plan Project Update, 2025 budgeting, Clean Water Fund, and Emergency Response Mutual Aid. 