Image caption, left to right: State Senator Jamie Wall; NEW Water Commissioner Al Herrman; State Representative Ryan Spaude; State Senator Rob Cowles; NEW Water Executive Director Nathan Qualls; Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach; Dean of the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology, Dr. John Katers from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; and Village of Ashwaubenon President Mary Kardoskee.
Wisconsin Wastewater Professionals Appreciation Day & Welcome our new Executive Director
A recent event was held at the STEM Innovation Center to convene community leaders and partners, celebrate Wisconsin Wastewater Professionals Appreciation Day, and introduce our new Executive Director, Nathan Qualls, P.E. This event provided an opportunity to enhance relationships within the community we serve by highlighting partnerships and showcasing the critical work we do, and why it matters. This event featured meaningful messages from partners and a lovely outpouring of gratitude to our Team for providing an essential service each day.
Elected officials visit NEW Water
NEW Water has been engaging with area elected officials to enhance understanding of our operations, and to build partnerships and trust. Recent visits to our facility included U.S. Representative Tony Wied; Wisconsin State Senators Jamie Wall and Eric Wimberger; and Wisconsin State Representatives Shae Sortwell, Joy Goeben, Benjamin Franklin, Amaad Rivera-Wagner, and Joel Kitchens; and the Village of Bellevue Trustees Dave Kaster, Jackie Krull, and Tom Murphy, and staff. We are grateful for the engagement from our elected officials (and their staff), who took the time to learn about the critical service NEW Water provides their constituents, every day.
NEW Water advocates for clean water funding
Wastewater utilities across the U.S. are facing challenges with potential financing shortfalls at both the federal, and state levels. These funds are critical to help offset costs for local communities.
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At the national level, NEW Water is joining efforts led by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), by speaking with and sending letters to federal officials requesting support to address proposed budget cuts that would decrease the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) by nearly 90 percent for critical sewer projects.
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At the Wisconsin level, we’ve joined a coalition of wastewater and water utilities to advocate for increased bonding authority for the Wisconsin DNR to be able to adequately fund the Wisconsin Environmental Improvement Fund (EIF) – which administers the Clean Water Fund. We’ve engaged our municipal partners on this effort as well, and appreciate their support.
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Ratepayers in Brown County & Northeast Wisconsin benefit greatly from these funding sources. Low-interest loans for NEW Water infrastructure projects are at risk; we would have to consider costlier financing alternatives.
--> Example: $10M project leads to $2.2M savings over the 20-year loan.
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An update at the Wisconsin level: In June, the Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee voted unanimously (16-0) in support of this infrastructure funding.
We will continue to monitor this evolving issue, and to advocate for clean water funding.
We are grateful to partners who have joined this important effort to pursue significant savings for the residents, businesses, and industries in our community.
Recognizing Excellence at NEW Water
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Matt Schmidt, Field Services Lead, has been inducted into the prestigious Golden Manhole Society, by the Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA), which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of wastewater collection systems.
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NEW Water has also been awarded the CSWEA 2025 Operations Award. This award celebrates outstanding performance in wastewater treatment and highlights the professionalism and dedication of our Operations Team.
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100% Permit Compliance. NEW Water has achieved 100% permit compliance for 22 consecutive years for the Green Bay Facility from NACWA
We are proud of the dedication and professionalism of our Team, every day!
NFL Draft
In Northeast Wisconsin, we take our football, community, and clean water seriously! While fans tuned in to the NFL Draft this past April, our Team was gearing up for a different kind of play - protecting our most valuable resource, water.
Think about it: a strong defense wins championships, and the same goes for clean water.
Prior to the NFL Draft, our team met with sewerage utilities in Detroit, Kansas City, and Oshkosh to inquire about sewer impacts from large events. As additional risk mitigation, our team optimized equipment and implemented additional protocols, to ensure nonstop service during this important event.
Community reminders went out during Draft Week, including signs that read: “Don’t Treat Your Toilet Like a Trash Can” at public restrooms and portable restrooms. What happened to wastewater flows during the Draft? Flows were up—just a bit more than a typical Packers game.
STEM Family Day
On April 12, NEW Water partnered with Green Bay Water Utility, Einstein Project, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and the Greater Green Bay STEM Network for the annual STEM Family Day. The event drew in over 1,150 people and was intended to entertain and educate area families on the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). We partnered with Green Bay Water Utility on an educational booth that feature a "Flush Fighters" photo opportunity and a "poo emoji" toss for the kids (and their adults!) to protect the environment and public health by only flushing the 3Ps. In addition to learning about where our water comes from with trivia and water bottle ring toss.
Avoid the Ick this Summer! 
Thanks to a grant received from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, we’ve partnered with the O'Connor Connective to create a Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) awareness campaign (see enclosed example of a poster), to help inform our community about keeping safe while recreating in area waters.
NEW Watershed Program updates
In 2024, the NEW Watershed Program (Program) of NEW Water completed its third year of Adaptive Management for permit compliance with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to meet new total phosphorus (TP) and total suspended solids (TSS) limits in their discharge permit.
Learn what's new with the Program >>
What's New at NEW Water
- Downtown Interceptors Renewal Project (DIRP) construction is starting. This important project will renew pipes that have been in service in downtown Green Bay since Franklin D. Roosevelt was President. Learn more about the project here >>
- Public Information Meetings
- On May 6, a Public Information Meeting was held to discuss the Downtown Interceptor Renewal Project. Learn more >>
- On May 28, a Public Information Meeting was held to discuss the East River Lift Station and Force Main Improvements Project. Learn more >>
- Partner update. NEW Water held a quarterly update meeting with municipal and industrial partners on June 18, with topics including project updates, funding challenges, and a harmful algal blooms (HABs) campaign. See the presentation >>