NWEA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Lori Harrison, (703) 684-2480
lharrison@wef.org

Montgomery Rahder 402-841-0283

mrahder@ci.norfolk.ne.us

May 1 2008

Local Student to Represent Nebraska in Prestigious Water Science Competition

[Norfolk, Ne] – Jessica Boschen, a student at Newman Grove high School in Newman Grove Ne, has been named a state winner of the 2008 Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) competition – the most prestigious youth award for a water-related science project. Selected for her project, The Effects of Beaver Dams on Water Quality Phase III, Jessica will represent Nebraska at the national competition, June 19-21, 2008 in Orlando, Florida.

The purpose of the SJWP is to increase students’ interest in water-related issues and research, and to sensitize them – as future leaders – to global water challenges. The competition is open to projects aimed at improving quality of life through improvement of water quality, water resources management, water protection, and water and wastewater treatment.

“The SJWP competition is an important element in the Water Environment Federation’s effort to attract young professionals into the water quality field,” said WEF President Adam Zabinski. “As the size and scope of the global water challenge continues to evolve, it is more important than ever to promote the ideals of leadership, academic excellence and environmental stewardship. We are encouraged by Jessica’s pursuit of excellence in the spirit of competition and proudly support her interest in water quality issues.”

The U.S. winner will receive $3,000 (USD) and an all expense paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden for the international competition as well as the opportunity to present their research to water quality experts at WEFTEC^®.08 - the Water Environment Federation’s 81^st annual technical exhibition and conference - this October in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, the U.S. winner’s school will receive a $1,000 grant to enhance science education and research in the classroom and up to three finalists will receive $1,000 each.

In the United States, WEF and its Member Associations organize the national and state SJWP competitions with support from ITT Corporation (also the international sponsor), The Coca-Cola Company and Delta Air Lines. Internationally, HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is the patron of the prize. The international competition will take place during World Water Week, August 17-23, 2008 in Stockholm, Sweden. The international winner will receive $5,000 (USD) during a royal ceremony in the presence of HM King Carl XVI Gustaf and HM Queen Silvia.

For more information about SJWP, visit www.wef.org.

About WEF

Formed in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with more than 34,000 individual members and 81 affiliated Member Associations representing an additional 50,000 water quality professionals throughout the world. WEF and its member associations proudly work to achieve our mission of preserving and enhancing the global water environment.

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Global Participation in World Water Monitoring Day™ Increased by 61 Percent in 2007

Alexandria , Va. – More than 46,000 people worldwide visited their local streams, rivers, lakes and other water bodies in celebration of World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) in 2007, according to the program’s Year in Review report released this week by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA).

WWMD is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. The goal is to engage one million people in monitoring their local water ways by 2012.

Participants from Argentina to Zimbabwe tested their local waterways for four key water quality indicators: dissolved oxygen (DO), pH (acidity), temperature, and turbidity (clarity). Some groups also monitored for the presence of certain macroinvertebrates such as dragonflies, mayflies, and scuds. Samples were taken in a range of settings—agricultural, commercial, residential and industrial—on six continents.

A total of 46,117 people monitored sites worldwide, which represents a 61 percent increase over participation in 2006. Some participants acted as individuals while many took part with schools, universities, civic, environmental, and faith-based groups. Data was reported from 43 countries—four more than the 39 logged in 2006. Sites in the United States accounted for approximately 63 percent of the 3,544 monitored worldwide. After the United States , Taiwan (444) and Spain (343) led global WWMD efforts in the number of sites monitored.

The coordinators of WWMD, WEF and IWA, would like to acknowledge the generous financial and in-kind support in 2007 from primary sponsors including the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PerkinElmer, ITT Corporation, CH2M HILL, and Smithfield Foods.

WWMD is officially observed each year on September 18^th, which marks the beginning of a month-long period of water quality monitoring that ends on October 18^th. Due to the high volume of participants in 2007, the monitoring period was extended until December 18^th. This date also served as the deadline for reporting data to the WWMD database for inclusion in the year-end report.

For a complete list of program partners, as well as more detailed statistics, please see the World Water Monitoring Day 2007 Year in Review, which is available online at www.WorldWaterMonitoringDay.org or via request to wwmd@wef.org.

Note to editors: Photographs from WWMD 2007 are available upon request. Please contact Lori Harrison at lharrison@wef.org for details.

About WEF

About IWA

The International Water Association (IWA) is a global network of water professionals that spans the continuum between research and practice, covering all facets of the water cycle. IWA membership comprises 10,000 individuals and 400 corporate members, working in 120 countries. The Association seeks to connect water professionals worldwide to lead the development of effective and sustainable approaches to water management.