Last month, special recognition to water-related issues was given on March 22, the date designated by the United Nations as “World Water Day.” The first World Water Day was observed in 1993, and has been celebrated every year since. The purpose of the observance is to bring attention to our water resources and offer learning opportunities, as well as to inspire others to sustainably manage those resources. This year, the theme of World Water Day was wastewater, to focus on the need to improve water reuse.
We cover water treatment regularly in our magazine, and I have written about its importance a number of times, yet each time I learn more, it impresses upon me how far-reaching the impact of water-related issues is. The World Water Day website (www.worldwaterday.org) offers the following information in its “Fact Sheet.”
The CPI contributes
Industrial production accounts for nearly 25% of global water consumption, according to a statement released in conjunction with World Water Day by Lanxess (www.lanxess.com). The chemical process industries (CPI) are well equipped to provide solutions to industrial, as well as municipal water- and wastewater-treatment challenges. Our engineers and scientists are very familiar with pertinent technologies, such as advanced filtration techniques (see the Feature Report in this issue on Crossflow Membrane Filtration, pp. 49–59). And new technologies are being developed around the world. See for example, the Chementator article in this issue about a group in Singapore who are working on removing pollutants from water with iron hydroxides (p. 12), and the work in Korea on developing a new water-treatment adsorbent reported last month (A New Adsorbent for Wastewater Treatment, Chem. Eng. March 2017, p. 11).
Spotlighting World Water Day
CPI companies have joined in the observance of World Water Day to help spread the news about water scarcity issues and how to address them. The Dow Chemical Company (www.dow.com) for example, participated in an event in Tucson, Ariz. where representatives from industry, business, academia and government interacted on water-related topics. The event included a tour of the University of Arizona’s Water and Energy Sustainable Technology Center, as well as the unveiling of the World Water Day paint scheme for the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet car, which competed in the Camping World 500 at the Phoenix International Raceway on March 19.
Current world news has many concerned about the future of environmental endeavors. The need to share information about the importance of better wastewater treatment is perhaps greater that it has been, making a designated day all the more important. ■
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
Featured Conference
November 9-11, 2026Irving Convention Center | Dallas, TX
Explore this topic and more — live at Clean Americas. Join environmental, health, safety, and emergency response professionals tackling the industry's most urgent hazards. View Conference Program →
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
Speaking
Scott Andrews (Trans Mountain Canada Inc., Manager Emergency Management)
Kelly Codlin , MSPH, CIH (Marathon Petroleum Company, Emergency Preparedness Director)
Nick Hickson (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Hazmat Training Manager)
Josh Dubach MSc, CEM (Onterris, Senior Response Management Consultant)
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
Speaking
Steve Pepper, Ph.D., (Onterris, Director of Response Management)
Charles Maguire (Railroad Commission of Texas, Advisor, Oil and Gas Division)
Prof. Shane Walker Ph.D. (Texas Produced Water Consortium, Director)
Ray Cheatham (Onterris, Energy Sector Leader)
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
Speaking
Robert W. May PG (Clean Harbors, Senior Vice President, Branch Services and Sales)
Crosley Welch (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State On-Scene Coordinator)
Samuel Cheek , CSP, RRPT (U.S. EPA, Region 6, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
Christopher Myers (U.S. EPA, Region 9, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
Speaking
James Hanzalik (Clean Gulf Associates, Vice-President)
Gordon Staples (MDA Space Ltd., Senior Radar Applications Scientist)
Grant Coolbaugh (Applied Research Associates / Ohmsett, Mechanical Engineer)
Speaking
Allyson Purcell MEP, CEM (ConocoPhillips, CMER Director)
Michael Delio (Maxum Petroleum, EHS & SECURITY MGR)
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.
Speaking
Mark Steadman (The Battery Network, Program Manager)
Environment, Health, Safety & Security
Designating a day for water
| By Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
Last month, special recognition to water-related issues was given on March 22, the date designated by the United Nations as “World Water Day.” The first World Water Day was observed in 1993, and has been celebrated every year since. The purpose of the observance is to bring attention to our water resources and offer learning opportunities, as well as to inspire others to sustainably manage those resources. This year, the theme of World Water Day was wastewater, to focus on the need to improve water reuse.
We cover water treatment regularly in our magazine, and I have written about its importance a number of times, yet each time I learn more, it impresses upon me how far-reaching the impact of water-related issues is. The World Water Day website (www.worldwaterday.org) offers the following information in its “Fact Sheet.”
The CPI contributes
Industrial production accounts for nearly 25% of global water consumption, according to a statement released in conjunction with World Water Day by Lanxess (www.lanxess.com). The chemical process industries (CPI) are well equipped to provide solutions to industrial, as well as municipal water- and wastewater-treatment challenges. Our engineers and scientists are very familiar with pertinent technologies, such as advanced filtration techniques (see the Feature Report in this issue on Crossflow Membrane Filtration, pp. 49–59). And new technologies are being developed around the world. See for example, the Chementator article in this issue about a group in Singapore who are working on removing pollutants from water with iron hydroxides (p. 12), and the work in Korea on developing a new water-treatment adsorbent reported last month (A New Adsorbent for Wastewater Treatment, Chem. Eng. March 2017, p. 11).
Spotlighting World Water Day
CPI companies have joined in the observance of World Water Day to help spread the news about water scarcity issues and how to address them. The Dow Chemical Company (www.dow.com) for example, participated in an event in Tucson, Ariz. where representatives from industry, business, academia and government interacted on water-related topics. The event included a tour of the University of Arizona’s Water and Energy Sustainable Technology Center, as well as the unveiling of the World Water Day paint scheme for the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet car, which competed in the Camping World 500 at the Phoenix International Raceway on March 19.
Current world news has many concerned about the future of environmental endeavors. The need to share information about the importance of better wastewater treatment is perhaps greater that it has been, making a designated day all the more important. ■
Featured Conference
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.