Water and Wastewater Operators Are Making a Difference by Helping Operators and Utilities in Developing Countries (WWETT Show 2023)

Operators Without Borders is a Registered charity with two mandates. The first is to assist water and wastewater utilities in developing countries recover after disasters. The second is to build capacity in the utilities though training, mentoring and provision of advice. This panel discussion will be delivered by Founder and Chair Valerie Jenkinson, Greg Solecki and two of OWB's volunteers. Between them they will outline their experience in rebuilding utilities post disaster and the type of training, mentoring and other projects in which operators and other water professionals have volunteered. They will describe what they have done technically, what it meant to the citizens and utilities we have helped and how they personally feel about the experience. We will also discuss the Haitian project in which we partner with Rotary International to bring potable water to all Haitians.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the purpose and mandate of OWB

2. Describe initiatives that OWB has completed

3. Explain what it has meant for country recipients and volunteers

4. Identify opportunies for involvement

Speakesr: Valerie Jenkinson, Founder and Chair at Operators Without Borders; Jason Mank, Board Member and Assistant Chair Deployment Committee at Ontario Clean Water Agency; Ian Mcilwham, Compliance Manager at Durham Region Water and Wastewater Utility