Short Takes
The Water Quality Association (WQA) is opening up opportunities for members to give short presentations on any topic as part of the 2019 Convention & Exposition on April 23-25, 2019, in Las Vegas, NV. Short Takes – 15 Minutes of Wisdom will be offered on the trade show floor. Each presentation is limited to 10 to 15 minutes, with 20 to 30 slides that automatically advance every 30 seconds. The format challenges speakers to make their points creatively and succinctly.
Topics are meant to be fun or encouraging and can range from the inspirational to the quirky; some examples of presentations in a similar (though even shorter) format can be found at ignitetalks.io. Potential WQA speakers are invited to submit their proposals on this form by November 6. Speakers must be WQA members and messages must avoid reference to specific manufacturers and brands. Commercial messages will not be accepted. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis in the order in which they are received. Schedule space is limited.
Lead poisoning information
WQA marked National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) October 21-27 by providing consumers with easily accessible information about the threat of lead in their drinking water and how to take steps to combat it. NLPPW calls together individuals, organizations, industry and state and local governments to help increase lead awareness by using their efforts and collaborations to reduce childhood exposure to lead.
The special week — sponsored by US EPA, US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — focuses on several sources of lead poisoning, including drinking water and lead paint in the home. Lead poisoning can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, hearing and speech problems and learning and behavior problems.
New MEP certification
A new education opportunity for technical in-office staff, engineers or others who want to learn the underlying science of water quality and treatment without the field work required for full certification is now available through the Water Quality Association’s Modular Education Program (MEP). The Residential Water Treatment Design Certificate can be of benefit to people who help design treatment products, provide technical support or sell products, and it can serve as an onboarding program for people new to the water quality industry.
The MEP-based training is about 75 hours of reading assignments with online scenarios that reinforce the lessons but does not require in-the-field experience. Learners must complete an online test to earn the certificate. The certificate assures dealers that the people answering their questions, selling them products or providing support services have demonstrated knowledge of how the treatment solutions work.
Learners are not required to be WQA members. Anyone with questions can contact WQA’s Professional Certification & Training Department at [email protected] or call (630) 505-0160. More information about the program and enrollment also is available on WQA’s website.