Message from Kristin Johansen, RMWEA President May 2026

Utility Management May/June


• Any updates heading into summer?
 • Recap of the winter planning meeting, if applicable? 
• Any thoughts or previews related to ACE? 
• Thoughts on the upcoming Drinking Water Week?
 
Baseball season is upon us – and for those of us in Albuquerque, it is a fun time to scout the next Colorado Rockies players at the local Isotopes games and sample the latest ballpark menu. 

It is also the annual recognition of Drinking Water Week, May 3-9, 2026. While every week is water week for the readers of this magazine, it is incumbent upon our industry to remember the importance of communicating utility needs, supply challenges, and conservation, the role of water reuse, and technology advancements with our local communities so the public can share in planning and support sustainable water management.  We encourage you to register as a Water Advocate through the WEF Water Advocates Program to connect with elected officials on important water issues.

This May/June issue of Rocky Mountain Water Magazine highlights utility management. Utility managers have the challenging role of mitigating water supply changes, asset management, securing funding for infrastructure, and navigating regulatory changes. They juggle workforce planning, integrate ingenuity into daily operations, blend economic drivers and ecological management, encourage employee training and professional development, and balance energy costs and consumer price volatility. The fast ball of the AI rapid evolution is on many radars. I have found RMWEA to be a terrific way for utility managers to share ideas and communication strategies and to develop a strong network of support.

For our part, RMWEA is stepping up to the plate to elevate and connect our members. We are excited to be working with Denver Film Company to film a Value of Water themed documentary. After our Winter Planning brainstorming session and hearing from guest filmmaker Dr. Angelo Baca (Rhode Island School of Art and Design, Member of the Navajo and Hopi Nations), the documentary will focus on how the care of water has evolved over time, from natural and Indigenous stewardship, through western growth and regulation, to today’s complex water and wastewater systems. The film will spotlight the people, innovation, and infrastructure behind clean water across Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. For sponsorship opportunities or if you are interested in being involved in the documentary, please reach out to communications@rmwea.org.

RMWEA’s Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) recently hosted the annual Student Design Competition at Plum Creek Water Reclamation Authority in Castle Rock, CO, on April 24, 2026. Congratulations to the students and universities who participated, and thank you to Plum Creek and the judges for your time and support! The winning team will represent RMWEA at the WEF Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) in New Orleans, LA, in September. In May, our Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) will host the annual Student Conference at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The winner of the poster contest will represent our region at AWWA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE) in June in Washington, D.C. 

In April, RMWEA hosted our annual Collection Systems Conference in Westminster, CO, with vendors and collection system professionals sharing information on asset management, maintenance, and condition assessment. Our Government Affairs Committee sent a cohort from each member state, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico, to the National Water Policy Fly-In in Washington DC.  We are proud to congratulate Chloe Prayon with Boxelder Sanitation District, who was nominated by WEF as a Fly-In Scholar.

For the 7th Inning Stretch of this article, keep an eye out for RMWEA Professional Water/Wastewater Operator (PWO) training events, Leadville Operator School in July, and the Western Colorado Water/Wastewater Conference in Grand Junction, CO. Be sure to brush up on your golf swing for the 27th Annual Operations Challenge Golf Tournament in June!

Our new mentorship program aims to connect mentors and mentees in our region. Fill out the sign-up survey in our eblast newsletter to get involved as a mentor or mentee. An in-person event for the mentorship program will be held at the Rocky Mountain Water Conference in Keystone, CO, in August.

Lastly, congratulations to all 2026 graduates! Visit our website for information on scholarship opportunities and career opportunities listed on our updated Job Board.
Phew! RMWEA is certainly batting 1000! I hope everyone has a fun summer ahead. And stay cool with a cold glass of reuse water or beverage of choice!