Message from Kristin Johansen, RMWEA President September 2026

Passing of the Torch

Kristin Johansen, President, RMWEA

In his 1961 science-fiction novel, Stranger in a Strange Land, author Robert A. Heinlein coined the Martian term “to grok” which literally means “to drink” and is used to describe becoming one with a subject as you come to understand it on a deep and empathetic level. 

As I reflect on my term as RMWEA President, what stands out as a common theme is how our members truly “grok” water – they embody how it flows and is conveyed, how to treat it, the value of resources associated with water such as heat and nutrients, what it means for each user and customer, how it affects the environment, and the meaning of water to their communities whether it is for drinking water and sanitation, habitat, agriculture, recreation, industry, or traditional and spiritual practices.  

Our members and volunteers profoundly and intuitively understand water on a molecular level, not just as a job or profession but as life. Their work is driven by a deep passion for water. That is what I find unique and special about our industry and our membership, and it inspires me and gives me daily hope for the future. I know that as I pass the Presidency baton to Kacie Allard, RMWEA will be in good hands with her leadership and the dedicated work of our incredible group of volunteers.

It has been a vibrant year for RMWEA highlighted by:
  • A successful annual Rocky Mountain Water Conference held in concert with RMSAWWA in Keystone, Colorado, with record-breaking registration numbers and sponsorships! 
  • New Mexico and Grand Junction Conferences held with RMSAWWA.
  • Filming our Value of Water documentary with Denver Film Company.
  • Attendance of the National Water Policy Fly-In to Washington, DC by our Government Affairs Committee with Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico represented.
  • Updated Career Center webpage and newsletter.
  • Kickoff to RMWEA’s Mentorship and Hydro Heroes programs.
  • Unprecedented RMWEA sweep of the Operations Challenge Competition at WEFTEC in Chicago.
  • RMWEA’s largest Operations Challenge Regional Competition held at Adams County Fairgrounds with six RMWEA teams competing and six other teams from around the country.
  • Record attendance at our Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Operator Schools.
  • Professional Water Operator (PWO) Seminars and Technical Activities Committee (TAC) Luncheons held throughout the year.
  • Successful Biosolids, Innovative Water Technology, Collections, and Lab Practices workshops and seminars.
  • RMWEA’s 90th Anniversary Membership Celebration at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
  • And an incredibly bright and motivated group of young professionals and students who hosted the Student Design Competition, Student Conference, and fun events including the Water for People Softball Fundraiser this month and facility tours throughout the year!
  • And much more…!
On the industry side, this year has been marked by severe drought across our region and the world with rivers running dry, extreme fires and flooding, aquifer supplies dwindling, more species becoming extinct or endangered, and increasing industry and population demands on ever limited water supplies and infrastructure. This summer, RMWEA had to make the difficult decision to cancel our Leadville Operator School due to the Willow Fire. I want to acknowledge the Leadville School Committee for all their work organizing this event and keeping everyone's safety top of mind, as well as making sure local Leadville community resources went towards the emergency.

Looking out my window at the dry riverbed of the Rio Grande here in Albuquerque, I cannot help but think about the role of innovation and technology in solving these increasingly urgent environmental challenges. Our RMWEA members play a key role in deploying solutions to the difficult water challenges of today and the future. Our annual Shark Tank Competition and Student Conference showcase the latest innovative ideas, and our Women in Water Conference, PWO Seminars, Communications Seminar, Utility Management training, and Innovative Water Technology seminars offer our members platforms to explore and exchange ideas with other industry professionals about different innovations and technologies.

An essential element to innovation and technology advancement is considering how to engage different geographical regions in outreach and implementation. At RMWEA’s Summer Planning Meeting in July, we discussed the tactics behind the implementation of our 5-Year Strategic Plan. One of those tactics is improving our outreach and collaboration with communities that tend to have less access to RMWEA resources. Our students and young professionals plan to connect with community colleges and technical schools across Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico to engage them with the Student Conference, Operations Challenge, Mentorship, and Workforce Development. Our Professional Water/Wastewater Operator Seminar Committee will also be launching a traveling seminar with a first stop in the Four Corners area.

No discussion about innovation and technology of late is devoid of AI. At a recent RMWEA task force meeting, someone mentioned that we could use AI to complete a simple task. Another member quickly jumped in to say, do you know how many gallons of water that would take? This is the type of questioning and thinking that will drive water innovation in the future! As AI gains quick momentum, our members are going to be the leading experts on how to implement, navigate, manage, regulate, innovate, and ask the tough questions about AI-based systems. 
That is where “grok” comes back into play. AI will have ever-expanding capabilities, much like a sci-fi novel – but AI has yet to have the passion and humanity that our water industry professionals possess. In a course I recently attended at MIT, Dr. Joel Schindall (professor emeritus, Senior VP and Chief Engineer for Globalstar – the first satellite mobile phone system, and “grok” aficionado) said that what differentiates leaders in technology and innovation is their ability to make their passion a core part of who they are and what they do. In 5 years, we will be having vastly different conversations about technology, but I foresee our members’ passion for water as a consistent, critical industry thread for years to come. I hope this brings you a sense of optimism, empowerment, and esteem for your vital role in the water industry.

And with that – thank you for a fantastic year, RMWEA!