Water Seminar Explores Sustainable Solutions to Drinking Water Challenges
Topic: Water Seminar Explores Sustainable Solutions to Drinking Water Challenges
Speakers:
Kim Dinh, P.E.,
Senior Water Resource Engineer
Emma Blankenship,
Grant Manager with the State Water Board, Division of Financial Assistance
Michelle Frederick, P.E.,
SAFER Section Supervisor for State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water
When: Friday, April 16, 12 pm to 1pm
Where: Virtual (via Zoom)—Link to virtual seminar to be sent upon RSVP
The recording of the webinar is available here.
Drinking water assistance for disadvantaged communities
Presented by: Emma Blankenship, Grant Manager with the State Water Board's Division of Financial Assistance
The State Water Resources Control Board promotes permanent and sustainable drinking water solutions to ensure the provision of safe, clean, affordable, and reliable drinking water to Californians. Drinking water needs are addressed through financial and technical assistance, with a focus on small disadvantaged communities statewide. This presentation will describe the implementation and outcomes of funding programs that provide financial and technical assistance for eligible drinking water projects.
Sustainable solutions addressing drinking water infrastructure problems
Presented by: Michelle Frederick, SAFER Section Supervisor for State Water Board's Division of Drinking Water
The Division of Drinking Water will discuss the underlying problems with drinking water infrastructure fragmentation across the State and how it impacts disadvantaged communities, particularly in areas with groundwater contamination. The presentation will also share where information can be found on these water systems and steps being taken to address these technical challenges while also providing sustainable solutions rather than short-term fixes.
About the Speakers
Kim Dinh, P.E., holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from CSU, Sacramento. She is a California registered civil engineer. She began her career with the State in 1992 with the Drinking Water Program. In her current position, Kim's unit focuses on providing technical assistance to small disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged communities accessing safe drinking water through technical assistance providers (non-profit organizations and universities).
Michelle Frederick, P.E., holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from UC Berkeley and a master's degree from Georgia Tech in environmental engineering. She is a California registered professional civil engineer. She began working for the State drinking water program in 2005. In her current position, Michelle focuses on developing and supporting the Division of Drinking Water's SAFER section's efforts to ensure safe and affordable drinking water to all Californians, particularly through water partnerships and analysis of at-risk water system needs.
Emma Blankenship is a Grant Manager with the State Water Board's Division of Financial Assistance. She works in the Small Community Technical Assistance Unit, which focuses on providing technical assistance to small disadvantaged communities in order to develop, fund, and implement eligible drinking water and wastewater needs. As a Grant Manager, her role is to oversee agreements between the State Board and technical assistance providers and ensure that projects meet the necessary requirements to be implemented in accordance with the agreement. Previously, Emma worked with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Division of Drinking Water.
Emma graduated from San Diego State University in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering. She is a certified Engineer-In-Training pursuing a Professional Engineer license.
