- Need Technical Assistance? ngws@getvfairs.io
Thursday, June 20
1:00pm to 4:00pm MT
Location: Room 307
There has never been a better time to access funding for water infrastructure projects. There is an unprecedented amount of money available from a wide variety of sources – both governmental and philanthropic – to both plan and build your projects. Additionally, the federal and state government have committed to an extraordinary amount of free technical assistance to help you access this money. The panel will share information on available funding and technical assistance resources and answer your questions regarding how to access the money and ensure your water system (drinking water, wastewater, stormwater) can meet public and environmental health regulations and provide reliable, sustainable service to your customers.
Panelists will include:
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Ryan Mast Ryan Mast serves as SP’s Infrastructure Partner in New Mexico and southwest region. Mr. Mast has over 15 years of experience in the public sector developing and implementing forward-leaning projects that improve outcomes in the communities for which he served.Prior to joining SP, he was the Director of the Environmental Health Department for the City of Albuquerque where he led the city’s Sustainability, Air Quality and Environmental Health Science and Engineering programs. Through his efforts, he strengthened the city’s resilience to environmental hazards and enhanced sustainability practices throughout all city programs. |
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Lia Clark Lia currently works as the Community Engagement Manager for the Texas Water Infrastructure Fund at Water Finance Exchange. She combines her engineering expertise with her passion for social justice to work with underserved and overburdened communities improving their ability to obtain equitable, affordable, and safe water and sanitation services. She utilizes her background in community-based research and locally-led development to integrate ethics and empathy into the engineering practice. |
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Hayley Hajic Hayley Hajic joined the Southwest EFC in 2018. She has been working in the water sector for over seven years. At the Southwest EFC Hayley manages multiple EPA funded projects focused on providing technical assistance and trainings to primarily small water and wastewater systems around the country. Her areas of focus include asset management, funding, regionalization, and green infrastructure. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Grinnell College and a M.S. in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of New Mexico. |
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Sydney Lienemann Sydney Lienemann has over ten years of scientific research and policy experience with a focus on clean energy, energy security, and climate resiliance. In addition, she has extensive experience in clean energy strategic planning and policy development as well as leading the development of and managing clean energy projects promoting climate-friendly investment. |
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Ramon Lucero, Jr. Regional Field Manager – RCAC President, El Valle Water Alliance Ramon Lucero joined RCAC in 2020. He supervises, supports, and coordinates field staff and their activities in Arizona and New Mexico; manages relationships with funders; and conducts outreach to philanthropic partners and state and federal agencies to maintain positive working relationships. His responsibilities include working with the Grants and Contracts Administration (GCA) department and other regional managers to optimize service delivery and program growth and provide quality control and oversight of activities. Mr. Lucero has more than 20 years of experience managing the funding, planning, design, implementation, and operation and management of water and wastewater system infrastructure improvement projects for municipalities and rural communities in the state of New Mexico. |
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Rebecca Roose Infrastructure Advisor, Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Rebecca Roose (she/her) has over 18 years of experience in water policy and infrastructure and currently provides consulting services to the Thornburg Foundation on water policy initiatives. In 2022, Rebecca served on the Executive Committee of the New Mexico Water Policy and Infrastructure Task Force. As Deputy Cabinet Secretary of Program Administration at the New Mexico Environment Department (2021-2022), Rebecca guided key policy and regulatory priorities, including state and federal public health and environmental initiatives, and served as the Department’s lead on infrastructure investments. Previously, Rebecca served two years as the Department’s Water Protection Division Director, where she led surface and groundwater quality, drinking water protection, and wastewater infrastructure finance programs for the State. Prior to joining NMED, Rebecca worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for over 13 years. At EPA Headquarters, she devoted 11 years to supporting EPA, states, and Tribes with implementation of the Clean Water Act and other federal programs. During her last two years at EPA, she served as Senior Advisor for Tribal Capacity Development in the American Indian Environmental Office. Rebecca earned her law degree and natural resources law certificate from the University of New Mexico and her bachelor’s degree in Geography from Valparaiso University. |
Tuesday, June 18 – Wednesday, June 19
10:00am to 5:00pm MT – Tuesday & Wednesday – Class Session
WERS Consultant Course at the Santa Fe Area Homebuilders Association office
Open to architects and designers, builders and developers, water professionals and decision makers, the WERS Consultant course is ideal for those who will be assisting the decision-making process on WERS projects alongside builders, developers and architects. This WERS course is the continuation of the required online training modules that are to be completed before attending this in-person course offering.
This training is FREE with a paid, on-site Summit registration and is offered in conjunction with Triconic, the NGWS’ Education Partner.
Please note that transportation will be needed to the classroom site. Lunch is not provided with this class.
For more information on this class, Please click here .
Tuesday, June 18
10:00am to 5:00pm MT
Commercial Restaurant Water Auditor Course at the Santa Fe Area Homebuilders Association office
Instructor: Bill Hoffman
This introduction to commercial water auditing class provides the background on how audits are performed, the required measurements, and tools necessary to audit restaurants and other small commercial establishments. This class is FREE to all paid registrants, regardless if in-person or virtual.
For more information on this class please e-mail Patricio.
Wednesday, June 19
9:00am to 4:30pm MT
Installer Specialist Training at the Santa Fe Area Homebuilders Association office
Instructor: Michael Broussard
The New Mexico Installer Specialist course is a comprehensive training presentation designed to equip participants with the knowledge to excel in the installation and maintenance of various onsite wastewater systems within the state of New Mexico. The class covers essential topics related to installation requirements, and regulatory compliance specific to New Mexico's unique environmental and regulatory landscape. The instructor discusses regulatory requirements, definitions, site evaluation principles, prescriptive system designs, installation requirements, inspections, evaluations, operations, and maintenance of onsite wastewater systems.
The presentation explores the detailed code requirements for all facets of onsite wastewater systems. The course objective is to develop a group of licensed professionals having a deep appreciation and regulatory knowledge to protect public health, groundwater, surface water and the environment. Additionally, to help the licensed professionals gain an in-depth understanding of the regulatory framework governing installation practices, including relevant codes and standards.
By combining regulatory knowledge with the professional’s hands-on experience and focusing on regulatory compliance, public health and environmental protection, this program prepares licensed professionals to meet the unique challenges and opportunities present in New Mexico's onsite wastewater industry.
To register or for more information, please contact Michael Broussard.
Thursday, June 20
5:30 to 7:30 pm MT
Mayor’s Reception
Drury Plaza Hotel, 828 Paseo de Peralta
Join us for hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Summit attendees will be welcomed, and the NGWS Organizing Committee will present the 2024 water conservation awards.
Saturday, June 22
9:00am to 11:00am MT
Water Conservation Office on San Mateo (across from Midtown Bistro) in Santa Fe
Please join the Water Conservation staff at their office located across from Midtown Bistro off of San Mateo Road. Self-guided tours will be available of the City’s native plant and pollinator gardens as well as the cactus garden put in by the Cactus Rescue Project group. City staff will be available to answer questions and will be giving away native seeds, shut-off nozzles and other conservation swag. Five rainbarrels will also be given away with opportunities to enter at every tour event. Drawings will be held at the end of the day, and you don’t have to be present to win.
| Cactus Rain, LLC | Commercial WaterWise |
| Firebird | Santa Fe Community College |
| Water Conservation Office |
For more information, visit www.savewatersantafe.com
Saturday, June 22
1:00pm to 3:00pm MT
Graywater System Tour, 1125 Paseo Barranca, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Visit the Estuary by LeapFrog Design, a new plant-powered ecological water treatment system. On the surface, a modern planter box or green wall full of vibrant plants adds beauty to the landscape. Inside, plants and microbes clean water from sinks, showers, and washing machines for reuse in toilet flushing and irrigation.
For more information on the tour, please e-mail Bill Roth.
Saturday, June 22
1:00pm to 3:00pm MT
Santa Fe Community College, 6401 Richards Ave., Santa Fe, NM
The Santa Fe Community College Trades and Advanced Technology Center (TATC) is a LEED Platinum Certified facility housing a variety of programs centered around sustainable technologies and workforce preparation. The 12,000 s.f. commercial greenhouse serves as a living laboratory where students learn to operate and manage a variety of commercial Aquaponic and Hydroponic production systems. Showcasing our two, 99.5% water efficient commercial Aquaponics systems, students learn the skills needed to feed the future. The greenhouse features a new rainwater collection and delivery system, FCC, and three Phyn smart water meters.
The Alternative Fuels and Algae Cultivation programs provide students with the skills to produce climate-friendly energy, with materials ranging from microorganisms to food waste. Alternative fuels students learn to produce biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas from waste, and syngas from woody materials. The Algae Cultivation program is an innovative program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to train technicians to develop algal technologies not only for biofuels, but also as a source of food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, environmental remediation, and more. The lab is currently researching the use of algal cultures in the processing of diverse wastewater streams before release to surface waters.
The Santa Fe Community College Greenhouses are located next to the Trades and Advanced Technology Center. The Trades and Advanced Technology Center is located at the southeast end of the campus.
Saturday, June 22
3:00pm to 5:00pm MT
Garden tour led by Reese Baker
Reese Baker, owner and founder of The RainCatcher Inc., is a certified permaculture designer who has been involved with green building, organic farming, water harvesting, erosion control, ecological restoration and permaculture in the Santa Fe area for over 18 years.
We will start at the Aspen Drive Condominiums, where we will look at the mature raingardens that display numerous innovative concepts. The address is 1925 Aspen Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505.
Then, we will walk 2 blocks to visit Reese's garden to look at curb cuts and a walk of his garden, which demonstrates many urban forestry concepts, including zuni bowl infiltration basins, edible and wildlife/pollinator attracting plant species, with grasses and fungi for bioremediation of petroleum by-products, pesticides, microplastics, and other biological contaminants.
The address for the garden tour is: 2053 Camino Lado, Santa Fe, NM 87505.
For additional information, please contact Doug Pushard.
