See the Brave Blue World Trailer HERE

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the North Carolina American Water Works Association & North Carolina Water Environment Association (NC AWWA-WEA) are excited to announce a virtual screening of the documentary film Brave Blue World. We have convened a panel of experts to participate in a forum following the screening to address your questions and provide insight into innovations being employed today to provide a sustainable water future here in North Carolina and around the world

There are many global water challenges confronting the world’s growing population, and many available solutions. Some populations are affluent while others are of more modest means. Some populations are very rural or dispersed while others are situated within more concentrated urban settings. Some solutions may seem rather simple while others demand more complex answers. Some solutions may be rather economically achieved while others are more costly. Brave Blue World paints an optimistic future of how humanity is adopting new technologies and innovations for a sustainable water future.

The film explores developments in such areas as water reuse, nutrient recovery, energy generation, decentralized treatment, and the digitization of water. It is narrated by Liam Neeson and features interviews with a variety of water experts, as well as well-known water advocates Matt Damon and Jaden Smith.

To help provide context for the film and answer your questions about our water future we have assembled a panel of experts to include:

• Dr. Detlef Knappe (NCSU Dept. of Civil Engineering, NC Science Advisory Board) who has been leading efforts in North Carolina to address issues with unregulated polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other organic compounds in drinking water;
• Dr. Francis de los Reyes (NCSU Dept. of Civil Engineering) who has been leading efforts to use wastewater analysis to track Covid-19 infection rates using wastewater-based epidemiology;
• Mr. Manuel de los Santos (Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc.) who is an expert in wastewater treatment technologies being employed around the world;
• Mr. John Crowder (Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc.) who works to provide sustainable water and wastewater services to underserved areas across North Carolina;
• Mr. Kenny Waldroup (Assistant Public Utilities Director for the City of Raleigh) who is the current chair of our Association and will serve as the panel moderator.

How to Participate:

Brave Blue World will be presented digitally on the Zoom platform on March 22, 2021 beginning at 6:00 PM with an introduction followed by the actual viewing. Following the viewing, at about 7:00 PM our panel will be available to answer any questions and discuss any concerns referred to their attention throughout the entire event. Links to this event will be directed to all acknowledged registrants.

Registration will be limited in order to accommodate post-presentation questions and discussion, so please act early to reserve your virtual seat! A waiting list will be maintained to accommodate any overflow interest in the event additional viewing offerings may be necessary.

Should you prefer an alternate means of viewing Brave Blue World and are a Netflix subscriber, the film is available on Netflix so you can watch on your own or in advance, and then drop in at 7:00 PM for the panel discussion.

Use link above to register online. Registration available until March 21st.

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The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 35,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. As a global water sector leader, WEF seeks to connect water professionals; enrich the expertise of water professionals; increase the awareness of the impact and value of water; and provide a platform for water sector innovation.

The North Carolina American Water Works Association & North Carolina Water Environment Association (NC AWWA-WEA) is a voluntary association operating jointly under one Board of Trustees as a Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and a Member Association (MA) of the WEF. The NC AWWA-WEA is dedicated to providing water education, training, and leadership to protect public health and the environment and serving as THE leading education resource for safe water in North Carolina.