Water Quality and Infrastructure
ERG’s water quality and infrastructure practice answers vital questions and provides cost-effective solutions to preserve and improve the nation’s waters. Our engineers and scientists are skilled at characterizing point and non-point source discharges, evaluating wastewater treatment infrastructure, and assessing and modeling the quality of surface waters and associated impacts to human and ecological receptors. We develop treatment options, best practices, and policy recommendations and provide technical assistance to communities in addressing water pollution problems. ERG’s water resource experts help clients implement water conservation programs and manage water resources. We develop product specifications and certification programs for water-efficient products. In addition, we assess the effectiveness of programs and recommend policies to better balance competing demands on water resources, including wetlands, coastal shorelines, and our nation’s rivers and groundwater. We routinely help our clients develop innovative solutions to meet new challenges and priorities, such as emerging contaminants.
Water Pollution Control
- Process evaluation
- Pollution control technology assessments
- Point source characterization
- Field sampling support
- Groundwater monitoring, modeling, and sampling
Infrastructure Support
- Alternatives analysis
- Asset management
- Engineering cost estimation
- Funding and finance
- Project engineering and environmental reviews
- Technical assistance
- Construction oversight and project inspection
- Wastewater treatment technology assessments
- Federal cross-cutter compliance
Regulatory Development and Permitting
- Regulatory option evaluation
- Cost/benefit analyses
- Environmental impacts analysis
- Public docket preparation
- Public comment organization and evaluation
- Litigation support
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting
Pretreatment Program Management and Oversight
- Local, state, and regional program development and implementation
- Program assessment and improvement/streamlining
- Training and guidance
- Stakeholder communication and outreach
- Regulatory development support
- Audits and inspections
Stormwater Management
- NPDES permit development
- Stormwater management program assessments
- Evaluation of industrial, construction, and municipal pollution prevention
- State-wide and regional stormwater program assessments
- Stormwater model training
Water Sustainability
- Water efficiency and conservation
- Water and wastewater reuse
- Green infrastructure planning and assessment
- Adaptation
Ocean and Coastal Protection
- Coastal wetlands loss reduction strategies
- Shoreline management
- Adaptation
- Economic and social impact analyses
- Marine debris prevention
- Vessel sewage regulatory controls
- Invasive species mediation from ships
Watershed Management/Water Quality Assessments
- Integrated water resources needs assessments
- Watershed-based green infrastructure planning and benefits assessment
- Coastal water quality trends analyses
- Coastal wetlands protection and restoration needs assessments
Projects

WIFIA Engineering Feasibility Analysis Support
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

WIFIA Engineering Feasibility Review Support
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit Compliance Assistance
Multiple federal agencies

Technical Assistance to Help Communities Access Water Infrastructure Programs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Improving Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems in Tribal and Small Communities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Support for Protecting U.S. Water Resources under the Clean Water Act
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Developing EPA’s Green Infrastructure Permitting Compendium
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Chesapeake Bay TMDL Compliance Assistance
Multiple federal agencies

Support for the 2022 Reissuance of EPA’s Construction General Permit
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Life Cycle Assessment of Wastewater Treatment Upgrade Options to Improve Nutrient Removal
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

NPDES Permit Writing Support
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Survey to Support National Study of Nutrient Removal and Secondary Technologies
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Protecting Our Nation’s Drinking Water Sources
American Water Works Association

Stormwater Program Support
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Development of Screening-Level Tools to Streamline Wastewater Treatment Technology Cost Analyses
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Using Innovations to Reduce Nutrients from Municipal Wastewater Discharges
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Reducing Wastewater Discharge of PFAS and Other Emerging Contaminants
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Sonoma County Water Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

NEWR Calculator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Saving Water Through WaterSense
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Life Cycle and Cost Analysis for Innovative and Sustainable Water Treatment Options
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Evaluating Cost-Effective Technology Solutions for Industrial Wastewater Discharges
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Creating EPA’s DMR Pollutant Loading Tool
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Service Area Leads

Working to help protect human health and the environment throughout my career has been an honor. Every day I aspire to excellence in all aspects of my work, with the goal of making the world a better place for current and future generations.

Solving today’s complex environmental challenges is a daunting task. It requires the delicate balancing of many competing factors, from cost and convenience to public health protection and resource allocation. At ERG, I am fortunate to be able to work on projects that get to the core of this balance, surrounded by clients and colleagues who are equally passionate about finding mindful, objective solutions for our complex world.

From an early age when I volunteered to clean up trash in local waterways, I’ve been passionate about improving water quality. I’m excited about innovative options for controlling industrial discharges and enjoy the constant challenge of finding and applying ever more cost-effective and environmentally beneficial solutions.

Listening closely to ‘what is doable’ in the community is key to forward progress.

Three decades as a regulator and contractor to regulators has convinced me of one thing. We are more likely to save and preserve our natural resources by educating everyone on the impacts they can have, both positive and negative, than by simply punishing people for past sins. That said, enforcement is sometimes a necessary tool for education.

Protecting and restoring water quality has been my career-long mission. I feel so fortunate to have had great mentors, colleagues, and customers, and opportunities to serve throughout the U.S. and abroad. Most importantly, I truly appreciate the privilege of mentoring a new generation of water quality professionals. Watching my company, PG Environmental, grow, thrive, and ultimately find such a perfect match with ERG has been equally rewarding. Looking forward, I am excited to tackle the water quality issues of the future.

While teaching children early in my career, I learned that people are much more likely to support something they have helped create. Ever since, when supporting organizational decision-making processes, I’ve been passionate about involving those who will be affected by the resulting decisions and actions because it yields more robust and sustainable results. I love working collaboratively with colleagues, clients, stakeholders, and the public to continue progress toward ensuring a healthy world for generations to come.

As an environmental engineer living in Montana, I’m keenly aware of the value of preserving our nation’s natural resources and of my own part in helping to prevent the degradation of these irreplaceable assets. I work to ensure that wastewater is managed properly and that the water we drink is clean now and into the future.

I’m fortunate to work with engaging and collaborative colleagues to reach common goals for protecting human health and the environment. ERG allows me to combine my passion for water with my experience in environmental science and policy to support decision-makers, both locally in New Mexico and nationwide.

The favorite part of my work? Tackling difficult problems by finding novel ways to protect the environment and support regulatory programs in serving the public good.

I started college in upstate New York just as acid precipitation was becoming a significant environmental concern. Through my studies of aquatic ecology in the nearby Adirondacks, I learned firsthand how devastating its effects on water quality and aquatic life could be and was determined to do something about it. That determination launched my 40+ year career as a water quality manager working to protect and preserve our nation’s precious water resources.

I cherish the connection with nature I feel from the strength of the ocean, the run of a river, the serenity of a lake, the intensity of estuaries, and the magic of vernal pools. It’s from this sense of appreciation that I apply my knowledge, experience, and passion to protect and restore the ecological integrity of water resources.

I am passionate about improving water quality throughout the U.S. and providing communities with the resources they need to experience safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater systems.

The operation and maintenance of water and wastewater utilities requires a clear understanding of the diverse variables unique to each facility. I enjoy interfacing with utilities operations and management teams to evaluate these variables and help create conditions or approaches that enable water treatment and management systems to perform at their highest efficiencies.

I love that stormwater touches so many aspects of our lives and that, when managed well, it brings numerous benefits to our communities and the environment. It has been exciting to see stormwater grow in importance at both national and local levels.

I feel very fortunate to support programs that reduce our environmental impact, conserve resources, and protect human health and it has been deeply fulfilling to see this work have a positive impact, especially in underserved and under-resourced communities.

I particularly enjoy ERG’s collaborative, creative work environment. Every day I look forward to working with ERG clients and colleagues to develop efficient, data-driven approaches to solving environmental problems.