Collection Systems Community

Collection systems are a critical component of the public health infrastructure:  

Protecting Public Health: By efficiently transporting wastewater to treatment facilities, they prevent the spread of waterborne diseases and contamination of drinking water sources.

Environmental Protection: Properly managed systems reduce the risk of untreated sewage entering natural water bodies, which helps protect aquatic ecosystems and maintain water quality.

Preventing Overflows: Well-maintained collection systems minimize the occurrence of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), which can lead to environmental pollution and health hazards.

The WEF Collection Systems Community (CSC) focuses on design, management, operation, and maintenance.  In-person meetings are held annually at the WEF Mid-Year meeting, Collection Systems and Stormwater Specialty Conference, and WEFTEC.  The community is active year-round with ongoing virtual meetings, projects, and activities such as:

• Developing and promoting cost-effective practices and policies in management, design, construction, operations, and maintenance.
• Promoting comprehensive water quality solutions, including addressing issues related to overflows.
• Supporting scientifically sound and environmentally friendly regulatory policies by providing technical and feasible solutions and serving as advisors to policymakers.
• Advancing the profession through recruiting, mentoring, and developing collection system practitioners.
• Educating the public and policymakers on collection system issues.
• Identifying and acknowledging effective tools and materials, emerging technologies, and products.
• Promoting collaboration with other WEF communities and partner organizations.
• Providing a forum for collection system topics.
• Facilitating cooperation throughout the integrated water environment systems.

Organizational committees, focus Groups, and technical projects groups

Chair
Chris Ranck, 2024-2025
Tel: (317) 450-1585
Email: ranckcj@bv.com

Vice Chair
William E. McMillin, Jr, 2024-2025
Tel:  973-493-9653
Email:  william.mcmillin@jacobs.com

2nd Vice Chair
Sara Ferrance, 2024-2025
Email:  sara.ferrance@fairfaxcounty.gov

Past Chair
Phil Hubbard, 2024-2025
Tel: 757-426-7809
Email: phubbard@hrsd.com

Staff Manager
Lisa Deason
Tel: 703-684-2400 ext. 7560
ldeason@wef.org 

Community Member Involvement

Collections Systems has Focus Groups, Committees, and Technical Projects Groups (TPG) (both organizational and technical) that WEF members can participate in:

Organizational Committees and Focus Groups

• Awards Committee
• Member Engagement and Mentoring Committee
• Projects Focus Group
• Steering Committee 
• Strategic Planning Committee
• Webcast Focus Group

Technical Projects Groups

• Collection System Asset Management 
• Flow Monitoring and Data Analytics 
• Inflow and Infiltration Program Management 
• Modeling 
• Operations and Maintenance 
• Private Property Inflow and Infiltration
• Private Property Virtual Library (PPVL) 
• Pump Stations and Force Mains 
• Sewer Condition Assessment 
• Sewer Rehabilitation 
• Wet Weather Management