Conference - Michigan Water Environment Association

NEWS IN BRIEF
DELHI TOWNSHIP HOLDS
WATER QUALITY
AWARENESS
OPEN HOUSE
On May 7, 2005 Delhi Charter Township
hosted a Water Quality Awareness open
house and Reuse Rally at the Publicly
Owned Treatment Works (POTW).
Volunteers and sponsors from local
business, consultants, and governmental
agencies contributed to the success of the
event. The open house offered tours of the
plant, face painting, edible aquifers, aquifer
races, luscious landfills, popcorn, sno-kones,
drinks, vactor demonstrations, bull’s eye
water race, Frisbee throw, fish pond, water
balloon launching, t-shirt launching,
target casting, prizes, and a chance to
release a largemouth bass into the Grand
River. The POTW was decorated with fish
painted by local area students. Township
Manager John Elsinga said, “Sam (Sandra
Diorka, POTW Superintendent) does
an outstanding job of getting the entire
community involved. The event keeps
getting better every year.” The entire day
was a huge success and the township staff
are already planning for next years’ event.
Sandra “Sam” Diorka sports a “blue fish tattoo”
for Water Quality Awareness Open House.
Fred Cowles, a volunteer from Fishbeck, Thompson,
Carr and Huber, helps with an edible aquifer.
MY ECUADOR EXPERIENCE WITH WATER FOR PEOPLE
(by Jeremy Noggle, Student Member)
Dear MS-AWWA Water for People and
MWEA,
I want to thoroughly thank you for
selecting me for what I considered an
experience of a lifetime. I was, and still am,
honored to have been the student chosen for
the trip. I must say that when I first found
out about the trip I had no idea what it was
going to involve, what it would mean to my
career, or how it would affect me personally.
Sure, Mike Roon gave a presentation to my
college, but as good as it was, and it was
excellent, no presentation could portray the
connection you can make with the Quichua
people or the emotions you will feel by
doing so.
I would like to briefly explain what the
experience was like. First off, we get to
experience Ecuador as tourists for a day
or so, to get assimilated to the atmosphere
before we were to sleep in and hike around
the villages. You could get winded just
tying your shoes, for the first couple of
days. I told myself before I went down there
that if I would dive into it and experience
everything the people and culture had to
offer. At times I got more than I bargained
for, considering every culture has its own
idea of palatable cuisine. Truthfully though,
I was glad to gain any new experience.
The Quichua people are very hospitable
and gracious even though they have so
little, and this was obvious at every village
we visited. They all wanted to overfeed us,
and provide us with any accommodations
they had. The very first water system we
visited (Rancho Alto) was my first taste of
these people. Although we could not stay
long they asked us to stay long enough
to sing us praises, which was somewhat
embarrassing, until it was explained how
much the water means to these people.
Then it was hard not to well up emotionally.
Next we were off to Calahuasig, where I was
able to interact with the children, who
are amazing and are eager to learn. This
interaction grew from village to village.
Over the course of my trip I can truly say
that I began to feel for the Quichua Indians.
I was amazed at what the isolated water
from the springs means to these people.
It was stated to me from many different
villagers that “water is life”. This fact along
with the Quichua’s plight has caused me to
ask myself what it is that I can do…what is
my role. I believe my role is this: to tell my
college and fellow students about my
experience, and hopefully in a way that stirs
them to participate as I had the privilege to.
The other action I can take is that of trying
my best while working towards my degree,
and then I can become a working professional
and hopefully an active committee member.
I would like to someday revisit Ecuador
and be able to work with the great people
at the Holy Christ Jesus Blessing Radio
Broadcasting Station (HCJB).
If ever there was a cause to get behind,
then this is that one. I am glad to call
myself a member of Water for People.
Thanks again and I hope in some small
way I have given some insight into my
Ecuadorian experience.
Thank you,
Jeremy Noggle, Student Member
Bay de Noc College Student Chapter
MWEA & MS-AWWA Student Activities
Committee
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MWEA MATTERS: FALL 2005