Water Seminar Explores Sustainable Solutions to Drinking Water
Challenges
Topic: Water Seminar Explores Sustainable
Solutions to Drinking Water Challenges
Speakers: Kim Dinh, P.E., Senior Water Resource
Engineer
Emma Blankenship, Grant Manager with the State Water Board,
Division of Financial Assistance
Michelle Frederick, P.E., SAFER Section Supervisor for State
Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water
When: Friday, April 16th, 2021, 12 pm to 1pm
Where: Virtual (via Zoom)—Link to virtual
seminar to be sent upon RSVP
The recording of the webinar is available here.
Topic Overview
Drinking water assistance for disadvantaged communities
Presented by: Emma Blankenship, Grant Manager with the
State Water Board's Division of Financial Assistance
The State Water Resources Control Board promotes permanent and
sustainable drinking water solutions to ensure the provision of safe,
clean, affordable, and reliable drinking water to Californians. Drinking
water needs are addressed through financial and technical assistance,
with a focus on small disadvantaged communities statewide. This
presentation will describe the implementation and outcomes of funding
programs that provide financial and technical assistance for eligible
drinking water projects.
Sustainable solutions addressing drinking water infrastructure problems
Presented by: Michelle Frederick, SAFER Section
Supervisor for State Water Board's Division of Drinking Water
The Division of Drinking Water will discuss the underlying problems with
drinking water infrastructure fragmentation across the State and how it
impacts disadvantaged communities, particularly in areas with
groundwater contamination. The presentation will also share where
information can be found on these water systems and steps being taken to
address these technical challenges while also providing sustainable
solutions rather than short-term fixes.
About the Speakers
Kim Dinh, P.E. holds a bachelor's degree in
Civil Engineering from CSU, Sacramento. She is a California
registered civil engineer. She began her career with the State
in 1992 with the Drinking Water Program. In her current
position, Kim's unit focuses on providing technical assistance
to small disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged communities
accessing safe drinking water through technical assistance
providers (non-profit organizations and universities)
Michelle Frederick, P.E. holds a bachelor's
degree in chemistry from UC Berkeley and a master's degree
from Georgia Tech in environmental engineering. She is a
California registered professional civil engineer. She began
working for the State drinking water program in 2005. In her
current position, Michelle focuses on developing and
supporting the Division of Drinking Water's SAFER section's
efforts to ensure safe and affordable drinking water to all
Californians, particularly through water partnerships and
analysis of at-risk water system needs.
Emma Blankenship is a Grant Manager with
the State Water Board's Division of Financial
Assistance. She works in the Small Community Technical
Assistance Unit, which focuses on providing technical
assistance to small disadvantaged communities in order
to develop, fund, and implement eligible drinking water
and wastewater needs. As a Grant Manager, her role is to
oversee agreements between the State Board and technical
assistance providers and ensure that projects meet the
necessary requirements to be implemented in accordance
with the agreement. Previously, Emma worked with the San
Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board and the
Division of Drinking Water.
Emma graduated from San Diego State University in May
2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental
Engineering. She is a certified Engineer-In-Training
pursuing a Professional Engineer license.
