no
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Minnesota Environmental Science & Economic Review Board’s (MESERB) 2026 Summer Conference! It was great to see wastewater professionals from across the state come together to exchange ideas and support the research, study, and analysis of water quality issues important to Minnesota communities. As a reminder, attendees and sponsors can expect an invoice for the conference fee in the coming days.
no
The day kicked off with Flaherty & Hood Attorneys Daniel Marx and Cooper Silburn discussing legal and regulatory updates related to PFAS, Nitrogen, and Sulfate, as well as key rulemaking updates at the state and federal level. Flaherty & Hood’s Elizabeth Wefel provided an overview of the legislative session and shared her insights regarding how MESERB’s key regulatory and environmental priorities played out during the recent legislative session. Then, MPCA’s Nicole Blasing and Steve Weiss provided a thorough update on water quality standards for wild rice sulfate, nitrogen, phosphorus, and, as always, PFAS and biosolids, followed by a robust discussion with members on the various successes, challenges, and future regulatory topics.
Later on, Dr. Mary Kosuth, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment, discussed what science currently tells us about the sources, behavior, and potential impacts of microplastics, as well as the gaps that remain in our understanding. Attendees also heard from Bolton & Menk’s Angie Saffert and Environmental Specialist Sara Sietsema of Willmar’s WWTF, who provided an informative overview about grant-funded PFAS pilot projects, specifically testing, removing, and destroying PFAS from landfill leachate in Willmar.
Finally, the day was wrapped up with an evening of networking, starting with a cocktail hour and ending with a competitive game of Wastewater Jeopardy. Congratulations to team Flow Control for their win!
no
If you would like to review the presentations from the event, click the links below:
- MESERB Legal & Regulatory Update
- 2026 Legislative Session Review – Elizabeth Wefel, Flaherty & Hood, P.A.
- MPCA Updates Presentation
- Microplastics in Water – Mary Kosuth, PhD, University of MN
- Grant-Funded PFAS Pilot Projects – Angie Saffert (Bolton & Menk) & Sara Sietsema (Willmar WWTF)
- WLSSD Rebrand Presentation
Event attendees earned 5 wastewater credit hours for their participation in our event. Physical copies of credit certificates were provided at the conclusion of the conference, but if you would like a digital copy of your certificate, please reach out to Emma Cliff at etcliff@flaherty-hood.com.
We always strive to improve our events, so we would appreciate you taking the time to fill out a short survey about your experience during our Summer Conference at the Alexandria Hotel and Conference Center.
no
If you have any questions about the conference or future MESERB events, please contact Cooper Silburn at ctsilburn@flaherty-hood.com.
Be a Conference Sponsor!
Show your support for our organization and help us create the best events possible for members to learn and connect by being a conference sponsor! In return, MESERB will highlight and showcase your company before, during, and after the event. Our members will recognize your company as one that supports the research, study, and analysis of water quality issues important to Minnesota communities.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for one of our future events, please fill out our Sponsorship Contact Form to receive notifications about upcoming sponsorship opportunities.