Wastewater treatment expert Karen DuBose to speak at WWU Friday, April 16

Karen DuBose will speak on “Water Reuse in Corvallis: Designing a Program the Public Will Support” as part of Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment speaker series at 3 p.m. Friday, April 16, in WWU’s Communications Facility Room 125.

DuBose will describe how Corvallis, Ore., is pursing water reuse as a way to meet increasingly strict water-quality requirements on the Willamette River. Water reuse is becoming a more common practice around the world. Recycled water, also known as reclaimed or reused water, is water that has been used by a residence, business, or industry and then discharged into a municipal wastewater treatment system to remove contaminants. The water can then be reused for another purpose. The city of Corvallis performed an extensive analysis on the costs and benefits of a variety of alternatives including restoration and a number of reuse options. A survey of public preferences was also performed. Results from both studies show that water reuse is a safe, economical, and publicly acceptable alternative.

DuBose has a background in wastewater treatment and water resource management. She was a project manager for King County in Seattle, and is currently an independent contractor. She has a bachelor’s degree from WWU and recently graduated from Oregon State University with a master’s degree in Water Resources Policy and Management. Her research focuses on reclaimed water, public outreach and conflict management.

For more information, contact David Rossiter, an assistant professor in WWU’s Huxley College of the Environment, at (360) 650-3603 or david.rossiter@wwu.edu.

WWU’s Huxley College of the Environment is one of the oldest environmental colleges in the nation and a recognized national leader in producing the next generation of environmental stewards. The College’s academic programs reflect a broad view of the physical, biological, social and cultural world. This innovative and interdisciplinary approach makes Huxley unique, and the College continues to earn international recognition for the quality of its programs.