Water Works!
A Drinking Water Institute for Educators Agenda

A Project of the Minnesota Department of Health Drinking Water Protection Section and the Education Committee of the Minnesota Section American Water Works Association in conjunction with the Hamline University Center for Global Environmental Education.

The 2025 agenda will be posted when it is available.

2025 Drinking Water Institute agenda

Eden Prairie Water Treatment Plant

Monday, August 4, 2025

• Welcome, Introductions, Institute Overview, Logistics, Course Requirements, and Action Plan – David Grack
• Prior Knowledge – Group work on pre-test, discussion, and question development
• Water Investigation and Debrief
• Water Plant Welcome and Eden Prairie Water Story – Rick Wahlen, Utility Operations Manager, Eden Prairie Water Treatment Plant
• Drinking Water Is a Big Deal – Stew Thornley, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
• Water Reuse System at Fire Station #2
• Primer in Water Treatment Chemistry – Rick Wahlen
• Tour of Eden Prairie Water Plant
• Overview of Eden Prairie Distribution System – Rick Wahlen

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

• Debrief of Previous Day, Sharing Questions and Concepts – David Grack
• Lab Tour and Water Sample Testing – David Grack
• Well Drilling 101 – David Henrich, Minnesota Water Well Association
• Water Careers - Michelle Stockness, Freshwater
• Water Activities Rotation – John Olson, Minnesota Department of Education (retired); Doug Paulson, American Institutes for Research; and Janine Kohn, Minnesota Project WET

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

• Debrief of Previous Day and All the Water in the World – David Grack
• Fluoride in Drinking Water – Ndekela Sakala, MDH
• The Water Beneath Us: Minnesota Aquifers – Julia Steenberg, Minnesota Geological Survey
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyls and Minnesota Water – Tannie Eshenaur, MDH
• Community Connections and Resources – Area Water Superintendents
• Tackling the Global Water Crisis through Service Learning – Judy Onufer, H2O for Life, and Mitchell Legrand, Educational Programs Manager
• Group Work on Action Plans
• Set Date for Follow-up Session, Evaluation, Closure