Fred Bloetscher Named Chair of AWWA’s Florida Section

Dr. Frederick Bloetscher was named Chair of the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) for 2021.

“I am honored and excited to take on this new position,” said Dr. Bloetscher, associate dean for Undergraduate Studies and Community Outreach and professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering. “I look forward to collaborating with the AWWA executive committee to continue working toward their goal of improving drinking water for people around the region.” 

Dr. Bloetscher’s research focuses on infrastructure and utility issues, including water and wastewater resource management, membrane processes, utility management and finance, and groundwater. He previously served the Florida Section as Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair elect, and continues to serve as the Annual Conference Technical Program Chair. He has also served AWWA at the national level as chair of its Water Resources Division, Groundwater Resource Committee, and Education Committee. In 2011, he received AWWA’s inaugural Volunteer of the Year award. 

“Congratulations to Dr. Bloetscher on this prestigious appointment,” said Dr. Stella Batalama,  dean of the FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science. “As a leading researcher in the field of civil engineering, with expertise in public infrastructure system management and water resource management, he is uniquely qualified to lead the Florida Section of the AWWA in carrying out their mission of providing clean water while educating the public on these efforts.”  

Dr. Bloetscher joined the FAU faculty in 2004. He has been the recipient of three University leadership awards and two national leadership awards. In 2012, Dr. Bloetscher received the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Award for Connecting Professional Practice and Education, for his work on the Dania Beach Nanofiltration Facility, the first LEED-Gold water treatment facility in the world. He works with local governments and utilities on the evaluation of utility systems, needs assessments, strategic planning, and implementation of capital improvement construction. 

As an international, nonprofit, educational organization with a membership of over 57,000 individuals, utilities, and other groups, the AWWA is the largest association of water supply professionals in the world. The Florida Section of AWWA is the premier water association in Florida, comprising 2,771 members, including 130 utility members that collectively supply potable water to more than 80 percent of the state population.