Page 10 - CEGE Magazine - Fall 2016

BERNIE BULLERT CONT...
After a long and successful career devoted to making sure the cities have safe drinking water, Bullert might be expected to retire and use his free time to pursue his interests in cars, Corgi show dogs, public art, or travel. But this crusader is not yet satis ed.
“That still leaves the rest of the state of Minnesota!” says Bullert, “Outside the
Twin Cities, communities still face water problems that need solutions. In rural Minnesota, communities are smaller and don’t have the money or the set-up for research, yet small towns need solutions, too.”
Bullert is convinced of the impor- tance of research that continuously pulls Minnesota and water resource management forward: “Water is a uid business. We cannot allow our knowl- edge, technologies, or management practices to become stagnant. One way to help ensure that Minnesota and all Minnesota’s citizens bene t from our latest knowledge of water resource management, is to establish a state- wide center for water research.”
Minnesota is doing great research in the areas related to water resources. Bullert wants to build on that foun- dation and to ensure that needs of outstate Minnesota are met. He also sees that Minnesota could contribute some unique knowledge based on our northern, water-rich location.
Through his work, Bullert is recognized as a thoughtful and respected leader in the water/wastewater industry. He spent most of his career in the public sector. Bullert worked for Saint Paul Regional Water Services for 35 years. That system serves over 400,000 people. For twelve of those years Bullert was the General Manager of the utility, with a budget at that time
of about $40 million. In 2003, Bullert stepped into the private sector, per- forming water system engineering work
for TKDA, an engineering, architectural, and planning rm based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He transitioned back to
the public side in 2009, taking on his role as Director of Water Treatment
and Distribution Services for the City of Minneapolis, where he served until 2013. During his tenure in Minne- apolis, Bullert managed an annual budget of $75 million, improved the quality of drinking water, strengthened the effectiveness of the organization, and reduced water losses within the system. He returned to TKDA where he served for several years as Group Manager of the Water/ Wastewater Division. Today, he continues to work as a consultant with TKDA, in addition to his other activities.
Bullert has been an active member
in several water-related organiza-
tions. The Minnesota Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA-MN) honored Bullert with
the 2011 Director of the Year Award, recognizing his leadership and ability
to effectively manage the Minneapolis water system. Bullert served on the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standards Council, the Water Utility Council, and the Manufacturer’s Associates Council. He is a past Direc- tor of the AWWA and has received several awards including the Fuller Award, Leonard Thompson Award, and in 2014, AWWA’s Honorary Member Award for his passion to improve water quality and access to potable water worldwide. In 2001, Bullert received the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies’ (AMWA) President’s Award for his service as AMWA’s represen- tative on the EPA’s Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee.
His experience, both as a professional and as a volunteer, is one indication of the breadth of his knowledge and passion for sustainable water sys- tems. Bullert attributes his success to
his love of and commitment to clean water. “It’s good to enjoy what you do. When you enjoy what you do, you’ll be successful,” says Bullert.
To accomplish his latest vision, Bullert has “enjoyed” himself a lot—enjoyed meaning he has done a lot of work!
He has been making connections and promoting his idea among industry and political leaders, state legislators, water industry leaders, and researchers at the University of Minnesota.
Bullert indicated his commitment
to this cause by establishing the Minnesota Water Research Fund at
the University of Minnesota. While a state-based research center will require much more than his individual contri- bution, Bullert believes the fund will
be a catalyst. By leading the way, he hopes to stimulate discussion about water resources and motivate others to get involved and contribute to making a Minnesota water research center a reality.
The Vision
The proposed water research center would work to preserve and improve water quality by promoting sustainable water management and treatment. The center would perform research aimed at solving current and emerging water quality problems; would train engineers and scientists to work in water man- agement and treatment industries, thus building the State’s technical capacity; and would educate water industry pro- fessionals and the general public about water issues. Changing people’s habits and behavior can be a huge challenge.
“People need information and motiva- tion to make changes that may not have an immediate or personal impact. It is dif cult but important,” says Bul- lert, “to adjust our priorities and move toward long-term thinking about our water resources.”
10 CEGE | CEGE.UMN.EDU