The Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) has launched its brand-new podcast, Making Waves with FWEA, and its inaugural episode features Carollo’s own Kristiana Dragash, PE. In this episode, Water Governance at the Source, Kristiana shares her journey in the water industry, discusses her role in professional organizations like FWEA and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and emphasizes the importance of advocacy in shaping water policy.
Why Water Advocacy Matters
Kristiana’s passion for water is evident throughout the conversation. She highlights how water is intertwined with everything we do, yet remains an often-underappreciated resource. “Water is so important, it’s attached to everything we do, everything we use,” she says. “It’s a very underappreciated resource that all of us in the industry are trying to problem solve for and promote the value of.”
Navigating National Water Policy
The episode also dives into Kristiana’s experiences at the National Water Policy Fly-In in Washington, D.C., where she witnessed the power of advocacy firsthand. “When I was walking through the halls of Congress, I was struck by the number of groups advocating for different causes, and I couldn’t help but think—we all couldn’t be here without water,” she recalls. She emphasizes that advocating for sound, science-based public policy forms the foundation of sustainable water management. Kristiana also points listeners to WEF’s Water Advocates Program, a tool designed to help professionals engage in water policy discussions.
Advancing Water Education Through Industry Leadership
Beyond advocacy, Kristiana discusses the value of professional involvement. “When I started volunteering with professional societies and associations, I found a lot of pride in what I do. It also gave me an outlet to meet more people in the water sector.” Her experiences highlight how industry engagement can lead to both professional growth and a stronger, more connected water community.
Hear more about Kristiana’s journey, the impact of advocacy, and how you can get involved by listening to episode one of Making Waves with FWEA below: