Contributed photos
From left, Dr. Kiyoshi Kawamura, former Professor of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University; Chris LeClair, NOWRA President and Otter Tail County Land and Resource Director; Dr. Yurie Shirakawa, Japan Education Center of Environmental Sanitation; and Dr. Yoshitaka Ebie from the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan.

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

Chris LeClair, Otter Tail County’s Land and Resource Director, speaks in Tokyo, Japan, as president of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA).

The National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA) is the largest organization within the United States dedicated to protection of North America’s water resources and environment. Heading the organization as President is Chris LeClair, Otter Tail County’s Land and Resource Director.

NOWRA works to advance sustainable and decentralized wastewater infrastructure through advocacy and professional development to protect the public and environmental health. LeClair and fellow NOWRA members work with stakeholders and Congressional appropriators to advocate for increased funding for USDA’s Decentralized Water Systems program.

As president of NOWRA, LeClair spoke at an international wastewater workshop in Tokyo, Japan, from Nov. 11-12. He spoke about how wastewater systems are managed in the United States. 

“The workshop,” LeClair said, “provided a platform for sharing information and discussing challenges related to the operation and maintenance of decentralized wastewater plants worldwide.”