For Immediate Release
September 17, 2024
Contact: Barry Dugan, Data Instincts
(707) 849-9858
Windsor, CA – Data Instincts founder and principal Mark Millan was awarded the prestigious “Bahman Sheikh Award for Vision in Water Reuse” at the 2024 WateReuse California Conference in Garden Grove, CA on September 16, 2024. WateReuse California is recognized as a thought leader in California on alternative, sustainable water supply development, and regarded as the go-to organization in the state for water recycling education and outreach, as well as the principal influencer of public opinion and policymakers on water recycling in all its forms.
“I am so very honored to receive the Bahman Sheikh Award for Vision in Water Reuse,” said Millan. “It’s been a privilege to work with so many amazing and committed people like Bahman, and many others who have contributed to expanding the use of recycled water in California and beyond. I am grateful for the recognition and for this prestigious award.”
Millan and his team at Data Instincts have researched, tested, and explored many communication practices, and used the results of their day-to-day work to advance the implementation of challenging potable reuse projects. Millan has consulted on numerous potable reuse projects in the U.S., including: Pure Water Monterey (One Water Monterey); Pure Water SF – (San Francisco Public Utility Commission); Pure Water Westminster (Westminster, Maryland); OneWater Nevada (Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Reno, Sparks, Washoe County); Pure Water Soquel (Soquel Creek Water District); and Santa Clara Valley’s Purified Water Project (Valley Water).
Millan is a frequent presenter at national and international water reuse conferences, has authored numerous papers, and participated in many research projects on water-related communications. In addition to the “Model Public Communication Plan for Advancing DPR Acceptance,” published in 2015 by the WateReuse Research Foundation, he was a contributing writer for the World Health Organization’s Guidelines for Potable Reuse published in 2017. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for WateReuse California and is a member of the Executive Committee. In addition, Mark is an active participant on the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) for an EPA study entitled, Unlocking the Nationwide Potential of Water Reuse.
Data Instincts is a Sonoma County, California public outreach firm that specializes in public outreach for implementing recycled water projects. For more than 25 years they have been at the forefront of the recycled water industry in California and throughout the West. The firm provides clients with a full range of public outreach and community engagement services, including brand development, communication toolkits, collateral materials, website development, logos, infographics, and videos.
The mission of WateReuse California is to promote responsible stewardship of California’s water resources by maximizing the safe, practical and beneficial use of recycled water and by supporting the efforts of the of national WateReuse Association.
About the Bahman Sheikh Award
The Bahman Sheikh Award for Vision in Water Reuse is awarded to a municipal, industrial, or agricultural sector individual or select group that significantly advances reuse in California by identifying new opportunities to reuse water, expanding existing applications, and/or amplifying the benefits of water recycling through integrated regional planning. This award highlights the importance of understanding the value of recycled water as the cornerstone of a resilient, sustainable, local water supply, and recognizes those who share their vision of reuse in order to create innovative and inspiring programs.
In addition, the Dr. Bahman Sheikh Memorial Scholarship supports undergraduate students pursuing a degree at UC Davis focused on developing and implementing sustainable solutions for water resources management, including water recycling, that support agriculture, industry, and healthy communities.
Data Instincts is a professional consultancy dealing with Public Information and Public Involvement serving municipalities, counties, public agencies and engineering firms with public outreach efforts. Data Instincts has been involved with public outreach and education for recycled water projects throughout California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada including work with Valley Water, Monterey One Water, North Bay Water Reuse Authority, OneWater Nevada, Pure Water Soquel, Pure Water Peninsula, City of Santa Rosa, Sonoma Water, Town of Windsor, and Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District. More information can be found at www.DataInstincts.com.