From the Director's Desk

It’s hard to believe that January will mark one complete year in my role as Executive Director! Can you believe it? What an incredible year it has been! There have been high highs and low lows (including being pulled aside by TSA to remove our poop costume from my luggage for further inspection). Some of those highs have led to growth for OSA and some of the lows have sparked new ideas, learning, and opportunities.

Over this year, I’ve gotten to know many of our awesome Steering Committee members and alliance partners as well as, welcome many new thought partners into our wider network through our work and advocacy. We are lucky that our mission brings people together to keep 💩 out of our water, and we get to have fun while convincing people to take action.

And… what is more fun than talking about sewage pollution? Planning! As our new Executive Director, with support from our Steering Committee, we created a strategic framework to define our key priorities and set ambitious goals for the coming years. Great bathroom reading material, if I do say so myself. 

Since it is the end of the year, it’s a great time to reflect on the work we have done. You will get to read more detail about our accomplishments in this report, but in 2024, we did amazing things. We welcomed eight new partners into our alliance with unique skills, including our first municipal utility and two innovators creating modern solutions for this millennium-old problem. In addition, we traveled to five events, presenting at four of them, including our first keynote invitation at the Ethical Assembly Climate and Social Justice Summit. 

As a small team, I would be remiss not to showcase the work of our Marketing Director, Larissa Balzer, who has helped steer this ship since OSA’s beginning. She supported OSA’s work to help publish four stories in local and national news outlets. She expanded our social reach to over 115,000 post and profile impressions, not to mention bringing an Olympic influencer to our socials to highlight the issues of sewage pollution ahead of the Paris games. 

As we look toward 2025, we are excited to showcase our work with The Economist Impact group on our ‘Cost of Inaction’ study. We launched this econometric analysis at World Ocean Summit in 2024, and will release our findings at the 2025 World Ocean Summit and UN Ocean Conference. This study analyzes the cost-benefit ratio of treating sewage and the downstream impacts on communities, fisheries, and coastal ecosystems. Essentially, this work will put a dollar amount on the economic impact of dumping sewage into our ocean and the financial benefits of…not doing that. 

Looking ahead, in addition to our continued work supporting OSA’s four key goals, we created three new working groups focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Data and bringing our educational messaging to Aquariums. Building on these new working groups, our future work will continue to add new projects and priorities as opportunities arise. We are bolstered by the support of our wider alliance, our funders, and individuals committed to our mission. Onward and upward!

Growing Our Network

OSA is thrilled to announce eight incredible new partners who joined us in 2024, each bringing unique expertise and innovative approaches to tackle the global challenge of ocean sewage and wastewater pollution. From developing sustainable sanitation solutions to fostering cross sector collaboration, these organizations are advancing our mission to eliminate sewage pollution, protect marine ecosystems, and improve public health.

“We are so lucky and excited to bring on these incredible partners,” said Jasmine Fournier, executive director. “I’ve been fortunate enough to meet a few in real life! Their insight and experience makes OSA even stronger.”

Fresh Life’s urban sanitation models, EPIC’s policy modernization, the OA Alliance’s climate resilience strategies, Intertidal Agency’s data-sharing frameworks, WOC’s corporate partnerships, Okhtapus’ global replication platform, Long Beach Utilities’ infrastructure expertise, and Water Warriors’ phosphorus pollution reduction collectively strengthen our ability to drive transformative change.

Together, these eight partners exemplify the collaborative spirit and innovative thinking needed to address the ocean sewage crisis. Each organization brings a unique perspective, whether it’s through technological advancements, policy reform, community engagement, or corporate responsibility.  

Reaching New Audiences

In 2024, OSA expanded its global influence by participating in six major conferences, fostering partnerships, and promoting innovative wastewater solutions. At the World Ocean Summit & Expo in Lisbon, OSA sponsored a “How To” session on financing sustainable economic activity alongside ocean conservation, bringing together 40 experts to develop actionable strategies for improving wastewater treatment through circular solutions and collaboration. Similarly, at the Society of Environmental Journalists Conference, OSA sparked dialogue on urgent sewage and wastewater issues with their creative “A-poo-ral Spritz” cocktails.

During Stockholm World Water Week, OSA hosted three sessions focusing on integrated wastewater management, urban-coastal solutions, and global plastic pollution policies, showcasing innovative approaches to reducing ocean pollution and fostering international collaboration. At the Ethical Assembly Climate and Social Justice Summit, OSA emphasized the critical role of infrastructure in addressing sewage pollution’s impact on ecosystems and climate, tying it to broader ocean restoration efforts.

OSA’s participation in the World Ocean Decade at Blue Week with World Ocean Council and NY Climate Week further demonstrated its leadership, with Steering Committee Chair Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy highlighting cutting-edge ocean governance and wastewater solutions. These global engagements reflect OSA’s unwavering commitment to fostering international partnerships and advancing a sustainable, sewage pollution-free future.

Sparking Global Conversation

OSA achieved significant visibility across traditional and digital platforms, highlighting its critical work to address sewage and wastewater challenges. OSA was featured in two Op-Eds that underscored its advocacy for ocean health. The Times-Picayune published “Oysters Shouldn’t Grow in Sewage,” emphasizing the urgent need for improved wastewater management. In collaboration with partners at the Coral Reef Alliance, OSA contributed to Seven Seas Media’s “Coral Reefs Still Have a Chance with Immediate Actionable Solutions,” responding to global coral bleaching events with a focus on actionable strategies to safeguard these vital ecosystems.

Additionally, OSA was quoted in two local news stories in California covering sewage spills in San Luis Obispo County at Pismo Beach and Morro Bay Harbor. These features underscored the environmental and public health risks posed by untreated wastewater and reinforced OSA’s leadership in advocating for sustainable solutions.

The OSA website also saw remarkable growth with 33K visitors (a 165% increase) and 110 new resources added to the Knowledge Hub Library, further solidifying OSA as a trusted knowledge source for sewage and wastewater pollution and solutions.

Advancing Our Goals

OSA and The Economist Impact’s Back to Blue Initiative are conducting an econometric study to reveal the financial risks of ignoring sewage and wastewater pollution. Focusing on Brazil, India, Kenya, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom, the research highlights impacts on marine ecosystems, coastal restoration, blue carbon markets, and fisheries, demonstrating the urgent need for investment in wastewater management. By quantifying the cost of inaction, the study seeks to inspire action and drive global solutions.

OSA joined the EPA’s Decentralized Wastewater Management Partnership to advance sustainable solutions. During SepticSmart Week, OSA promoted proper septic system care to protect public health and ecosystems. Its blog, Septic Smart Living: Your Role in Effective Wastewater Management, highlighted the importance of decentralized wastewater management in safeguarding water quality and supporting resilient communities and marine environments.

OSA collaborated on The Dirty Protest, a creative campaign using art and activism to highlight the urgent need to address sewage pollution. Participants signed an online petition using their phone or touchpad, with their names printed in an ink uniquely made from 50% sewage collected from drain pipes. This innovative initiative raised awareness of wastewater issues, urging policymakers to take decisive action to protect public health and marine ecosystems.

In 2024, OSA achieved remarkable milestones, from welcoming eight new partners to launching creative campaigns and driving global conversations on wastewater solutions. These efforts strengthened OSA’s ability to tackle ocean sewage pollution through collaboration, innovation, and advocacy. As we look ahead, OSA remains steadfast in advancing sustainable solutions and fostering partnerships to protect marine ecosystems and communities worldwide. Together, we’re building a future where our oceans and people thrive, free from the devastating impacts of sewage pollution.