Nestled in the heart of the Great Lakes basin, Michigan’s defining characteristic is that it holds 21% of the world’s fresh surface water. Our collective responsibility as caretakers of that precious resource is taken very seriously and grounds the work at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). 

As a leader on Great Lakes issues, SEAS was pleased to host Bruno Pigott, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) acting assistant administrator in the Office of Water. His visit included a series of cross-disciplinary discussions with faculty, a mixer with students and a campus tour, providing an opportunity to learn about the EPA’s priorities and discuss collaboration opportunities. 

Pigott, a leader in sustainability for his entire professional career starting at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, is known as a decision-maker who makes efforts to put people first and to bring visibility to all sides of an issue. He understands that the role of an environmental regulator is, often, one that comes with criticism.

“Much of my beliefs on the environment started in Michigan. I grew up here and spent summers playing, swimming, and fishing with my siblings,” says Pigott. “These memories continue to motivate me to protect our treasured waters for current and future generations. I strongly believe that the government plays a critical role in this and it can work to benefit people’s lives.”

Pigott visited SEAS on August 8, 2024. The day began with a conversation led by SEAS Dean Jonathan Overpeck, reinforcing the need for innovation and research from all corners of U-M to protect our freshwater resources. Participants were Jennifer Haverkamp, director of the Graham Sustainability Institute and professor of practice at Michigan Law School and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy; Silvia Newell, SEAS professor and director of Michigan Sea Grant; and Liesl Clark, director of Climate Action Engagement in addition to others from the College of Literature, Sciences and Arts, Michigan Law, and Michigan Engineering. 

In discussions, Pigott highlighted the federal government’s efforts to protect people and the Great Lakes through programs focused on human health, such as replacing lead drinking lines and improving wastewater systems, as well as the environment, such as efforts to decrease the nutrient load in the Great Lakes system and to protect wetlands. 

After a meeting with directors and faculty, students joined in the discussion and had the opportunity to ask questions of Pigott. 

Following the discussions, Pigott and the visiting EPA team, which included Wendi Wilkes, director of infrastructure implementation, toured the George G. Brown Building on U-M’s North Campus to see the building-scale wastewater treatment and reuse system. This is where the nation’s first university-based source separation system—which consists of a source-separating toilet, urinal and building-scale urine processing facility—is located, and is just one example of the innovative, cross-campus collaborations happening at U-M.