Val S. Frenkel

Dr. Val S. Frenkel, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE is currently the Director of Membrane Technologies at TKI Malcolm Pirnie, the Water Division of ARCADIS in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Frenkel has more than 25 years of experience in engineering, with expertise in water and wastewater treatment, water reuse, and membrane technologies, including desalination.

Dr. Frenkel was instrumental in development of the low pressure membrane technologies and applications, taught at the university level, and published extensively both in the U.S. and abroad, authoring several patents and more than 100 publications in the area of water, wastewater treatment, desalination and salinity management. Dr. Frenkel is recipient of International Desalination Association Award for the Best Paper and Honor Award for Excellence in Environmental Engineering (Applied Research) from American Academy of Environmental Engineers.

Val is a member of WEF, AWWA, AMTA, IWA, IDA, WateReuse, Professional Engineers of Ontario and number of others professional associations. He has moderated technical sessions at national and international conferences, and serves as a member of the Project Advisory Committee for the WaterReuse Foundation. Dr. Frenkel has been a reviewer and author of a number of WEF and AWWA official publications and Manuals of Practice. In addition, Val is a registered reviewer of articles and publications for WEF, WateReuse and IWA and Secretary of the IWA Membrane Technology Committee.

Dr. Frenkel received his master of science in civil engineering/water and wastewater treatment and his Ph.D. in water and ecology science. Val is a founding Diplomate since 2006 and in this feature, Val reflects on his career, his transition from Europe to the U.S., love of water resources engineering and swimming, the global water crisis, and advice for leaders of tomorrow.