Senior Staff
Michael H. Ogden – PE, LEED AP
Michael is the Founding Director of Natural Systems International, has a BS from the University of California (Berkeley) in Civil Engineering and an MBA from the University of Chicago (MBA in mathematical methods and finance). He is a registered professional engineer in 10 states. His engineering practice focuses on the use of natural systems – the ecologies of the pond, marsh, river, prairie, and woodland- for the treatment and reuse of wastewater and storm water. Michael has been involved in more than 500 projects involving sustainable natural systems. He has worked in 40 states, and internationally in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, India, China, Afghanistan, and Australia. Michael has participated in some of the first commercial LEED projects. Michael co-wrote the textbook ‘Constructed Wetlands in the Sustainable Landscape’, published by John Wiley and Sons. The text was also translated into Chinese to assist in moving water sustainability concepts around the world.
Pete A. Muñoz – PE, LEED AP
Pete is a licensed Professional Engineer and Certified Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. He has a BS in Biosystems Engineering from Michigan State University and a MS in Environmental Engineering from the University of Vermont. Pete has been asked to speak around the country on a variety of topics including decentralized wastewater management, constructed wetlands, ecological design, eco-footprinting, and climate change solutions. As a Senior Project Engineer at NSI, he oversees all of NSI’s engineering and design projects in the United States and abroad. Pete plays a special role in managing all water audits and water infrastructure sustainability projects. As one of NSI’s LEED Accredited Professional he supervises a range of sustainability projects, including LEED-NC, LEED for Homes, LEED for Neighborhoods, and LEED for Schools.
Erin E. English – PE, LEED AP
Erin focuses her engineering background on integrating conventional process-design with the ecological concepts of natural systems. She has worked in both non-profit and design firm environments on community, educational/school and agricultural projects. Erin has studied permaculture and sustainable design and works to integrate these concepts into NSI’s wastewater and stormwater project work. As an associate engineer, Erin manages many of NSI’s on-site natural wastewater treatment system projects. She has an abundance of experience in the design of wastewater small-diameter collection systems and treatment systems including; constructed wetlands, sand filters, trickling filters, irrigation reuse, UV disinfection. Erin has helped develop NSI’s water reuse systems to recycle treated wastewater and rainwater to meet toilet demands inside of buildings. She assists with construction administration and construction observation of all built systems and is a registered professional engineer in 4 states.
Firdaus Jhabvala – PhD
Firdaus has worked extensively in Mexico and India during the past 35 years, as founder and director of firms dedicated to wastewater treatment and water technology in general. He has written and published in the field of wastewater treatment with wetlands, and holds two patents in the field. He has designed treatment plants for private companies and public institutions in several parts of Mexico. Firdaus has a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in Economics, and has advised the Mexican government, as well as many state and municipal agencies on financial matters. Firdaus’s specialty is helping to develop strategies for increasing municipal income and financing of infrastructure projects, which are often essential to the realization of many water supply and wastewater treatment and reuse infrastructure.
