Water Professionals to Promote Environmental Stewardship in New Orleans

Sept. 25, 2014
Community and student-focused events are part of upcoming WEFTEC 2014

The Water Environment Federation (WEF), in coordination with the City of New Orleans and the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, will help promote environmental stewardship and raise awareness about the value of water by holding a series of community and student-focused events beginning with a green infrastructure construction project this Saturday in Conrad Park.

Organized by WEF’s Students & Young Professionals Committee, these events have been developed as a part of WEFTEC 2014—WEF’s 87th annual technical exhibition and conference—that is being held at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center (NOMCC), Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.

As the world’s largest annual water quality conference and exhibition, WEFTEC brings thousands of water professionals and water equipment manufacturers to New Orleans every other year through 2024. This year’s event is expected to leave not only a positive economic impact on the city—an estimated $21.1 million—but will also seek to help inspire residents to the cause of clean water, underscore the importance of the water profession and demonstrate simple ways for the community to engage in clean water initiatives.

Water Palooza will feature hands-on activities and demonstrations designed to connect the next generation with water, how essential it is to everything, and how we are all responsible for taking care of it. K-5 students will participate in a special assembly at Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School that will feature remarks from Charles Bell and showcase specially prepared water presentations by the students. The next day students from Lusher Charter School will enjoy a full program of fun and educational water awareness activities such as making water cycle bracelets, dressing up as water professionals, and learning what you can and cannot flush down a toilet. Demonstrations will include stormwater runoff, soil and plant filtration, how to make and use rain barrels, and hauling jugs of water to get a real-world perspective of water accessibility for children in developing nations. The assembly will be held Sept. 25 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School. Water Palooza is Sept. 26 from 10:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Lusher Charter School.

Recharge, Restore, Revitalize Hollygrove: Conrad Park Green Infrastructure Improvements is a community service project where 100 conference volunteers will install a series of rain gardens designed to remove pollutants and mitigate storm water runoff from flood-prone Conrad Park. The students from Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School have also been invited to participate in a rain barrel painting project and to help place “no dumping” decals around the park. Featured speakers include: Susan G. Guidry, New Orleans councilmember (District A); Robert Miller, deputy executive director of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans; WEF President Sandra Ralston; and WEF President-Elect Ed McCormick. The event will be held Sept. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 3400 Hamilton Street. Transportation is provided. Buses will load curbside at the convention center’s Hall H covered drive, departing promptly at 8:30 a.m.

Jammin’ 4 Water is a WEFTEC-endorsed fundraising event for an array of water charities and public awareness projects/activities. Amateur musicians attending the conference provide the talent, while concert-goers provide a $50 donation. The event will be held Sept. 27, at House of Blues, with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. and performances starting at 7:00 p.m. 

WEF Student Paper Competition intends to promote the education of undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of water sector disciplines. Participants are tasked with writing a research paper and winners present their work during a special WEFTEC session in the WEF Learning Lounge. Students from six U.S. universities will present their e-Posters on a variety of progressive topics, including cadmium absorption and accumulation, dual-batch reactors, “one-water” sustainable management, nitrate removal, osmosis, and remote sensing of water quality. The competition will take place Sept. 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in WEF Plaza, Hall G.

WEF Student Design Competition will feature the innovative work of student design teams from more than a dozen universities who will compete in two categories: Wastewater Design (hydraulic, capacity design, upgrades to existing systems, biosolids handling, etc.) and Environmental Design (contemporary engineering topics such as sustainability, water reuse, wetland construction, etc.). The competition will be held Sept. 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in rooms 275-276, NOMCC.

Students & Young Professionals Networking and Career Fair is an opportunity to expand students’ knowledge of career opportunities in the water sector; network with peers and top water business leaders; and to acquire better interviewing skills. Top environmental firms from the U.S. and Canada looking to hire entry-level candidates will be on hand to informally meet with students. The fair will be held Sept. 29 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom A-B, NOMCC.

Student registration for WEFTEC 2014 is complimentary for WEF student members and $30 for non-members with proper student ID. The student registration includes access to the above events, plus all technical sessions, the exhibition floor, the Stormwater Congress and a copy of the conference proceedings. Note that Saturday’s community service project is an open event and does not require registration.

Source: Water Environment Federation

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