The water industry is facing more pressure than ever to be innovative, efficient and prepared. ACE08—the American Water Works Association (AWWA) 2008 Annual Conference and Exposition—will bring cutting-edge technology and products together with extensive networking opportunities, helping water professionals prepare for the future of the industry. This year, the “World Water Event,” as AWWA calls it, will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga., June 8 to 12.
Conference
The ACE08 Professional Program will provide more than 91 sessions, which will include more than 530 presentations and educational programs developed from the input of AWWA members and professionals, including presentations by experts addressing current and future challenges.
Continuing education units are offered for most workshops and professional sessions in the Distribution & Plant Operations, Manufacturers and Associates, Small Systems and Water Quality tracks, as well as exhibitor education sessions. Professional development hours can be earned at the conference’s professional sessions, exhibit hall, committee meetings and facility tours.
Exposition
The ACE08 Exposition will showcase the latest products and services available to help ensure safe water. More than 500 exhibitors will be available to answer questions and provide information about new technologies. Water professionals can gather valuable information and gain contacts who can help them improve results.
Highlights of this year’s exposition include the exhibit hall grand opening on June 9 at 10 a.m., right after the opening general session; the ACE08 Product Information Forum, showcasing detailed presentations from exhibitors; and the New Product Technology Showcase.
The New Product Technology Showcase is an exclusive area featuring the latest technologies to help water professionals prepare to face future challenges. AWWA volunteers select the participating companies based on each meeting certain criteria. Representatives of participating companies will be available for questions, and attendees can vote for their favorite new product or technology in the showcase.
Networking
In addition to the main events surrounding the technical program and exhibition, ACE08 will offer events geared toward the wide interests of AWWA’s 60,000 members.
There are special networking programs and events for first-time attendees, public officials, international attendees, students, young professionals and job seekers. There also are plenty of general networking events, including sessions focusing on diversity, the Water For People ITT Golf Classic and annual competitions such as the World Cup of Drilling & Tapping, Tapping Contest, Top Ops and Meter Madness.
Attendees can choose from nine facility tours to see how local treatment plants and systems are handling their operations. The cost of these tours ranges from $40 to $65, and transportation is provided to and from the Georgia World Congress Center.
More Information
Ready to sign up? Visit www.awwa.org/ace08 for registration information as well as the most current information about the event, including exhibitor lists and the schedule of professional programs.
And don’t forget your family and friends—there are plenty of programs for them—arranged through ACE08’s Spouse & Guest Program and ranging from visits to Stone Mountain Park, Callaway Garden and historic Buckhead to various tours of Atlanta’s cultural and historical highlights.
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