WEFTEC is an ideal place for water professionals to learn, connect and explore new, transformative ways to manage water. More than 20,000 water professionals and more than 1,000 water companies will attend the Water Environment Federation (WEF)’s 88th annual technical exhibition and conference in Chicago, Sept. 26 to 30.
The following events are held in McCormick Place South, unless otherwise noted:
- The Pershing Cultivation Project: Growing Green Gardens and Young Minds. WEFTEC volunteers will help transform a portion of the Pershing Magnet School grounds into a learning garden that will serve as an interactive tool for K-8 students to learn about water, the environment, and green infrastructure. WEF will also host students, teachers, and parents at the third annual Water Palooza educational fair on Fri., Sept. 25. The fair features engaging, hands-on environmental activities provided by nearly 20 water companies, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations from across the country. Sept. 26, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 3200 South Calumet Ave., Chicago.
- Jammin’ 4 Water. Open-mic performances that benefit water charities. Sept. 26, doors open at 6 p.m., performances start at 7 p.m. Park West, 322 Armitage Avenue, Chicago.
- WEF Student Design Competition. Student design teams from more than a dozen universities will compete in two categories: wastewater design (hydraulic, capacity design, upgrades to existing systems, biosolids handling) and environmental design (contemporary engineering topics such as sustainability, water reuse, wetland construction). Sept. 27, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Room N229
- Perspectives from the 7th World Water Forum. Moderated by WEF President Ed McCormick and featuring Zuwhan Yun, professor, Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University; Helmut Kroiss, president, International Water Assn.; Bernard Tan, deputy director, Singapore PUB; Torgny Holmgren, executive director, Stockholm International Water Institute; Dale Jacobson, governor World Water Council, principal DD Consulting; Yosuke Matsumiya, director International Div., Japanese Sewage Works Assn.; and Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa, program specialist, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (invited). Sept. 28, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Global Center, WEF Plaza, Grand Concourse Lobby
- Students & Young Professionals Networking and Career Fair. An opportunity for students to expand their 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. Sept. 28, 1 to 4 p.m., Room S105abc
- First Annual Women in Water Networking Breakfast: Informing, Connecting, and Inspiring Current and Future Female Water Sector Leaders. Science, technology, engineering and math historically have attracted fewer women; the water sector is no exception. This inaugural event welcomes women from a variety of disciplines—engineering, operations, research, management and communications—for peer-to-peer networking and provides an environment for sharing successes and discussing challenges faced both professionally and personally. Featuring a keynote presenation from Debra Shore, commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) followed by a panel discussion with: Karen Pallansch, CEO, Alexandria Renew; Sandra Ralston, principal, Consensus LLC; Cathy Gerali, district manager, Denver Metropolitan Wastewater District; Nancy Love, professor of civil and environmental engineering, University of Michigan; Eileen O’Neill, WEF executive director; Mariyana Spyropoulos, MWRD president of the board of commissioners; and Cindy Wallis-Lage, water group president, Black & Veatch. Sept. 30, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Room S105b. Ticketed event, space limited.
- Session #533: Operations Ingenuity: Award-Winning and Clever Solutions. Innovation is not always the result of years of research or investment by large companies. Often it’s the “in the trenches” operators who come up with the most clever inventions or ways to make significant improvements with the resources at hand and a hearty dose of ingenuity. Winners of the 3rd annual WEF Operations Ingenuity Contest will share their creative solutions to pesky water management problems. Wed., Sept. 30, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Booth 358, Innovation Pavilion
- Session #614: Potable Water Reuse: Where Do We Go Next? This session provides a summary of the complete WEFTEC 2015 direct and indirect potable reuse (DPR) programming and other related topics. Expert panelists will discuss missing links and next steps for moving potable reuse into the mainstream and conclude with a town-hall forum that will focus on research and policy questions that need to be further analyzed. WEF recently released the collaboratively developed, Framework for Direct Potable Reuse, to help communities properly vet and consider incorporating DPR into their overall water management strategy. Sept. 30, 3:15 to 4:15 p.m., Booth 358, Innovation Pavilion
Source: Water Environment Federation
