ACE13, Inside And Out

By Kevin Westerling,
@KevinOnWater

Don’t miss these key ACE13 events in Denver.

You can come home again, apparently. In fact, ACE13 proves that there are distinct advantages to returning home, as the American Water Works Associated, headquartered in Denver, CO, takes its Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE) back to the Mile High City for the first time since 2000. Slated for June 9 to 13 at the Colorado Convention Center, this year’s ACE will again focus on the issues and technologies that are shaping the face of the drinking water industry, but AWWA is also making a concerted effort to stretch its boundaries.

For starters, you’ll likely see and hear more about wastewater than you have in years past, as the “one water” concept — recognizing the interrelated importance of clean water, wastewater, and stormwater — continues to gain momentum. Concerns about failing infrastructure, inadequate funding, stringent government regulations, communicating the value of water to consumers and stakeholders, and adopting new, innovative, and more efficient technologies are shared among most utilities. Furthermore, the lines drawn between the different service providers are getting blurred with the rise of water reclamation plants, stormwater treatment facilities, and combined water/wastewater utilities. Acknowledging this, AWWA President Charlie Anderson called ACE13 a “one-stop shop” for the water community, and the program reflects that philosophy with a heavy focus on the above-mentioned, across-the-board issues.

But the branching out is more than philosophical, as we see a number of key events taking place outside the confines of the convention center (though many not far, just across the street at the Hyatt Regency). Much like the ACE13 program itself, this preview takes a holistic approach, catching you up on important, informative, and fun(!) ACE events — wherever they may be.

Inside ACE13: Key Convention Activities

Exposition (opening Sunday at 3 p.m.; closing Wednesday at 12 p.m.): The show floor is the beating heart of ACE, where more than 500 exhibitors showcase the water industry’s latest technologies. Huge booth displays, presentations, contests, and a plethora of sights and sounds keep the throngs of attendees entertained and informed.  Visit Water Online at Booth 1017 to see and hear Water Online Radio in action.

Opening General Session (Monday, 8:30-10 a.m.): The official welcome from AWWA’s top brass typically injects a spirit of pride and inspiration into the audience. Coupled with a keynote presentation by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, it’s the perfect kickoff to the first full day of the conference and exposition.

Professional Program: If the exposition is the heart of ACE, the professional program is the brain. The agenda features 17 defined tracks and hundreds of sessions to choose from. While regulations, financing, and contaminant removal rightly return as topics of note, there are also trending areas of interest represented, such as water “marketing” and communication techniques and utility asset management.

Competitions: The Pipe Tapping contest probably wins for the loudest, most crowd-pleasing event, but the Meter Madness and Top Ops competitions are its equal with respect to the contestants’ level of expertise. The People’s Choice Tasting competition (Monday, 10 a.m.) is new this year, giving attendees the chance to vote on the best-tasting tap water. The “people’s” selection gets announced alongside the experts’ official “Best of the Best” winner on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Roundtable Solution Sessions: Also new for this year, these interactive sessions are designed to promote lively discussion and solutions to today’s important water and wastewater issues. Check out the full list of topics and times by clicking here on (what else?) “Roundtable Solution Sessions.”

H2Open Forum (Wednesday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.): Titled “Leaders Building Solutions For Infrastructure,” this panel discussion features a mix of experts — with input from the audience encouraged — tackling all the challenges inherent in aging infrastructure. Join them in Room 501 for this special session.

ACE Steps Out: Essential Extra-Curricular Events

Water For People and AWWA Festival for Water (Sunday, 6-9 p.m., Civic Center Park): Admission is free, and everyone is welcome to share in the festive environment of music, food, and spirits hosted by Water For People and AWWA. Shuttles will run from the Colorado Convention Center to the park throughout the event, making it easy for all to join in this celebration of water. More information is available at www.festivalforwater.org and #WATERMATTERS.

International Reception (Monday, 5:30-7 p.m., Hyatt Regency Denver): For many attendees, Denver is a long way from home. To help welcome the international visitors to ACE, AWWA hosts this reception annually, providing excellent opportunity for road-weary travelers to relax and reconnect. It’s also a great opportunity for ACE regulars and newcomers alike to discuss water issues with the AWWA leaders and International Council members in attendance.

Mile High Tap to Tap (Monday, 6-9 p.m., Katie Mullen’s Irish Pub): Denver is a great city for beer, and the city’s beer mavens certainly know the value of water, as evidenced by the “No Water, No Beer” t-shirts you’ll find at Katie Mullen’s Irish Pub at 1550 Court Place on 16th Street Mall. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the AWWA scholarship fund, and there will (of course) be plenty of top-notch beer and food for sale as well.

Student & Young Professionals Meet and Greet (Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m., Hyatt Regency Denver): With so many water and wastewater professionals entering or nearing retirement, there is tremendous importance in cultivating successors. This event puts a face to the next generation of operators and engineers that will pick up the mantle — and inherit the many challenges — of water stewardship. In addition to networking with their peers, the students and young professionals can chat and learn from wise, old(er) AWWA VIPs. A few youngsters will even be imparted near-immediate, real-world opportunity, as the winners of the job fair raffle will be announced.

Presidential Gavel Passing (Wednesday, 5:30-6 p.m., Hyatt Regency Denver): The traditional gavel-passing from one AWWA president to the next is a time-honored and prestigious moment, and a great way to (unofficially) put a bow on the ACE conference experience. But it’s also a starting point of sorts, as hearing the vision of the new president helps to inspire attendees on the way out of town, much the same way the Opening General Session does coming in. James Chaffee will take the reins — or gavel — from outgoing AWWA President Charles F. Anderson on Wednesday, and a new era begins. Actually, it’s more of a continuation of a vision that has steadily evolved within AWWA.

“AWWA has developed into a total water solutions organization,” Anderson noted recently while keynoting Pennsylvania’s annual AWWA conference, a primer to the upcoming “big show.” The wide-ranging program of ACE13, Anderson’s last hurrah as president, is a testament to this all-inclusive approach to water quality.

What are the most intriguing aspects of ACE13 from your perspective? What subjects or technologies will you focus on in sessions and on the tradeshow floor? Share your thoughts below…