WEFTEC 2014 Notable Events By Day

If it’s about water, it will be at WEFTEC 2014. As the largest annual water quality conference and exhibition in the world, WEFTEC continues to offer the best educational, business and networking opportunities in the water profession recently. Thousands of water professionals and nearly 1,000 water companies from around the world are expected at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, Sept. 27-Oct. 1, 2014.

This year’s world-class technical program will feature more than 140 technical sessions, 35 workshops, seven local facility tours and a full suite of events designed to encompass all aspects of water. Notable events and programming by day, include:

Sat, Sept. 27
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 stormwater runoff from flood-prone Conrad Park. 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., 3400 Hamilton Street; transportation provided; curbside Hall H, buses depart promptly at 8:30 a.m.

Workshop #12: Status of Wetlands Restoration Through Wastewater Reuse and Residuals Application. 8:00 a.m., offsite, transportation available curbside, Hall H; departs promptly at 8:00 a.m.

Workshop #27: Implementing Integrated Water Management: The Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan as a Template for Water Managers and Community Stakeholders. 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Room 245

Workshop #7: WEF/WERF Part I: Road Map to Energy Neutrality – Setting the Course. 8:30 a.m., Room 353

Mon, Sept. 29
The Opening General Session kicks off the conference with a theme of “Embracing Change in a Disruptive Age.” Featuring remarks from WEF President Sandra Ralston and recognition of the Water Environment Research Foundation’s 25th anniversary, the keynote address will be delivered by transformative innovation expert, Luke Williams. 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., Great Hall. Note: the OGS will be livestreamed via www.weftec.org.

Water Works: Investing Together for a Stronger America Press Event will explore the idea of investing in our water and wastewater infrastructure as one of the best ways to put people to work and grow a stronger, more financially secure and competitive nation. A new national report, The Economic and Labor Impact of the Water Sector, finds that 30 communities will be investing $254 billion in the next decade, resulting in $52 billion in annual economic output and supporting 289,000 jobs. Featuring remarks from EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and general managers from three of the 30 profiled communities—Chicago, New Orleans, and San Francisco—this special event will provide an overview of the new report and gives you an exclusive opportunity to discuss it with influential leaders and decision-makers. 9:45 a.m.-10:15 a.m., Great Hall Foyer

The Global Center Inauguration will feature the Honorable Ken Hyatt, Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce, who will welcome 18 trade delegations from around the world to participate in WEFTEC 2014. The extensive Global Center program features a dozen presentations from high profile national and international experts about globally relevant topics such as resource recovery, energy and water, export success stories, technology trends, and more. Content will focus on the examination of water market trends, challenges and opportunities within the European Union, the United Kingdom, China, South Korea, the Middle East, and North America. 9:45 a.m.-10:00 a.m., WEF Plaza, Hall G

The Great Water Cities Session will distill and examine important lessons learned about sustainable water management from the world’s leading water cities. The high profile session will feature an opening keynote from EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy as well as global thought leaders Jean-Luc Bertrand-Krajewski, Professor of Civil Engineering and Urban Planning Department of National Institute for Applied Sciences in Lyon, France and Duncan Gibb, Executive GM of Stronger Christ Church Infrastructure Rebuild Team, Christ Church, New Zealand. 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Great Hall. Note: the GWC Session will be livestreamed via www.weftec.org.

The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread’s exclusive launch of their groundbreaking report, “New Shores: Seizing the Future for Sustainable and Resilient U.S. Freshwater Resources.” Featuring remarks from Dr. Lynn Broaddus, Environment Program Director at The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread and George Hawkins, General Manager of DC Water, the report represents an unprecedented alliance of diverse stakeholders and is the culmination of a six-year examination to positively affect the way we use and consume water. Recommendations include a call to transform U.S. water infrastructure. 12:15 p.m.-12:45 p.m., Great Hall Foyer

Tues, Sept. 30
Operations Challenge Competition is a fast-paced skills event that will feature nearly 40 teams from water/wastewater utilities across the U.S. Mon.-Wed., 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Hall F

Session #333: (STORM)Water Innovation Clusters from Milwaukee to NOLA. 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Stormwater Pavilion, Booth 8303

Session #314: Pumps and Force Mains: The Fully Monty – New Orleans Hurricane Relief to Wastewater Innovations. 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Exhibit Hall, Booth 4201

Wed, Oct. 1
Water Works: Investing Together for a Stronger New Orleans is a complement to Monday’s big picture press event but will have New Orleans-focused content and feature influential local speakers. Senator Landrieu (D-La.), New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans Executive Director Cedric Grant will headline an exclusive press event that will examine the link between job creation and resilient water infrastructure. Using the national report as context, this discussion will highlight the direct impacts and expected outcomes for the city, including potential links with the New Orleans Economic Opportunity Strategy. 9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., Hall G Lobby

Session #500: It’s a Toilet Not a Trashcan: Knowledge Development Forum on Non-Dispersibles. 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Room 236

Grants & Funding Workshop (Horizon Initiative) provides an overview of federal funding sources including WIFIA, SRF, grant programs for USDA, NOAA, Fish & Wildlife, etc. as well as a P3/private finance perspective. 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Room 254

Water and Wastewater 101 Mobile Session for Members of the Press is an introduction to water and wastewater treatment processes and hot topics specifically designed for the press. Participants will begin with a brief overview of a hypothetical wastewater treatment plant, which will include a dynamic video. Attendees will then take a tour of the exhibition floor to see firsthand examples of the equipment seen in the video. The tour will cover combined sewer overflows; preliminary, primary, secondary, and effluent treatment; and solids treatment. Exhibitors include: GE's Water & Process Technologies, HUBER Technology, Inc., JWC Environmental, Sewer History Exhibit, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Xylem. 1:30 p.m., Press Room, Room 269, Hall H

Make THE Water Quality Event, YOUR Water Quality Event
Don’t miss your chance to be where the greatest minds in water meet. For the latest conference information and registration details, visit www.weftec.org. For the full program and latest updates at your fingertips, download the WEFTEC MobileApp (http://app.core-apps.com/weftec2014).

Complimentary registration is available for credentialed media representatives. Badges can be secured in Room 269, Hall H of the New Orleans Morial Convention Center beginning Sunday, September 28 at 8:30 a.m. Please visit the online press room (http://www.weftec.org/press_room/default.aspx) for more details.

About WEF
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF members, Member Associations and staff proudly work to achieve our mission to provide bold leadership, champion innovation, connect water professionals, and leverage knowledge to support clean and safe water worldwide. For more information, visit www.wef.org.