Young Water Professionals Help Plant Seeds Of Water Awareness In New Orleans

WEFTEC 2016 community and student-focused events kick off at tomorrow's Water Palooza 

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) will help promote environmental stewardship, raise awareness about the value of water, and support the development of future water leaders through a series of community and student-focused events at WEFTEC 2016—WEF’s 89th annual technical exhibition and conference—scheduled for Sept. 24-28 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center (NOMCC).

Organized by WEF’s Students & Young Professionals Committee (SYPC), the following community and student-focused events are designed to promote participation, foster networking and knowledge exchange, and encourage involvement in the cause of clean water within the water profession and the local community.

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. Nearly 400 students from Einstein Charter School’s Sherwood Forest Campus will enjoy a program of fun and educational water awareness activities. Activities will include a game about wastewater treatment, learning what you can and cannot flush down a toilet, a hands-on activity about Louisiana’s lines of defense from storm surge, and a demonstration on stormwater and infiltration. Fri., Sept. 23, 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Einstein Charter School, 4801 Maid Marion Dr.

The Ninth Annual WEF Community Service Project will continue to promote grassroots solutions and environmental stewardship on a local level by supporting the City of New Orleans’ efforts to implement green infrastructure and sustainable projects to help alleviate flooding and improve water quality in the community. More than 200 conference volunteers will construct bioswales on the grounds of City Hall to help capture and filter stormwater runoff. A special ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Location: New Orleans City Hall, 1300 Perdido St.

Service project sponsors include AECOM, ARCADIS USA Inc., Black & Veatch, Brown and Caldwell, Carollo Engineers, CDM Smith, CH2M, Evoqua Water Technologies, Greeley and Hansen, Hazen and Sawyer, HDR, Inc., and WSP | Parsons Brinkerhoff. Service project donors include Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, AECOM/Parsons Joint Venture, Apex Engineering Group, Inc., Chemtrol, a brand of NIBCO, Duperon Corporation, Engineering America Inc., E & I Corporation, Division of McNish Corporation, EOSi, FKC Co. Ltd., Flottweg Separation Technology, Inc., HACH, Hydro International, Jacques-Imo’s, Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc., Michael Baker International, Trotter and Associates, Inc., and World Water Works. In-kind support comes from Construction EcoServices, Dana Brown & Associates, Inc., Louisiana Growers, Mark Jenkins Nursery, New Orleans City Planning Commission, Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, and Wood Materials.

WEF Student Design Competition will feature the innovative work of student design teams from 16 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.). Sun., Sept. 25, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Location: Room 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. Mon., Sept. 26, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Location: La Nouvelle Orleans Ballroom, NOMCC

Student registration for WEFTEC 2016 is complimentary for WEF student members and $55 non-members with proper student ID. The student registration includes access to all technical sessions, the exhibition floor, and the Stormwater Congress. 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.

Note to editors: The WEF Community Service Project is an open event and does not require registration. Complimentary registration for WEFTEC 2016 is available for credentialed media representatives. Badges can be obtained in Room 269, Hall H of the New Orleans Morial Convention Center beginning Sunday, September 25 at 8:30 a.m. Please contact Lori Harrison, WEF’s Director of Communications for details.

About WEF
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 33,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. As a global water sector leader, our mission is to connect water professionals; enrich the expertise of water professionals; increase the awareness of the impact and value of water; and provide a platform for water sector innovation. To learn more, visit [http://www.wef.org%20]www.wef.org.

About WEFTEC
WEFTEC 2016, the Water Environment Federation’s 89th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference, will be held Sept. 24-28, 2016 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La. The world’s largest annual water quality event provides the latest developments, technologies, and services for water preservation, restoration, and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.weftec.org.