Coming to Chicago for WEFTEC 2015? Learn All You Need to Know Here

A total of 22,589 people registered to attend WEFTEC 2013 in Chicago. The event returns to Chicago this year. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.

The 87th annual Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC^®) continues to be the largest event of its kind. WEFTEC draws water quality professionals and leaders from around the world. WEFTEC 2015 will take place Sept. 26–30 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Attendees can participate in 137 technical sessions, 29 workshops, 17 mobile sessions, 17 Stormwater Pavilion sessions, 10 Innovation Pavilion sessions, and 7 facility tours. They also can see products and demonstrations from more than 1000 companies and more than 30 technical sessions in the WEFTEC exhibition.

Click to see the WEFTEC 2015 Conference Announcement.

Click to see the WEF Events Mobile App.

Plan your schedule by reading the WEFTEC 2015 Conference Announcement or finding events online by focus area. Build your schedule and receive updates as they become available for WEFTEC, as well as any other WEF event, in the WEF Events Mobile App. Learn about Chicago and WEFTEC by watching the Chicago Welcomes WEFTEC 2015 video.

Join the conversation on social media by following @WEFTEC or sharing information with the hashtag, #WEFTEC15.

Register and attend

Register online through the end of the conference. For additional registration and general conference information, see

• registration packages,
• FAQs,
• exhibitor registration,
• how to register,
• policies,
• registration hours, and
• contact us.

Educational credits

WEFTEC 2015 offers a variety of technical educational opportunities covering the topics stormwater, water treatment, wastewater, collection, management, and others featured in this image.

WEFTEC attendees can earn educational credits onsite. WEF offers up to 1.2 Continuing Education Units at workshops, 16.5 Professional Development Hours at technical sessions, and 8 general contact hours per day for time spent visiting the exhibition. To earn credits, attendees must scan WEFTEC badges when entering and exiting the exhibition, workshops, or technical sessions. Attendees are responsible for ensuring that WEFTEC credits are accepted by local certification and licensing agencies.

Featured events

• The 2015 Stormwater Congress, a conference that is co-hosted with WEFTEC 2015, will be held Sept. 26–30 at McCormick Place in Chicago. It will offer more than 30 stormwater-specific technical sessions and workshops. As part of the Congress, attendees can visit the Stormwater Pavilion in Hall A, Booth No. 213, of the WEFTEC exhibition. Find exhibitors offering stormwater products and services, a theater featuring short, interactive stormwater presentations, and two networking receptions in the pavilion.

• 

  WEFTEC® 2013 volunteers help construct a rain garden in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Haley Falconer, chair of the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Students and Young Professionals Committee.

  WEF’s Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) organized the 8th annual WEF Community Service Project. On Sept. 26, WEFTEC attendees can help build rain and learning gardens at the Pershing Magnet School in Chicago. SYPC also will host a Water Palooza on Sept. 25 to educate students about the value of water through hands-on activities and demonstrations.

• 

  Rob Stewart will be the keynote speaker during the WEFTEC 2015 opening general session. Photo courtesy of The Guild Agency (New York).

  The Opening General Session, scheduled for 8:15–9:30 a.m., Sept. 28, features keynote speaker Rob Stewart. The biologist, photographer, conservationist, filmmaker, and author will discuss the documentary “Revolution,” efforts to raise awareness about a great evolutionary journey in human history, and a revolution to save life on Earth by balancing consumption with the natural world.

• “The Impact of Leadership: Culture, Communication, and Community in Great Water Cities” is part of a series of Great Water Cities conversations hosted by WEF. A panel of water sector leaders will discuss changes in leading cities around the world during this session, 10–11:45 a.m. on Sept. 28, in McCormick Place South. Read more about the panelists in the articles
  • “A meeting of minds and exchange of ideas: At WEFTEC 2015, Great Water Cities leaders will discuss the evolving role of the water sector” in WE&T;
  • “Great Water Cities Panelist Tony Parrott Provides Insight into the Water Sector” in Highlights;
  • “Great Water Cities Panelist Susan Story Discusses Need for Infrastructure and Water Supply” in Highlights;
  • “Great Water Cities Panelist Lars Schrøder Explores New Solutions to Extreme Weather” in Highlights;
    and
    

    Team HRSD competes in the Collection Systems event during Operations Challenge at WEFTEC 2013. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

  • “Great Water Cities Panelist Felicia Marcus Shares California’s Perspective on the Future of Water Management” in Highlights.

• Operations Challenge^TM will take place in Hall A of McCormick Place South, 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on Sept. 28, and 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on Sept. 29.

Networking opportunities

• During the Mix with Members networking event, 5–6:30 p.m. on Sept. 27, WEF members registered to attend WEFTEC can enjoy cocktails and network with other members as well as WEFTEC exhibitors.

• In the Huddle Room, located in room N231at McCormick Place North,WEF members and WEFTEC exhibitors can connect with colleagues at informal, open-concept “collaboration stations” available on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, members and exhibitors can make appointments to reserve the two semiprivate conference rooms for a maximum of 2 hours per appointment. Huddle Room meeting areas will be available 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Sept. 27–30.

The Innovation Pavilion at WEFTEC 2015 will be located in Booth No. 358, Hall A, of the exhibition. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.

• Take advantage of educational and networking opportunities offered in the Innovation Pavilion located in Booth No. 358, Hall A, of the exhibition. It features exhibiting companies offering water sector innovations, educational sessions covering topics such as resource recovery and reuse for beer production, and receptions from 5–6 p.m., Sept. 28–29.
  

  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. talks in the Global Center at WEFTEC 2013. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig photography.

• Visit the Global Center in the WEF Plaza to meet water sector representatives from around the world and hear presentations from international leaders on water trends. The plaza will be located in the grand concourse lobby of McCormick Place.

Bookstore events in the WEF Plaza

A WEFTEC 2014 attendee shops in the WEF bookstore. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig photography.

The WEF bookstore and learning lounge also can be found in the WEF Plaza, located in the grand concourse lobby of McCormick Place. Browse and purchase the latest WEF publications, training guides, and WEF merchandise in the bookstore. The store also will host a $500 wastewater trivia challenge, coffee-hour events, and “Spot the Croc” competition:

Find this stuffed croc in the bookstore at WEFTEC for a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite and a WEF e-book .

• Form a team of up to four players to compete in the $500 Wastewater Trivia Challenge 4:30–5:30 p.m., Sept. 28, in the learning lounge. Teams will answer questions from such categories as nutrients, operations, management, and popular culture. The winning team will receive a $500 gift certificate to spend in the WEF bookstore. All WEFTEC and Stormwater Congress attendees are invited to participate, and refreshments will be provided.
• Enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing the latest water and wastewater publications 8–9 a.m., Sept. 29–30.
• Find Niles the Crocodile in the bookstore and be entered in a daily drawing for a Kindle Paperwhite and the WEF e-book of your choice. Drawings will be held at 12:30 p.m., Sept. 28–30. Niles will have a new hiding place after each drawing, so come in every day and Spot the Croc for your chance to win.

August WEFTEC 2015 Preview in WE&T

• “WEFTEC^® at a glance”
• “Network like a champ: WEFTEC offers various opportunities to meet and greet with the best in the water sector”
• “Women take WEFTEC^® 2015 by storm”

September WEFTEC 2015 Preview in WE&T

• “A call to action: WEFTEC keynote speaker wants to inspire attendees to help save the world’s oceans”
• “WEFTEC display showcases sewer history: Sewer History Exhibit shared the origin story for collection systems”
• “Operations Challenge grows bigger and better than ever”
• “Operations Challenge sweeps the globe: German teams set to compete at WEFTEC^® 2015”
• “Laboratory event changes elevate operator knowledge”
• “Terminal velocity takes final bow”
• “Are you ready for it? WEFTEC sessions help participants prepare for and recover from disasters”

WEFTEC 2015 articles in Highlights

• “IKE: Introducing the Next Generation WEFTEC”
• “Opening General Session Will Highlight Water Resource Revolution”
• “WEF Events Go Mobile”
• “New Events Coming To WEFTEC 2015”
• “Collection Systems Sessions Set To Draw Large Crowds at WEFTEC^© 2015”
• “Catherine O’Connor to Discuss Resource Recovery at WEFTEC 2015 AAEES, AIDIS, WEF Breakfast”
• “Step Out of the Conference Room To Participate in Unique WEFTEC^® 2015 Events”

World Water: Stormwater Management

• “Stormwater intersects traditional WEFTEC programming” (p. 9)

Stormwater Report

• “Nine Nationwide Nonpoint Solutions”
• “WEF Volunteers To Install Green Infrastructure at Annual Service Project”
• “WEFTEC Stormwater Congress Program is Now Available”
• “Registration and Housing Opens for the 2015 Stormwater Congress in Chicago”