Coming to WEFTEC 2016? Access All the Information You Need Here

The 88th annual Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC^®) continues to be the largest event of its kind, drawing thousands of water quality professionals and decision-makers from around the world. Attend WEFTEC 2016, taking place Sept. 24–28 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.

Plan your WEFTEC experience

Click to see the WEFTEC 2016 technical program.

Navigate the 28,065 m² (302,100 ft²) of exhibition space and hundreds of educational events:

• Register to attend as an attendee or exhibitor.
• Read the WEFTEC 2016 Conference Announcement.
• Find events online by focus area.
• Learn about receiving educational credits.
• Download the WEF Events Mobile App to build a schedule and receive updates on programming.
• See a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
• Join the conversation on social media by following @WEFTEC or using #WEFTEC16,

Learn about the future of water, today

From lectures about the future of the water sector to hands-on demonstrations of the latest tools and ideas, educational opportunities are around every corner at WEFTEC. Don’t miss these key events:

Joe Whitworth, president of The Freshwater Trust (Portland, Ore.), will give the keynote address during the Opening General Session. Photo courtesy of The Freshwater Trust.

• Opening General Session

Joe Whitworth, president of the Freshwater Trust (Portland, Ore.), will give the keynote address, “Creating the Future of Water,” 8:30–9:30 a.m., Sept. 26 in Great Hall A.

Whitworth’s speech will draw on his career of applying business concepts to environmental conservation. He will establish a theme of developing innovative solutions to prepare for tomorrow’s economy.

• Great Water Cities: Creating the future of water

Thought leaders convene for the latest forum in an ongoing discussion of how urban utilities can maximize efficiency, 10:30 a.m.–noon, Sept. 26 in Great Hall A.

Leaders responsible for managing urban stormwater from New Orleans to Singapore will sit on a panel to discuss how utilities can adapt to changing economic, regulatory, and climatic conditions through innovative practices. The event, which requires no badge for entry, will be facilitated by water sector experts from such companies as DC Water (Washington, D.C.) and GE Power & Water (Trevose, Pa.).

• 5^th annual WEFTEC Innovation Showcase

See exhibitors and take part in technical programming in the Innovation Pavilion. Photo courtesy of Oscar & Associates.

WEF partners with BlueTech Research (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) and Imagine H₂O (San Francisco) to introduce the next generation of water sector technology. Events featured in the Innovation Pavilion include networking receptions 5–6 p.m., Sept. 26 and 27; and a breakfast briefing led by BlueTech Research CEO Paul O’Callaghan, 7:30–9 a.m., Sept. 27.

• 2016 Stormwater Congress

Water sector professionals gather at a networking reception in the Stormwater Pavilion at WEFTEC 2015. Photo courtesy of Oscar & Associates.

Attend 16 technical sessions and workshops and visit the Stormwater Pavilion, which includes a theater featuring additional technical content. Sessions cover the contemporary and future issues faced by stormwater professionals such as emerging research, regulatory affairs, flood mitigation, green infrastructure, project financing strategies, and more are all included with WEFTEC registration. See the full list of Stormwater Congress programming.

• 9^th annual WEFTEC Service Project

For the WEFTEC 2015 service project, volunteers helped create a rain garden and outdoor classroom. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

Volunteers will construct bioretention cells and bioswales on the grounds of New Orleans City Hall on Sept. 24 for the WEFTEC Service Project, “NOLA Grows Green at City Hall.” Built green infrastructure will remain at city hall to serve as protection from flooding and as an educational resource.

To volunteer, WEFTEC attendees can add the “WEF Community Service Project” to their conference registration. For more information, contact WEF staff member Caroline Pakenham at CPakenham@wef.org.

• 29^th Operations Challenge

Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography and Michael Kronenberg.

Operations Challenge will be held Sept. 26 and 27 in Hall F. During this annual competition, elite teams of wastewater treatment specialists test their knowledge and skills in the Process Control event, which takes place 10–11:30 a.m., Sept. 26, in booth 4563; Laboratory event, which takes place 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sept. 26, in booth 4563; and the Safety, Collection Systems, and Godwin Maintenance events, which occur simultaneously, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sept. 27, in booth 3962.

Learn about WEF in the plaza

Visit the WEF Plaza to see the WEF Bookstore, Global Center, Membership Booth, and a photo booth. Photo courtesy of Oscar & Associates.

Be sure to visit the WEF Plaza, located at Booth 5912 in Hall H, which serves as the central hub for WEF information, souvenirs, and membership services.

• The WEF Bookstore is the destination to browse and purchase the latest WEF-wear, merchandise, and publications, including the new edition of Operation of Water Resource Recovery Facilities, MOP-11. Spot Niles the Crocodile, the WEFCOM mascot, and be entered into a daily drawing for a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite and the WEF e-book of your choice.
• Global Center offers resources for international trade delegates and U.S. exhibitors at WEFTEC. Access such tools as interactive scheduling kiosks, multi-language translation, complimentary Wi-Fi, and an international reception.
• The Membership Booth provides knowledge about WEF and its Member Associations. Get information about how to earn a prize by visiting a few designated areas in the exhibition.
• A photo booth will be a new, interactive feature. Visit the photo booth, choose a custom background, and then print and share your WEFTEC experience.

Taking time to network and navigate WEFTEC

Trolley stops can be located through the center aisle of the exhibition. Photo courtesy of Oscar & Associates.

With hundreds of planned activities and more attendees expected than residents of a small city for WEFTEC 2016, take advantage of key areas to network and resources to navigate the convention center.

• Huddle Rooms are located in Hall I. WEF members and WEFTEC exhibitors can reserve one of four semi-private meeting rooms free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Each room may be held by one party for a maximum of 2 hours. Rooms are available
  • 9 a.m.– noon and 12:45–4 p.m., Sept. 25 for exhibitors;
  • 9 a.m.– noon and 12:45–4 p.m., Sept. 26–28 for exhibitors and members.
• Member Lounge, located at booth 6847 in Hall H, is new at WEFTEC 2016. It provides seating, free Wi-Fi, complimentary coffee, and light snacks to WEF members throughout the exhibition.
• Trollies allow attendees to take a load off by hopping aboard for travel down the center aisle that runs the entire length of the exhibition. Look for signs marking trolley stops.
• Wayfinder Kiosks located in Halls B, G, and I feature touch-screens that provide point-to-point WEFTEC directions and specific WEFTEC information.

WEFTEC 2016 articles in Highlights

• “Save the Date for WEFTEC 2016”
• “Register Now for WEFTEC 2016”
• “WEF Wants to Celebrate Your Ingenious Fixes at WEFTEC 2016”
• “Get the Best Rates and Access the Conference Announcement for WEFTEC 2016”
• “Prepare for WEFTEC 2016 in the WEF Events Mobile App”
• “Explore the World’s Largest Annual Water Quality Exhibition at WEFTEC 2016”

August WEFTEC 2016 Preview in WE&T

• “Streaming in a new approach to conserving the natural world: Kicking off WEFTEC^® 2016 by connecting technology and business sense in environmentalism”
• “Protecting operators and the community: WEFTEC 2016 session explores bio-contaminated wastewater”
• “Insights into large and looming concerns: ‘Big data’ and crisis management take center stage at WEFTEC^® 2016”

September WEFTEC 2016 Preview in WE&T magazine

• “WEFTEC^® 2016: Where innovation meets collaboration”
• “Great Water Cities panel to feature world-class speakers”
• “Top contenders test their skills at Operations Challenge 2016”
• “Process Control Event receives a technology boost for Operations Challenge 2016”
• “Access technology and education in the WEFTEC 2016 exhibition”

WEFTEC 2016 articles in Stormwater Report

• “WEF is Now Accepting Applications for MS4 Awards”
• “WEFTEC 2016 Stormwater Congress”