Second Stormwater Congress Kicks Off at WEFTEC 2014, Stormwater Pavilion Doubles in Size

November 26, 2014

WEF Resources & Efforts

During WEFTEC<sup>®</sup> 2014, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) hosted the first National Stormwater Summit bringing together water sector professionals to discuss technical support and advocacy needs for stormwater. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.

During WEFTEC® 2014, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) hosted the first National Stormwater Summit bringing together water sector professionals to discuss technical support and advocacy needs for stormwater. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.

More than 20,000 water professionals from nearly 100 countries assembled in New Orleans for WEFTEC® 2014 and the second annual Stormwater Congress. The Stormwater Congress is a spotlight event held in conjunction with WEFTEC. This year, the congress included more than 30 stormwater technical sessions and workshops as well as the Stormwater Pavilion, a concentrated area for exhibiting stormwater companies.

The Stormwater Pavilion featured a concentrated area for exhibiting stormwater companies as well as other highlights such as this networking reception. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.

The Stormwater Pavilion featured a concentrated area for exhibiting stormwater companies as well as other highlights such as this networking reception. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.

In addition, this was the third year the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) hosted the Stormwater Pavilion. With more than 30 exhibitors spanning 372 m2 (4000 ft2), its size was double last year’s. In addition to the Stormwater Congress offerings — workshops, technical sessions, and facility tours — attendees also had access to WEFTEC’s 1027 exhibiting companies and more than 140 technical sessions on a variety of key water topics, from policy to operations.

“There was a lot of buzz around the Stormwater Congress at WEFTEC in New Orleans,” said Mike Beezhold, the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) Stormwater Committee chair and senior planner at CDM Smith (Cambridge, Mass.). “The Congress continues to grow since its inaugural showing in Chicago,” he said.

Several water sector professionals attended the Stormwater Congress luncheon to learn about the Onondaga County (N.Y.) “Save the Rain” program. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.

Several water sector professionals attended the Stormwater Congress luncheon to learn about the Onondaga County (N.Y.) “Save the Rain” program. Photo courtesy of Oscar Einzig Photography.

Several stormwater professionals attended the sold-out Stormwater Congress luncheon on Sept. 29 that was sponsored by Arcadis (Amsterdam). At the luncheon, Onondaga County (N.Y.) Executive Joanne Mahoney discussed the county’s “Save the Rain” program. The program is a comprehensive stormwater management plan to reduce pollution to Onondaga Lake. The plan combines both green and traditional stormwater infrastructure solutions.

On Sept. 30, WEF hosted the first National Stormwater Summit to bring together municipal stormwater leaders and other sector professionals. Meeting participants discussed the stormwater sector’s technical support and advocacy needs and how those needs can be addressed at the national level. Consensus was that WEF should take a national role in the sector, and convene future meetings.

Read more about the Stormwater Congress and WEFTEC 2014 in the Stormwater Report article “Stormwater Roundup.”

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