WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. 10, 2011 -- Cross-department, cross-agency, business and community leadership teams and individuals are invited to a World Water Hub - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 3-5, for the Urban Water Sustainability Leadership Conference.
"Water leaders are uniting, like never before, to share timely success stories and strategies for connecting the dots, drops, and watts to sustain communities and ecosystems," explains Clean Water America Alliance President Ben Grumbles. We'll focus on proven and possible paths to green, as EPA prepares new stormwater regulations, and full resource recovery, as businesses and utilities reclaim the wealth in wastewater."
Austin, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Louisville, and Seattle will be spotlighted for how they've developed green infrastructure to complement gray and turned waste to precious resources while engaging public support and saving dollars. Through small and focused dialogues (i.e."Sidebar Conversations") cross agency urban leaders will strategize and tackle common barriers and opportunities, such as maintenance, finance, and public lands, to name a few.
What distinguishes this conference from others is the concentration of leadership "teams" attending. At last year's conference in Philadelphia, municipalities brought representatives from transportation, parks and recreation, city planning, business leaders and community activists. For several, it became a "launch pad" for developing their own plan. For others it was an opportunity to see how leveraging dispersed cross-department, cross agency serves the triple bottom line for the environmental, economic and social-community wellbeing.
The conference is being organized by the Alliance's Urban Water Sustainability (UWS) Council, a group representing the most forward-thinking and innovative urban areas in the United States. "Cities are shifting to green infrastructure at ambitious scales and timeframes," explains UWS Council Chair Kevin Shafer (also Executive Director of Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.) "The Council and Leadership Conference give us the opportunity to exchange and strategize to put the best practices forward for our communities."
Conference registration fees are reasonably priced specifically to attract local government representation. Before August 19, early-bird reduced rates are $345 or $245 each for municipal teams of three or more. Click here for more information.
The Honorable Mayor Tom Barrett, well known as a green infrastructure champion, will open the event at 12 noon on Monday, October 3. Other keynotes include Nancy Stoner, U.S. EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water; Kim Marotta, Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility, MillerCoors; and, Trevor Hill, President, Global Water.
With shrinking budgets, communities around the country are turning towards sustainable approaches to help save money, become more resilient, and prepare for the future. Green infrastructure can help prevent overflows and stormwater runoff problems, reduce energy costs, adapt to climate change, and beautify neighborhoods. Resource recovery, such as energy, nutrients, and other valuable materials, can reduce demand on stressed water supplies, improve watershed health, and boost economic productivity. Responsive to the needs of today and responsible for meeting the needs of tomorrow, communities around the country are leading the way with bold, sustainable decision-making and innovation that enhances how we meet our core missions.
The conference is supported by a grant from The Joyce Foundation and sponsored by Veolia Water, NA, CDM, CH2M Hill, InSinkErator, AECOM, ARCADIS Pirnie, Brown and Caldwell, and Black & Veatch.
Conference partnership organizations include the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, American Rivers, American Society of Civil Engineers, Great Lakes Cities Initiative, Green for All, Low Impact Development Center, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Milwaukee Water Council, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, Smart Growth America, The Conservation Fund, and The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread.
For more information, contact Lorraine Loken at 202.533.1819 or email [email protected].
Formed in 2008, the Clean Water America Alliance is a nonprofit 501c3 educational organization whose goal is to unite people and policies for water sustainability. A broad cross-section of interests is coming together through the Alliance to advance holistic, watershed-based approaches to water quality and quantity challenges. In addition to hosting the Urban Water Sustainability Leadership Conference annually, the Alliance presents the U.S. Water Prize to recognize achievement and inspire action for water sustainability. For more information, visit www.CleanWaterAmericaAlliance.org or contact [email protected].
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