Annual Conference to Address Critical Industry Issues, Technologies
The American Water Works Association's Annual Conference and Exposition, scheduled for June 17-21 in Washington, D.C., will offer attendees educational sessions covering every aspect of drinking water, networking opportunities, and the largest exhibit of drinking water products and services in the world.
"The theme of this year's conference-New Horizons in Drinking Water-symbolizes what's happening in the drinking water industry. We're reaching new horizons in tools and technology, and at the same time are being challenged in ways we've never experienced before," said Bob Willis, AWWA President.
The conference is expected to attract more than 14,000 attendees and will feature more than 100 technical sessions led by industry experts, nine workshops for hands-on education, and five technical tours at regional water systems.
State-of-the-art products, services, and technologies from more than 500 companies, organizations, and consultants will be showcased at the Exposition, considered to be the biggest exhibition of its kind.
From the basics to the cutting edge of the industry, the exhibition will feature the nation's leading suppliers. A special reception for conference attendees will be held Sunday in the Exhibit Hall to give attendees an opportunity to network and enjoy refreshments while strolling the aisles.
"The 2001 conference is designed to address some of the most pressing issues of our business - disinfection by-product and surface-water treatment rules, groundwater and alternative disinfection techniques, and the investment challenges of infrastructure upgrades, to name just a few." Willis said. "This conference can connect you and your organization with the information, the people, the products, and the services to help you successfully reach the horizons that lie ahead."
One highlight of the conference is the H2Open Forum on "Critical Water Issues: The Political Perspective." The forum will focus on today's critical water issues from the perspective of legislators and congressional leaders, several of whom have been invited to participate. The panelist will be asked to share and defend their divergent views on what lies ahead for the water industry. The forum also serves as a primer for getting involved with local and national representatives, and as a springboard for attendees who have scheduled visits with their representatives during their visit to Washington.
A another special forum entitled "E-Commerce for the Water and Wastewater Industries: How to Take Advantage of the Digital Economy" is being jointly sponsored and developed by AWWA and the Water Environment Federation. It will bring together experts in this evolving field from water and wastewater utilities, suppliers, investors, and public officials to discuss opportunities for a water/wastewater e-market; current e-commerce use in the public sector; performance in an e-commerce environment; and the unique needs of water and wastewater.
Taking advantage of the conference's presence in Washington, D.C., a rally is planned for Wednesday, June 20. Buses will provide free transportation to the rally on the west steps of the Capitol building and back from the Washington Convention Center.
The first event of its kind ever held by the water profession, the rally will raise awareness of drinking water issues and increase recognition for the water community as a force to be reckoned with in Washington, D.C. The event is centered around the theme "Water Matters!" and is expected to attract more than 1,000 supporters, including conference attendees and colleagues from other associations. Gov. Christie Todd Whitman, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and several legislators have been invited to address the rally on issues important to the water community.