Conservation, resource management and reuse converge at Water Sources Conference

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will cosponsor the 2002 Water Sources Conference and Exposition, January 27-31, in Las Vegas, NV.

Dec. 7, 2001

2 min read

Alexandria, VA, Dec. 7, 2001 -- The water Environment Federation (WEF) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will cosponsor the 2002 Water Sources Conference and Exposition, January 27-31, in Las Vegas, NV.

This joint event, centered on water reuse in the past, has expanded to include conservation and resource management. The conference will provide water professionals with innovative solutions for dealing with diminishing water resources around the world.

Held in conjunction with the Nevada Water Environment Association, the AWWA California-Nevada Section, and other organizations, the conference program features seven workshops, 50 technical sessions, eight facility tours, and an exhibition.

The water reuse sessions will cover regulatory issues, treatment technologies, regional program planning, indirect potable reuse, research, industrial reuse, disinfection, innovative reuse, urban irrigation, education, environmental use, dual distribution, and project economics.

According to WEF Conference Chair John Morris (Morris Water Resources Consultants, San Marino, CA) one hot topic in the reuse track will be "the public health, research, and regulatory concerns raised by the presence of endocrine disruptors in recycled water supplies." According to Morris, one of the challenges facing the reuse industry is the ability of the evolving treatment technologies to address such health concerns. Membrane technologies are an answer. "The presentations scheduled demonstrate the growing role that membranes are playing in the production of recycled water for beneficial reuse," he says.

The all-day Sunday workshops include two on water reuse. "Soil Aquifer Treatment" will inform attendees about the potential benefits of soil aquifer treatment for sustainable water reuse with emphasis on indirect potable reuse. "Creating Water Reuse Opportunities," which includes a field trip to a golf course that uses recycled water, will share some experiences of recognizing and creating reuse opportunities from both supplier and user perspectives.

Monday's Opening General Session will include welcome remarks by Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, commissioner of the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). WEF member Takashi Asano, the 2001 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate and world-renowned water reuse expert, will give a keynote address. United States Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton has been invited to provide a national view on water sources, and Patricia Mulroy of the SNWA will provide a regional view.

For more information or to register online visit the AWWA web site or call 303-926-7337.