ACE26 Highlights: Key Sessions, Technologies, and Networking Opportunities for Water Professionals

As the water sector continues to navigate challenges ranging from aging infrastructure and workforce needs to emerging contaminants and evolving technologies, ACE26 will bring together thousands of water professionals to share knowledge, explore solutions and build connections.

In this Q&A, Megan McDowell, senior communications specialist at the American Water Works Association, previews what attendees can expect from this year’s event in Washington, D.C. From new program additions and educational opportunities to the technologies shaping the future of water, McDowell highlights the key themes that will define ACE26. She also shares advice for first-time attendees and explains why the conversations that happen beyond the conference sessions — in the exhibit hall, at networking events and throughout the week — are often among the most valuable parts of the experience.

Mandy Crispin: What can attendees expect from ACE26, and what are some of the biggest changes or additions to this year’s event?

Megan McDowell: ACE is all about bringing the water community together to address the sector’s most pressing challenges. When you step through the convention center doors, you immediately feel the size and energy of the event. There is a lot to take in – the educational program, the exposition, competitions, networking events and those in-between conversations with people from across the sector that often become one of the best parts of the week. ACE26 will bring that same excitement to Washington, D.C.

This year, ACE features a few additions that reflect where utilities are putting more attention. There is a new communications track, which is exciting because clear communication and public trust are such important parts of utility work. We also have an HR-focused event to bring human resources professionals together around workforce needs in the water sector.

MC: What themes or industry challenges will take center stage at ACE26?

MM: The theme for ACE26 is “Water Heroes,” which celebrates the people who keep water systems running every day. Their work is essential, but usually out of the spotlight. ACE26 is a chance to recognize their heroic efforts while giving water professionals the tools, ideas and connections they need to meet the challenges ahead.

Infrastructure renewal will again be a major focus. It is the top issue identified in AWWA’s latest State of the Water Industry report, and it touches nearly every part of utility work – financing, affordability, asset management, resilience and public understanding of the value of water. Attendees will also see a lot of attention paid to PFAS, cybersecurity, source water protection, workforce, water supply, climate resilience and the role of new technologies – especially AI.

MC: What sessions, speakers, or educational opportunities should attendees be especially excited about this year?

MM: The Opening General Session with Charles Fishman will set the tone for ACE26’s “Water Heroes” theme. His keynote will draw from his recent book “One Giant Leap,” which celebrates the engineers, technicians and thousands of others behind the scenes who made the Apollo mission possible. That story will feel familiar to water professionals. Safe, reliable water also depends on highly skilled people doing complex work that most of the public never sees.

Beyond the OGS, the strength of ACE is the depth of the educational program. Attendees can build their schedules around the topics most relevant to their work, including infrastructure management, distribution system operation and management, PFAS, lead and copper, intelligent water, capital improvement projects, water quality challenges, utility management, water education and workforce, and more.

We also have opportunities to learn outside traditional sessions, from the exhibit hall and Innovation Hub to workshops, tours and networking events designed for specific facets of the water community.

MC: What are some of the most innovative technologies, solutions, or ideas attendees can expect to see on the exhibition floor?

MM: Attendees can expect an exhibit hall that reflects where the water sector is heading: smarter, more connected systems that help utilities make better decisions with tighter budgets.

One of the biggest themes is the move from simple data collection to decision-ready tools. That includes AI-assisted analytics, digital twins, continuous monitoring, smarter metering and condition-assessment technologies that help utilities find leaks and high-risk assets earlier, prioritize capital projects and respond before problems become emergencies.

Attendees also will see continued advancements in water-quality monitoring, treatment, infrastructure renewal, non-revenue water, customer service, worker safety and operational efficiency. Many of these solutions are aimed at helping utilities do several things at once: protect public health, improve reliability, prioritize investments, bolster resilience and run more proactive systems overall.

MC: For someone attending ACE for the first time, what advice would you offer to help them get the most out of the conference and exhibition?

MM: For first-time attendees, my advice is to come in with a plan, but do not try to plan every minute. ACE is a big conference, and the mobile app is your friend. Take some time before you arrive to look through the sessions, mark the ones that matter most to your work, and get a sense of where things are happening.

I would also make time for the First-Time Attendee Program on Monday morning. It is a helpful way to get oriented, meet a few people early and feel a little more comfortable heading into the week.

And do not skip the exhibit hall. The sessions are important, but the exposition is where you can see new technologies and solutions up close, ask questions and make connections with the people behind them.

Most of all, leave room for the unexpected. Some of the best ACE conversations happen between sessions, at networking events or while walking the show floor. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a reusable water bottle and give yourself a little time to enjoy Washington, D.C.

AWWA does not sponsor, endorse, or affiliate with third-party companies, products, or services.