The American Water Works Association (AWWA) will host its 2021 Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE21) in a virtual format, to be held June 14-17. The conference was originally scheduled to be held in a hybrid, in-person and online format June 13-16 in San Diego, Calif., but was moved completely online due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“AWWA turns 140 years old in 2021,” AWWA CEO David LaFrance said. “In our history, we have had an annual meeting every year, and this is only the third time that [it] has had to be canceled. We still need to connect with our members, we still want to share best practices with our members, and [though we are] still not face to face, there are some things that we can do to make the virtual experience better and richer,” LaFrance said.
The ACE21 All Virtual professional program will feature more than 80 hours of learning in six professional tracks. Attendees will interact with presenters and one another through the ACE21 online platform and active social media conversations.
During the virtual event, organizers will introduce a new video series, Good Day AWWA, featuring casual conversation with LaFrance and one association member over breakfast.
“Good Day AWWA will kick off each day during the event with a 15-minute segment, where we will have breakfast and coffee together alongside a conversation related to water,” LaFrance said.
While ACE21 All Virtual will not include a virtual exhibit hall, AWWA has continued its partnership with Isle Utilities to feature the Innovation Lounge, which usually draws a large section of attendees to this area of the show floor during the in-person event.
“The Innovation Lounge will be presented through innovative programming incorporated into the professional program. Specially designated Innovation Lounge sessions will feature innovation experts and forward-thinking topics that inspire innovation,” event organizers said.
Another large draw for in-person crowds, the Best of the Best Drinking Water Taste Test Competition, gets the virtual treatment, too. The annual taste test to determine which AWWA section has the best-tasting drinking water will be judged based on samples sent in to AWWA headquarters, and will feature a live presentation of the winner during the event.
Other programming that will enhance the virtual event offering include a trivia competition, sponsor roundtables, and a first-time virtual career fair on Tuesday. The program will conclude with a presidential gavel passing, inaugurating the new AWWA President.
Throughout the event, programming will examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the water industry.
“[Over the last year,] we have been trying to help utilities and the water sector at large, elevating the importance of a water utility to a community,” LaFrance said. “We spent a lot of time addressing the various challenges related to the pandemic, and during the event, experts will talk about innovative ways utilities have responded to the pandemic, security vulnerabilities in the wake of COVID-19, and the financial implications of halting water shut-offs while trying to keep water affordable.” WW
To register or learn more about ACE21 All Virtual, visit the official show website at www.awwa.org/ace.
