On June 8-12, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will host its Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE14) at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston, Mass. Considered one of the leading water industry conferences and exhibitions in the nation, the notable event will provide a wide range of valuable resources and opportunities for its numerous attendees.
This year will mark AWWA's 133rd annual conference and exhibition, last held in Boston 40 years ago. The event will convene thousands of industry professionals from across the nation and around the world to network with other experts, exhibit their latest products and services, discover new trends and solutions, and experience a wealth of valuable information through a number of interactive and educational programs.
ACE14 is expected to attract 12,000 attendees and over 450 companies occupying more than 1,000 booths across over 400,000 square feet of exhibit space. Exhibitors will showcase everything from utility operating equipment to water and wastewater treatment technologies to safety and security services to green infrastructure and stormwater management innovations. They will also lead several Roundtable Solution Sessions covering many interest areas that will invite participants to discuss these topics, meet industry professionals facing similar issues, and cultivate long-lasting relationships.
Accordingly, the event will feature five plenary sessions, 18 concurrent professional tracks and more than 100 individual technical sessions with about 550 presenters covering timely topics such as regulatory compliance, reclamation and reuse, utility management and finances, water quality and treatment, water resources and planning, capital project delivery, emergency preparedness, replacement and renewal, sustainable infrastructure, and more.
This year's conference programming spans the entire four-day event and includes topics such as enhanced design principles for water treatment; solutions to source water quality challenges; trends and opportunities for potable reuse; strategic leadership for utility management; practical applications for resource conservation and efficiency; and others. ACE14 will also host eight full- and half-day pre-conference Sunday workshops focusing on relevant topics such as groundwater supply sustainability, building information modeling (BIM), water main rehabilitation technologies, external corrosion control, and jar-testing optimization.
A focus of ACE14 will be to promote groundbreaking ideas and technologies in the water industry through a number of new exhibits, curricula and activities. Likewise, ACE14 will also feature for the first time an Innovation Pavilion in addition to its professional programming that focuses on the role of innovation in the water sector.
The Innovation Pavilion is presented by nonprofit organization Imagine H2O, an innovation partner with AWWA, and is a platform where attendees can visit with developers of award-winning water technology solutions and explore Imagine H2O's Business Innovations Program, which helps empower entrepreneurs and innovators to better develop market-based solutions to water and wastewater challenges.
All of the professional tracks are eligible for continuing education credits, with over 330 hours of them qualified for CEUs or PDHs. There are additional opportunities to earn credits through sessions in the exhibit hall. ACE14 will also feature a student and young professional program that includes a networking reception, educational sessions, career-advancing workshop, and more. There will also be a Career Center Job Fair where attendees can network with hiring companies, learn more about the benefits of AWWA membership and showcase their talents.
The event will also feature a variety of competitions including Meter Madness, the Top Ops championship, AWWA's annual Pipe Tapping Contest, the World Water Cup of Drilling & Tapping, People's Choice Taste Test, and "Best of the Best" Taste Test. Facility tours will be available to local and regional locations such as the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant, Cambridge Stormwater Wetland and Park, Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Fresh Pond Reservation.
Monday's opening general session will feature former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani who will share his insights on the many challenges facing municipal leaders.
