Alternative Project Delivery – Case studies in the evaluation and application of alternative project delivery methods including design/build, design/build/operate, and construction management at risk. Areas of particular interest include the reasons for considering an alternative delivery approach, the process used to invite and evaluate proposals, and the keys to success during project implementation. Presentations that evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of alternative delivery relative to the conventional design/bid/build approach, whether as part of a case study or a general discussion, are also invited.
Asset Management – Case studies in the areas of “getting started”, benefits of asset management, asset management for pipes and for WTPs/WWTPs, implementing tools, preventive maintenance, RCM/FMEA, warehousing/ inventory, computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), GIS/IMS, SCADA, condition assessment, condition monitoring practices, asset replacement/lifecycle planning strategies, risk management strategies, maintenance benchmarking, GASB 34 and business case
evaluations, operations management strategies, and change management.
Collection Systems – Planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance, rehabilitation, CMOM/SSOs. CSO/Wet Weather Issues – CSO project implementation, nine minimum controls, short-term and long-term CSO control planning, modeling, affordability, innovative wet weather solutions, regulations, and water quality impacts.
Energy - Energy efficiency and alternative applications at wastewater treatment facilities, case studies for rehab and upgrades at WWTFs, designing efficiencies and alternatives for new facilities, case studies of new technologies for saving or generating energy and facilities working towards zero net energy.
Government Affairs – Federal or state newly implemented or proposed legislation or regulation related to wastewater facility financing and management.
Hazardous Waste and Groundwater Protection - Brownfields, site assessment, remedial technology, human health risk, ecological risk, and monitored natural attenuation.
Information Technology, and Automation - SCADA, computer applications, data handling and transfer, automation, uses of the Internet, innovative web utilization, telecommunications, modeling, decision making, and control systems related to management of information in the water environment.
Industrial Wastewater – Industrial pretreatment, wastewater reuse and recycle case studies, innovative membrane technology applications, source reduction, new treatment technologies, mercury removal (source reduction and treatment), whole effluent toxicity, and industrial stormwater management.
Laboratory Practices – Lab safety, lab QA/QC procedures, developing a lab QA/QC program, compliance sampling, new analytical methodologies, activated sludge microbiology, troubleshooting analytical problems, and laboratory ethics.
Microconstituents - Source control, occurrence, policy, regulations, fate and transport, analytical methods, treatment, biosolids, human health and aquatic effects, and risk communication for microconstituents including endocrine disrupters, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), flame retardants, nano-materials, PBDEs, PFOAs, pesticides, etc.
Plant Operations – Methods of improving plant operations, process monitoring and control techniques including on-line instrumentation, troubleshooting techniques, low level nutrient removal experience, metals and emerging contaminant removal, advanced treatment technologies, and upgrade success stories with focus on demonstrating the potential benefit/application to other facilities.
Public Education – Success stories of public outreach (during planning, design, construction, or operations), how to develop and implement programs that build public support, ways to inform public about current issues (e.g., nutrients, new regulations, etc.) that effect operations and budgets, and programs to promote the wastewater/water resource industry.
Research – Current status, progress and findings from graduate student research projects in wastewater treatment, session to also provide forum for feedback and perspectives.
Residuals Management - Biosolids treatment and reuse, microconstituents, sustainability, new technologies, regulatory changes, public acceptance, environmental management systems, enhancing biosolids products, energy from biosolids or increasing energy output, odor management, and biosolids management case studies, academic research, and financial realities of biosolids management.
Safety- Topics relating to safety, security, and health, including but not limited to: OSHA regulations and consensus standards (e.g., confined space entry, hazard communication, electrical safety, etc.), risk assessment, safety management systems, liability, workplace violence, emergency preparedness and response, sleep deprivation, aging workforce, behavioral based safety approaches, industrial hygiene, multi-employer worksites, and examples of site-specific best practices
Small Community –Success stories or case studies of innovative and creative solutions for small community water and/or wastewater issues, such as facility planning or staffing, innovative project funding, design/management of onsite, cluster, and/or decentralized wastewater systems, “green” solutions (i.e., renewable energy, energy efficiency, etc.), alternative collection systems, and stormwater management.
Stormwater - MS4 permits, regulation, stormwater collection, stormwater treatment, stormwater utilities (creation and management), BMPs, TMDLs, modeling, rule making, sampling, and monitoring.
Sustainability – Green certification for WWTFs (LEED or other), managing construction impacts, managing sewage without water, innovative and green wastewater treatment, low impact development/environmentally sensitive design, opportunities/sustainability of decentralized treatment, sustainability aspects of water reuse, estimating WWTF carbon footprints, combined heat and power applications at WWTFs, and biosolids to energy projects.
Water For People – Case studies in rural and/or small-scale urban sustainable watershed management, wastewater treatment and public health issues/solutions in developing countries.
Water Reuse – New methods and/or techniques in water recycling, water quantity/quality modeling/monitoring, use of GIS and databases, water reuse in industries, risk-based watershed management strategies, regional policies and regulations, public awareness and changing attitudes, health aspects, green buildings/smart Industrial, and indirect reuse.
Watershed Management – Storm water, pathogens and pathogen indicators, illicit connection detection, TMDLs, nutrients, emerging contaminants (endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals).
Wetlands – Policy/regulatory changes, erosion/sedimentation control, stormwater control, bioengineering, wetlands restoration/replication/construction, environmental management of construction projects.
Utility Management – Utility leadership, employee development, aging workforce & institutional knowledge transfer, addressing the new talent gap, staffing, alternative training techniques, New England/State WARN, the Utility Council, utility optimization (strategic energy purchasing, process optimization, enterprise software systems, procurement), alternative project delivery, creative financing,
people management systems, utility performance measures, infrastructure security, customer satisfaction programs, ISO certification, Environmental Management Systems, and crisis management techniques.
Young Professionals: The Future of the Industry - Innovative programs and approaches that consulting firms, municipalities, and operators are using and implementing to deal with the transition of the older generation going into retirement and younger engineers and operators moving into positions as Town Engineers, Project Managers, and Head Operators. Key discussion point may include mentoring programs designed to pass along the experience and knowledge of the outgoing generation while implementing the new approaches of the incoming generation, discussions regarding the impacts of technology and on-line networking on the industry, and the use of other technologies such as 3D design and how firms are keeping up with technology in a cost-driven industry.