WEFTEC Spotlight

Save the date! WEFTEC registration opens March 30. Simply fill out the email reminder form and we’ll send you a reminder to reserve your spot at WEFTEC 2012, September 29 – October 3 in New Orleans.

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The December issue of WEF’s flagship magazine, WE&T, puts the finishing touches on WEFTEC 2011. The articles summarize several presentations and also look into what issues and challenges will be upcoming in the water sector. You will also be able to get caught up on highlights from several WEFTEC events.  Read the entire WE&T WEFTEC Wrap-Up here.

Included in a separate set of articles is complete coverage of the 2011 Operations Challenge. These include a comprehensive guide with an inside look at the teams, the events, and the level of preparation that teams go through for this competition. Read the full Operations Challenge article here.

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Thank you for your submission to WEFTEC 2012. We are very pleased to announce that this is the third highest submission count in WEF’s history. We appreciate your efforts to continue to make WEFTEC the best it can be by sharing your extensive knowledge with your peers.

We recognize that there were some issues in the submission process. With any new system there are changes and adjustments in expectations, as there were in this system. We thoroughly tested, yet did not experience some of the issues you might have experienced, so we appreciate all the feedback we have received. It is the only way we can improve. Rest assured that WEF staff will continue to make improvements to the system.

The Program Committee has begun their review. They are aware of the formatting limitations of the system and assure everyone that format will not deter them from picking any abstract. All abstracts will be considered equally with regard to format.

For those that asked about our selection of the system, we would like to provide a little bit more insight and information on why we selected it. There are three main reasons we went to this system.

• Environmental Benefits of System
  WEF is committed to the environment in all things that we do, and we encourage our volunteers to consider the use of our natural resources. This system has allowed us to transition to an online review and program selection, which reduces paper waste and eliminates mailings which consume multiple resources. 
• Innovation
  WEF is committed to implementing the latest technology to advance all of our products. The system has many flexible features that allow us to use it for all events and to modify it as we change and grow without major new investments each time. It is also linked to our overall content management system which will allow us to advance WEFTEC programming and training to the next level.
• Added Benefits to Speakers
  There are many benefits to the speakers that may not be obvious or have been implemented yet. First, it will be integrated with membership records so there is ability to use single sign on and other enhanced features. It will be integrated across all WEF events. It will be seamlessly integrated with other systems that speakers use, such as manuscript and Powerpoint submissions, to make those easier to use. And most importantly, we plan to use the abstracts to publicize the depth of technical knowledge that is presented at WEFTEC by you, and therefore give more exposure to all our speakers.

We are looking forward to implementing the new functionality of the system with our Program Committee and ultimately our WEFTEC attendees. We welcome your feedback and we will move forward with the comments we received to make it a valuable tool for all its users.

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There are only a few days left to submit an abstract to put your stamp on the most respected and competitive educational program of its kind. WEFTEC, which will take place in New Orleans Sept. 29–Oct. 3, allows you to advance your reputation by presenting your works at the most highly regarded technical conference; to promote your expertise to an engaged audience of professional peers; and to personally enhance your own knowledge and the knowledge base of the industry.

For a list of  suggested abstracts topics, or for more information on the technical program, please visit www.weftec.org/Program/page.aspx?id=65. The deadline to submit an abstract is Dec. 1.

Have a great holiday!

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WEF proudly announces students from the University of Wyoming and the University of Florida as winners of the 2011 Student Design Competition. The tenth annual competition took place last month in Los Angeles at WEFTEC 2011, WEF’s 84^th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference.

The University of Wyoming team’s project, “Preliminary Design for Upgrading the Littleton / Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant for Phosphorus Removal” won in the wastewater design category and the University of Florida team’s project, “Stormwater Cycling Design Options In an Urban Industrial Watershed” won in the environmental design category. This was the first win for the University of Wyoming (a Student Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association) and the sixth win for the University of Florida (a Student Chapter of the Florida Water Environment Association) in ten years.  

A program of the WEF Students & Young Professionals Committee (SYPC), the competition promotes “real world” design experience for students interested in pursuing an education and/or career in water/wastewater engineering and sciences. It tasks individuals or teams of students within a WEF student chapter to prepare a design to help solve a local water quality issue.  Teams evaluate alternatives, perform calculations, and recommend the most feasible solution based on experience, economics, and feasibility. 

Members of the University of Wyoming team included Darrin Harris, Emily Huth, Colin Reinert, Afiya Walker and their faculty advisor Dr. Jonathan Brant. Members of the University of Florida team included Javier Briz, Jake Diamond, Emily Henderson, Xavier Rios, Jackie Martin, Robert Compton, Yuan Gan, Mallory Peterson and their faculty advisor, Dr. John Sansalone, P.E. Both teams received certificates and a $2,500 award. 

Congratulations to all of the winners and all of the teams that competed for this year’s prize! To see all the teams that placed and the runners up, visit the WEF Design Competition Page.

- Sponsored by Black & Veatch, CDM, Greeley and Hansen, HDR, and Wigen Water Technologies, this year’s competition was organized by SYPC Design Competition program Chair, Lauren Zuravnsky with assistance from Design Competition program Past Chair Michelle Hatcher and WEF Staff Liaison Dianne Crilley.

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 WEF is posting highlights from last month’s conference on its YouTube channel. If you weren’t able to see some of the events in the Operations Challenge, couldn’t make it to all of the exhibitors, or just wanted to revisit some of the sights and sounds from the conference, you can check out all of the videos at www.youtube.com/user/WEFTEC2011. We will be adding more in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

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WEFTEC 2011 has just ended, but the time has already come to submit abstracts for the 85th Annual WEFTEC 2012 in New Orleans. Comprised of more than 800 presentations and up to 21 concurrent events per day, the WEFTEC technical program is the most respected and competitive educational program of its kind. This is your opportunity to be a part of the most powerful water quality event of the year!

The Call for Abstracts is intended for individual presentations (30 minutes) or posters. Session proposals also are being sought for linked presentations or panel discussions (either 1.5 hours or 3 hours). Session proposals should cover innovative presentation formats and/or topics not covered in the Call for Abstracts. The deadline to submit session proposals and abstracts is Thursday, December 1, 2011.

Suggested Call for Abstracts topics include leading edge research, industrial issues, stormwater management, utility management, future issues, and much more. If you need a more detailed description of the topics, requirements, guidelines, formatting instructions, or for sample abstracts, click here.

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The numbers are in for WEFTEC 2011. A total of 16,961 water professionals and 923 exhibiting companies from around the world attended  The 84th Annual WEFTEC last week in Los Angeles. As the city’s second largest conference this year, the strong showing reinforces WEFTEC as the place to be for information and technology exchange among water professionals and for access to the best business opportunities in the water quality field.

Last week’s conference offered attendees their choice of more than 900 presentations in 114 technical sessions, 37 workshops, eight local facility tours, as well as several high profile events. Key sessions and workshops featured in-depth topics such as private sewer system management, innovative applications of recycled water, stormwater management, water infrastructure investment, recent developments in membrane bioreactor technology, and improved energy efficiency for wastewater treatment plants and processes.

WEFTEC 2012 is scheduled for September 29 through October 3, 2012 in New Orleans, La. In anticipation of another successful showing next year, more than 700 companies have already reserved nearly 280,000 square feet of floor space at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. 

To read the complete press release, click here.

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Thank you to all of those involved in WEFTEC 2011. All the exhibitors, presenters, attendees, and staff involved were an integral part of making this year a huge success. The show continues to grow and be an important resource in the water quality industry because of all the hard work you put in all year long. We hope that you enjoyed WEFTEC 2011 as much as we enjoyed having you, and we look forward to seeing you in New Orleans next year!

Stay tuned to the WEFTEC Spotlight throughout the year to get breaking news and updates regarding WEFTEC 2012.

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Defending champions Terminal Velocity blended skill, precision, and speed
to clinch the WEFTEC 2011 Operations Challenge. Last night, the victors claimed the top prize for the second year after two days of intense tests and drills for 37 teams. The winning Division 1 team, of the Virginia Water Environment Association, included Paul Cubilla, Steve Motley, Jason Truitt, Bobby Williams, and Captain Donnie Cagle. Second place finishers in Division 1 were L.A. Wrecking Crew of the California Water Environment Association, and TRA CReWSers of the Water Environment Association of Texas placed third.

The Seacoast Sewer Snakes of the New England Water Environment Association placed first in Division 2, with the River Rangers of the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association taking second place and the Wasted Gas of the Water Environment Association of Utah receiving third place honors.

Highlights from the action can be found at www.weftec.org/daily

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