WEFTEC 2013 Makes History in Attendance, Exhibition

A record number of 22,589 registrants and 971 companies using 297,400 net sq ft of exhibit space has designated WEFTEC 2013—the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF’s) 86th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference—as the largest in the organization’s 86-year history.

As the location for WEF’s first-ever conference in 1928, Chicago has proven to be a popular destination for what has become the world’s largest annual water quality conference and exhibition. The last time WEFTEC was held in Chicago was in 2008—an equally successful event that set the previous record of 21,950 registrants.

The Opening General Session officially kicked off the show on Monday, Oct. 7. Built around a central theme of harnessing personal passion to better serve the profession, the program featured a special welcome from Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, followed by complementary and inspiring remarks from the 2012-2013 WEF President Cordell Samuels and best-selling author and self-proclaimed “agent for social change” Kevin Carroll.

Later that morning, conference attendees were encouraged to adopt a personal approach to water management by transitioning from abstract engineered solutions to direct communication and collaboration with their customers and local officials. The special Water Leaders Session: “The Future of Cities and Water: Insights from Great Water Cities” opened with an enthusiastic welcome from The Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who thanked the attendees for their dedication and announced a 50-year, $50 million “greener, cleaner” initiative that will improve floodwater management in Chicago. His remarks were followed by a panel discussion of national and international senior water executives who all emphasized the vital importance of reaching out and listening to their communities as well as seeking out collaborative opportunities and learning about continuous innovations in sustainable water management.

WEFTEC also served as the ideal venue for a special announcement from environmental advocate Robert Kennedy, Jr. and David St. Pierre, executive director of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. They shared details about the planned launch of what they said would be the largest nutrient recovery project in the world.

Later, President Samuels ceremoniously “passed the gavel” of federation leadership to incoming President Sandra Ralston and inducted the 2013-2014 WEF Board of Trustees. The ceremony culminated with awards presentations in recognition of the outstanding achievements of the most talented and dedicated professionals in the water quality community.

Other notable highlights included the popular Innovation Showcase; the first-ever and very well-attended Stormwater Congress; the “Reading, Writing and Rain Gardens” community service project where conference volunteers replaced concrete with green infrastructure on the playground at John C. Haines Elementary in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood; the 2013 WEF Student Design Competition; the AEESP/WEF Scientists’ Lecture and Luncheon; and the 2013 Operations Challenge Competition.

Source: Water Environment Federation