The chief impact officer for water.org, a nonprofit organization that has been working to bring water and sanitation to the world for 25 years, and the president/CEO of the public utility San Antonio Water System will be the keynote speakers for the seventh biennial Emerging Water Technology Symposium on May 12-13 in San Antonio, Texas.
Dr. Richard E. Thorsten is the chief impact officer for water.org, which has helped provide access to clean water and safe sanitation to more than 25 million people in 16 nations. He will discuss the critical roles of financing access to piped water and off-grid sanitation solutions in developing countries. He will also outline examples of partnerships that water.org has undertaken in these markets, especially connecting water utilities and product manufacturers with sources of household and enterprise financing.
Also delivering a keynote address will be Robert Puente, who has served as president/CEO of the San Antonio Water System since 2008. As chief executive of one of the nation’s largest utilities, he provides leadership in delivering water and wastewater services to more than 1.7 million consumers, developing new water resources, continuing infrastructure upgrades throughout the community, and building regional partnerships.
In addition to the keynote addresses, EWTS attendees will view presentations and discussions on today’s most pressing water-related issues. The topics will include risk management best practices for Legionella and pathogen control, including high-capacity filtration; identifying key research needs for premise plumbing; enabling competitions to drive behavioral change; preventing temperature fluctuations in showers; wastewater treatment and whether it can be a consumer product; the applied water-energy nexus using an integration framework; PFAS contamination in water; emerging water-from-air technologies, and many more.
“ASPE is proud to continue being a sponsor and co-convener of the biennial Emerging Water Technology Symposium alongside other leading industry organizations such as AWE, IAPMO, and PMI,” says Billy Smith, FASPE, ASPE’s Executive Director/CEO. “With critical water-related issues such as Legionella, infrastructure, conservation, and sustainability being at the forefront, ASPE is privileged to again help present this two-day symposium. As in the past, this year’s EWTS will not only provide attendees with an exceptional opportunity to interact with and learn new technologies from the industry’s leading experts, researchers, and stakeholders all in one place, but also, as we conclude each day, it offers a great opportunity to explore San Antonio’s beautiful Riverwalk.”
The EWTS provides an opportunity for experts to present new ideas and approaches, emerging technologies coming to market, innovative green plumbing and mechanical concepts, and more. Professionals from the manufacturing, engineering, plumbing and mechanical, and water utility industries participate, along with individuals from government and academia.
Attendees are advised to register early as this symposium will sell out. The early-bird rate of $495 ends March 15. Additional information and details on how to register for the symposium may be found online at ewts.org. Videos of presentations from previous symposiums are also available on the website.
The symposium will be co-convened by ASPE, the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE), International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), and Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI), in cooperation with the World Plumbing Council (WPC).
