The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has revealed the seven session tracks that comprise the technical program of the first-ever AWWA Virtual Summit, which is online Sept. 23 to 24 and available on-demand to all registered attendees for 30 days after the event.

Event highlights include:

Fireside Chat with EPA — A discussion moderated by AWWA’s executive director of government affairs Tracy Mehan, featuring Jennifer McLain from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water and Andrew Sawyers from the EPA Office of Wastewater Management about a wide range of topics, including water infrastructure and the Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act.

The Last Drop, Strengthening Trust in an Era of Mistrust — The event’s closing session features AWWA CEO David LaFrance moderating a conversation between AWWA president Melissa Elliott, water innovator George Hawkins, Susan McCormick from the Great Lakes Water Authority and Seth Siegel, author of Troubled Water: What's Wrong with What We Drink.

On the Nose — See the Nation’s First Water Leak Detection Dog in Action — A session featuring Central Arkansas Water’s dog, Vessel, the country’s first water leak-detecting dog.

Water Sector Leader Forum: New Priorities in a Post-COVID World — A panel discussion moderated by AWWA CEO David LaFrance, featuring a representative from the World Bank, about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the water sector.

The Dollars and Sense of COVID-19 — A panel discussion about how utilities are balancing the growing number of customers who cannot pay their water bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining sustainable finances.

Advancing Water Stewardship to Achieve SDG6 — A panel discussion that explores the broader impacts of industrial water sustainability efforts from perspectives of a municipal water utility, industrial water user and water educator.

The event’s technical program consists of session tracks on the following topics:

  • Transforming utility management
  • Strengthening public trust
  • Innovation and technology/smart water
  • Advances in water treatment
  • Water quality: Contaminants of concern
  • Sustainable water future
  • Exploring infrastructure solutions

Member registration for the AWWA Virtual Summit is $195, and non-member registration is $295.

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