Water Haller: NWWC is Canada’s Utility Management Conference

Our strategy for the National Water & Wastewater Conference (NWWC) was a lot more than just amalgamating our many specialty conferences. Yes, we are still the National Drinking Water Conference and the National Wastewater Conference and the Efficiency Conference and Security and Climate Change, etc., ...all in one place. But we are truly focused on utility leaders. While this consolidated format has added a full stream on Utility Leadership, this concept is infused into every stream of this event. We are so proud that this format has been such a success and is serving our members.  

For a relatively new conference, we were pleased to attract over 400 to Whistler in 2015 then over 500 to Toronto in 2016. And of these delegates, two-thirds are senior utility leaders or consultants that serve these utilities. This attracts more exhibitors, which in turn attracts more delegates.

I have to thank all of our technical committees that have been working on the conference program, recruiting and selecting speakers for each specialty stream. Then Kara from our CWWA team puts the whole program together. I just have to work on one stream – the Utility Management stream- and it takes a LOT of effort! But it is really a great line-up.

We are excited to welcome Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner, Dianne Saxe, as our opening plenary keynote speaker. Dianne is a longtime friend of CWWA and joined us briefly in Ottawa for the Window on Ottawa. The biggest complaint we got from delegates in Ottawa was that they would have liked to have heard a lot more from Dianne...so now you’re going to get that chance. Dianne will be speaking to a fascinating report from her office that looks at water and energy and the tremendous opportunities before us.

Other sessions in this Leadership stream include a session on the Effective Utility Management program promoted by AWWA and WEF, Human Resources, Communications, and an interesting session on Customer Service and the Customer of the 21 Century. More technical sessions focus on asset management, infrastructure assessment, and damage prevention. I am excited about a session on Artificial Intelligence. We will also hear updates on national research from Canadian Water Network and Public Sector Digest, the Canadian Benchmarking Initiative and we’ll get all the latest from the FCM’s on their programs to support asset management, climate change and green infrastructure.

All this AND the best networking AND a fun night or two on George Street!  You’ve always wanted to see Newfoundland...and this is your chance!